National Service Project!

Break out your work boots, gloves and jeans. The National Service Project is back. Alpha Zeta is planning a work trip to Winnie, Texas, working in conjunction with the Fellowship of Christian Farmers. We'll be helping farmers and ranchers affected by Hurricane Ike and flooding.

Things are a bit different this year, though. First, participants need to find their own transportation to Houston (arriving December 17, departing December 22). Secondly, there will be a registration fee of $25 for student members ($35 for alumni) to cover the cost of liability insurance.

Register online now: http://www.regonline.com/NSP2009

Lodging will be provided. Please bring a sleeping bag. You will also be responsible for the cost of most of your meals -- we're working on getting some donated, but please keep this in mind.

More info to come soon. Please register ASAP, though, so we can get an idea of what we'll need for meals, tools and projects.

UF AZ Fall 2009 Big-Little

For the Florida Chapter Big-Little reveal, pledge master Kelly Cronje kept the process interesting. Neither bigs or littles knew who they were matched with, and a series of clues lead the pair to find the perfect match.

The description of the Big Little reveals does sound cryptic, but we need to keep some of our secrets.

How do we solve a tie?
We hold a dance off!

The photos and video were taken on November 3, 2009 by Mark Marcojos and Kelin Maciejewski.

Alpha Zeta part of groups recognized at UGA for Honor Plaza

Groups raise $25K for Honor Plaza - News

Oklahoma Chapter wins Chili Cook-off

The Daily O'Collegian - Helpful Harvest

Maryland Alum named to Who's Who Business Leader

BALTIMORE -- Charles Streaker Sr. has been recognized as a business leader by Kipling’s Who’s Who. Mr. Streaker has over 25 years of experience in the Agricultural field, having worked for the Maryland State Health Department and running a successful farm. Mr. Streaker is currently working for Cedar Lanes Farms/Larri Land farms and brings his years of knowledge to his current workplace. Kipling’s Who’s Who In Leading Business Professionals recognizes individuals that have reached a level of recognizable success in their respective field. Kipling’s wishes to congratulate Mr. Streaker on his achievements as a agricultural business professional.

Business Specialty: Agriculture, Environment and Farming; Products- Four seasons, Sales and Marketing for Tractor Supply Co., Retired 10+ Years; USAF Reserve 20 years retired; MD State Health Department 25 years Retired; Farming 41+ Years to Present.

Civic or Professional Associations: Alpha Gamma Rho; Alpha Zeta; St. Paul’s Episcopal church; Chairman and general partner, cedar Lane farm limited partnerships; Maryland State Farm Bureau.

Education: B.S., Dairy Technology & Business, University of Maryland, 1967; Veterinarian technical support, USAF; Maryland State Health Dept; Sanitarian Association training Courses.

Family: Married to Dorothy Ann for 41 years one son, Charles Bryan Streaker, Jr., 35+, One Daughter-In-Law, Chrisy; One Granddaughter Gabriella- 18+ Months.

OSU Alumni Association honors White as a Distinguished Alumni Award Recipient

From High Plains Journal: Click here for full story

The Oklahoma State University Alumni Association is pleased to honor Dr. Dennis White of Ninnekah, Okla., as one of the 2009 Distinguished Alumni Award Recipients. White, along with five other recipients, will be recognized at a public reception Sept. 12 in Southwestern Legacy Hall of the ConocoPhillips OSU Alumni Center in Stillwater and later in the day during halftime of the OSU football game against Houston. The award is presented to alumni for professional achievement and community service.

White graduated from OSU with bachelor's and master's degrees in 1964 and 1969, respectively. He went on to earn a doctorate degree from Texas A&M University in 1972. He served as the Senior Technical Advisor for Elanco Animal Health before retiring in 2001.

While at OSU, White was a member of Block and Bridle, Ag Council, the Livestock Judging Team and also served as president of Alpha Zeta.

Click here for more.

John F. Munsterman

Full story here: http://www.thetowntalk.com/article/20091107/OBITUARIES/91106004

Mr. Munsterman, 99, of Alexandria, passed away Thursday, November 5, 2009.

He was an active member of Calvary Baptist Church since 1945, where he served as a Sunday School teacher and a Deacon. He was a graduate of Millsaps College, Jackson, Mississippi where he graduated summa cum laude with a BS degree in education. He also obtained a BS degree in Forestry from LSU, where he was a member of the Alpha Zeta. Roy O. Martin, Sr. hired him as the first forester for Roy O. Martin Lumber Company where he worked for 40 years from 1945 to 1985. He was active in the Louisiana Forestry Association and served as a member of the Board for the Salvation Army and the YMCA.

Crop Drop

A group of 25 members and pledges from the Florida Chapter of Alpha Zeta participated in a "Crop Drop" on October 24, 2009. The service project was hosted by the Society of St. Andrew and the University Lutheran Church in Gainesville, FL. 45, 000 pounds of gleaned NC potatoes (that were not aesthetically appealing enough to be commercially marketable) were unloaded in the parking lot of the church where a total of 200 volunteers sorted and bagged the crops. The potatoes were then donated ot over 25 local and statewide food pantries. About 100, 000 people in need were fed by the efforts of the volunteers at this event.

"Crop Drop was a fantastic way for our AZ chapter to get involved in food justice efforts within our community." said Rikki Schwarz, the UF AZ National Service Project Co-chair. "We also gained excellent experience through this event that will help us in planning a national AZ service project for the the Fall of 2010. Our focus will be on the theme 'From the Field to the Plate: Agriculture and Food Justice'."

For further information regarding participation or sponsorship for the national service project, please contact Brian Reuwee at reuwee@alphazeta.org, Mark Marcojos at mmarcojos@gmail.com or Rikki Shwarz at eschwarz@ufl.edu.

Article prepared by Rikki Schwarz photos provided Mark Marcojos.

More photos of the event are available by copying and pasting the link below into your browser.
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2904235

Wanted: Spring 2010 Interns!

The National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) is now recruiting for Spring 2010 interns!

NPPC is seeking four interns - one for each of the following departments:
• Communications
• Environmental Law and Policy
• International Trade
• Science and Technology

Working for the National Pork Producers Council

The National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) is the global voice for the U.S. pork industry working daily to protect the livelihoods of pork producers by fighting for reasonable legislation and regulation and developing revenue and market opportunities. Our mission is to add significant value to pork producers and industry investors by achieving favorable laws and regulations that help them operate successful businesses and compete effectively and profitably in the global marketplace.

NPPC’s internship program is a hands-on experience for students seeking to learn more about the pork industry, government relations, international trade and public policy. Interns have the opportunity to work under the direction of the highly respected professionals at NPPC. Senior staff members value the opportunity to mentor and teach today’s student who will be tomorrow’s leaders.

Located one block from the Capitol building, the NPPC Washington Public Policy Center is in the heart of the political action on Capitol Hill. NPPC interns have the ability for professional networking with congressional staff, allied industry trade associations and federal agencies, including the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Environmental Protection Agency. If you have an interest in promoting American agriculture and want to gain real-world experience in the political arena, this is the opportunity for you!

In addition to an unparalleled experience, our distinguished internship program offers a competitive stipend of $500 a week (after taxes) and reimbursable, work-related travel.

Interested candidates should send a letter of interest, resume, transcripts (if available), along with three references to intern@nppc.org. They may also send the above items to:

National Pork Producers Council
ATTN: Intern Program Director
122 C Street NW
Suite 875
Washington, DC 20001


For Spring 2010 internships, the applications must be postmarked by November 13, 2009.

For more information and application requirements, visit:
http://nppc.org/Programs/Internship.htm

UF Fall 2009 Woodser

The Florida Chapter of Alpha Zeta held its Fall 2009 Woodser on October 23, 2009. Everyone gathered around a campfire at a campground 40 miles away from the University of Florida campus. The Woodser is a highly anticipated semester event attended by 32 members and pledges.

"Woodser is an event that everyone looks forward to each semester. S'Mores is a favorite food for most us, but it is the bonding, that makes this event special." says Ashleigh Woodruff, the event organizer and social activities chair. "Everyone really enjoys the experience out at the campground."
This Woodser featured a laser light show display courtesy of Chronicler Timothy Michael Thomas that dazzled everyone. Campers sharing the campground actually thought that the array of tiny lights were fireflies. Pictures truly do not do it any justice. You just had to be there.

On behalf of the Florida chapter, I would like to invite our brothers nationwide to visit and come to the Spring Woodser. The date has yet to be set, but I will keep you posted if you are interested. Please email Mark Marcojos at mmarcojos@gmail.com for information.

~ mm

AZ Road Cleanup

On September 30, 2009 the Florida Chapter of Alpha Zeta completed their sixth road cleanup project for the year. Fifteen members and alumni participated in picking up litter on a one mile stretch of road on NW 55th Ave that day. Several members who are not pictured have also participated in previous road cleanups as well.

Alachua county required an organization to complete six road cleanups in one year in order to keep their street for the"Adopt a Road" program.

This was a perfect opportunity for Alpha Zeta members to make a grass-roots level contribution to cleaning up the environment. The county will place a sign on NW 55th Ave indicating that the road is AZ's adopt a road responsibility.

The photo below is from the first road cleanup taken on February 21, 2009.


~ mm

Cal State's Clean-up Commitee Pays Off in a Big Way

Every year California State University, Chico holds a Hall of Honor Reception for the College of Agriculture. At the reception, the College of Agriculture honors a person who has given a lot to the college over the past year. Each year the different clubs take turns working as the clean-up committee, then the following year, the club that cleaned up the year before gets half the profits from the silent auction. On October 10th, the AZ chapter at Cal State, Chico volunteered as the clean up committee and therefor will receive half of the profits from next years' silent auction. The members that participated helped put tables and chairs away, clean up trash along with cleaning up and storing all decorations. The clean-up went fast because thier members worked hard. Overall, the night was a success!