Items included in this listserv:

1. IAVAT Constitutional Amendment - Replace Section with Region

2. FFA Constitutional Amendment - Replace Section with Region

3. IAVAT Constitutional Amendment - Rename IAVAT to ILAAE

4. Resectioning Update

5. IAVAT Resectioning Policy Update

6. IAVAT Conference Resolutions

7. State Ag Business Update

8. State CDE Calculator clarification

1. IAVAT Constitutional Amendment - Replace Section with Region

Whereas, outside of Illinois agriculture education, the term Section 8 is an abbreviated term for a program of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development..

Whereas, this terminology creates confusion for stakeholders outside of Illinois agricultural education when individuals or programs are identified as “part of Section 8”.

Therefore, be it resolved that the Illinois Association of Vocational Agriculture Teachers rename the current 25 sections to 25 regions.

Constitutional Amendment #1 exact wording updates

2. FFA Constitutional Amendment - Replace Section with Region

Due the proposal of Constitutional Changes for IAVAT to change the name of Section to Regions, Illinois FFA will have one Constitutional Proposal as well, that will be up for a vote on Thursday, June 16, 2022, at the 94th Annual Illinois FFA State Convention business session.  

Proposed Constitutional Change:  Illinois Association FFA rename the current 25 sections to 25 regions.  

3. IAVAT Constitutional Amendment - Rename IAVAT to ILAAE

Whereas, the Illinois Association of Vocational Agriculture Teachers includes the word vocational which is an outdated term that fails to represent the scope of 21st century agriculture education.

Whereas, the Illinois Association of Vocational Agriculture Teachers is celebrating 100 years as an organization

Whereas, the National Association of Agricultural Educators (NAAE) changed their name in 1997, removing the word “vocational” and replacing “teacher” with “educator.”

Whereas, The words “vocational agriculture” were removed from FFA jackets in 1988 and replaced with “agricultural education.”

Whereas, this change would bring our association into alignment with other related state and national organizations.

Whereas, Iowa and Indiana both already use the acronym of IAAE.

Therefore, be it resolved that the Illinois Association of Vocational Agricultural Teachers, IAVAT, be renamed to the Illinois Association of Agricultural Educators, ILAAE.

Constitutional Amendment #2 exact wording updates

4. Resectioning Update

After extensive deliberation and hearing the concerns of membership regarding resectioning, the IAVAT Board of Directors voted to NOT resection based on the most recent resectioning proposals. The IAVAT Board of Directors would like to extend a special thanks to the members of the IAVAT Special Projects and Resolutions committee for their time and dedication to the matter along with all members and stakeholders for their valuable input throughout the process.

5. IAVAT Resectioning Policy Update

Based on the most recent resectioning decision, the IAVAT Board of Directors will be reviewing and updating the IAVAT Policy regarding resectioning at their summer board meetings to better guide resectioning discussions and decisions in the future.

6. IAVAT Conference Resolutions

The IAVAT Board of Directors has reviewed and approved a Google form to be utilized in collecting resolutions for the 2022 IAVAT Conference. The IAVAT policy regarding resolution submissions has been updated as follows:

All committees, officers, members and others concerned with furthering agricultural education may submit their resolution on the appropriate board form to the Special Projects and Resolutions Committee by 5:30 pm on Tuesday of conference, with the committee submitting the resolutions to the IAVAT Executive Staff by noon on Wednesday.

7. State Ag Business Update

Proctor locations are being established by IAVAT District directors based upon schools interested in participating. If you have not done so already, please email your district director by April 20 to indicate you plan to attend (separate from registration). District directors will determine host sites based on those intending to compete and release sites by April 22. Final registration is due April 27 on ilaged.org.

8. State CDE Calculator clarification