TOP Priority:
2020 Chapter Visits
The ilaged Youtube Channel has the 2020 Pre-recorded Chapter Visits Presentations. Please Click here to sign up for a time to have your FFA Chapter do a “Meet & Greet” with a major.
Click here to view the 2020 Chapter Visits Reflection Questions.
Click here for the pdf fillable 2020 -2021 Goal Card.
Illinois FFA Center - “Soft Close” - Now until January 4, 2021
Due to COVID-19 quarantines and several staff working from home on various days with children who are in full remote learning situations, the Illinois FFA Center will be in “soft close” mode of operation. The FFA Center will be staffed by two or three people everyday from now until January 4, 2021. Our goal is to still take your calls, process mail, answer emails and address any questions or concerns you continue to have but the majority of our hours will be serving you from home, therefore EMAIL is the best way to to contact and connect with most of our staff. View staff email addresses here. By all means, if you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to let me know - mbunselmeyer@illinoisffa.org or cell phone is 217.412.5646. Thank you for your understanding and patience.
Official State Agronomy registration deadline is Friday, December 11, 2020.
Items in this listserv:
****NEW Information****
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New Apprenticeship Program Seeks to Fill Employment Gap
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National FFA Convention Awards
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New Apprenticeship Program Seeks to Fill Employment Gap
A new apprenticeship program for surveyor and mapping technicians aims to narrow the gap between available technicians and demand. Technicians assist professional land surveyors in collecting information about boundaries, terrain and property lines.
The Illinois Professional Land Surveyors Association (IPLSA) in partnership with Parkland College, in Champaign, Il. has created the Surveyor and Mapping Technician Training Program. This first- in- the- nation program is a two-year, U.S. Department of Labor recognized, apprenticeship program in which apprentices train to become surveyor technicians. Once admitted to the program, apprentices begin a 90-day, no fault probationary period in which the apprentice or the employer can terminate participation without repercussion.
Training consists of on the job learning blended with online coursework and 13 in-person labs provided by Parkland College. Apprentices are expected to take and pass the Certified Survey Technician (CST) Level I or Level II exam in order to complete the program.
During the program, apprentices are paid a minimum of $15 per hour. Upon successful completion, the apprentice is guaranteed employment, and a minimum salary of $17 per hour. Program graduates also have the option to continue their education and become fully licensed surveyors. All instruction provided by Parkland College may be applied toward a Bachelor’s Degree.
Employers who participate in the Surveyor and Mapping Technician Training Program are required to pay for the education- related expenses. Employers are eligible to receive tax credits for their expenses through the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity’s (DCEO) new Apprenticeship Education Expense Tax Credit Program. Employers must apply to DCEO to be eligible to take part in the tax credit program, which is currently capped at $5 million annually.
“It’s really exciting to see this come to fruition. This is something that we have been working on for two years now,” said Executive Director Kim Robinson. “We’ve heard from our members that they are facing serious workforce shortages. This program is designed to fill that void. Other states have heard about what we’re doing and now they’re looking into starting their own apprenticeship programs.”
The inaugural class started at the end of August. “The apprenticeship program is off to a great start. This program will give employees the knowledge they need to get up to speed faster,” said Jeff Rohde, a surveyor at Willett Hofmann & Associates. Apprentice Travis Keller, also of Willett Hofmann agreed, “The apprenticeship program has been a huge benefit for me. Our instructor does a very nice job helping us work through problems and is always available to provide guidance on anything that’s confusing. “There is a growing national shortage of both surveyors and technicians that is expected to continue. The surveying profession is confronting a wave of retirements in the coming years, and both new surveyors and technicians will be needed to keep pace with demand.
IPLSA is currently taking applications for next year’s class, set to start at the end of August. Potential apprentices can upload their resume for free by visiting the apprenticeship page on IPLSA’s website, iplsa.org. Employers can upload job postings for apprentices there as well.
IPLSA is a not-for-profit organization representing the interests of the surveying profession in Illinois. Our mission includes the advancement of the land surveying profession by promoting high standards of practice and conduct, by upholding the Illinois Land Surveyors Act and by supporting and encouraging members through continuing education, professional association, and the use of current technology.
To learn more about the Surveyor and Mapping Technician Training Program, please visit our website at iplsa.org, or email us at apprentice@iplsa.org.
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Social Media Content:
Informational Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3PScUwKFh0&feature=youtu.be
Copy:
Want an essential career? Check out the Illinois Professional Land Surveyors Association’s Discover Surveying Surveyor and Mapping Technician Training Program. #DiscoverSurveying. Apply here today: https://www.iplsa.org/IPLSA/Apprenticeship/Apprentice.aspx
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National FFA Convention Awards
Due to extenuating circumstances, some convention awards for CDE & LDE National Qualifiers, Agriscience Fair, Proficiency, National Chapter, American FFA Degree and Stars are still in the process of being shipped to chapter advisors or recipients. Awards should be shipped by mid-December. We appreciate your patience as we continue to work to get these awards out.
**** PREVIOUS Information Shared****
**** WORTH Sharing Again****
Career Development Events:
Ag Issues Clarification
Ag Sales Product - Now Available
2020 Illinois FFA CDE Schedule (2021 CDE Schedule TBA)
IAVAT:
IAVAT Mentorship Program
NAAE Special Request
IAVAT Dues/Donations
IAVAT Fall 2020 Professional Development Series
IAVAT Committees
SAE Committee State Proficiency Survey - PLEASE Take a Moment to Complete
Membership Memos
IACCAI:
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Officers - Jeff Landers, JJC - President, Brian Clement, College of Dupage - Vice President, Doug Robb, WVCC - Treasurer, Jess Smithers, Richland - Secretary, Pete Fandel, ICC - Past President
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2020 Conference = Click here for listserv from FFA Center to collect feedback
PAS:
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Officers - President - Gwen Heimerdinger, 1st Vice-President - Ryan Reeverts, 2nd Vice-President - Rob Janssen, 3rd Vice-President - Mazi Walker
Illinois FFA:
FFA Board Updates/Reminders - 12/1/2020 Listserv
Illinois FFA Board Updates - NEW Information - MUST Read** - 11/3/2020 Listserv
Leadership Training School Speeches - Click here for a document that has reflective questions that you can use with each of the Leadership Training School (LTS) speeches.
Illinois FFA Proficiency Award Report for Spring 2021
Opening Ceremonies
Illinois FFA Chapter Files
Section CDE Registration Reminder
2020 National FFA Results for Agriscience, National Chapter Award and Proficiency Results
Illinois FFA State Officer Team Updates
Tallo-AET SAE Grant Winners
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Click here to view the listserv message about Olivia Charles, West Carroll FFA
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Click here to view the listserv message about Dennis Wollin, South Central FFA
State Theme t-shirt, Convention t-shirts & Buttons
FFA Board Updates - August 2020
Notes of Thanks to Virtual Convention Sponsors & Friends
Donate to Virtual State FFA Convention
Illinois FFA Alumni and Supporters:
Illinois FFA Alumni Ranger Raffle
Alumni Update - August 2020
Illinois FFA Alumni Annual Meeting & Auction Update
Illinois FFA Center:
Illinois FFA Center Student Worker
Congratulate & Celebrate our Staff - Lori Nelson, Proudly Serving Illinois FFA Center since November 16, 2001
How to Pay Account Balances with a Credit Card - For Teachers
November 26 - 27, 2020 - Illinois FFA Center CLOSED - Thanksgiving
December 24, 2020 - January 4, 2021 - Illinois FFA Center CLOSED - Winter Break
Celebrate our Staff - Patti Davis, Proudly Serving Illinois FFA Center since August 23, 2010
Celebrate our Staff - John Edgar, Proudly Serving Illinois FFA Center since July 6, 2015
Celebrate our Staff - Tammy Yard, Proudly Serving Illinois FFA Center since April 30, 2007
Illinois Foundation FFA:
Prairie Farms Helps Support the Illinois Foundation FFA through the Our Caps, Your Cause Program
Illinois Foundation FFA October Update
2019 - 2020 Illinois Foundation FFA Annual Report
Industry Friends of agricultural education posts:
GROWMARK Foundation Awards FFA Jackets
HELP is NEEDED with COVID-19 Convalescent Plasma
NCGA Accepting Applications for 2020 Scholarships
National FFA:
National FFA Scholarship Application OPEN
SAE Grants Application Opens
National FFA Update
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Include lots of great information about the National FFA Convention, be sure to check out the National FFA Update.
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National FFA Convention Schedule
The Horizon Conference
***DATES & DEADLINES - Remember***
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December 10, 2020 - Illinois FFA Board Meeting - 3:00 p.m.
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December 12, 2020 - Agronomy Virtual CDE - 10 am to 2 pm - More CDEs
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December 24, 2020 - January 4, 2021 - Illinois FFA Center CLOSED - Winter Break
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January 8, 2021 - IAVAT & FFA Joint Board Meeting
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January 9, 2021 - IAVAT Section Chairs Meeting
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January 14, 2021 - American FFA Degree Webinar for Illinois FFA members
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January 15, 2021 - Intent to Apply for the American FFA Degree for Illinois FFA members
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January 18, 2021 - Illinois FFA Center CLOSED - Martin Luther King Jr. Day
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January 22 - 23, 2021 - Illinois FFA Alumni & Supporters Annual Mtg
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February 20 - 27, 2021 - National FFA Week
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February 25, 20221 - Give FFA Day
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March 1, 2021 - American FFA Degree applications DUE
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March 8, 2021 - State FFA Degree Review Day at the FFA Center
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March 9, 2021 - American FFA Degree Review Day at the FFA Center
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Mindy Bunselmeyer
Illinois FFA Center
Phone: 217-753-3328 Cell: 217-412-5646
Email: mbunselmeyer@illinoisffa.org
Address: 3221 Northfield, Springfield, IL 62702