March 13, 2008

Lind FFA Alumni reborn

By Stephen McFadden

Publisher

With 51 students in the Lind School District FFA chapter, it appears there's no time like the present for the revival of the Lind FFA Alumni, according to a gathering of parents and community leaders.

A Thursday evening meeting last week, led by Randy Kulm, president of the Lind FFA Alumni, focused on how to make the alumni organization a viable entity capable of providing vital support and funding for the FFA chapter's endeavors.

Discussion covered a variety of areas including raising additional funds, how to expose chapter members to a larger variety of useful skills and work-related trades and how to provide Lind students with another path besides athletics.

Kulm said after the meeting that the alumni group has been nearly inactive for the past two or three years.

He noted that chapter dues and an FFA jacket, part of FFA's official dress, costs each student approximately $60. Kulm said he believes the alumni should help cover some or all of those costs.

School board member Blake Bennett said he would like to see students offered a wider variety of trade skills including plumbing, electrical, welding and working with cement.

"For our students, their identity mostly comes from athletics," Bennett said. "We need additional options."

Another member of the audience suggested adding the FFA food sciences contests to the list of contests the chapter currently competes in. A third idea was to take the students on field trips that allow them to explore modern agriculture production, which could inspire the students to return to their rural roots after graduating from college or technical schools.

"Everything we give these kids will make them somewhat more employable," Debbie Kulm said. Debbie is currently the treasurer of the FFA alumni.

In conclusion, Randy Kulm said the alumni organization needs a vice president and a reporter. Terry Rueb serves as the alumni secretary. During the meeting no one volunteered to fill the vacant positions.

The group agreed to meet again on April 17.