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, October 9
MINUTES OF MEETING OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF
THE FUTURE FARMERS OF AMERICA Kansas City, MissC'uri
~ctober 9-10,
1954
The meeting of the Board of Directors of the FFA was called to order in Room 1041 of the·Hotel President, in Kansas City, Miss~uri, by Dr.
w.
T. Spant~n, Chairma~ of the Board. Those present included:Mr. John
w.
~.inten, State Supervisor of Agricultural Education, Cars~n City, Nevada; Mr. H. E. Wood, State Supervisor of Agricultural· Education,Tallahassee, Florida; Mr. Cola D. Watson, State Supervisor of Agricultural Education, Burlington, Vermont; Mr. Harold E. Urtcn, State Supervisor ct Agricultural Education, Pierre, South Dakota;, Mr. E. J. Johnson; Mr. R. E.
Naugher; Mr. H. N. Hansucker; and Dr. A.
w.
Tenney, Executive Secretary ot the FFA, all of the Office· of Education, Department of Health, Ed.lcation, and Welfare·, Washington, D.c.
In addition to the above members of the Board, the following persons were present: Mr. H. B. Swansen, of the Office of Education; and memlbers or ·the Board of Student Officers of the Future Farmers of America.The Chairman called for the reading of the minutes of the last meeting.
It was moved by Mr. Watson, seconded by Mro Urton and carried, that the reading of the m1nutes of the July meetiOg be dispensed with, since mimeo- graphed copies had been sent to each of the Board members.
Dr. Spanton suggested that the four regional members of the Board
presentany reports, criticisms or suggesti.ons which they .might have received from the States in their respective regions since the last Board meeting.' Mr. Wood reported an 0bjection from one of the States in the Southern Region
to
tfi0Proposed amendment to--.S~ction 16 of PUblic Law 740, it being their contention that the adoption of this proposed amendment would take too much authority away from the States and place it in the hands of the Board of Directors and Board of Student Officers of. the National Association, even if the new Board of Directors would consist of nine members from the States and six from the National Office. Mr. Wood reported further that there is a feeling that there are a number of FFA items on which the States should be able to use the FFA emblem, without ask-ing permission from the National Office. It was pointed out that there is now. in the process of preparation a set of "Official Policies Regarding the Use and Authorization for Use of the Name and Emblem of the FFA" for the guidance of FFA members, local chapters, State Associations, the National Organization etc., (subject to the passage or the proposed amendment to P. L. 740 by the U. S. Congress) which would further clarify this question. These proposed "Officiai Policies"would contain a list of items given prior approval by the Board on which the emblem and/or the letters "FF.A" could be used by the States and local chapters withnut special approval by the Board. The list could be added to by the Board from time to time as the need arises •
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Mr. Wood reported a furth~r objection from this one State in the
Southern Region to the action taken by the Board at its July meeting, namely,
"That a grant to the States from the FFA Supply Service be continued this year in the amount of 2 per cent-of the gross sales, with an additional 1 per cent to be placed in a reserve fund; and that the States be advised
that this grant will be discontinued next year and the money put into a building fund." Mr. Urton had no criticisms or objections to offer from the Central Regioil'On this matter; Mr. Bunten advised that he had received no objections from the Pacific Region; Mr. Watson advised that he had received no criticisms from States in the-North Atlantic Region on action taken by the B,')ard at its Ju.1.y meeting, but reiterated that results of a poll take.Tl prior to the July m.eetir.g showed that the North Atlantic Region favored reducing cost of tee merchandise in lieu of grants to the States.
Mr. Wood stated that he had heard some criticisms because of the fact that GO!d Emblem Chapter Advisors no longer receive the Honorary American Farmer Degree. This led to a discussion on the Criteria for selecting Vocational Agriculture Teachers to receive the Honorary American Farmer
Degree and the fact that each -applicant must have previously received the Honorary State Farmer Degree. It was pointed out that some States do not grant the Honora:ry State Farmer Degree to teachers of vocational agriculture.
It was moved by Mr. Johnson, seconded by Mr. Naugher and carried, tha:t the Board of Directorsaccept the recommendationof the B6ard of Student Officers, namely, that the prerequisite that a teacher of vocatic~al agri- culture must have previously received the Honorary State Farmer Degree, to be eligible for the Honorary American Farmer-Degree, be dropped from the Criteria previously develnped and adopted by the Board.
Mr. Wood continued his report by registering, on behalf of this same State
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tne-8outhern Region, dissatisfaction with the action of the Boards of Directors and· Student Officers in discontinUing the awarding of Honorary American Farmer Degrees to supervisors and teacher trainers who serve as Superintendents of the National FFA Judging Contests. Considerable dis-cussion followed. Mr" Johnson pointed out that he had voted again.st this motion when it was passed by the Board~ Mr. Hansucker stated that he has been impressed with the tremendous amount-Of work done by these men at Waterloo and Kansas City and he believes that many of them deserve
recognition, He stated, however, that he doubts the wisdom of setting up a -blanket policy wi-th respect to granting the Honora!"J American Fanner Degree to State Supervisor7 and Teacher Training staff manbers, He
suggested, int:.tead, that the Board go on record as being in favor of setting up Criteria for recognizing these persons.
After further discussion, it was moved by Mr. Urton, seconded by Mr. Wood and carried, that the Board of DirectorS-accept the recommendation
01" t~ard of Student Officers, namely, that action be postpo!led at this
time on setting up Criteria for awarding the Honorary American Farmer Degree to State Supervisory and Teacher Training staff members -- '.:but that such Criteria be submitted for consideration at the January meeting of the Board.
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Mr. Wood continued his report by presenting a suggestion offered by this same State in the Southern Region, that applicants for the American Fanner Degree be required to submit notarized statements when claiming partnerships on their .American Farmer Degree application forms. In the dis- cussion which followed, Mr. Watson stated that the State of Vermont favors the use of written partnership agreements but does not feel it necessary to have them substantiated by notarized statements. After full and complete discussion, it was the consensus of opinion that partnership agreements should be encouraged, but that present policies with regard to the American Farmer Degree applications are adequate.
'!he next matter presented for consideration of the Board concerned the application forms for National and Regional Awards offered by the FFA
Foundation. Mr. Wood read a statement recommending that the National Office . furnish the necessary forms for submittin.g applications for National and
Regional awards to the National Office, and that these application forms be condensed as much as possible. Mr. Wood expressed the personal opinion that
· perhaps the States might use a condensed form; . then submit their applications
·for the various Regional and National Awards on the pre.scribed form furnished
by the National Office. It was pointed out that some of the States have expressed dissatisfaction with the present application forms. Dr. Spanton stated that the forms are being reworked and simplified as much as possible
~t the present tinle.
After further discussion, it was moved by Mr. Johnson, seconded by Mr. Bunten and carried, that the Board of Directors accept the reconnnendation 01 the Board of Student Officers, namely, that the application fonns to be _ used by the States for submittin.g applications for FFA Foundation awards on the Regional and National levels to the National Office, be revised and condensed to the satisfaction of personnel in the National Office; and that the States be permitted to use, w:1.thin the State, any simplified form of their own choosing. It was the sense of the group that copies of the revised application forms for Regional and National Award winners should be presented and discussed at the Regional Conferences, at which time rules and techni- calities might be explained and further clarified for the benefit of State Supervisors, Executive Secretaries, etc.
The Chairman called for any further reports from the Regional Repre- sentatives on the Board. Mr. Watson stated that he had no report at this time from the North AtlantIC Regroll, but will make a report At the January meeting of the Board. Mr. Bunten reported that one State in the Pacific Region still objects to-ihe-saI"e-of Sweetheart Jackets at the FFA Supply Service. Mr, Wood stated that one State in the Southern Region still objects to"thesaie of denim jackets at the Supply Service. Mr. Urton reported that one State in the Central Region favors the discontiiluaiiC'e of pictures when submitting applications for the American Fanner Degree. After considerable discussion, Mr. Urton s-6ated that he would take the full
responsibility of delaying any further comment on this subject until the January meeting of the Board. Without objection, it ·was· so ordered.
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· . ..• •,: .. . .Dr. Tenney brought to the Board's at.tention a letter which he had received from the Ohio Association of FI•'A, suggesting the use of billboard advertising during FFA Week. In the discussion which followed, it was the .sense of the group that there woUld be no objections to such advertising
so long as it was not connected :in any way with commercial advertising.
Without objection, it was so ordered.
Dr. Spanton next read a letter which he had received from the Delaware Association of l:Uture Fanners of America, in which they recommended a change in the Opening Ceremony of a Future Farmer Meeting to include the repeating of the Lord's Prayer. After due consideration, it was moved by Mr. Bunten, seconded by Mr. Naugher and carried, that the Board of Directors--Sccept the recommendation of the Board of Student Officers that the recommendation sub•
mitted by the Delaware Association of FFA to change the Opening Ceremony, be rejected.
Dr. Spanton next called for a report on the recommendations which the Board Of S1llaent Officers will make to the delegates assembled in National Convention in connection with the following Proposed Amendments to the
National FFA Constitution which were submitted by the New Mexico and Michigan
Associat~ns of FFA respectively, as follows:
PROPOSED AMENIMENTS TO THE NATIONAL FFA CONSTITUTION Amend Article VI, Section B, the second septence, by striking out the words " ••• after that a~te, and the application as received will be considered as the final basis for selection."
'Ihe amended sentence would then read; "No additions or corrections will be accepted."
Amend· Article V, Section D, Item
9,
by substituting"3%"
in the place of h2%t:, so the last part of the first sentence in Item 9 would read as follows: "Where State membership exceeds 500., a number in excess of ten, but not more than3%
of the total State membership may be elected (fractions counted to the nearest whole number)."In other words, the purpose of this amendment is to permit the States to elect
3%
of their total membership to the State Farmer Degree, instead of· the present restriction of 2%. · The report of the ·Board of Student Officers on the above proposed amendments to the FFA Constitution follows:"The Board of Student Officers go on record as recommending that the proposed amendment to Article VI, Section B, the second sentence, submitted by the New Mexico Association of FFA, be accepted'.
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Board of Student Officers go on record as recommending that th~ proposed amendment to Article V, Section D, Item 9, as subni tted by the Michigan Association of FFA, be rejected. iiAfter due consideration and discussion, it was moved by Mr. Naug):ler, seconded by Mr. John.son and carried, that the reconnnendation of-:rhe Board of Student Offi.cers, with reference to the proposed amendment to Article VI, Section B, the secoi:.d sentence, be accepted, namely, that the amendment be accepted.
It was moved by Mr. Watson, seconded by Mr. Wood and carried, that the recommendation of the ·Board of Student Officers, with reference to the proposed a~endment to Article
v,
Section D, Item 9, be accepted, namely, that the CL"llendment be re jectea.The meeting was adjourned until 1:00 P.M.
The afternoon session opened with the reading of a letter from
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L. Braund & Associates, of Battle Creek; Michigan, which had been sent to the National FFA President, David Boyne. This letter concerned the sale of hitch es for Pearson Rope Releases as a fund-raising ·campaign for Future Fanners. A questionnaire was submitted with the letter ·to the National President, which, if completed and returned toc.
L. Braund&
Associates might be construed as an endorsement of the product by the NationalOrganization of Future Farmers of America. In the discussion which followed, similar occurrances were cited, and it was felt that the National Organizatt.on should strongly encourage State Associations of FFA to refrain from endorsing .- any type of commercial product in the name of the Future Farmers of America, Mr. Watson told of instances where he had been contacted for endorsements 01 various items which he considered to be of a connnercial naUire. He also stated tllat the supervisors in the North Atlantic Region have tmanimously agreed that definite.policies should be set up.for the National .Office to follow as ethical procedure in cases of this kind. This matter was dis- cussed at sane length.
It was moved by Mr. Naugher, .seconded by Mr. · Bunten and carried, that the Board of Directorsaccepttile· recommendationof the Board of Student Officers, namely, that the National Office turn down all requests for endorsement of commercial products in the name of the Future Farmers of America.
The next matter to come before-the Board was the review of the case of Matthew Ru..~d, of Route
4,
Kingfisher, Oklahoma," whose application fo~the American Fanner· Degree was rejected at the July meeting of the Boards . of Student Officers and Directorso The members of the Board again reviewed
the application in question, and the reason for its rejection, namely:
"'lhis boy apparently had only one year of training in vocational agricul t\ll'e --in his Senior year-- and graduated May 20, 1951. The.record t~ther·
shows that h_e did not receive his Chapter Farmer Degree until November, 1951, and that he was not r~gularly enrolled in school at that time. The FFA Cons ti. tution clearly states that the candidate for the Chapte~ Fa~r
Degree must be •regularly enrolled µi a vocational agriculture class at the time he receives this Degree' • "
Education, appeared before the Board and gaYe further background on behalf of the candidat.e. They advised that the reason for the candidate having only one year of training in vocational agriculture was because of the fact that Okarche, Oklahoma, did not establish a vocational agriculture· unit until the year the candidate was a Senior. They also pointed out that the candidate took all the vocational agriculture he could; that it was true that he
graduated in May of 1951 and did r.ot receive his Chapter Fanner Degree until November, 1951, but that his records were not completed until the following January. He is now 21 years old and has been cut of high school for 3 years.
The Board members thanked Matthew for appearing before them as he had.
After due consideration and discussion, it was moved by Mr. Naugher, and seconded by Mr. Wcod, that the Board of Directors accept the recommendatio~
of the Board of Student Officers, namely, that the application of Matthew Rund for the American Farmer Degree, be accepted. The motion was lost, and the applicant was therefore rejected~
Mr. Barron, Editor of The National FU'IURE FARMER, appeared before the Board to give a report on tl1e plans for a building to house the magazine staff and the FFA Supply Service& As authorized by the Board at its July meetirig, the services of an architect were secured to draw up plans for a . complete unit on the present site of the FFA Camp, and Mr. Barron presented
the architect's drawing. This consisted of. a two-story central unit, 94 x 36,
with basement -- and two win.gs,«; 3'7-~ x 30 each, which could be added at any time to· conform with the arc:iitect.ural design of the central unit, the building to-be built of brick 7eneer. The FFA Supply Service would occupy the first floor, with the magazine offices located on the second floor.
'Although actual construction costs have not been obtained, Mr .. Barron stated
that pr~li.lTlin.ary est:L11ates recei -ved from builders varied from $45.~ooo. to
$69,000. for the central tu1it, and up tp $120,000. for the complete unit.
Ways and means of financj.ng this praposed structure were discussed~
After further discussion, it was moved by Mr. Johnson, seconded by
Mr. Naugher and carried, that the Board of DirectOrs-ac(:'ept the recormnendation
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~oard of Student Officers, namely, that the progress report given byMr. Barron be accepted wlth thanks; that Mr. Barron, Mr. Hawkins and the Board of Directors proceed with securing detailed specifications and bids for presen~ation to the Board for consideration at its January meeting.
A discussion was h~ld with reference to the collection of magazine subscriptionso Mr. Sutliff, of New York, has advised that his State finds it involves extra bookkeeping to collect some subscriptions c·n a .5-year
bas~s, and other subscript.ions for only .~ne or two: yearse It was his suggestion that the st,bscription rate be set at a flat 25 cents per year.
Mr. Watson concurred~ He stated they have no 5-year subscriptions in his State. Mr. Bu.-ry_ten thought the s::.r.rolest way for the State Offices to handle the matter o?Inagazine subscriptio~s is to collect 25 cents for the magazine along with the 10 cents for dues each year. Mr. Barron thought perhaps it would be better to change to a straight 25 cent rate=--He reported that !µ.
States are now·handling the collecti.on of subscriptions through their State Offices. ~e also reported the last issue of the magazine came out
approximately
$,5,ooo.
in the black, with a total of 151,272 subscribers.· . )
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The chairman next review~d the proposed amendments to Section 16 of Public Law 740. He also told of c.. set of Official Policies, which had been drafted by Mr. Hansucker and others of the staff in the National Office, concerning the Use and Authorization for Use 0£ the Name and Emblem of the FFA. Dr. Spanton asked ¥ir. Hansucker to explain these policies to the Board members, and copies were distributed to all those presento Mr(', Hansucker
suggested three possibilities for the handling of these proposed policies:
1. That these proposed policies be distributed among the States as evidence of the kind of freedom that would be given by the Board of Directors on the use of the FFA Emblem, if and when
the proposed amendments to Public Law 740· are passed by the Uriited States Congress;·
2. ·That these recommended policies be presented to appropriate committees, and subsequently to the delegate body, for revision and adoption by them as Official Organizational Policies until such tj.me as the Law is amended; or
3. That this Board give temporary approval to these policies arrl this information be sent out to the various St~te
Supervisors and Executive Secretaries as this Board's thinking as to the kind of policies that wcruld be established if _and when the proposed amendments to P. L. 740 are adopted(\
In the discussion which followed, Mr. Watson said he thought the suggested policies should be sent to the States) accompanied by a letter of explanationo Mr~ Wood stated that he would like to submit the policies
to his Sta~e offi'Cials.--Dr~ Spanton suggested that, with the unanimous approval of this group, the proposed· policies for the use of the emblem be sent out to the State Supervisors, asking for criticisms and suggestionsJ and that, if ... these policies are not satisfactory, they submit something that would be agreeable. These comments and suggestions should be sent to the
National Office before the next meeting of the Board in January.
After further discussion, it was moved by Dr. Tenney, seconded by
Mr. Watson and carried, that the Board of Directors accept the recommendation 0? the Board of Student Officers~ namely, that the proposed policies for the use of the FFA Emblem be sent out to the State Supervisors with the request that they submit their criticisms and suggestions for improT1ement before the Jan ua:r:y meeting of the Boardo
Tliie meeting was adjourned at 5 :30 P ,M.
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October 10
The morning session was called to order by the Chairman at 9:00 a.m.
The first matter en the agenda was the consideration of the appeal of
Richard Lee Pry, of Knoxville, M~ryland, whose application for the American Fanner Degree was rejected at th~: July meeting of the Boards of Silldent Officers and m.rectors$ 'Ihe memlS'ers of the Board again reviewed the appli- cation in qusstion, and the reason for its rejection, namely, that this boy•s supervisad farming program did ndt "show comprehensj.ve planning, continuaticn, growth, and increase i:i scope" a$. required by the National FFA Constitution.
The candidate appeared before the Board and gave further information concerning his farming program. In the discussion which foilowed, it was pointed out that this boy had left the school in his own ccm~nunity (Brunswick, Mazyland) and travelled quite a d~.stance to another school (Middletown) in order to take vocational agriculture, since his own school did not offer such a course of study. He came to Kansas City on his own, in order to appeal his case, and gave a very good accounting of hi.~s9lf o The Board thanked him for his interest and for his fine presentation.
After considerable discussion, it was moved by Mr. Watson, seconded by
Mr. Urton and carried, that the Board of Directors accept the recommendation
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the Board of Student Officers, namely, that the application of Richard Lee Pry for the American Farmer Degree, be rejectedQMr. Urton stated tnat the vocational agriculture instructors in the State 01 South Dakota would like to have phonograph records that are made at the National Conventions, stocked at the FFA Supply Service and made
available for purchaseo ·
It was moved by Mr. Watson, seconded by Mr. Urton aJ1d carried, that the Board of Directors-accept the recommendation of the Board of St-udent · Officers, namely, that the FFA Supply Service be authorized to carry in stock phonograph records made at the National FFA Conventions.
The meeting was adjourned until 1:30 p~m. to enable the Board members to attend church services 1n which the National FFA Band and Chorus were to participate.
'!he meeting was reconvened at 1:30 porn •. , all members of the Board being present. Much of the afternoon was spent in working out, in detail, plans for conducting the convention; and assigning specific· duties to the individual members of the Boards of Student Officers and Directors for the entire week.
In accordance with action taken by the Board of Student Officers and Board of Directors at their July meeting, Mr. Hansucker presented a revised plan for the National Chapter Award -- formerly known·as the National Chapter Contest. Mr. Hansucker reviewed this new proposal, explaining that this work had been per.formed upon authorization of the delegate body at the 19.53
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convention. The wishes of the delegates have been considered and the entire contest revised accordingly. The new plan will minimize reporting, serve as a guide to ohapters in suggesting appropriate activities, and establish
m~!imum standards for ch~pter achievament. The plan also establishes a system of awards for accompl:!.shments, and abclj.shes the contest philosophy which previously has been in effect. It is believed that the awards
recognition program will st:tro:i.llate FFA activity in all chapterso The Board of Student, O.fficer-s and Board of Directors of the FFA jo:!.ntJ.y reviewed the
propo~ed r-J.lcs) regul~tions and report forms for the Nat.ional Chapter Awards
Progra~11 and offered se-·1eral suggestior..s for its improve11en~. The plan then was une.!U.mously accepted for recommendation to the National CC'nvention committee and delegate bQd7 for consideration and approval.
Mro Urton stated t.11.a t he ·would like to exoress his appreciation to Mr. Hansucker and those responsib~.Le fo~ re·vising the rules end regulations of the form3r National Che.pter Co:Jtesto He commanded them for their work in drafting the present Natio!lal Chapter Award Pro gr.am.
'!here being no further business to come before the Board, the meeting was adjourned at 5~30 p.m.
A. W. Tenney, Secretary
W. T. spanton, Chainnan
