C-FAR Connection - Summer 2007

              IN this ISSUE
Illinois Council on Food and Agricultural Research
Connection
Vol. 9, No. 2, Summer 2007
C FAR
Committee Activated to Enhance Membership
Initiatives
Keeping the Focus................................................................2
External Competitive Grants Program .................................3
Butanol: A Vision for an Alternative Biofuel ......................4
YouthWorks ..........................................................................5
Get to Know a C-FAR Member ...........................................6
C-FAR Day at ISU ...............................................................7
Websites to Watch ................................................................7
CONTINUED ON PAGE 3
In the formative days of the Illinois Council on Food
and Agricultural Research (C-FAR), an organizing
committee worked to establish a C-FAR coalition and
increase membership to represent Illinois’ diverse food,
agricultural, environmental, and consumer interests.
When the organization’s bylaws were adopted by the
council in December 1993, they laid the foundation for
the establishment of committees to serve the organization.
Shortly thereafter, fifi ve committees were identififi ed:
legislative, fifi nance, research, rules and procedures, and
membership. The charge of the membership committee
per the bylaws is to: Obtain and retain members. Develop
ways to build consensus within C-FAR on specififi c issues,
and coalitions for supporting C-FAR programs.
Although the opportunity for a membership
committee has been in place since C-FAR’s founding,
membership-related activities have largely been overseen
by an appointed board member. For nearly 10 years,
Carol Keiser, a long-term member of C-FAR’s board of
directors, led the organization’s membership and coalition-building
initiatives.
“I truly had one of the most rewarding
responsibilities in C-FAR–working with and building a
membership that C-FAR founders envisioned. Watching
its continued viability is most gratifying, and all members
should be very proud of their affifi liation,” said Keiser.
Following Keiser, Larry Fischer served as membership
chair on the board of directors from 2004 to 2006. Jim
Charlesworth currently leads the membership initiatives.
Given the size and diversity of today’s C-FAR
membership, coupled with the opportunities and
responsibilities these members are afforded, the board of
directors recently agreed that a membership committee
should be activated. Appointed to serve on this new
committee are Jim Charlesworth (chair), Colleen Callahan,
Faye Dong, Jack Erisman, Larry Fischer, Roger Hubele,
and Tom Toohill.
At their fifi rst meeting in June, the membership
committee members examined the committee’s
opportunities and responsibilities, reviewed past and
current memberships and related activities, and discussed
how to best assist members in making their engagement
in C-FAR as meaningful and impactful as possible. “As
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6
C-FAR Membership Growth
from C-FAR Founding to Today
1994 2007 1994 2007 1994 2007
Organizational Affiliate Individual
As of June 2007