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Message from the 2015-2016 AIARD President
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As I took the gavel from out-going President, Deanna Behring, I realized that a high bar had been set to follow the successful year under her leadership – a spectacular 50th anniversary annual Conference, launch of an on-line forum for member dialogue, a newly-organized website and logo and a scholarship initiative.
Our Association began its second half-century during the 51st annual Conference in June 2015. The Conference on “Fostering Innovation in International Agriculture and Rural Development” incorporated several innovative elements, including ten 5-minute “lightning talks” from speakers selected through open competition and an interactive dialogue on Institutional Innovation planned and expertly executed by alumni of our Future Leaders Forum (FLF). An FLF scholarship fundraising initiative was launched to provide a stable financial footing for the award. Consensus was reached that AIARD will prepare a succinct “White Paper” on key issues in international agriculture and rural development to be shared with the incoming USAID Administrator. Reflecting its larger and growing proportion of younger members, AIARD will explore platforms to share job opportunities and include recruitment opportunities during our annual Conference.
In July and August, our Board will organize AIARD’s work for the year ahead and I encourage you to become involved in the Association’s activities through participation in its committees. If interested, contact committee chairs listed below:
- Awards, Chris Pannkuk - pannkuk@wsu.edu
- Education and Advocacy, Sue Schram - susan.schram@att.net,
- Communication, Samantha Alvis - samantha_alvis@yahoo.com
- Finance, Bob Haggerty - haggerty@uidaho.edu
- Membership, Chuck Chopak - Chuck_Chopak@dai.com and David Hansen - hansen.4@osu.edu
Dick Rortvedt, AIARD President
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Congratulations 2015 AIARD Award Winners
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Each year at the AIARD Annual Meeting, we recognize three award winners. This year, two of our award winners were alumni of the AIARD Future Leaders Forum! Learn more about each of our 2015 Award Winners here...and think of who you might nominate for 2016.
 
Distinguished Service: Amanda Crump Young Professional: Samantha Alvis
Special Service: Rob Bertram
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Are you a current member?
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Have you renewed your AIARD dues for 2015-16? If you were registered for #AIARD51, your dues are current. Don't miss out on AIARD Member Only benefits like the list serve, new LinkedIn group and other activities. Renew or join line at http://www.aiard.org/membership-application.html
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AIARD Member and Partners Updates
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AIARD Member and Partner Updates will return in our Fall newsletter. Have updates you would like to share? Please send a link to your update, along with a picture if available, to communications@aiard.org.
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Members Only Linked In Group
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You spoke, we listened. You wanted a space for current AIARD members to be able to interact, post jobs and have discussions, so we have launched a new AIARD Members Only LinkedIn Group. If you are a current, dues paid AIARD member, you should have recieved an invitation to join the group (to the email address tied to your membership).
Not seeing an invite? Join the group here.
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LinkedIn Group for
Future Leader Alumni
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Stay connected with other AIARD Former Future Leaders by joining our new alumni group on LinkedIn.
This is a group for the AIARD Future Leaders Forum alumni to share knowledge, experience, news and keep in touch.
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As we discussed at the Annual Conference in June, AIARD has helped facilitate an advocacy campaign in support of World Bank funding for the CGIAR. The Bank had planned to phase out its contribution completely over the next couple of years.
The campaign had several phases including help from key members of Congress and a public sign-on letter with 46 signatories- companies, NGOs, universities, and associations.We were informed last week that World Bank management has decided that funding from World Bank Group sources will not fall below a minimum threshold of $30 million, initially through fiscal year 2018. This encouraging news and a reversal of the planned decline to zero.
A huge THANK YOU to all of you who supported our advocacy to keep the Bank engaged with the CGIAR. We will be working with the Bank in the future to support additional resources for the CGIAR and encourage their continued strong leadership in the system.
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Check out or photo gallery from our 51st Annual AIARD conference here.
Do you have photos from the event that you would like to share? Send them to communications@aiard.org.
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Presentations from #AIARD51
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Did you miss a presentation during the annual conference or want to revisit one of the outstanding presentations? Good news-you can now download PDFs of all #AIARD51 presentations at http://www.aiard.org/program1.html
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Future Leaders Scholarship Fund
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Support the next generation of leaders in international agriculture and rural development.
The Association for International Agriculture and Rural Development has launched an “AIARD Scholarship Fund” which will support annual scholarships to the top “AIARD Future Leaders” selected from a pool of talented undergraduate and graduate students in a field related to international agriculture. Learn more here.
We have already received pledges of $40,000-help us reach our goal of $100,00 by making a tax deductible donation today.
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New Career Networking
Working Group
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Former AIARD President, Deanna Behring, is leading an initiative to bring career networking opportunities to AIARD. If you have ideas or would like to join in the discussion, please contact Deanna at dbehring@psu.edu.
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