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IFG Amendment due today, IAVAT Conference, 3 Circle Grant

Ag Education 3 Circles Grant- prepare now

Please begin preparing now for the Ag Education 3 Circles Grant. The application will very likely be released much earlier this year, probably before the end of June, and you need to work with your administration to make sure they are prepared and ready to apply on your behalf. 

Last year there were 6% of teachers statewide who had a 12 month contract.  After the 3 Circles Grant we are now around 40%. Our statewide goal is to get to 75% of Ag teachers receiving the grant next year. Please let me know how I can help you and your administration with this. The first step is to fill out the worksheet, attached. 

IFG Amendment "due" today

This is a reminder that it was recommended that you complete your Ag Incentive Funding budget amendments for the increase you received today. Today is not an actual deadline, but because Mr. Hepner is leaving at the end of the month we won't know when they might be reviewed or who might review them after he leaves. It is advised that you complete them now so he can finish those approvals next week before he changes positions.

If you have questions, feel free to contact me. Here is a link to the instructions (in table of contents, click on #9) where one can follow the steps of how to amend the grant. The "actual" grant amendment deadline is April 30.

Remember you MUST ensure all IFG funds are SPENT by the end of June!

IAVAT Conference details

The Illinois agriculture teachers conference is a great professional development and networking opportunity for all ag teachers to attend in June.   I hope that your high school agriculture teacher can attend.  Grant funding is available to cover registration, hotel room, mileage, and meals.   Click for the agenda.  Click to register.

Benefits of attending the IAVAT Conference:  

• Network and gain/share ideas with high school ag teachers and ag education professionals across the state.
• Hear important partner reports with discussion of policies of agricultural education and FFA events. 
• Attend professional development workshops on valuable teaching content, new resources, and student engagement.
• Serve on and attend committee meetings.  
• Attend section and district ag teacher meetings.  
• Recognize teaching excellence award winners.

Dates:  June 19, 20, 21, 2018  (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday)  
-June 19 begins at 9 am with exhibits and special workshops.  
10 am is the start time of the first session.
-June 21 ends at or near 12 pm after morning tours.

Professional Development:  Click for workshop registration on Monday (optional), Tuesday, and tours on Thursday.  If any questions, please contact Jennifer Waters at jwaters@agriculturaleducation.org. 

Location:  Decatur Conference Center & Hotel, 4191 US 36 West  (Wyckles Road), Decatur, IL 62522   To make a reservation, call the front desk at (217) 422-8800 and ask for the room block of the Illinois Association Vocational Agriculture Teachers.

Registration:  Early registration by June 1st.  Click to register and create an invoice for your school district.  After June 1st, a $50 late fee will be added. Cancellations or no-shows will be responsible for the full amount of the invoice. 

IAVAT Member - $275 which includes all conference resources, Tuesday lunch and dinner, Wednesday breakfast and lunch, and Thursday breakfast.  
IAVAT Non-Member - $325 which includes all conference resources, Tuesday lunch and dinner, Wednesday breakfast and lunch, and Thursday breakfast. 
Student IAVAT Member – $0 which includes all conference resources.  Those student teaching Fall 2017, Spring 2018, Fall 2018, or Spring 2019 will have hotel and meal cost covered by FCAE. Any other Student Branch Members will have Tuesday meals covered by FCAE, but will need to reserve their own hotel rooms.  For all others, fees for meals are: Tuesday lunch($25), Tuesday banquet($35), Wednesday breakfast($20), Wednesday lunch($25), Thursday breakfast($20).   
Exhibitor - $200 plus meals attending per the student member fees above.

For more information, contact the IAVAT office:
Illinois Association of Vocational Agriculture Teachers
John Edgar, Assistant Director
Illinois FFA Center
3221 Northfield Drive
Springfield, IL 62702
jedgar@illinoisffa.org
(217) 753-3328  x102
Patti Davis, Special Projects & Events Specialist, pdavis@illinoisffa.org  x107

Grant funding from the Agriculture Incentive (registration only), Career & Technical Education Improvement(CTEI), and Federal Perkins can be used for registration, hotel, mileage, and meal expenses.  Each grant has specific guidelines.  Contact your EFE System Director or Department Chair.