Committee Structure      

• All committees must elect annually:
  Chairman
  Vice Chairman
• Committee chairs and vice chairs must be elected from the elected district representatives. Both chairs and vice-chairs will maintain their vote.
• In the event of a committee vacancy, the committee chair will work with the relevant IAVAT District Director to identify a replacement committee member to be approved by the IAVAT Board of Directors at their next regularly scheduled board meeting.
• Each committee will be expected to establish three (3) goals which will provide the direction for the committee throughout the year. Ways and means should be established and for each goal. Progress on completing those goals should be regularly reviewed at each committee meetings. 
• Committees must hold a minimum of five (5) formal committee meetings each year. Each member must attend a minimum of three (3) meetings in order to earn Incentive Funding Grant (IFG) credit. Expected deadlines for holding meetings is as follows:
  June - Annual Conference
  September 15 - Conference follow-up and direction for the year
  November 15 - Progress on the goals
  February 15 - What is left to accomplish on projects for the year?
  April 15 - Create the annual report for the June Conference program. Develop the action points that still need to be completed for each established goal to aid in the transition for the next year’s committee.
• A written committee report which includes an attendance list, a summary of discussions, action plans and requests/recommendations to the IAVAT Board must be submitted to the IAVAT Vice President following any meeting of the committee. A Google Form will be supplied for each meeting.
• A written annual report must be submitted to the IAVAT Vice President by May 1st each year. 
• All voting committee members must have their IAVAT dues paid no later than October 31st every year. 
• Committee Chairs must be in good standing which includes the following:
  a. Attendance of at least one Committee Chair meeting called by the IAVAT Vice President
  b. Complete the Committee Google Form promptly upon completion of all committee meetings. 
  c. Submit meeting reports by the above listed deadlines to the IAVAT Vice President for review by the IAVAT Board of Directors.
  d. Pay dues prior to the October 31st deadline.
  e. Hold regularly scheduled meetings to meet the timelines listed in point 3. 
  f. Committee chairs must provide seven calendar days of notice for all committee meetings to ensure all members have time to adjust their schedules in order to attend. Ideally, meeting dates for the entire year should be set at the first meeting after June conference.
  g. The IAVAT Vice-President should be included in all meeting notifications.
  *Should a chair be unable to meet a requirement in 8a-8g, a strike will be tallied and after three strikes a chairman will be ineligible for re-election as a Committee Chair for a period of two years. 

For more questions on committee work, or to serve as a member-at-large, contact each committee chair.

Committees & Descriptions      
Advocacy
Chair: Emily Backeberg, Durand
Description: The purpose of the Advocacy committee is to influence Public Policy on agriculture education through workshops and seminars. The advocacy committee is responsible for developing a productive and communicative relationship with the Illinois State Legislature, Illinois State Board of Education, and the Division of Career and Technical Education. As a committee we promote a positive relationship between all agriculture education agencies.

Ag Ed Teacher Recruitment/Retention
Chair: Cindy Feltmeyer, Eastland
Description: The Retention and Recruitment committee is responsible for coordinating a variety of activities that will encourage people to pursue a career in agricultural education including IAVAT Student Branch Conference. The committee is also responsible for retaining these teachers by planning events like 1-5 year teacher workshop. The committee will also be working on Quality Guidelines for teacher success.

Career Development Event Advisory
Chair: Darin Blunier, Midland
Description: The CDE committee annually reviews specific Career Development Events on a rotational basis.  In addition, we address any CDE concerns that come up throughout the year and make recommendations to the IAVAT Board.  The committee also assigns advisors to each event to help with the review process.

Curriculum Advisory
Chair: Kenyon Jodlowski, Freeburg
Description: The purpose of Curriculum Advisory committee is to aid in the development, evaluating and improving of curriculum resources and materials for Illinois agriculture teachers. The committee works with different educational resource providers to ensure high quality curriculum access to agricultural educators in Illinois.

Fair & Exposition Advisory
Chair: Jessica Chipman, Flanagan-Cornell
Description: The goals of the Fairs & Exposition Committee is to aid in the development and improvement of the Fair Program.  Furthermore, we encourage Ag Teachers to be present at any county or state fair check-in locations where Agricultural students may be present.  This committee also serves to review all State Fair rules and guidelines, and provide voting membership and recommendations to the Illinois State Fair Advisory Committee.
 
ICAE Advisory
Chair: Jody Heavner, Pittsfield
Description: The purpose of this committee is to annually review and evaluate the Agriculture Incentive Funding and Three Circle FFA and SAE grant applications and approvable agriculture course offerings.  The committee reviews the quality indicators, requirements, and process of the two grants and the agriculture courses on their relevance and importance to agricultural education programs.  The committee sends their recommendations to ICAE for consideration.

Legislative
Chair: Jesse Faber, Pontiac
Description: The IAVAT Legislative Committee developed and implements the legislative plan for Illinois agricultural education through working directly with lobbyists. Activities include: drafting and proposing legislation, reviewing and acting on proposed bills, developing budget requests, assisting with Ag Legislative Seminar and Ag Legislative Day, and working with the LEAP((Legislator's Education in Agriculture Programs) initiative. We work to use our legislative platform to improve agricultural education and agriculture teachers' lives.

Member Services
Chair: Kara Barling, Heyworth
Description: The purpose of the member services committee is to enhance IAVAT member experience by providing unique and necessary opportunities and services. The membership services committee develops programs, manages crisis funds, and explores desired services within the organization.

Middle School Engagement
Chair: Sarah Farnsworth, Milton Pope Jr High
Description: The purpose of the Middle School committee is to develop and maintain Middle School specific initiatives for students and teachers alike. As the middle school model is developed and created the committee will serve to identify appropriate and responsible program components to successfully sustain Middle School development in Illinois. 

Professional Development
Chair: Kara Poynter, Sycamore
Description: Plans and coordinates activities and programs during the year to further the professional development and knowledge base of the membership.

Recognition
Chair: Jeff Clifton, Cissna Park
Description: The Recognition Committee is responsible for acknowledging outstanding past, present, and future agricultural educators and affiliates for their service and contribution to the organization and profession.  The committee accomplishes this by encouraging members to apply for applicable awards through IAVAT, Nationwide Golden Owl, NAAE, IACTE, ACTE, scholarships, and all related areas. 

SAE Advisory
Chair: Lisa Oellerich, Scales Mound
Description: The SAE committee is focused on developing the use of Supervised Agriculture Experience Programs for students and programs across the state.

Special Projects & Resolutions
Chair: Jason Kilburn, Monmouth-Roseville
Description:  The purpose of this committee is to first bring resolutions from the membership to the final business session at IAVAT to be voted on.  Special Projects also helps every 5 years by looking at re-sectioning and sends those recommendations on to the IAVAT Board and membership.  Finally, the committee works on any additional task that the IAVAT Board sends to the committee.