Vicki Morrone 517-282-3558 (cell) Sorrone@msu,edu From: "Bell, Randy" <[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]> Date: January 25, 2012 3:39:06 PM EST. MSUE Ingham cty Subject: RE Charter bus riders to Chicago -learn from organizations how to build and develop local food systems conference - take action You are invited to join representatives from local, state and federal government, business, and not-for-profit organizations from America’s Heartland at a one-day conference on Feb. 3 in Chicago to learn about successful models and opportunities to develop or expand local food systems in your area. The Many Faces of Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food will give you the unique opportunity to learn from people involved in every aspect of the local food delivery system. The keynote speaker is USDA Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan. With more than 20 years of experience in policy, legislation and research, Dr. Merrigan is an ardent advocate of local foods and the critical link between farmers and consumers. She manages USDA’s Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food effort. Recognizing the history and scope of her work, Time magazine named Dr. Merrigan among the "100 Most Influential People in the World" in 2010. The conference is hosted by USDA’s Illinois Rural Development and the Food & Nutrition Service (FNS) Midwest Region. Through a series of breakout sessions and presentations, participants will learn what models and strategies have worked well and which ones haven’t. You will learn about the technical and financial resources available to help cultivate and grow a local or regional food system in your area. The lunch buffet will include bite-sized presentations on best practices and successful strategies from across the Midwest. You can view the agenda and register for the conference online at: https://www.chicagofed.org/webpages/events/2012/know_your_food.cfm. The cost for the conference is $25 per person and includes continental breakfast and lunch. Due to limited seating, registration is required and must be completed by January 30, 2012. Randy Bell has chartered a 29 passenger bus that will be leaving Lansing at 4 a.m. on the day of the conference. You may reserve a seat by sending a $50 check to MSUE, 121 E. Maple St., Mason, MI 48854. Seats are available on a first come - first served basis. Don't delay. Please note that you must register for the conference in additon to securing a bus seat. The Many Faces of Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food symposium is an unprecedented collaboration between Rural Development & FNS, and I hope you are able to attend this event and discover the many wonderful local food initiatives taking shape throughout the Midwest. Please contact me if you have any questions about this event. Randy Randy A. Bell Extension Educator for Community Food Systems Ingham County MSU Extension 121 E. Maple St., Box 319 Mason, Michigan 48854 desk: 517-676-7298 cell: 517.604.0180 fax: 517-676-7288 ________________________________ From: Morrone, Vicki Sent: Wednesday, January 25, 2012 3:37 PM To: Bell, Randy Subject: Re: [MIDMICHIGANFOOD] Charter bus riders to Chicago conference - take action Hi Randy Understand your frustration but is there an event here I can promote to secure more folks? I don't know what this is for. Is it open to others? What is the conf? Is the conf reg passed?? Vicki Morrone Outreach Specialist for Organic Production 303 Natural Resources East Lansing MI 48824 517-353-3542/517-282-3557 (cell) 517-353-3832 fax Www.MichiganOrganic.msu.edu<http://Www.MichiganOrganic.msu.edu> From: "Bell, Randy" <[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>> Reply-To: "Bell, Randy" <[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>> Date: Wed, 25 Jan 2012 19:53:34 +0000 To: <[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>> Subject: [MIDMICHIGANFOOD] Charter bus riders to Chicago conference - take action OK, I arranged this trip and went out on a limb and paid to secure the bus. Many folks expressed an interest, but the checks aren't coming in. Here's the list I have so far of people who said they would go. I'll put a * before the name of those who have remitted payment to date: Jane Whitacre (2) *Alex Bryan Christian Scott Cheryl Proctor (Battle Creek) Colleen Synk As you can see, my list is pretty short and the checks are coming too slow. If you need an invoice from which to pay, please let me know. Make checks out to MSU Extension" and send to the address below. Don't forget, you also have to register for the conference and the deadline is fast approaching. Randy Randy A. Bell Extension Educator for Community Food Systems Ingham County MSU Extension 121 E. Maple St., Box 319 Mason, Michigan 48854 desk: 517-676-7298 cell: 517.604.0180 fax: 517-676-7288 email: [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]> To unsubscribe from this list, send an email with "SIGNOFF MIDMICHIGANFOOD" in the message body to [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>. To join this list, send an email with "SUBSCRIBE MIDMICHIGANFOOD" in the message body to [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>. If you would like to access previous postings to the Mich-Organic listserv you can copy and paste the following URL into your browser address bar http://list.msu.edu/archives/mich-organic.html