The LIA Alumni Activities Committee has settled on the name LIA LINK (Leadership Information Network Knowledge), for the monthly LIA Alumni calls. The first one was conducted on Thursday, June 25 at 9:00 AM Mountain Time. The calls will be scheduled for the last Thursday of each month. If you have a favorite topic to be suggested for the agenda, please send those in advance of the meeting for consideration.
 
Now is the time to be sending any updates for the LIA Directory to Gloria at the LIA office. You can send changes to your contact information or involvement in your community activities to Gloria at [email protected].
 
Congratulations to Amanda Crump, Class 23, who received the 2020 Western Region Award for Excellence in College and University Teaching in the Food and Agricultural Sciences in the New Teacher category. Amanda is Assistant Professor of Teaching in the International Agricultural Department at University of California, Davis.
 
Congratulations to Joe Stewart, Class 16, and his wife, Shauna, on the arrival of their son, William Ryder Stewart, born on May 11. William will join his two older sisters. Joe runs a family dairy operation west of Kuna.
 
Congratulations to Stephen Parrot, Class 39, who was re-elected State Republican Party Treasurer, for 2020-2022 at the State Republican Convention held recently in Boise. Stephen works for Northwest Farm Credit Services as a relationship manager and is active in many other community and state organizations and activities.
 
Region V of the Idaho Republican Party will have excellent leadership under the guidance of three LIA alumni. At a recent meeting, Wayne Hurst, Class 13, was elected as Chairman, Mike Mathews, Class 16, was elected as Vice Chairman and Steve Miller, Class 29, was elected as Secretary. Congratulations gentleman as you lead your region.
 
We received word that a special retirement party is planned for Thursday, July 9th honoring the 44 years of service to the Nampa Meridian Irrigation District by Daren Coon, Class 30. To RSVP for the event please visit the link http://evite.me/VFQEfC22a8. Daren was the Secretary/Treasurer of the Nampa/Meridian Irrigation District based in Nampa and serving thousands of acres in the Treasure Valley.

Speaking of retirements, Patti Harris, Class 26, will retire on June 30 after many years as the USDA Farm Service Agency. Most recently Patti has been serving as an Agricultural Farm Program Specialist. Patti has served faithfully as a member of the Idaho Ag Summit Planning Committee and several years as a member of the Governor's Award for Excellence in Agriculture Selection Committee. A special party is planned later in the summer or fall to honor Patti.
 
Sympathy is extended to Mark Duffin, Class 22, in the passing of both his parents this spring, first his father and then shortly after his mother. Mark's parents farmed for years in the American Falls area before moving to Nampa for retirement. Mark retired earlier this year as Executive Director of the Idaho Sugarbeet Grower's Assn.
 
Sympathy is extended to Wayne Hammon, Class 14, in the recent passing of his mother. Mrs. Hammon resided in American Falls where she spent a career raising special breeds of workhorses. Wayne is the CEO of the Idaho Associated General Contractors based in Boise and a registered lobbyist.
 
Completing six years of service on the Idaho Alfalfa Clover Seed Commission are two LIA alumni. Steve Lejardi, Class 17, and Dave Reynolds, Class 40, will complete their eligible terms on June 30. Both had been appointed to serve in that capacity by Governor Butch Otter. Thank you gentlemen for your leadership and service.
 
Each summer for many years, Idaho Ag in the Classroom has conducted tours and workshops throughout Idaho. LIA alumni are popular presenters, also farms and ranches as well as agribusinesses owned by LIA alumni are popular tour stops. This year the workshop will be a virtual workshop in mid-July and a second session in late July. Coordinating the event is Gretchen Hyde, Class 36, Administrator of the Idaho Rangeland Resource Commission and Rick Waitley, Class 8, State Director of Idaho Ag in the Classroom. Also joining the team is Project Leaning Tree under the leadership of Michelle Youngquist. If you want more information about the virtual tour, one graduate credit and registration, visit the website at www.idahonaturalresources.com.

Thank you for joining us today for our first LIA Alumni LINK call. We appreciate the information shared by our presenters and the topics they addressed. If you have specific questions for any of our presenters, please feel free to send them to me at [email protected] and I will forward them to our presenters. When we receive the information shared by Lori Lodge, we will forward that to you. We had not received it by the time of this posting and several people had contacted us wanting to see this morning's recording.
 
Our next LIA LINK call will be July 30. We hope you can join us.

Below is a link to the recorded call from this morning.

Information from Lori Lodge:
 
Idaho Suicide Prevention Hotline: (208) 389-4357

Idaho Lives Project: Idaholives.org (QPR training available for everyone to learn how to talk with someone and intervene when you're concerned about them)

• QPR Institute - Question, Persuade, Refer (This training accessed through Idaho Lives Project.)

 
Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK
Crisis Textline:  Text HOME to 741741
 
Here are the early warning signs. Contact a mental health professional or hotline if you hear or see someone exhibiting these behaviors:

• Hopelessness
• Rage, uncontrolled anger, seeking revenge
• Acting reckless or engaging in risky activities, seemingly without thinking
• Feeling trapped, like there's no way out
• Increased alcohol or drug use
• Withdrawing from friends, family & society
• Anxiety, agitation, unable to sleep or sleeping all the time
• Dramatic mood changes

 
Lori Lodge, LCPC, LMFT
[email protected]
208.901.0433