LIA BRIEFS

The LIA Board of Trustees voted to reduce the size of the Board of Trustees from 24 to 21 members. The Nominations Committee completed their work for a slate of officers, advisory board members and trustees for 2014. This slate will be considered by the membership at the 2014 annual meeting scheduled for Tuesday, February 18 at the Red Lion in Boise at 6:00 PM. We hope to see all alumni present for the meeting.

Kris Thompson, Class 10 has been appointed to the Grants Review Panel for the Idaho Community Foundation for the southwest region.  The Idaho Community Foundation administers private and family foundations within Idaho and the Pacific Northwest.  Applications for grants can be obtained at the ICF offices in Boise or by contacting Kris directly.

Congratulations to Stephanie Etter, Class 26 and Robin Lindquist, Class 21 who have been recently elected to serve on the board of directors for Idaho Agriculture in the Classroom Association. Their involvement will include overseeing the programs and activities sponsored by Idaho AITC. Both Stephanie and Robin have served as co-chairman for LIA classes following their graduation from the program.

New Year’s 2014 was a special day for Cara McCarthy, Class 34. She and Mike McNab were married on that day in a private ceremony.  During the Pocatello session, Class 34 heard plans for a wedding but Cara just jumped ahead and gotter done!  Cara works for USDA Risk Management in Spokane as the Deputy Director and Mike for the Spokane police force. They will make their home in Coeur‘d Alene.

Sympathy is extended to Tom Church, Class 3 and Jim Church, Class 5 in the recent passing of their mother, Leona Church of Fruitland.

Northwest Farm Credit Services will hold elections on February 1. Candidates running for board positions include Nate Riggers, Class 12, for Region #3, and Duane Grant, Class 2, for Region #10. Nate raises blue grass in the Nezperce area and Duane has held numerous leadership positions in Idaho and National on behalf of the sugar beet industry. Ballots will be mailed to NWFCS members. Please be sure and return your ballots.

The Eastern Idaho LIA Alumni turned out for the December Regional Event planned by Class 34. Those in attendance included Trustee Matt Gellings, Class 19, Mark Pratt, Class 11, Trustee RoLynne Hendricks, Class 33, Jim Chase, Class 28, and Dana Wood, Class 33. In the Twin Falls session, Magic Valley LIA Alumni attending the January regional event included: Chairman of the Trustees Russ DeKruyf, Class 28, Dave Bjorneberg, Class 23, Ron Jones, Class 2, Charlotte Eberlein, Class 8, Mandi Thompson, Class 19, Heather Tiel-Nelson, Class 24, Louis Zamora, Class 31, Scott Breeding, Class 27, Wayne Hurst, Class 13 and Trustee Patti Jo Courtney, Class 29.  During both events, a number of alumni stopped in to meet the classes and attend sessions that were offered.

Tragedy struck Class 34 in the Twin Falls Session when Jim Hudson, Post Falls, learned on Wednesday about the tragic car accident due to slick roads that claimed the life of his daughter and her husband, leaving behind two teenage children. Jim is a Vice President for Idaho Water Users and will soon be at the helm of that organization.  Several of the class and other LIA alumni attended the memorial event. Special thanks go to Trustee Karleen Meyer who made the flower arrangements for the funeral on behalf of LIA Class 34.