ANNUAL REPORT of the American Vocational Association.

ANNUAL REPORT of the American Vocational Association. Fiscal Year 1998 Building Our Membership As of the end of fiscal 98, there was an increase of 4.7 percent inmembership over the previous year. This is due to 1 0 consecutive monthsof membership growth and increases in every AVA Ava, in the BibleAva(ā`və), in the Bible, an unidentified city of Mesopotamia, perhaps the same as Ivah. Its inhabitants are called Avites. Region, 10 AVA Divisionsand 32 states. AVA's success in membership expansion is the resultof aggressive membership solicitation solicitationIn criminal law, the act of asking, inducing, or directing someone to commit a crime. The person soliciting another becomes an accomplice to the crime. The term also refers to the act of obtaining bribes, as well as to the crime of a prostitute who offers sexual and retention campaigns such as:"Forward to Excellence 2000," "Member-Get-A-Member,"the "Student Member Campaign" and grassroots efforts by AVAmembers. During FY 1998, the first AVA chapter was organized in the state ofMichigan. In addition, AVA now has service agreements with 10 states tohandle all the membership processing as well as membership promotion forthe state. Federal Funds Federal FundsFunds deposited to regional Federal Reserve Banks by commercial banks, including funds in excess of reserve requirements.Notes:These non-interest bearing deposits are lent out at the Fed funds rate to other banks unable to meet overnight reserve Perkins Reauthorization--AVA continued its advocacy efforts thisyear on the reauthorization of the Perkins Act. After the successfulpassage of the House Perkins bill, which AVA supported efforts focusedon the Senate where lawmakers intended to try again to combinevocational-technical education with job training programs. After monthsof wrangling, AVA was successful in advocating the separation of theseprograms into two separate bills. This paved pave?tr.v. paved, pav��ing, paves1. To cover with a pavement.2. To cover uniformly, as if with pavement.3. To be or compose the pavement of. the way for the completionof the legislation in October 1998. The final bill contains most of theAVA-advocated priorities that will help serve local vocational programs Noun 1. vocational program - a program of vocational educationeducational program - a program for providing education . Higher Education Act The Higher Education Act may refer to an Act of either the Congress of the United States or of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. The Higher Education Act of 1965, an Act of the Congress of the United States which was supposed to strengthen the resources of colleges and , FY 1999 Funding--While continuing our effortson the Perkins reauthorization, AVA also advocated forvocational-technical education's priorities in the Higher EducationAct and the FY 1999 appropriations legislation. Through the former, AVAfocused on teacher training, resulting in the availability of federalfunds for training vocational-technical education teachers. In addition,a federal study was included in the final bill that will focus on therole of education in welfare reform. AVA also worked with otherpostsecondary education organizations on improvements to student aidprograms and the seamless transition from secondary to postsecondaryeducation. Regarding the latter, funding for vocational-technicaleducation for FY 1999 includes a $3 million increase for basic stategrants, a $3 million increase for tech prep and a $1 million increasefor tribally controlled postsecondary institutions. The Pell Grant The Pell Grant program is a type of post-secondary, educational federal grant program sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education. It is named after U.S. Senator Claiborne Pell and originally known as the the Basic Educational Opportunity Grant program. maximum will increase from $3,000 to $3,125. School-to-work programswill be funded at $250 million, down from $400 million, in keeping withthe original intent to phase out federal funding for this program. Enhancing Professional Development Conventions and Meetings--In an effort to provide professionaldevelopment opportunities for more segments of the membership, AVA heldfive pre-convention seminars in Las Vegas Las Vegas(läs vā`gəs), city (1990 pop. 258,295), seat of Clark co., S Nev.; inc. 1911. It is the largest city in Nevada and the center of one of the fastest-growing urban areas in the United States. , two one-day seminars inRoanoke, Va., and Colorado Springs Colorado Springs,city (1990 pop. 281,140), seat of El Paso co., central Colo., on Monument and Fountain creeks, at the foot of Pikes Peak; inc. 1886. It is a year-round resort and a booming military, technological, and commercial city. , Colo., and two workshops inAlbuquerque, N.M., and Louisville, Ky., in FY 1998. The 1997 convention and trade show in Las Vegas was the largest inAVA history, with more than 9,000 attendees and 320 exhibiting companiesoccupying over 620 booths. The National Policy Seminar included notable speakers, includingpolitical consultants James Carville James Carville (born October 25, 1944) is an American political consultant, commentator, media personality and pundit. Known as the Ragin' Cajun, Carville gained national attention for his work as the lead strategist of the successful presidential campaign of then-Arkansas and Mary Matalin Mary Joe Matalin (born August 19, 1953) is an American political strategist and consultant. She is known for her work with the Republican Party. She was an assistant to President George W. Bush and counselor to Vice President Dick Cheney until 2003. , congressionalleaders such as senators Jim Jeffords For other people named Jim Jeffords, see Jim Jeffords (disambiguation). James Merrill "Jim" Jeffords (born May 11, 1934) is a former U.S. Senator from Vermont. He served as a Republican until 2001, when he left the party to become an independent. (R-Vt) and Byron Dorgan Byron Leslie Dorgan (born May 14 1942) is the junior United States Senator from North Dakota. He is a member of the North Dakota Democratic-NPL Party, the North Dakota affiliate of the Democratic Party. (D-N.D.),Representatives Buck McKeon (R-Calif.) and John Peterson (R-Pa.), andU.S. Department of Education assistant secretaries Patricia McNeil andDavid Longanecker. Dorgan was presented AVA's Policymaker of theYear Award. Business/Industry Support--During the 1998 AVA National PolicySeminar, the AVA School-to-Work Partners solidified so��lid��i��fy?v. so��lid��i��fied, so��lid��i��fy��ing, so��lid��i��fiesv.tr.1. To make solid, compact, or hard.2. To make strong or united.v.intr. their existence byapproving a formal governance structure and bylaws The rules and regulations enacted by an association or a corporation to provide a framework for its operation and management.Bylaws may specify the qualifications, rights, and liabilities of membership, and the powers, duties, and grounds for the dissolution of an for the group andadopting a new name--The American Business and Education Partnership,which more closely aligns the name with its tagline, "Rethinkingthe Way America Does Business with Education." Six committees were formed to address each of the objectives in thepartnership's strategic plan. The number of large and small corporations, organizations andeducation institutions represented grew steadily throughout the year, to90 by the end of June 1998 (and 10 more since June). These corporatepartners continue to play an active role in our programs and ouradvocacy efforts before Congress. Improving our program, AVA is taking the lead in developing andmarketing materials to help educators build school-to-careers systemsand is designated as an official technical assistance provider by theNational School-to-Work Office. AVA has worked closely with the National Board for ProfessionalTeaching Standards in promoting its Vocational Education vocational education,training designed to advance individuals' general proficiency, especially in relation to their present or future occupations. The term does not normally include training for the professions. TeachingStandards and with the National Skill Standards Board The National Skill Standards Board was a coalition of community, business, labor, education, and civil rights leaders. It was tasked with building a national voluntary system of skill standards, assessment, and certification to enhance the ability of the United States workforce to in developingindustry-approved skill standards. Products and Publications--AVA produced three new books inFY98--Helping Students Plan Careers: A School-to-Careers Guide forCounselors, Taking the Worry Out of Work-Based Learning, and Making theCase for School-to-Careers and Vocational Education. Techniques magazinecontinued to involve its readers and draw the attention of otherorganizations. The magazine won two prestigious Ed-Press DistinguishedAchievement Awards, in the adult feature and how-to feature categories.This is the third year in a row that Techniques has won an award foreditorial excellence. The School-To-Work Reporter subscriber baseexperienced good growth as the school-to-work market matured and becamemore accessible to our direct-mail promotional efforts. In addition, AVA worked with MetLife to create an informationbrochure, About Preparing for a Career, on employability skills andcareer exploration that is now featured in MetLife's series of LifeAdvice pamphlets and brochures. The brochure carries an acknowledgementof AVA's role in its creation and invites readers to visit the AVAWeb site. MetLife provides single copies of the brochure to the publicand supplied AVA with a quantity for sale in bulk to schools anddistricts. Sales of AVA's Voc Ed VOC ED Vocational Education Week/School-to-Careers Month promotionalitems Promotional items or promotional products refers to articles of merchandise that are used in marketing and communication programs. The items are usually imprinted or decorated with a company's name, logo or message, using techniques such as Embroidery, Silkscreen, or were very strong in this second and concluding year of the popularpromotional slogan, "Get Your Career in Gear!" Spreading the Word AVA continued to develop the national "Creating Futures"image campaign for vocational education and educators. New elements ofthe campaign in FY 1998 included creation of an AVA Image Line of casualwear and recognition items bearing the "Creating Futures"logo. These items are one way for vocational educators to identify theircommitment to preparing students for jobs and career success. Revenuefrom sales of Image Line items helps fund the image campaign. The AVAboard also approved creation of an Image Award to recognize celebritieswho bring positive publicity to vocational education. Reprints of Techniques magazine articles about quality programs andnews of AVA policy initiatives and outstanding vocational teachers andadministrators are sent regularly to education and business editorsaround the country. In addition, targeted publicity about AVA awardwinners is sent to local print and broadcast media in their home towns.As a result of these efforts, media inquiries to AVA headquarters andresulting articles about vocational education continue to increase. AVAassisted editors on stories that appeared in Forbes magazine, the NewYork New York, state, United StatesNew York,Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of Times, Washington Post, ABC-TV, on the newsline UPI UPIabbr.United Press International , in thePhiladelphia Inquirer Philadelphia InquirerMorning newspaper, long one of the most influential dailies in the eastern U.S. Founded in 1847 as the Pennsylvania Inquirer, it took its present name c. 1860. It was a strong supporter of the Union in the American Civil War. , in Education Week, and in the KiplingerWashington Letter. The AVA Web site was expanded in FY 1998 to include conventionregistration forms and the ability to conduct credit card business. Italso now includes flashing signals to call attention to legislativealerts from the Government Relations Department. RELATED ARTICLE: President's Message As we look back on FY 1998, we can be proud of the manyaccomplishments of our association and the progress made toward servingAVA's mission. In this annual report, we highlight some of theinnovative and exciting projects completed by AVA in the successful yearthat officially ended June 30, 1998. This report also is available onAVA's Web site (www.avaonline.org) and a printed version withcomplete financial data for the year is included in the January 1999issue of Techniques magazine. Beyond the last fiscal year, here are someaccomplishments of our year to date: * The evolution of AVA's School-to-Work Partners to theAmerican Business and Education Partnership, with its own executiveboard and strategic plan. There are now 100 businesses represented inthe partnership. * The adoption by AVA headquarters of new iMIS software, aWindows-based database system that will enable AVA to provide muchbetter service to its members. * A "student track" developed for the AVA Convention inNew Orleans--an outgrowth of the student member campaign. This trackwill provide special programming for college graduates andundergraduates who are preparing to be vocational educators. * In the fall of 1998, AVA prepared a guide to the reauthorizationof the Perkins Act, which passed just before Congress adjourned inOctober. Brenda Hurst President, 1997-98