1. Hello from Missouri! My name is Roxane Magnus from Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. I am excited and honored to be your new 2005-2006 National Council Parliamentarian. I was born and raised in LaSalle in northern Illinois an only child to a Sicilian family and to a German farmer. My father was first generation American- Italian and my mother was a farmers’ daughter. In 1989, I met my husband while visiting relatives in Cape Girardeau and in 1991, after completing my education and receiving an Associate of Arts Degree from Illinois Valle Community College in Oglesby, I moved to Cape Girardeau. In August of 1992, we married in my hometown of LaSalle, IL and honeymooned in New Orleans. In the fall of 2000, I decided to return to school in order to complete my bachelor’s degree. I chose Agronomy as my major because I knew that someday I would be managing the family farm (and I am currently doing so) and agriculture has always been a great interest of mine since I was a child. I spent the summer months at my grandparent’s farm working in the garden, mowing, feeding the hogs and remember getting shocked by the electric fence many times while doing so, unloading corn into the corn crib and also riding on the tractor while grandpa farmed the fields. There is something about being In the outdoors, getting dirty, being active and being apart of nature I have always enjoyed. I also chose to double major in Spanish since I was studying it in high school and junior college and also for the reason that it is important to know Spanish in the agriculture field since the U.S. has relationships with other Spanish speaking countries and the many migrant workers that come to the U.S. to work. Since my enrollment at SEMO, I have interned at Monsanto, I worked during the summer months at Pioneer Hi-Bred International Research Center, I spent 14 days in Spain as a part of my Spanish education and I also spent 2 months in Querétaro, México studying Spanish and doing insect and disease detection in spinach fields. Agricultural Entomology is a field of interest of mine and I plan on pursuing a graduate degree in such field. I want to thank those who nominated and chose me to be the new 2005-2006 National Council Parliamentarian. I am looking forward to working with everyone, and meeting and learning from new people. I am happy and proud to be a part of the agriculture field.

2. Texas A&M Commerce is planning and getting ready so that the 2006 DTA National Convention is a huge success. NOTE: If you find any interesting articles in the field of agriculture please sent then to stdnde11@shsu.edu so that they may be made available for everyone. "If you really want something, you'll find a way; if you don't, you'll find an excuse." - UNKNOWN Want your chapter’s activities here? Tell us what you are doing. Turn in Form 40’s each month!

3. I hope everyone had a wonderful and safe summer and is getting settled back into classes. The National Council is planning our mid-year meeting for the end of October and if anyone had any questions or concerns be sure to let us know. As everyone knows Katrina was a hard hit to most of the Gulf Coast and I ask you to keep these people in your thoughts. If you can help in anyway be sure to contact the America Red Cross for information. Nicole Edmonson National President Don’t Forget Check out the website!!! @ www.fhsu.edu/agriculture/natdta www.fhsu.edu/agriculture/natdta To submit Form 40’s after every meeting (ASAP) so that your chapter can be included in the newsletter.