Our professional association took on a new identity at its 49th annual convention in Las Vegas, December 9-13, 1997. It seems appropriate that the name change is taking place as our organization enters its fiftieth year of serving agricultural educators nationwide. We will carry the new name to the Golden Anniversary Convention in New Orleans, December 8-12, 1998. In Las Vegas, the debate continued and the new name emerged. However, many state and national decision makers, including legislators, view vocational education only as short-term job training.
Agricultural education is much more than that.
The new name will be more inclusive and reflective of our approximately 7,250 members, which include adult and postsecondary agricultural educators as well as university teacher educators and state agricultural education staff. It is anticipated that some other state associations will follow this trend. Although the initiative to change AVA's name failed during its last test, it surely will resurface. The NAAE office will be relocating to Old Town Alexandria, Virginia, in late spring or early summer 1998, as part of the newly formed National Agricultural Education Headquarters. NAAE executive director, Dr. Wm.