[Oafcs] OCTOBER FOCUS GROUP INVITATIONS: Family & Consumer Sciences at the Crossroad!

[Sandra Laurenson]

*Dear OAFCS Members,*



*FCS Education is at a Do or Die Crossroad.* Secondary programs are closing
for a variety of reasons. University FCS teacher education programs are
closing due to lack of enrollment. Now secondary programs are closing
because school districts cannot find FCS teachers! Zero incoming university
freshmen have declared majors in Family and Consumer Sciences Education
this fall in Ohio.



*The good news!* In August, the OATFACS Board and the OAFCS Board voted to
jointly hire the Impact Group, a proven PR/marketing firm in Hudson, to
develop and help us implement a major promotion of FCS education over the
next 12 months!



*Five Regional Focus Groups will be held beginning October 6.* Using all
data collected from these focus groups and from other parts of this
project, the Impact Group will create "a living direction for public
relations and marketing outreach for a 12-month period with specific
tactics and strategies that are proven, but also flexible to adapt to
changing audiences or goals."



*Come and bring others to participate in the Focus Groups!* The goal is to
provide forums for candid discussion to help us best plan for the future.
In order to get the best data possible from these Focus Groups, we must
have a variety of persons who have influence regarding course offerings or
student choices of electives or careers—think guidance counselors,
administrators, parents, students, school board members, state legislators,
university admissions counselors, etc. We are counting on you to invite
such persons to attend with you—or to go without you if you are unable to
attend. Remember that diversity also includes the participation of those
who have not been so supportive in the past. Their participation will be
more difficult to achieve, but has the potential to give us very important
information.



*A sample memo* is attached that you may adapt to invite participants.* You
can copy and paste the date and location from the list of Focus Groups.
Also insert the RSVP deadline for the respective date and location. Revise
as needed or just use language for a phone call. All Focus Groups are
6:00-7:30 pm.



*Send RSVP’s to Nathan Mellor (**nmellor at igpr.com* <nmellor at igpr.com>*) of
the Impact Group**.* You may RSVP for yourself and your guest(s) noting the
name and role (teacher, Extension agent, principal, counselor, parent,
etc.) of each or your guest(s) may RSVP separately.



We have a huge challenge ahead of us, but by working together and sharing
the load, *WE CAN DO THIS!*



* Questions? Or need a .doc version of the memo or a completed .pdf version?
 Contact Sandra Laurenson, Co-Chair Public Policy, OAFCS,
Laurenson1 at gmail.com or 330-468-3955 <file://localhost/tel/330-468-3955>





*Focus Group Dates And Locations:*

Note: All meetings will be held from 6:00-7:30 pm.



*Monday, October 6 - Northeast Ohio*

Tallmadge High School – Kelley Smith, FCS teacher, 330-633-5505

Room 1125, 140 N. Munroe Rd., Tallmadge, OH 44278

RSVP nmellor at igpr.com by Wednesday, October 1



*Wednesday, October 8 - Southwest Ohio*

Butler Tech – Amy Claywell, Satellite Supervisor, 513-868-6300

3603 Hamilton-Middletown Road, Hamilton, Ohio 45011

RSVP nmellor at igpr.com by Wednesday, October 1



*Tuesday, October 14 - Central Ohio*

Mount Vernon Nazarene University Columbus-New Albany Campus

5150 E. Dublin-Granville Rd., Suite 120, Rm. 101, Columbus, OH 43081

RSVP nmellor at igpr.com by Wednesday, October 8



*Wednesday, October 15 - Southeast Ohio*

Athens Middle School - Library – Kim Shuster, FCS teacher, 740-593-7107

55 West State St., Athens, OH 45701

RSVP nmellor at igpr.com by Wednesday, October 8



*Thursday, October 23 - Northwest Ohio*

Millstream Career Center – Beth Smith, FCS teacher, 419-425-8277

1150 Broad Avenue, Findlay, OH 45840

RSVP nmellor at igpr.com by Thursday, October 16
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