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<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;margin-top:0in"><b><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:rgb(26,26,26)">Dear OAFCS Members,</span></b><b style><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:rgb(26,26,26)"></span></b></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;margin-top:0in"><b><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:rgb(26,26,26)">FCS Education is at a Do or Die
Crossroad.</span></b><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:rgb(26,26,26)"> Secondary
programs are closing for a variety of reasons. University FCS teacher education
programs are closing due to lack of enrollment. </span><span style="font-family:Tahoma">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. </span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;margin-top:0in"><b><span style="font-family:Tahoma">The good news!</span></b><span style="font-family:Tahoma"> </span><span style="font-family:Tahoma">In August, <span style="color:rgb(20,20,20)">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! </span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;margin-top:0in"><b style><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:rgb(20,20,20)">Five Regional Focus Groups will be held beginning October 6.</span></b><b style><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:rgb(26,26,26)"> </span></b><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:rgb(20,20,20)">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."</span><b style><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:rgb(26,26,26)"></span></b></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;margin-top:0in"><b><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:rgb(20,20,20)">Come and bring others to
participate in the Focus Groups!</span></b><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:rgb(20,20,20)"> </span><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:rgb(20,20,20)">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. <span style>We are counting on you</span> 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.</span><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:rgb(26,26,26)"></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;margin-top:0in"><b style><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:rgb(20,20,20)">A sample memo* is attached that you may adapt to invite participants.</span></b><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:rgb(20,20,20)"> 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.</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;margin-top:0in"><b><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:rgb(20,20,20)">Send RSVP’s to Nathan Mellor (</span></b><a href="mailto:nmellor@igpr.com"><b><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:rgb(0,53,185);text-decoration:none">nmellor@igpr.com</span></b></a><b><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:rgb(20,20,20)">) of the
Impact Group</span></b><b style><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:rgb(20,20,20)">.</span></b><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:rgb(20,20,20)"> 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.</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;margin-top:0in"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:rgb(20,20,20)">We have
a huge challenge ahead of us, but by working together and sharing the load, </span><b><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:rgb(20,20,20)">WE CAN DO THIS!</span></b></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-left:9pt;margin-bottom:0.0001pt"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:rgb(20,20,20)">* Questions? Or need </span><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:rgb(20,20,20)">a .doc version of the memo or a
completed .pdf version?<span style> </span>Contact
Sandra Laurenson, Co-Chair Public Policy, OAFCS, </span><a href="mailto:Laurenson1@gmail.com"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:rgb(0,68,195)">Laurenson1@gmail.com</span></a><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:rgb(20,20,20)"> or </span><a href="file://localhost/tel/330-468-3955"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:rgb(0,68,195)">330-468-3955</span></a><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:rgb(20,20,20)"></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;margin-top:0in"><b><u><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:rgb(20,20,20)">Focus Group Dates And Locations:</span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;margin-top:0in"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:rgb(0,11,255)">Note:
All meetings will be held from 6:00-7:30 pm.</span><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:rgb(20,20,20)"></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;margin-top:0in"><b><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:rgb(20,20,20)">Monday, October 6 - Northeast Ohio</span></b><b style><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:rgb(20,20,20)"></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;margin-top:0in"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:rgb(20,20,20)">Tallmadge High School – Kelley
Smith, FCS teacher, 330-633-5505</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;margin-top:0in"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:rgb(20,20,20)">Room 1125, 140 N. Munroe Rd., Tallmadge,
OH 44278</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;margin-top:0in"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:rgb(20,20,20)">RSVP </span><a href="mailto:nmellor@igpr.com"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:rgb(0,53,185);text-decoration:none">nmellor@igpr.com</span></a><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:rgb(20,20,20)"> </span><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:rgb(20,20,20)">by Wednesday,
October 1</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;margin-top:0in"><b><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:rgb(20,20,20)">Wednesday, October 8 - Southwest
Ohio</span></b><b style><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:rgb(20,20,20)"></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;margin-top:0in"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:rgb(20,20,20)">Butler Tech – Amy Claywell,
Satellite Supervisor, 513-868-6300</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;margin-top:0in"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:rgb(20,20,20)">3603 Hamilton-Middletown Road, Hamilton,
Ohio 45011</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;margin-top:0in"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:rgb(20,20,20)">RSVP </span><a href="mailto:nmellor@igpr.com"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:rgb(0,53,185);text-decoration:none">nmellor@igpr.com</span></a><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:rgb(20,20,20)"> </span><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:rgb(20,20,20)">by Wednesday,
October 1</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;margin-top:0in"><b><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:rgb(20,20,20)">Tuesday, October 14 - Central Ohio</span></b><b style><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:rgb(20,20,20)"></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;margin-top:0in"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:rgb(20,20,20)">Mount Vernon Nazarene University
Columbus-New Albany Campus</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;margin-top:0in"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:rgb(20,20,20)">5150 E. Dublin-Granville Rd.,
Suite 120, Rm. 101, Columbus, OH 43081</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;margin-top:0in"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:rgb(20,20,20)">RSVP </span><a href="mailto:nmellor@igpr.com"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:rgb(0,53,185);text-decoration:none">nmellor@igpr.com</span></a><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:rgb(20,20,20)"> </span><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:rgb(20,20,20)">by Wednesday,
October 8</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;margin-top:0in"><b><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:rgb(20,20,20)">Wednesday, October 15 - Southeast
Ohio</span></b><b style><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:rgb(20,20,20)"></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;margin-top:0in"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:rgb(20,20,20)">Athens Middle School - Library –
Kim Shuster, FCS teacher, 740-593-7107</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;margin-top:0in"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:rgb(20,20,20)">55 West State St., Athens, OH
45701</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;margin-top:0in"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:rgb(20,20,20)">RSVP </span><a href="mailto:nmellor@igpr.com"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:rgb(0,53,185);text-decoration:none">nmellor@igpr.com</span></a><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:rgb(20,20,20)"> </span><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:rgb(20,20,20)">by Wednesday,
October 8</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;margin-top:0in"><b><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:rgb(20,20,20)">Thursday, October 23 - Northwest
Ohio</span></b><b style><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:rgb(20,20,20)"></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;margin-top:0in"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:rgb(20,20,20)">Millstream Career Center – Beth
Smith, FCS teacher, 419-425-8277</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;margin-top:0in"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:rgb(20,20,20)">1150 Broad Avenue, Findlay, OH
45840</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;margin-top:0in"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:rgb(20,20,20)">RSVP </span><a href="mailto:nmellor@igpr.com"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:rgb(0,53,185);text-decoration:none">nmellor@igpr.com</span></a><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:rgb(20,20,20)"> </span><span style="font-family:Tahoma;color:rgb(20,20,20)">by Thursday,
October 16</span></p>
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