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OAO Calendar

OAO Calendar of Events

This calendar lists conferences that OAO staff is participating in or that OAO is providing support to.

April 2014

You are invited to join representatives from USDA agencies engaged in supporting organic agriculture for a Stakeholders Listening Session on organic provisions in the Agricultural Act of 2014. (See the Economic Research Service's summary of the bill's organic agriculture highlights.) We at USDA hope to hear your thoughts on the implementation process and the impact it will have on the communities that you serve; this will be the beginning of an ongoing conversation we hope to have with you. The details are below.

Date: Monday, April 14, 2014
Time: 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm EST
Where: USDA South Building. Room TBD
U.S. Department of Agriculture
1400 Independence Avenue, SW.
Washington, DC 20250
Who: Organic Stakeholders
Representatives of USDA agencies:
Agricultural Marketing Service
Risk Management Agency
Farm Service Agency
National Agricultural Statistics Service
Economic Research Service
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Office of the Secretary

There is limited room for in-person attendees. We can also accommodate call-in attendees; please RSVP to receive the call-in number and room.
ENTRANCE: Jefferson Drive side of the Whitten Building facing The National Mall
NOTE: This Listening Session is not for press purposes.

An RSVP is required by 12pm on Thursday, April 10. Please email your RSVP to amspublicaffairs@ams.usda.gov. Please indicate in your RSVP if you require a call-in number.

Because of security procedures for those coming in person, we request that you check in with security at the Jefferson Drive entrance of the Whitten Building by 11:45am. Please present a valid form of identification to security. Street parking is very limited. The closest metro is Smithsonian Metro Station.

If you have any questions, please email amspublicaffairs@ams.usda.gov.

You are invited to join USDA officials for a Farm Bill Listening Session on the Agricultural Act of 2014 on Tuesday, April 15, 1:30 to 3:00 pm. We, at USDA, want to keep you engaged and informed about the implementation process and the impact that it will have on your organization and Latino stakeholders and communities that you serve.

Event: Latino Stakeholder Farm Bill Listening Session
Date: Tuesday, April 15, 2014
Time: 1:30 to 3:00 p.m. eastern time
Where: Jamie L. Whitten Building, Room 107-A or by dial-in
U.S. Department of Agriculture
1400 Independence Ave SW
Washington, DC 20250

The following USDA officials, as well as others, will be participating in the listening session:
Ed Avalos, Under Secretary, Marketing and Regulatory Programs
Anne Alonzo, Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service
Juan Garcia, Administrator, Farm Service Agency
Tony Hernandez, Administrator, Rural Housing Service
Kirk Hanlin, Assistant Chief, Natural Resources Conservation Service
Robert Ibarra, Director, Risk Management Services Division, Risk Management Agency
Angela Gee, Farm Bill & Budget Coordinator for State & Private Forestry, U.S. Forest Service

Please RSVP to Intergovernmental@osec.usda.gov by 12:00 p.m. eastern time on Monday, April 14. Let us know if you will be attending in person or if you would like to request dial-in information. Also, in your RSVP message, please identify Farm Bill provisions and programs that are of interest to your organization.

Please enter the Whitten Building from the Jefferson Drive side which faces The National Mall. When you arrive at security, please present a government-issued identification. Street parking is very limited. The closest metro is Smithsonian Metro Station.

If you have any questions, please e-mail Intergovernmental@osec.usda.gov or call 202-720-6643.

December 2013

USDA Partners Meeting: December 12, 2013 at 2:00PM EST
This meeting is part of OAO’s commitment to staying connected with our constituents, grantees, agricultural organizations and stakeholders in order to provide a forum for information exchange on USDA’s announcements, funding opportunities, news, and events.

You’re Invited: Secretary Vilsack Hosts Google+ Hangout on StrikeForce Opportunities

Are you a community-based organization, farmer or just someone who lives in Rural America? Do you have questions on how you can partner with USDA to leverage community resources and promote economic development in your community? We have answers!

On March 26, 2013, Secretary Vilsack launched the StrikeForce to Boost Rural Economic Growth and Opportunity Initiative – an extension of a 3 state pilot project, launched in 2010. The StrikeForce Initiative targets rural areas of persistent poverty where USDA staff can work with state, tribal, local and community leaders to increase awareness of programs and services that help to promote economic development and job creation. StrikeForce is currently operating in Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Georgia, Mississippi, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah and Virginia.

Interested in learning more? On Monday, June 17, at 12:00 pm est. you are invited to join Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack as he sits down to his very first Google+ Hangout to discuss StrikeForce opportunities, success stories and how YOUR community can get involved.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=ZvdFiQjVusI

Secretary Vilsack will participate in this virtual conversation from the USDA studio in Washington, DC but it will be broadcast live on our USDA Google+ page as well as usda.gov/live. He will be accompanied by a panel of StrikeForce experts, recipients and coordinators who will help to answer frequently asked questions from around the country and provide guidance on how to sign up to be a part of the StrikeForce initiative in your community. Submit your questions in advance on Twitter using the hashtag #AskUSDA, or send to your StrikeForce coordinator.

Check with your local USDA Service Center if you're interested in watching the Hangout with community partners.

We hope you’ll join us on June 17 at 12:00 p.m. EST. Follow USDA on Google+ for updates and future opportunities to engage with USDA.

How to Bring the Summer Food Service Program to Farmworker Communities Webinar

Summer Food Service Program

Thursday, May 30, 2013 at 2:00PM EST Register Here!

The USDA Food and Nutrition Service and Office of Advocacy and Outreach will host a bilingual (English/Spanish) webinar highlighting the USDA Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) in farmworker communities. The webinar will provide information about how the SFSP works to help feed low-income children during the summer, who are eligible, and how you can get involved this year with a particular focus on strategies for success in farmworker communities. The webinar will also cover the many resources available to help you get started, highlight successful programs and outreach practices from around the country, and provide an opportunity to have your questions answered by FNS Program experts in English and Spanish.

To learn more about the Summer Food Service Program, please visit: www.summerfood.usda.gov

Aprenda cómo puede ayudar a alimentar a niños de bajos recursos durante el verano en comunidades agrícolas.

Sea Parte de Nuestro Seminario

El Departamento de Agricultura de EE.UU. (USDA) y la Coordinadora de Trabajadores Agrícolas de la Oficina de Alcance y Defensa estarán auspiciando un seminario virtual bilingüe donde se enfatizará la iniciativa para alimentar a niños que viven en comunidades agrícolas una vez finalice el año escolar. El seminario proveerá información acerca de cómo el Programa de Servicio de Alimentos de Verano (SFSP) ayuda a alimentar a niños de bajos ingresos durante los meses de verano, quienes son elegibles para participar y como usted puede ser parte del programa este año. Durante el seminario también se hablará de los recursos disponibles para comenzar el programa, las mejores prácticas para promoverlo y se resaltarán campañas que han tenido éxito alrededor del país. Por último, la audiencia tendrá la oportunidad de hacer preguntas a expertos en el programa, las cuales se responderán en inglés y en español.

Fecha: Jueves 30 de mayo de 2013
Horas: 2:00pm - 3:00pm (Hora Este -EST)
1:00pm - 2:00pm (Hora Central -CST)
12:00pm - 1:00pm (Hora de la montaña -MST)
11:00am - 12:00pm (Hora del Pacífico -PST)

Para más detalles acerca del Programa de Servicio de Alimentos de Verano, por favor visite: http://www.fns.usda.gov/es/sfsp

2012

Capacity Building workshops to review the Outreach and Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers Program

USDA's Office of Advocacy and Outreach is still in the process of hosting a series of live and remotely streamed regional Capacity Building workshops to review the Outreach and Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers Program, formerly known as the Section 2501 Program.

We will review the Funding Opportunity Announcement, share grant writing best practices and provide you a glimpse into what our office is working on for Fiscal Year 2013. Representatives from the Office of Advocacy and Outreach, Farm Service Agency, Natural Resources Conservation Service, and Rural Development will be on site to answer questions about their programs.

For additional information and to RSVP for any of these sessions, please send an email to: McKinney@mckpr.com or call 202-833-9771 no later than 24 hours before the event as seating is limited.

We hope you will attend this information-packed session to learn and share your experiences with the Program. Each workshop will begin with registration at 8:30 a.m. and end at noon. Light refreshments will be available. Please see the attached handouts that are being provided at each site for your convenience. The following schedule lists the remaining dates available:

November

8th *OK - Langston University
8th ND - United Tribes Technical College (Live Streaming from Langston University)
8th NM - Institute of American Indian Arts (Live Streaming from Langston University)
13th *CA - Fresno/California State
13th CA - Poly Pomona (Live Streaming from CA Fresno/CA State)
15th *NM - NM State

* Live Sessions

September