Indiana Farm Bureau Offers two Workshops on Political Involvement

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - Improving citizen involvement in the political process will be the focus of two workshops hosted by Indiana Farm Bureau in the coming weeks.

The first is a candidate surfacing workshop on June 27.

"We can't expect to change the political climate by sitting on our hands," said Pete Hanebutt, IFB political education specialist. "We need to be actively involved by showing our support for friendly incumbents, and seeking to replace elected officials who don't support our views."

The workshop will show participants how to recognize qualified candidates, how much can be at stake in the election process and give ideas for candidate support and campaign involvement.
The other workshop, Rolling Up Our Sleeves: The Nitty Gritty Work of Plan Commissions, gives citizens an idea of the role of plan commissions. It takes place July 10.

"We need Farm Bureau members and other citizens to become more engaged in the process," said Bob Cherry, who coordinates industry relations for IFB. "We need to protect our industry. This workshop offers citizens the tools and background they need to feel more comfortable with how plan commissions work."

Nitty Gritty will feature Eric Kelly, a planner, lawyer and professor of urban planning at Ball State University, and Mark Spelbring, Parke County Extension Director. Attendees will learn about community planning, including legal framework, comprehensive planning, zoning, subdivision control and defensible decision-making.

Both workshops take place at the Indiana Farm Bureau building, 225 S. East St., Indianapolis. The candidate surfacing seminar begins at 10 a.m. on June 27. To register, contact Tina Nunez at 317-692-7845, or tnunez@infarmbureau.org by June 22. Cost to attend is $20.

The Nitty Gritty Work of Plan Commissions training runs from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. on July 10. To register, visit the IFB website, www.infarmbureau.org and print the registration form, or call 1-800-FARM-BUR (327-6287) for a registration form. The registration fee is $70 and forms and payments must be received by July 3.

More information on both workshops is available at www.infarmbureau.org.

Source: Indiana Farm Bureau 

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