Japan Initiative
In action that has been likened to the initial founding of Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity, the National Board of Directors in late August voted in favor of plans to explore establishing an AGR colony in Japan.
The idea was proposed by past Grand President Zane Akins and his long time business associate Rob Schrull, currently on assignment in Tokyo. Schrull was recently initiated into AGR Brotherhood by the Theta Chapter at Missouri. Japan shares many similarities to the U.S. Colleges of Agriculture and would serve as a natural stepping stone to other Asian countries in search of solutions to many of their agricultural and marketing challenges.
After a formal presentation to the Board of Directors and much discussion, a service agreement was reached with Schrull, who will serve as consultant for the project. He will report to Executive Director Phil Josephson and Director of Chapter Development Thad Koenigsfeld in Kansas City. Akins will lead the funding effort.
Schrull’s vast experience and contacts within the agriculture community and his 20 plus years of working and living within the Japanese culture provide a rare opportunity for AGR to explore opportunities for expansion within this explosively growing agricultural marketplace.
The goal of the project is to target those agricultural colleges showing the greatest potential for AGR membership and then have a colony in place at one of those schools by the summer of 2008. It is expected the colony would become a Chapter in two to four years.
More of the Japan Initiative may be found at the link provided above.
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