For some, changing a name can mean changing their identity.
For the Agribusiness Club at east campus, it was just a formality to clear up a little confusion.
Formerly known as a chapter of the National Agri-Marketing Association, the club changed its name to avoid prolonging the confusion that has existed because of another club that shares the same moniker -- the NAMA Marketing Team.
The name change may lead people to believe the Agribusiness Club is new, but in actuality they have been around for years.
"The renaming [of the club] took place in January, though the club has been in place much longer, long before I arrived," club organizer Jeremy Art said.
The club currently has 15 to 25 members and hopes to attract more people now that the confusion about the name has been cleared.
The Agribusiness Club gears its activities toward the students of the Morisson School of Agribusiness and Resources Management, though the events are open to all members of ASU East.
The goals of the club are defined on the Web site simply as "professional development in agribusiness." According to Art, they work to go beyond that goal.
Art said the goals are "to give students the opportunity to listen to professionals from the field that they are about to enter."
The club books professional speakers to come speak with the students about a variety of topics. Previous speakers include Lee Dueringer, development director for The Savory Center nonprofit landscape restoration organization, and Randy
Bernhardt, director of development for the Progressive Agriculture Foundation. Both speakers have a great deal of industry knowledge to share with up-and-coming students, Art said.
"Classroom knowledge comes easily on a university campus, but real-world experience can be hard to obtain," Art said. "The Agribusiness Club can help bridge the gap between college and the world of professionals."
Reach the reporter at rachel.hawkinson@asu.edu.
