The time has come for each member of the North Carolina A&T State University family to consider how much she/he will contribute to the 2010 North Carolina State Employees Combined Campaign (SECC), the only workplace giving program authorized for payroll deduction for most state employees.

This year's theme is Together We Make the Difference. How fitting it is that the campaign's theme echoes the University's Making A Difference marketing theme. Through SECC, charitable giving is one more way that Aggies are making a difference in the world.

The campus campaign officially kicked off Sept. 1, and a kickoff celebration will be held Wednesday, Sept. 22, at 11:30 a.m. in the Alumni-Foundation Event Center.

In 2009, Aggies generously gave $161,265. This year the campaign leadership has set a goal of $150,000.

"Even though these are tough economic times, I hope that the A&T family will look beyond their own circumstances and give to those in need," said Joyce Edwards, executive director for career services and co-chair of the SECC Executive Committee. "The monies donated to the State Employees Combined Campaign help provide health, educational, environmental and social services to individuals dealing with personal issues as well as whole communities rebuilding from natural catastrophes."

SECC began in 1984, as an effort to consolidate state employees' giving to charitable agencies into one annual campaign. Hundreds of charitable agencies, including United Way and North Carolina A&T University Foundation, Inc. (code 2525), participate in this campaign. All of the agencies are carefully selected and, historically, no more than 14 percent of a contribution goes to administrative costs while about 86 percent goes to the actual program.

Each contributor may designate one or more SECC charitable organizations to receive her/his gift. Undesignated gifts will be allocated to one or more of the approved SECC charitable organizations by the Local Advisory Committee.

Full-time employees may make their contributions through payroll deduction, which would begin in January 2011 and continue each month through December 2011. Contributors also have the option of making a one-time donation by check or bankcard.

SECC is not just for state employees. Retirees and students are encouraged to join the campaign.

Over the past few months the Purchasing Department and other departments have been working on the design and implementation of AGGIE-MART, and the test site will be demonstrated over the next three weeks.

Earlier this year, the Purchasing Department introduced AGGIE-MART, the University's new e-procurement system that will provide online requisition approval capability, contract compliance monitoring, and reduces the chance of errors in payment processing. AGGIE-MART will take the place of the current Banner purchasing module.

Because AGGIE-MART will have a direct impact on all employees who originate and approve requisitions, those individuals are invited to attend one of the live demonstrations of the system that will be held in the General Classroom Building, room A218, at 3-4 p.m. on the following dates: Monday, Sept. 13, 20 and 27.

"Anyone who orders office supplies, goods or catering, creates/approves requisitions, or uses a P-card should plan to attend one of the demonstrations," said Martinique "Nikki" Williams, assistant director of purchasing and co-lead for the e-procurement implementation.

For more information, contact Williams at (336) 334-7555 or Anthony Grice, (336) 334-7563.

At last Aggie family, a movement in which you can literally sink your teeth: the N.C. 10% Campaign. Participating is simple – and sustainable; just spend at least 10 percent of your food money on locally-grown and locally produced food from farmers, restaurants, stores and other food vendors.

Visit www.nc10percent.com/ to sign up. The only commitment required is a pledge to buy local food and to report your weekly purchases and habits. The Web site helps track and document demand.

This statewide campaign is an initiative of the Center for Environmental Farming Systems, and it has more than 30 partners. Both The Cooperative Extension Program at North Carolina A&T State University and the School of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences have committed as institutions to the 10% Campaign and encourage other campus departments, schools and colleges to participate. In addition to individual participation, departments and other administrative units who sponsor functions where food is served can encourage 10 percent campaign participation from restaurants and caterers.

Buying from local food producers helps support the local economy as well as boost community health and nutrition through fresh food supplies. Remember that buying local food and supporting local farmers is an action that is also in sync with the A in A&T, which is agriculture.

The point person at A&T for this project is John O'Sullivan, a longtime faculty member of The Cooperative Extension Program and the co-director of the Center for Environmental Farming Systems. For more information on ways that you can help, contact him at johno@ncat.edu or discover more about local foods by visiting the following websites: 
N.C. Farm Fresh
Local Harvest
Pick Your Own Farms in N.C.

This information was provided by the School of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences.