Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting

Members will submit lists of publications, theses, dissertations, grants, and presentations that are related to their work on NCCC65 (from 10/01/05 through 9/30/06) in preparation for documenting our impact. A follow-up survey will be sent in January 2007 to the forty-seven participants of the 2005 pre-conference, "USDA Funding Opportunities for Apparel and Textile Scholars" to assess the impact of the workshop and identify proposal submissions. As a follow-up to the special topic session, "Research Agenda 2010: Forging New Directions and Partnerships", held at the 2006 International Textile and Apparel Association (ITAA) annual meeting a summary of research topics will be distributed to participants and via an article in the ITAA Newsletter. NCCC65 members and interested researchers will continue the dialogue initiated at the special topic session to refine and prioritize the research with the goal of developing research projects/proposals. A pre-conference workshop proposal will be submitted for the 2007 ITAA annual conference to focus on the process of taking concept papers based on NCCC65 research priorities to the proposal development and submission stage. NCCC65 members will solicit concept papers and serve as moderators during the workshop to generate pioneering research proposals. Members will make contact with experts in research methodology (mixed methods research approaches and structural equation models) as potential topics for future workshops to increase research skills planned for 2008. NCCC65 members will collaborate with the conference coordinators of the NRI funded conference, "Building Research Collaborations to Enhance Rural Economic Development" to be held in April 2007. Conference flyers will be distributed to NCCC65 members and participants in previous North Central region research projects will be encouraged to attend.

The NCCC_OLD65 project Social Change in the Marketplace: Producers, Retailers, Consumers was created to increase the overall quality, quantity and competitiveness of research related to social change in the marketplace by initiating systematic efforts to strengthen the research infrastructure for scientists in this area of inquiry. The following accomplishments are in relation to the project approved for the October 2000-September 2005 timeframe (NCCC_OLD65). With respect to Objective 1 of the proposal (Provide an opportunity for scholars to develop grantsmanship skills to secure federal funding) and Objective 4 (Provide information on the development and management of a research program based on external funding), we held a pre-conference entitled: "USDA Funding Opportunities for Apparel & Merchandising Scholars" in conjunction with the International Textile and Apparel Association (ITAA) in November 2005. The intended outcome to increase the overall quality, quantity and competitiveness of research related to social change in the marketplace and to enhance scholars' ability to successfully acquire funding for research support. A potential impact is that 47 workshop participants will develop and submit USDA funding proposals. A second potential impact is an increase in the number of scientists working in this field on Federal project reviews and review panels. With respect to Objective 2 (Help workshop attendees develop skills necessary to attract private/industry support and initiate partnerships) and Objective 3 (Develop a proposal in partnership with colleagues from 1890 institutions to support their faculty members' participation in the program) of the NCCC065 proposal, we shared current research projects and interests as viable and critical areas for potential for research partnering. The intended outcome is to increase knowledge and awareness of research and external funding opportunities among scholars who focus on social change in the marketplace. The potential impact is that NCCC65 members will develop ideas for research and for research funding partnerships. With respect to Objective 3, (Develop a proposal in partnership with colleagues from 1890s institutions to support their faculty members' participation in the program) we contacted representatives from 1862 institutions, 1890 institutions and Hispanic serving institutions and human science organizations to partner on NCCC-65 initiatives. In addition, Marilyn DeLong contacted the 1890 schools to encourage participation and met with the 1890s group at NASULGC to generate interest. The intended outcome is to increase funding and research productivity in collaboration with ethnic minority researchers. The potential impact is that NCCC65 members and ethnic minority researchers will develop and conduct funded research and collaborative projects. Educators for Socially Responsible Apparel Businesses (ESRAB) a group initiated and partially funded by NCCC-65 sponsored met November 3, 2006. Members established a more formal organizational structure and created committees to focus on body image issues and the apparel industry, socially responsible curriculum, ESRAB outreach, and publications. An ESRAB website is under development. Awards were presented for sustainable design in the International Textile and Apparel Association design competition. The intended outcome is to increase knowledge and awareness of research opportunities among scholars who focus on social change in the marketplace. The potential impact is that NCCC65 members will develop ideas for collaborative research and research funding partnerships.

The members of NCCC-65 conduct multi-disciplinary research related to social change in the market place. This research includes such topics as social change and development, economic development and policy, natural resources and the environment, markets and trade, rural small business, and body image. A publication list is attached.