In what I believe may be the most exciting offer since our ValuePlus programs were rolled out more than 10 years ago, Arkansas Farm Bureau members now can receive a significant savings on General Motors cars and trucks.

GM is providing Arkansas Farm Bureau members $750 toward the purchase or lease of any new GM E85 FlexFuel vehicle or $500 toward the purchase or lease of other qualifying new GM models.

The offers are valid when buying certain new 2008 and 2009 GM passenger car and light-duty truck models in the Buick, Chevrolet, GMC, Hummer, Pontiac, Saab and Saturn lines. The Corvette Z06, HUMMER H1, hybrid vehicles and all medium-duty trucks do not qualify.

To be eligible for the ArFB/GM private offer, you must have been a member of Arkansas Farm Bureau for at least six months prior to the date of delivery of the vehicle. Buyer-members must take delivery by Jan. 2, 2009. GM dealers have all the details about this new program.

Knowing the popularity of GM vehicles in Arkansas, we believe this ValuePlus offer will demonstrate, yet again, the value of being a Farm Bureau member.

In addition to the new GM program, the Arkansas Farm Bureau state board of directors recently added two other new member benefits to the list of ValuePlus offerings. Those include discount programs with:

• Choice Hotels, which provides a 20-percent discount off regular rates for hotels of the Choice group, including Clarion, Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, Quality Inn, Sleep Inn, MainStay Suites, Suburban, Econo Lodge, Rodeway Inn and Suburban Extended Stay Hotel.

• AmeriGas. Farm Bureau members not currently receiving propane at a fixed price are eligible for a 5-cent per gallon discount with AmeriGas. AmeriGas has 22 outlets in Arkansas and provides service up to 50 miles away from most locations.

These new ValuePlus benefits join the existing programs to provide further savings to Farm Bureau members, including discount programs involving:

• Grainger, which offers Farm Bureau members 10 percent off their orders and free shipping on orders placed through its Web site.

• Child safety seats, with discount prices on child safety and booster seats.

• Farm Bureau Bank, with great rates available on loans, deposits, credit cards, etc.

• PharmaCare prescription drug program, with discounts on prescription drugs.

• An anti-crime program, where members of Farm Bureau have access to a $2,500 reward program for information leading to conviction of those who commit crimes on members’ property.

• An accidental death policy. Every member of Farm Bureau has accidental death coverage (up to $2,000) upon receipt of his/her annual membership dues.

• ProSource, where members receive up to 40 percent off retail prices on carpet and a 20- percent discount on other hard-surface flooring products.

• Poe Travel, a real travel agency specializing in service.

• The Farm Bureau Store, where apparel and gifts are available for immediate purchase.

• The Wyndham Group hotel program. Members receive a 10-percent discount below the lowest available rate at Ramada Worldwide, Days Inns, Wingate Inn, Howard Johnson, Travel Lodge, Super 8 and Knight Inn.

Many of you may not give your $35 annual membership much thought or rarely consider what you get for it. However, it’s worth more than you think and certainly more than you pay for it.

The reasons our members belong to Arkansas Farm Bureau are as numerous as days in a month. With more than 227,000 Arkansas families as members, there are bound to be different reasons for joining our organization.

Many of our members are involved in production agriculture and benefit from the organization’s mission and efforts to speak on your behalf on local, state and national issues. Even more of you are Farm Bureau members for the compelling set of insurance products and services that our members can obtain.

Still others are members because of a family connection that has been in place for generations. Maybe you, or a family member, were the recipient of a Farm Bureau scholarship to continue your education goals. Maybe you were involved in a Farm Bureau-sponsored MASH camp, where high school students can explore medical careers. Possibly, you gained valuable leadership skills as part of a Farm Bureau-supported group or organization such as FFA or 4-H.

Whatever the reason you belong to Farm Bureau, you’re getting more than you pay for with your membership. And you can always stay current on Farm Bureau membership benefits by checking www.arfb.com or the latest edition of Front Porch magazine.

With just a brief reflection on the benefits of Farm Bureau membership, it’s obvious that “helping you is what we do best.”