Friday, December 12, 2014

12.15.14 - NEW eXtension UPDATE



ECOP Holiday Greetings


Wishing You A Holiday Season Filled With Warmth And
Wonderment And A Most Joyous New Year 

Extension Committee On Organization And Policy
Delbert Foster, Chair 
Executive Director and Administrator Team 
Ron Brown, Nancy Bull, Lyla Houglum, L. Washington Lyons,
Sandy Ruble, Jane Schuchardt, and Robin Shepard
 

 

ECOP Monday Minute Returns on 1.5.15 

 

NEW eXtension UPDATE – The nomination process is underway through regional Cooperative Extension associations for the NEW eXtension Board of Directors. Those institutions in the Cooperative Extension Section with either a premium or basic membership will receive a ballot in early January to vote for the board members. Elbert Dickey, interim eXtension director, reports the response to the NEW eXtension membership poll now is at 96 percent (72 of the 75 institutions in the Cooperative Extension Section of the Board on Agriculture Assembly). Of those responding, 80 percent (58 institutions) have indicated intent to be members of the NEW eXtension. Details about membership levels are provided in the final report about the NEW eXtension. Questions can be directed to Dr. Dickey at edickey1@unl.edu whose interim appointment has been extended through April 2015 to provide consistent leadership through the transition. 

JOE Editor Proposals Due 1.15.15 – Extension Journal, Inc. invites proposals to provide editorial services for the corporation’s flagship product, the Journal of Extension. Editorial services required range from initial review of all submissions, to writing advice for authors, to working with reviewers, to copy editing of all issues. Michelle Rodgers, ECOP chair-elect and ECOP liaison to the Extension Journal Board of Directors, University of Delaware, asks your assistance in identifying qualified applicants. The deadline for proposals is January 15, 2015, with the contract to begin January 1, 2016. For the full RFP, Click Here. Questions can be directed to Terry Meisenbach tmeisenbach@extension.org

JCEP Leadership Conference Registration OpenPlan now to attend the JCEP Leadership Conference February 11 & 12, 2015 at the Tropicana Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada with the theme Leading Through Trust. Keynote speaker and author of The Trust Edge, David Horsager, will discuss how trust has the ability to accelerate or destroy any organization or relationship. ECOP Chair Delbert Foster, South Carolina State University, will provide an ECOP update and recognize the 125th anniversary of the passage of the second Morrill Act which created the universities commonly referred to as the 1890 institutions. Registration and more details are available at www.jcep.org

SNAP-ED Program Development Team Represented at National Conference – Jenna Anding, Texas A&M University, and Debra Garrard, Oklahoma State University, both members of the SNAP-ED Program Development Team, represented Land-grant Universities and Cooperative Extension at a recent Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Directors' meeting in New Orleans. During the conference, Anding and Garrard, who are members of the SNAP-Ed Program Development team, interacted with directors of SNAP-ED efforts from across the U.S. and briefed them on the contributions of Cooperative Extension to SNAP-Ed programs. ECOP authorizes an assessment of state Cooperative Extension Services receiving SNAP-ED funding to support the work of a Program Development Team managed out of South Dakota State University. Nominations are being sought by 12.19.14 for team members willing to help shape the future of SNAP-ED within the Land-grant University and in conjunction with other SNAP-ED efforts. For details on how to submit an application or provide a nomination, contact Sandra Jensen Sandra.jensen@sdstate.edu, 605.688.4944. 

Journal Continues Centennial Celebration – The December 2014 issue of the Journal of Extension, to be posted 12.18.14 at www.joe.org, includes the article Milestones and the Future for Cooperative Extension. ECOP immediate past chair, Jimmy Henning, University of Kentucky, is lead author. This completes the year-long series of articles published by JOE honoring Cooperative Extension’s centennial. 

GCHERA Announces World Conference – The Global Confederation of Higher Education Associations for Agricultural and Life Sciences www.gchera.com offers its 8th world conference June 25-26, 2015 in Kaslik, Lebanon. The theme is Global Challenges: Nutritional Security and Environmental Sustainability for Human Health. Details, including a call for abstracts due 1.12.15, are available at http://webapp.usek.edu.lb/forms/WS/gchera/index.html. Questions can be directed to desireeelazzi@usek.edu.lb or alainabirizk@usek.edu.lb.

Monday, December 8, 2014

12.8.14 - NEW eXtension Membership Poll

NEW eXtension Membership Poll – The response to the NEW eXtension membership poll conducted by Elbert Dickey, interim eXtension director, has been significant and positive. Eighty-three percent of the 75 institutions in the Cooperative Extension Section of the Board on Agriculture Assembly have responded to date with 38 selecting the premium level of membership and 12 selecting the basic. Details about membership levels are provided in the final report about the NEW eXtension. Watch for a solicitation of foundation board candidates soon. NEW eXtension members will have opportunity to vote for board members early in the new year. Questions can be directed to Dr. Dickey at edickey1@unl.edu.

Web Resources for Directors/Administrators – Please bookmark www.extension.org/ecop. Make note of the "Quick Navigation" links and "Resources for Directors and Administrators" link. In addition to the ECOP Monday Minute, this is your one-stop location to learn about ECOP’s national leadership designed to benefit Cooperative Extension state and local programming.

“Unifying Message” Report Now Available – The Charles Valentine Riley Memorial Foundation (RMF) has released the report Pursuing a Unifying Message: Elevating Food, Agricultural and Natural Resources Research as a National Priority available at www.rileymemorial.org. In discussing the report during a presentation at the National Press Club in Washington, DC last week, Wendy Wintersteen, Endowed Dean of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Iowa State University, repeatedly referenced the value of Extension for agriculture research and called for a broad-based coalition of stakeholders to elevate food, agricultural, and natural resources research as a national priority. Iowa State University helped develop the report, published by the RMF, together with Mississippi State University, the Soil and Water Conservation Society, Texas Tech University and Colorado State University. Cooperative Extension had opportunity to comment on the report during its development. The webcast of the program will be available 12.12.14 on the RMF website. 

ECOP Health Implementation Action Teams – Thanks to Cooperative Extension Directors/Administrators, together with Experiment Station Directors/Administrators, for nominating a significant number of faculty and field educators for the ECOP Health Implementation Action Teams. The teams will focus on five program priorities for the next three-five years – health literacy, health insurance literacy, chronic disease prevention and management, positive youth development for health, and health policy issues education. These are outlined in Cooperative Extension’s National Framework for Health and Wellness (March 2014). The responsibilities of the teams, which will be formed in early 2015, are to identify and develop programs and curriculum, provide professional development, initiate system-wide impact evaluation, and engage external partners. A chair/co-chair from each action team will make up the ECOP Health Implementation Task Force co-chaired by Rick Klemme, University of Wisconsin, and Celvia Stovall, Alabama A&M University. Drs. Klemme and Stovall represent ECOP on the BAA-BOHS Healthy Food Systems, Healthy People Steering Committee and will communicate the implementation efforts of the action teams to the broader effort, which is designed to integrate nutrition, health, environment and agriculture systems and link research, engagement, and academic programs. 

Join Food and Ag Engagement Dialogue – Register to join the 9:30 – 10:30 a.m. 12.17.14 webinar Why Cooperative Extension? A New Century for Food and Ag Engagement at http://bit.ly/1uTmfrk. Sponsored by the National Coalition of Food and Agricultural Research www.ncfar.org, the webinar will be led by Extension Directors Tim Cross, University of Tennessee, and Michael Ouart, University of Missouri. Both ECOP members, Dr. Cross is on the NC-FAR Board of Directors and Dr. Ouart is on the NC-FAR Research and Outreach Committee. 

Nominations Due for SNAP-ED Program Development Team – ECOP authorizes an assessment of state Cooperative Extension Services receiving SNAP-ED funding to support the work of a Program Development Team managed out of South Dakota State University. Nominations are being sought by 12.19.14 for team members willing to help shape the future of SNAP-ED within the Land-grant University and in conjunction with other SNAP-ED efforts. For details on how to submit an application, contact Sandra Jensen Sandra.jensen@sdstate.edu.

Monday, November 24, 2014

11.24.14 - ECOP Welcomes New Members and Sets Goals

ECOP Monday Minute returns on 12.8.14 …. HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

ECOP Welcomes New Members and Sets Goals – With the launch of another ECOP year, Delbert Foster, chair, South Carolina State University, welcomes new members Scott Reed, Oregon State University, and Beverly Durgan, University of Minnesota. Charlotte Eberlein, University of Idaho, and Daryl Buchholz, Kansas State University, have completed terms of service. ECOP, the representative leadership and governing body of Cooperative Extension nationwide, continues to work against the core themes of building partnerships and acquiring resources, increasing strategic marketing and communications, enhancing leadership and professional development, and strengthening organizational functioning. Find the 2015 goals at http://www.aplu.org/document.doc?id=4949

eXtension Vote Passes – Thanks for the extensive participation in the Cooperative Extension Section vote to implement the NEW eXtension proposal http://bit.ly/InnovStratFrame. On 11.19.14, Extension directors/administrators were contacted by the interim eXtension director, Elbert Dickey, by email regarding membership with decisions needed by December 5, 2014. Also in December, candidates for the new foundation board of directors will be solicited from the five Cooperative Extension regions.

UPDATE:Health Nominations Deadline Extended to 12.2.14 – Last week the deadline was extended to send one-page letters to nominate Extension professionals to work in action teams that will focus on 5 of the 6 priority areas identified in the report, Cooperative Extension's National Framework For Health and Wellness. The criteria and all of the details may be found at: http://goo.gl/SFm1hX. The action teams are an ECOP effort, in collaboration with ESCOP, and complementary to the integrative BAA-BoHS Healthy Food Systems, Healthy People initiative. Work will begin January 15, 2015.

Health Conference Registration Soon to Open – The purpose of the National Health Outreach Conference May 6-8, 2015, Atlanta, GA, is to build a collaborative approach with organizations and agencies to achieve a healthier and safer America by promoting health and wellness, advancing health equity, and reducing health disparities. The conference website is at www.nationalhealthoutreach.org where you can find all the details. 

Online Impact Training – Oregon State University Professional and Continuing Education announces training to help employees of universities and other public programs write high value impact statements. Annual licenses are available for single users or entire departments. For more information, email learn@oregonstate.edu or dave.king@oregonstate.edu, or call 541-737-4197. 

Antibiotic Resistance in Production Agriculture – APLU and the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC) will work together through a task force to advise the federal government on a research agenda and provide public information on the use of antibiotics in production agriculture. The task force, chaired by Lonnie J. King, Dean, The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine, is comprised of key representatives from the production animal agriculture community and the pharmaceutical industry. Officials from key federal agencies are expected to serve as observers to the task force and leaders from public universities in Mexico and Canada will serve as ex officio members.

Monday, November 17, 2014

11.17.14 - ECOP Releases 2014 Annual Report

ECOP Releases 2014 Annual Report – As Cooperative Extension wraps up its centennial and launches another century of “extending knowledge, changing lives,” ECOP is pleased to release highlights of this year of national leadership. See the ECOP 2014 Accomplishments Report at http://www.aplu.org/CESannualreport. Jimmy Henning, ECOP immediate past chair, University of Kentucky, particularly emphasizes the release of the National Framework for Health and Wellness www.aplu.org/ducument.doc?id=5134, signing of Memorandums of Understanding related to 4-H youth development https://www.aplu.org/document.doc?id=5187 and USDA climate hubs http://www.aplu.org/document.doc?id=5315, establishment of the ECOP 4-H National Leadership Committee, launching of www.landgrantimpacts.org, and extensive visibility for Cooperative Extension related to the centennial. Thanks to all who had a part in these efforts. 

 NC-FAR to Host Cooperative Extension DialogueWhy Cooperative Extension? A New Century for Food and Ag is a dialogue sponsored by the National Coalition for Food & Agricultural Research (http://www.ncfar.org/) 9:30 -10:30 a.m., Wednesday, December 17, 2014. Featured are ECOP’s representatives to NC-FAR Tim Cross, University of Tennessee, and Michael Ouart, University of Missouri. The purpose is to engage NC-FAR members and others in a discussion about what agriculture producers, commodity groups, and other stakeholders expect of Cooperative Extension in its second century. You are invited to join via webinar at http://bit.ly/1uTmfrk. Drs. Cross and Quart also will represent ECOP at the NC-FAR board of directors meeting which follows. 

Why Should Agricultural Research Be a National Priority? – Today the Charles Valentine Riley Memorial Foundation (RMF) announced the new report Pursuing a Unifying Message: Elevating Food, Agricultural and Natural Resources Research as a National Priority will be released on December 5, 2014 at the National Press Club in Washington, DC. The report documents that the United States is in danger of losing its position of international prominence in the scientific research upon which our food, agriculture and natural resources systems depend. It encourages public and private organizations to work together toward a common goal at a time when global challenges require additional investment in agricultural research. Discussing the report will be former Secretary of Agriculture Dan Glickman; Jo Handelsman, Associate Director for Science at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy; and Wendy Wintersteen, Endowed Dean of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Iowa State University. The report, published by the RMF, was developed by the RMF and Iowa State University, in partnership with Mississippi State University, the Soil and Water Conservation Society, Texas Tech University and Colorado State University. Cooperative Extension had opportunity to comment on the report during its development. Registration (space limited) is available at www.rileymemorial.org. For those unable to attend, a live webcast of the program may be viewed on the website at 9:00 a.m. ET on December 5, 2014. 

USDA-NIFA and Cooperative Extension Partnership – A two-day retreat last week in Arlington, VA brought together representatives from Cooperative Extension and USDA-NIFA to explore what partnership means for the two groups and what actions can be taken to strengthen work together. A report is expected that will help ECOP and the agency prioritize and implement follow-up actions. Robin Shepard, Executive Director, North Central Cooperative Extension Association, provides key leadership for the effort. 

ECOP Proceedings 1985-1989 – During ECOP’s history, bound books with a green cover were provided to each institution in the Cooperative Extension Section. If your institution has a set of these Proceedings of the Extension Committee on Organization and Policy (ECOP) and are missing Volume VII (1985-1989), let Sandy Ruble sandy.ruble@extension.org know by 12.5.14 and a book will be shipped. Supplies are limited. 

PILD 2015 Save the DateImagining Extension – Eyes on the Future is the theme of the 2015 Public Issues Leadership Development (PILD) Conference April 12-15 in Crystal City, VA http://www.jcep.org/images/PILD/2015-PILD/2015_PILD_Flyer.pdf. Sponsored by the Joint Council of Extension Professionals, the conference is focused on building advocacy skills for Cooperative Extension. Registration opens January 12, 2015 at http://www.jcep.org/.

Monday, November 10, 2014

11.10.14 - ECOP Engaged in APLU Annual Meeting

ECOP Engaged in APLU Annual MeetingAt the APLU Annual Meeting last week in Orlando, FL, ECOP members fully engaged and represented the Cooperative Extension section, including Rick Klemme, Budget and Advocacy Committee, University of Wisconsin; James Trapp, Committee on Legislation and Policy, Oklahoma State University; Tim Cross, Policy Board of Directors, University of Tennessee, and Jimmy Henning, Board on Agriculture Assembly strategy sessions, immediate past ECOP chair, University of Kentucky. 

Communications and Marketing Project Expands – Last week the APLU Board on Agriculture Assembly Administrative Heads Section (AHS) voted to be an equal funding partner in the current AES-CES Communications and Marketing Project effective in 2015. Current co-chairs of Communications and Marketing Committee are Nancy Cox representing ESCOP, University of Kentucky, and Scott Reed, representing ECOP, Oregon State University. The project seeks to educate the public and decision-makers about the value of land-grant university research, Extension, and with the AHS support, academic programs. 

Extension Project Gets Highest USDA Honor – USDA-NIFA’s Afghanistan Agricultural Extension Project (AAEP) received the Secretary’s Honor Award in the category of Increasing Global Food Security last week at a ceremony in Washington, DC. The award presented to Jim Hill, Associate Dean for International Programs, UC Davis College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences and Michael McGirr, national program leader, USDA National Institute for Food and Agriculture’s Center for International Programs recognizes exceptional leadership contributions or public service in support of USDA’s missions and goals.

eXtension Hosts Critical Conversation on 2nd Machine Age ConferenceeXtension hosted a “Critical Conversation” panel on the thoughts of workforce changes as the result of technological changes. This critical conversation entitled “Takeaways from the 2nd Machine Age Conference” centered on ideas that were discussed at the MIT 2nd Machine Age conference and in the book 2nd Machine Age by Erik Brynjolfsson and Andrew McAfee. The panel, moderated by Bob Bertsch-Web Technology Specialist, North Dakota State University, included Anne Adrian, Jerry Buchko and Jerry Thomas. The recording is at https://plus.google.com/events/c61cv6stfqn1dcd66p98lc6ujn4

University of Florida Honors Mellinger – Former, two-term CARET liaison to ECOP, Madeline Mellinger, has received the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) Friend of IFAS Award for her long-term commitment to the university’s land-grant mission as a Florida CARET delegate. 

Journal Continues Centennial CelebrationThe October 2014 issue of the Journal of Extension includes an article on Extension community development in the continuing series honoring the centennial. See http://www.joe.org/joe/2014october/comm1.php

Strengthening Rural Economies – See a new state-by-state "Made in Rural America" report illustrating the impact of USDA investments in rural communities. Each state factsheet highlights specific USDA investments in rural businesses, manufacturing, energy, water and other infrastructure development. They also outline how USDA is helping rural communities attract businesses and families by investing in housing and broadband.

Monday, November 3, 2014

11.3.14 - USDA, ECOP, ESCOP Signs Climate Hubs Document

USDA, ECOP, ESCOP Signs Climate Hubs Document – Pledging to work together on adaptation and mitigation strategies to climate change and variability, USDA Regional Climate Hubs http://www.climatehubs.oce.usda.gov/, Cooperative Extension and Experiment Station leaders signed a Memorandum of Understanding today during the Board on Agriculture Assembly meeting at the APLU Annual Meeting in Orlando. The document outlines coordination and does not obligate resources. Those signing are Catherine Woteki, USDA Chief Scientist and Under Secretary for Research, Education and Economics; Robert Bonnie, USDA Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment; Jimmy Henning, ECOP Chair, and Steve Slack, ESCOP immediate past chair. 
L-R Jimmy Henning, Cathie Woteki, Steve Slack


ACTION: JOE Editor Proposals Due 1.15.15Extension Journal, Inc. invites proposals to provide editorial services for the corporation’s flagship product, the Journal of Extension. Editorial services required range from initial review of all submissions, to writing advice for authors, to working with reviewers, to copy editing of all issues. Michelle Rodgers, ECOP chair-elect and ECOP liaison to the Extension Journal Board of Directors, University of Delaware, asks your assistance in identifying qualified applicants. The deadline for proposals is January 15, 2015, with the contract to begin January 1, 2016. For the full RFP, click here. Questions can be directed to Terry Meisenbach tmeisenbach@extension.org

ACTION: NEW eXtension Vote Due 11.17.14 – This week the voting members of the 75 institutional members of the Cooperative Extension Section will receive a ballot to determine the future of the NEW eXtension. Your careful consideration and vote by 11.17.14 is requested. ECOP through the eXtension Governing Committee, Dennis Calvin, chair, Pennsylvania State University, engaged an eXtension Strategic Planning Committee in 2014. Chaired by Keith Smith, Ohio State University, and assisted by the Cascade Center for Community Governance, the committee was composed of representatives from all five Extension regions and was charged to present a plan for increasing eXtension’s value to Land-grant institutions and partners. The final report was accepted at the October 15, 2014 ECOP meeting in Lexington, KY. ECOP unanimously voted to engage the Cooperative Extension Section to 1) discontinue the current eXtension assessment for 2015; and 2) move to a new membership, fee-driven model effective January 1, 2015. A “yes” vote on #2 does not obligate the voting institution to membership. In addition to the report, view the webinar recording http://connect.extension.iastate.edu/p8ubbwg6dhy/ of 10.29.14. The webinar outlines a new vision for eXtension, making Cooperative Extension state and local electronic innovation the primary priority. Plus, the new funding model proposes a change from assessments to a fee-based approach. The webinar defines what you will get, what it will cost and the process for electing new directors. 

ACTION: Health Nominations Due 11.28.14Complementary to the BAA-BoHS Healthy Food Systems, Healthy People initiative, ECOP, in collaboration with ESCOP, is developing an implementation process on specific action areas related to human health and wellness. While the BAA-BoHS effort focuses on the integration of nutrition, health, environment, and agriculture systems, the ECOP/ESCOP action teams will focus on the other five priority areas identified in the ECOP Health Task Force Report www.aplu.org/document.doc?id=5134. These are health literacy, health insurance literacy, chronic disease prevention and management, positive youth development, and health policy issues education. Extension and experiment station directors and administrators have been asked to submit nominations for researchers, faculty and field educators for each of the five priority action teams. The deadline for submissions is 11.28.14. Work begins in early January. 

Funding Opportunity on Energy Efficiency – The U.S. Department of Energy Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy has $9 million available to improve energy efficiency of commercial buildings. More information, application requirements, and instructions for this funding opportunity announcement (DE-FOA-0001168) can be found on the EERE Funding Opportunity Exchange website. To be eligible for consideration, a concept paper must be submitted no later than November 17, 2014. Questions about this FOA may be sent to CBIFOA2015@ee.doe.gov.

Monday, October 27, 2014

10.27.14 - ECOP Changes Leadership

ECOP Changes Leadership – Delbert Foster, South Carolina State University, takes over as ECOP Chair at the Cooperative Extension Section Dinner Monday, November 3, 2014 during the APLU Annual Meeting in Orlando, FL. He replaces Jimmy Henning, University of Kentucky. ECOP chairs are identified by regions on a rotational basis. The northeast region has named Michelle Rodgers, University of Delaware, as ECOP chair for 2016. The western region has named Fred Schlutt, University of Alaska, for 2017. Two members complete ECOP terms this year – Charlotte Eberlein, University of Idaho, and Daryl Buchholz, Kansas State University. ECOP is the representative national leadership and governing body of Cooperative Extension. Proceedings of ECOP meetings are available at https://www.aplu.org/sslpage.aspx?pid=2435.

USDA-NIFA Releases Strategic Plan – ECOP was highly involved in the review and comment process in the development of the USDA-NIFA Strategic Plan for 2014 to 2018 http://www.csrees.usda.gov/about/strat_plan_2014_2018.html. The plan aligns with USDA and USDA-Research, Education and Economics (REE) priorities. USDA-NIFA Director Sonny Ramaswamy invites you to a webinar to introduce the plan 3:00 – 4:30 p.m. ET, Tuesday, 10.28.14. To connect, go to http://emsp.intellor.com/login/417304. Send advance questions to Virginia Bueno, Communications Director, Virginia.bueno@nifa.usda.gov. Questions also will be taken during the webinar.

4-H Science Takes Off Around the Country – The 7th annual 4-H National Youth Science Day, the world's largest youth led science experiment, engaged thousands of young people all over the nation in October, thanks to the popularity of the 2014 national science experiment, Rockets to the Rescue. Created by the University of Arizona Extension, the experiment challenges youth to build an aerodynamic craft designed to deliver a payload of food to natural disaster victims. To date, more than 950 4-H NYSD events have been registered - a new 4-H NYSD record - engaging more than 100,000 youth in all 50 states and Puerto Rico, including NASA Space Centers, major league fields, schools and 4-H clubs. 4-H NYSD, made possible by National 4-H Council, USDA-NIFA and Cooperative Extension, was created to ignite an early interest in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) among young people. The nation's STEM skills gap was the focus of a thought leadership event on October 8 in Washington, D.C. that included leaders from NASA, Lockheed Martin, Virginia 4-H and Change the Equation. 4-H NYSD corporate sponsors included Lockheed Martin, Hughes Net and John Deere. For more information, including photos, click here.

NEDA 2015, 2016 – SAVE THE DATES – Each year, traditionally in spring, the Cooperative Extension directors, administrators and partners meet to discuss program and administrative issues of national significance. For the near term, this national gathering, commonly known as NEDA (National Directors and Administrators) and Cooperative Extension Section (CES) Meeting, has been shifted to fall. In 2015, the meeting is October 12-14 at the Embassy Suites-Downton St. Louis, MO. For 2016, the University of Wyoming, on behalf of the Experiment Station Section, is pleased to host the Joint Experiment Station Section-Cooperative Extension Section Meeting, Monday September 19, 2016 – Thursday, September 22, 2016 at the Jackson Lake Lodge in Grand Teton National Park near the town of Jackson Hole, Wyoming http://www.gtlc.com/lodging/jackson-lake-lodge-overview.aspx. Information regarding meeting registration, agenda/schedule, and hotel reservations will be provided closer to the meeting dates.

2015 USDA Agricultural Outlook Forum Student Diversity Program – Please alert undergraduate (juniors and seniors) and graduate students majoring in agriculture and related sciences on your respective college and university campuses to go to the Agricultural Outlook Forum Student Diversity Program website to apply for sponsorships to attend the USDA Agricultural Outlook Forum http://www.usda.gov/oce/forum/. The forum provides producers, policymakers, business, government, and industry leaders with a unique opportunity to meet, exchange ideas, and discuss timely issues at the forefront of America’s agriculture. In an effort to increase the present and future diversity of participation in the Forum, USDA created this program. The deadline for applications is November 20, 2014.

USDA and DHHS Announce Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee Meeting – The 2015 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee will meet on November 7, 2014 by webcast. See http://www.health.gov/dietaryguidelines/ for details. Written comments will be accepted.

Monday, October 20, 2014

10.20.14 - ECOP 4-H National Leadership Committee Names Co-chairs

ECOP 4-H National Leadership Committee Names Co-chairsRenée McKee, Program Leader, 4-H and Youth Development, Purdue University, and Ed Jones, Extension Director, Virginia Tech, are co-chairs of the new ECOP 4-H National Leadership Committee. The committee’s charge is to engage in regular and substantive discussion about issues of national importance related to the LGU Cooperative Extension System’s implementation of the 4-H program, and to develop recommendations for consideration by ECOP. Click Here to view a progress report. Charlotte Eberlein, Extension Director, University of Idaho, and an ECOP member, served as the inaugural, interim chair of the team. Chuck Hibberd, Extension Director, University of Nebraska, is ECOP liaison to the team. 

ECOP Meets in Lexington, KY – ECOP Chair Jimmy Henning, University of Kentucky, welcomed ECOP members, liaisons, and guests to his home state last week for a robust session focusing on significant agenda items including the future of eXtension, implementation plans related to the Cooperative Extension’s National Framework for Health and Wellness, and formalization of the National Impacts Database Committee. ECOP also approved the goals, calendar and budget for the new ECOP year effective November 4, 2014 when Delbert Foster, South Carolina State University, becomes chair. 

International Extension Webinar 11.7.14 – In celebration of the U.S. Cooperative Extension’s 100th year, the Global Forum on Rural Advisory Services www.g-fras.org and USDA-NIFA are hosting a webinar November 7, 2014, 11:00 am – 12:30 pm ET. The title is What is the Role of a Country’s Universities in Pluralistic Rural Advisory Services? The U.S. Land-Grant Model and Other Examples. The session is designed for policy makers, government and non-government organizations, university leaders, donors, and agricultural service providers as they work to strengthen extension/outreach services in the U.S. and around the world. If you plan to join the webinar, technically facilitated by eXtension, please send an email to CIP@nif.usda.gov

USDA-NIFA Federal Assistance Policy Guide – Comments continue to be solicited by USDA on the policy guide, which is based on laws, regulations, and USDA and NIFA guidance. See www.nifa.usda.gov/business/managing_grant.html. Send comments to policyguide@nifa.usda.gov with “NIFA Policy Guide” in the subject line of the email message. 

Energy and Federal FinancingGuide to Federal Financing of Energy Efficiency and Clean Energy Deployment has been released by the U.S. Department of Energy, USDA, the U.S. Treasury and other agencies. See http://energy.gov/sites/prod/files/2014/10/f18/Federal%20Financing%20Guide%2009%2026%2014.pdf

Future of Extension – ECOP member Michael Ouart, University of Missouri, calls your attention to the panel discussion Extension: Taking the Long View http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=83c61_rvlGg. The 2014 National Excellence in Extension award winner, Robert Kallenbach, Plant Sciences Extension Specialist and Program Leader, University of Missouri, is one of the panelists. 

Extension Embraces Change – Cathann Kress, ECOP Budget and Legislative Committee member, Iowa State University, recommends an article about the changing Extension at 100 years http://m.iowafarmertoday.com/news/crop/extension-embraces-change-at/article_0661eac8-4f1e-11e4-b4c7-6b5bfc500c20.html?mobile_touch=true.

Monday, October 13, 2014

10.13.14 - Cooperative Extension, USDA-NIFA Announce 2014 Awardees

Cooperative Extension, USDA-NIFA Announce 2014 Awardees – Seven exemplary Cooperative Extension educators will be honored at the 2014 APLU Annual Meeting, November 2-4, 2014 in Orlando, FL. Awards recognizing excellence in programming and celebrating diversity are co-sponsored by ECOP and USDA-NIFA and selected through a competitive process. The National Excellence in Extension Award winner is Robert Kallenbach, Plant Sciences Extension Specialist and Program Leader, University of Missouri. Regional Excellence in Extension Award winners are Henry English, Small Farm Program Director, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff; Rick Funston, Beef Cattle Reproduction Specialist, West Central Research and Extension Center at North Platte, University of Nebraska; Richard VanVranken, County Extension Department Head, Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Atlantic County; John Jacob, Environmental Quality and Coastal Community Development Director, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, and Madeleine Sigman-Grant, Extension Specialist, University of Nevada. The National Extension Diversity Awardee is Cesar Asuaje, Regional Extension Specialist in Agriculture, Farm Labor, Pesticide and Farm Safety Education, University of Florida. 

ECOP to Meet in Lexington, KY – Regional scans kick off the fall ECOP meeting October 15-16 in Lexington, KY, chaired by Jimmy Henning, University of Kentucky. The purpose of the scans is to indicate program and administrative themes where national leadership is warranted. Other key decision points on the agenda are approval of the 2015 ECOP goals and budget, private resource development at the national level, eXtension’s transition to a new model, a health and wellness implementation team, and formalizing a National Impacts Database Committee. 

Excellence Data Due 12.31.14The ECOP Measuring Excellence in Extension Implementation Team chaired by Joe Zublena, North Carolina State University, has shifted its call for data input to the fall of each year. While data is appreciated at any time, this shift is designed to coordinate with most university’s fiscal years. In addition to entry of data directly into the system at www.landgrantimpacts.org (formerly excellenceinextension.org), there is an option to fill out a form and the data will be entered for you. The form is available from Scott Cummings at s-cummings@tamu.edu. The database is only valuable if it is complete. 

PILD Save the Date – The Joint Council of Extension Professionals (JCEP) will focus on the 125th anniversary of the passage of the 2nd Morrill Act creating 1890 Land-grant Institutions at the April 12-15, 2015 conference in Crystal City, VA. The 2015 Public Issues Leadership Development (PILD) Conference theme is “Imagining Extension – Eyes to the Future …”. ECOP 2015 Delbert Foster is among the invited keynote speakers. Registration opens 1.12.15 at www.jcep.org

National Extension Conference on Volunteerism – This conference, designed for professionals of all disciplines with Cooperative Extension who work with volunteers and/or volunteer programs is May 4-7, 2015 in Portland, ME. Proposals for workshops, research presentations, and the poster showcase are due November 7, 2014. See http://extension.umaine.edu/programs/necv/.

Monday, October 6, 2014

10.6.14 - State Energy Extension Partnership (SEEP) Strategy Session


State Energy Extension Partnership (SEEP) Strategy Session – Coordinated by Beverly Samuel, USDA-NIFA National Program Leader, representatives from USDA-NIFA, USDA-Rural Development (RD), U.S. Department of Energy (DoE), Cooperative Extension, and APLU met in DC last week to set priorities for the coming year. A Memorandum of Understanding that was signed by USDA-REE, USDA-RD, and DoE in October 2012 designates intentional educational collaboration by the partners in order to encourage efficient use of energy by individuals, communities, government and business in the United States. To get notices of funding, webinars, and other opportunities related to energy education, Cooperative Extension educators are encouraged to join the NIFA Energy listserv by e-mailing a request to Beverly Samuel at bsamuel@nifa.usda.gov. Additional questions about SEEP can also be directed to her. 

Kress Represents Extension at Civic Science WorkshopCivic Science: Re-framing the Role of Science in Society was the theme of a two-day workshop at the National Science Foundation last week in Arlington, VA. Cathann Kress, Iowa State University, together with Jane Schuchardt, ECOP National Office, represented Cooperative Extension at the session focused on citizens as co-creators of a democratic society. Discussions centered on the definition, best practices, and challenges to research and application where scientists and lay citizens work together to build respect, enhance capacities to act, and generate positive public outcomes. Significant discussion centered on the legacy and potential of Cooperative Extension to engage in this work. Kress will keep Directors/Administrators informed as the discussions progress, including distribution of a white paper now under development. For more information see www.civic-science.org.

President Commemorates Extension Centennial – President Barack Obama has provided a message in commemoration of the 100th Anniversary of the Smith-Lever Act. Signed into law by President Woodrow Wilson in 1914, the Smith-Lever Act established America’s Cooperative Extension System. 

UConn Extension Celebrates 100th Anniversary of Smith-Lever Act – On 9.19.14, more than 300 guests gathered to celebrate a century of leadership and service by UConn Extension. Jennifer Riggs, a dedicated Extension volunteer, and Gregory Weidemann, Dean of the College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources, co-hosted the evening’s events. Guests were treated to dinner featuring locally-sourced wine, cheese, vegetables, seafood, and poultry. Congressman Joe Courtney and Senator Richard Blumenthal provided remarks prior to dinner. A short video documented UConn Extension’s contributions around the state. The evening also included a congratulatory video from U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and a Proclamation from Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy. Dinner concluded with Centennial Crunch ice cream, an award-winning flavor created specifically for the centennial celebration. 

Health Conference Call for Proposals – The National Health Outreach Conference Planning Committee is now accepting proposals through 10.31.14 for the 2015 National Health Outreach Conference Promoting Connections to Create Healthy Individuals, Families and Communities May 6-8, 2015 in Atlanta, Georgia. Visit the National Health Outreach Conference website www.nationalhealthoutreach.org or the Call for Proposal website http://www.fcs.uga.edu/extension/2015-national-health-outreach-conference for details. 

USDA-NIFA Listening Sessions for Children, Youth Families-at-Risk (CYFAR) – Stakeholder listening sessions about the FY 2015 CYFAR Sustainable Communities Project will be 3:00 p.m. ET, 10.28.14 and 2:00 p.m. ET 10.29.14. Registration is required by 10.27.14 at http://2015cyfarstakeholderlisteningsession.eventbrite.com. Webinar login information, background information on CYFAR, and a list of questions that will be asked during the session will be sent to registrants. Participation will be granted on a first-come, first-served basis. If you are unable to register, you may send an email to cyfar@nifa.usda.gov to be placed on the waiting list.

Monday, September 29, 2014

9.29.14 - ECOP Names Health Steering Committee Representatives

ECOP Names Health Steering Committee Representatives – Celvia Stovall, ECOP member and Extension Associate Director, Alabama A&M University, and Rick Klemme, ECOP Budget and Legislative Committee chair and University of Wisconsin Extension Director, will represent the Cooperative Extension Section on the new Healthy Food Systems, Healthy People Steering Committee. The purpose of the committee, operating with leadership by the APLU Board on Agriculture Assembly (BAA) and the Board on Human Sciences, is to develop a broad-based initiative for which funding will eventually be sought. The current emphasis by the BAA is water security. The health committee resulted from action taken by the BAA Policy Board of Directors following a work session at the summer 2014 Joint COPs session in Sacramento. Efforts by the ECOP National Task Force on Health https://www.aplu.org/document.doc?id=5134 led by Michelle Rodgers, ECOP member and University of Delaware Extension Director, contributed to the development of the steering committee. 

Lantagne Joins Futuring Group – Former ECOP chair (2011) Doug Lantagne, University of Vermont Extension Director, has been named by ECOP to represent Cooperative Extension on the Futuring Task Force. At its July 2014 meeting, the BAA Policy Board of Directors approved the Futuring Task Force plan including funding to engage a facilitator. It is expected all Cooperative Extension Directors and Administrators will be engaged in the data collection process. ECOP thanks its former representative to the group, 2013 ECOP Chair Daryl Buchholz, Kansas State University Extension Associate Director. 

LEAD21 Applications Due 11.14.14 – ECOP representatives to the LEAD21 Board of Directors, Jon Boren, New Mexico State University, and Nick Place, University of Florida, alert you to the call for nominations for Class XI www.lead-21.org/program-application-schedule/. The LEAD21 program provides leadership and professional development training for faculty and professionals in the Land-grant University System. The Board of Directors represents the various sections of the APLU Board on Agriculture Assembly. The University of Georgia provides oversight and management of the program. 

Extension at APLU Annual Meeting – Extension Directors and Administrators attending the APLU annual meeting in Orlando, FL November 2-4, 2014 are encouraged to join the Sunday noon luncheon hosted by the National 4-H Council and the Cooperative Extension Section dinner meeting Monday evening. The discounted rate for rooms at the conference hotel ends 9.30.14 and for registration, 10.1.14. See http://www.aplu.org/page.aspx?pid=1462 for details. 

EFNEP Updates – The FY2013 National Impact Report for the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) is available at http://www.nifa.usda.gov/nea/food/efnep/impacts.html. In addition, Helen Chipman, USDA-NIFA National Program Leader for Food and Nutrition Education, announces new social media guidelines for EFNEP. Social media offers an exciting opportunity for peer-to-peer communication. These guidelines, developed by Southern Region EFNEP Coordinators and staff, provide a framework for a cohesive and consistent voice for EFNEP on social media nationally. See http://www.nifa.usda.gov/nea/food/efnep/pdf/efnep_social_med_guide.pdf. These guidelines, developed by Southern Region EFNEP Coordinators and staff, will contribute to a new national initiative to explore the use of social media and/or other technology that can complement the face-to-face learning provided by EFNEP paraprofessional staff. In announcing this initiative, Helen Chipman, stated, “While our primary delivery strategy will continue to be hands-on, in-person education using EFNEP’s paraprofessional model, we are exploring new strategies and delivery mechanisms to further engage and encourage participants toward positive health behaviors. Social media has become an integral part of Americans’ lives, including EFNEP’s target audience. In order to remain relevant and accessible, EFNEP is exploring the appropriate and effective use of social media in engaging our target audience.”

Monday, September 22, 2014

9.22.14 - SNAP-ED Information Needed by 9.26.14

SNAP-ED Information Needed by 9.26.14The annual request for information to set the SNAP-Ed assessment for the coming year has been sent. This assessment to support the SNAP-ED National Office at South Dakota State University and the Program Development Team was approved by ECOP for a three-year period through 2016. Institutions are asked to report if they participated in SNAP-Ed for FY 2014 and the amount received. Please respond to sandra.jensen@sdstate.edu at the LGU SNAP-Ed Office by September 26, 2014. 

Stronger Economies Together Gets New Funding – USDA-NIFA National Program Leader Brent Elrod reports USDA Rural Development has provided an additional $1.5 million to continue the program Stronger Economies Together (SET), http://www.srdc.msstate.edu/set/ primarily led by the Regional Rural Development Centers. The SET planning team meets in Washington, DC in early November 2014. 

Emerging Administrator Award – This award, co-sponsored by the APLU Board on Human Sciences (BoHS) and the Council of Administrators of Family and Consumer Sciences (CAFCS), recognizes significant potential as a new administrator in academia or Cooperative Extension. A call for nominations, due October 8, 2014, and selection criteria are available at http://thebohs.org/emerging_administrator_award.aspx. For further information, contact the BoHS Executive Director Carol Kellett at carol.kellett@thebohs.org. The award, which includes an honorarium, will be presented biannually at the BoHS/CAFCS joint conference. 

Children, Youth and Families at Risk (CYFAR) Annual ReportThis program served 10,700 youth and families at risk in 42 states and U.S. territories during the 2013 program year. The Annual Report highlights stories, outcomes and program impacts across the four CYFAR national outcomes of Early Childhood, School Age, Teens, and Parent and Family. The overall CYFAR Program aligns with the USDA-REE mission areas of Education and Science Literacy, and Rural-Urban Interdependence and Prosperity. CYFAR is supporting the mission of educating the next generation of scientists through STEM projects that include hands-on activities that promote inquiry and thinking. CYFAR is building and enhancing partnerships with underserved and non-traditional populations. See http://www.csrees.usda.gov/nea/family/cyfar/annual_report.html

Food and Poverty – In its Choices magazine, the Agriculture and Applied Economics Association (AAEA) has a series on poverty and the relationship between poverty and food. For an overview of the articles, see Rural Poverty and Food.

Monday, September 15, 2014

9.15.14 - ECOP Chair to Address FCS Program Leaders

ECOP Chair to Address FCS Program Leaders – Community and Rural Vitality, Health and Wellness will be the focus of the 2014 Family & Consumer Sciences State Program Leaders Meeting at the Annual Session of the National Extension Association of Family & Consumer Sciences (NEAFCS), September 17-18, 2014 in Lexington, KY. ECOP Chair Jimmy Henning, University of Kentucky, will speak at the opening session. Representatives of the Board on Human Sciences, Council of Administrators for Family and Consumer Sciences, and the American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences will attend. USDA NIFA’s Division of Family & Consumer Sciences, under the leadership of Caroline Crocoll, coordinates the two-day annual meeting of state leaders. Regional Rural Development Center Directors will also participate. 

Bioproducts World Conference in Ohio – Keith Smith, Extension Director, Ohio State University, encourages colleagues to take advantage of a special academic rate of $125 for the Bioproducts World 2014 Showcase and Conference October 5-8, 2014 in Columbus, OH. To register, go to http://bioproductsworld.org/general_registration.php and note the special rate. For a schedule of events, see http://bioproductsworld.org/schedule_of_events.php

WVU Announces Centennial Celebration – West Virginia University will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Smith-Lever Act with a two-day symposium September 24-25, 2014 focusing on the future of Cooperative Extension. A presidential panel features three WVU presidents — Gordon Gee, David Hardesty and Peter Magrath — who will each give their unique perspective and insight on the role Cooperative Extension plays in fulfilling the land-grant mission. See http://go.wvu.edu/ZeKCE0 for more information. 

Blog Post Features Cooperative Extension’s Next Century – ECOP chairs Daryl Buchholz, Kansas State University; Jimmy Henning, University of Kentucky, and Doug Steele, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, and other leaders were featured in the PEW Charitable Trusts article Cooperative Extension Reinvents Itself for the 21st Century. See http://www.pewtrusts.org/en/research-and-analysis/blogs/stateline/2014/09/09/cooperative-extension-reinvents-itself-for-the-21st-century

NRC Completes AFRI Review The National Research Council (NRC) has completed its review of AFRI and provides the report Spurring Innovation in Food and Agriculture: A Review of the USDA Agriculture and Food Research Initiative Program http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=18652. Reference to Cooperative Extension is found in Recommendations 2-A and 3-B. 

USDA-NIFA Director Speaks at Centennial Celebration Extension in the 21st Century was the theme of Sonny Ramaswamy’s presentation at the USDA Cooperative Extension Centennial celebration last week in Washington, DC. View his presentation at http://nifa-connect.nifa.usda.gov/p3n5jte2826/.

Monday, September 8, 2014

9.8.14 - Calendar Items of Note

Debut of the National Cooperative Extension Leadership Calendar – Introducing a convenient, interactive calendar designed to track dates and details of events of national and regional significance as announced in the ECOP Monday Minute. Bookmark your browser for: http://nationalcooperativeextension.blogspot.com/p/blog-page.html. On the calendar you will find the following items.

National Extension Master Gardener Coordinator Conference – October 27-29, 2014, New Brunswick, NJ, https://sites.google.com/site/2014nemgcc/, conference registration deadline is October 13, hotel room rates guaranteed through October 6. Direct questions to 2014NEMGCC@gmail.com.
 
APLU Annual MeetingNovember 2-4, 2014, Orlando, FL, http://www.aplu.org/page.aspx?pid=1462, Cooperative Extension awards presented Sunday morning; Cooperative Extension dinner Monday evening.

Joint Council for Agricultural Research, Education, and Teaching/Academic Heads Section (CARET/AHS) Meeting – March 2-5, 2015, Washington, DC. 

Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) Conference – March 16-19, 2015, Crystal City, (Arlington) VA, contact Stephanie Blake, USDA-NIFA, sblake@nifa.usda.gov

Public Issues Leadership Development (PILD) Conference – April 12-15, 2015, Crystal City,
(Arlington) VA, http://www.jcep.org/pild-conference. A letter of invitation with highlights to Cooperative Extension leaders is available at: https://www.aplu.org/document.doc?id=5484. Registration begins January 12, 2015.

National Urban Extension ConferenceMay 4-7, 2015, Atlanta, GA, http://urbanextension2015.com; proposal deadline October 1, 2014. 

National Extension Conference on VolunteerismMay 4-7, 2015, Portland, ME, contact Doug Swanson, 202.690.1227, dswanson@nifa.usda.gov

National Health Outreach ConferenceMay 6-8, 2015, Atlanta, GA, contact Janet Valente, University of Georgia, 706.583.0343, jvalente@uga.edu


1890 Institutions 125th CelebrationJuly 15-16, 2015, Library of Congress, Washington, DC. 

National Extension Directors and Administrators (NEDA) and Cooperative Extension Section MeetingOctober 12-15, 2015, location to be determined. 

APLU Annual MeetingNovember 15-17, 2015, Indianapolis, IN. Future conferences November 13-15, 2016 in Austin, TX, and November 12-14, 2017 in Washington, DC.

Monday, August 25, 2014

ECOP Monday Minute 8.25.14

ECOP Monday Minute will return on 9.8.14. Happy Labor Day! 

Power of Land-grant Impacts Database (by Deborah J. Maddy, Associate Director, Oregon State University Extension) – Did you know that Clemson University Extension offers a Carolina Yards Online Guide to Environmentally Friendly Gardening Practices that changes gardeners’ behaviors? Or that Clemson Extension’s Food2Market program, a “one stop” resource for food safety, product testing and food regulations information, led to an economic impact for South Carolina food entrepreneurs? These are just examples of quality impact statements that Della Baker, Extension Associate for Staff Development at Clemson University, provided to the land-grant impacts database at www.landgrantimpacts.org, formerly www.excellenceinextension.org. This is the place to brag about the good work Extension is doing in your state through the public portion of the web site, plus enter password protected data about Extension personnel, funding, and other management practices. If you have entered data this year, thank you. For others, there is still opportunity. For assistance, contact Scott Cummings s-cummings@tamu.edu

USDA Agricultural Act of 2014 Update – See http://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USDAOC/bulletins/c879e7 for a summary of progress on the law signed February 7, 2014. Note especially reference in Title I where USDA awarded $3 million to the University of Illinois, the University of Missouri and Texas A&M to develop online tools and outreach training that will help farmers and ranchers determine which new risk management options can best protect their businesses. USDA also is in the process of awarding $3 million to state Cooperative Extension Services to provide in-person education to help producers make the most educated decisions regarding new farm bill programs. 

West Virginia to Celebrate Extension Centennial – “Century Beyond the Campus: Past, Present and Future of Extension” is the theme of a symposium September 24-25, 2014 hosted by West Virginia University in Morgantown, WV. To register and view the agenda, see http://smithlever.wvu.edu/symposium. Extension professionals and partners are invited to attend.

Centennial Ice Cream – Just in time to wind down summer, University of Connecticut Extension announces a new ice cream flavor for its Centennial Dinner on September 19th and then offered at the UConn Dairy Bar as part of the College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resource Cornucopia Celebration and Family Weekend. The Big Scoop award-winning Centennial Caramel Crunch flavor was originally developed by Bill Sciturro, Department of Animal Science Creamery, and adapted with suggestions by Mike O'Neill, Extension Director. 

4-H Makes STEM Fun – 4-H and Philips, a diversified health and well-being company, will work together to "light up" youth interest in science and technology using 4-H's Magic of Electricity program. The focus is on technical and scientific literacy, as well as life skills like creative thinking, problem solving and decision making. Philips employee volunteers will join Cooperative Extension 4-H volunteers to offer the program at select locations in Texas, Kansas, Massachusetts and New Hampshire.

Monday, August 18, 2014

ECOP Monday Minute 8.18.14

ECOP Chair 2016 Named – The Northeast Extension Directors chaired by Rick Rhodes, University of Rhode Island, has named Michelle Rodgers, University of Delaware, as ECOP chair for 2016. Delbert Foster, South Carolina State University, will accept the gavel from current chair Jimmy Henning, University of Kentucky, during the November 3, 2014 Cooperative Extension dinner at the APLU Annual Meeting in Orlando, FL. The five Cooperative Extension regions name ECOP Chairs for this critical national leadership role on a rotational basis in the order of 1890s institutions, northeast, west, north central, and south. The individual named serves for a minimum of three years as chair-elect, chair, and immediate past chair. 

ECOP Names CLP Representative – James Trapp, Oklahoma State University, will represent Cooperative Extension on the Board on Agriculture Assembly Committee on Legislation and Policy (CLP) effectively immediately. The committee, chaired by Gregory Bohach, Mississippi State University, focuses on federal legislation, primarily provisions affecting the various sections of the Board on Agriculture Assembly through farm bill authorizations. CLP will meet during the APLU Annual Meeting in early November 2014 in Orlando, FL. 

County Specific Details from NACo – Karon Harden, Director of Professional Development, Education and Training, National Association of Counties (NACo), announces the new County Intelligence Connection (CIC) www.naco.org/CIC. The site allows for searches on more than 500 indicators for cities, counties and all counties within a state. 

Military Extension Internship Applications Due 9.30.14The Military Extension Internship Program is accepting applications for Spring 2015 internships. Internships are on active military installations across the U.S. and around the world working with military child and youth programs. See www.ydae.purdue.edu/military for job descriptions, application details, intern profiles, and FAQs. Funding is provided through a partnership between Cooperative Extension via USDA-NIFA and the U.S. Department of Defense. Questions can be directed to Jessica Wandless, Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service Internship Coordinator, at jwandles@purdue.edu

Foundation for Food and Agricultural Research UpdateFormer U.S. Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman and Mississippi State University President Mark Keenum have been named chair and vice-chair, respectively, of the new Foundation for Food and Agricultural Research. Authorized by the Agriculture Act of 2014, the foundation will operate as a non-profit corporation seeking and accepting private funds. Congress provided $200 million for the foundation, which must be matched by non-federal funds as projects are identified and approved. For more information, including the complete roster of board members, see http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?contentidonly=true&contentid=2014/07/0156.xml. The research funded by the foundation will address such issues as plant and animal health, food safety and nutrition, renewable energy, natural resources, environment, agricultural and food security, and agriculture systems and technology.

Monday, August 11, 2014

ECOP Monday Minute 8.11.14

Centennial Update

Centennial Lasts All YearThe Cooperative Extension Centennial Team, co-chaired by Doug Steele, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, and Frankie Gould, Louisiana AgCenter, continues to archive and promote the activities going on around the country this year. If you want to share your activity with the team so that it can be promoted through our social media sites, please send information to extensioncentennial@gmail.com.

Continue Celebrating Through Social MediaDon't forget to check out the social media platforms for the Cooperative Extension Celebration. Thousands of people are interacting with our sites to learn about contemporary efforts and centennial celebrations across the country. You can find centennial news at: 
  - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Extension100Years 
  - Twitter: https://twitter.com/Ext100Years 
  - Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/ext100years/cooperative-extension-extending-knowledge-changing/ 
  - YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9GyqMs0FKlUKBTxtcyg04w/videos 

Journal Series to Add New EntryThe Journal of Extension is running a series of commentaries honoring the Cooperative Extension Centennial. The next one will be published at the end of August and focus on 4-H Youth Development. The authors are Lynne Borden, University of Minnesota, and Danny Perkins, Pennsylvania State University. To check out this issue, and the other commentaries that have been posted, go to www.joe.org

Former President Says “Congratulations!”In honor of the Cooperative Extension Centennial, the University of Georgia interviewed former President Jimmy Carter, a strong Cooperative Extension advocate and 4-H member. See the video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6cquTok9p-k&list=UU9GyqMs0FKlUKBTxtcyg04w

Convocation Photos Available – To access professional photos of the Centennial Convocation, May 8, 2014, in Washington, DC, see http://ecopmondayminute.blogspot.com/p/centennial-convocation.html

Check the Web SiteRemember that all of your resources for celebrating Cooperative Extension's 100 years of impact are available at http://www.extension100years.net. This site hosts images of the Centennial logo, social media and event planning templates, and support items such as suggested email signatures.

Monday, August 4, 2014

ECOP Monday Minute 8.4.14 - Mississippi State President to Deliver Knapp Lecture

Mississippi State President to Deliver Knapp Lecture – Mark Keenum, president of Mississippi State University, has been selected by USDA-NIFA to deliver the prestigious Seaman A. Knapp Memorial Lecture http://www.nifa.usda.gov/newsroom/news/2014news/07301_knapp_memorial.html at the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU) annual meeting November 2-4, 2014 in Orlando. Keenum will focus some comments on the legacy and future of Cooperative Extension during this 100th year of the signing of the Smith-Lever Act. Knapp is often dubbed the “father of Extension” who, as an educator, inspired Congressmen Smith and Lever to introduce the law which established the nationwide Cooperative Extension System. To register for the APLU Annual Meeting, go to http://www.aplu.org/page.aspx?pid=1462. Cooperative Extension will continue the 100th celebration with a dinner Monday evening of the conference. 

Cooperative Extension’s International Engagement (by Michael McGirr, USDA-NIFA)In conjunction with the Cooperative Extension’s100th Anniversary, USDA-NIFA’s Center for International Programs is attempting to document the history of Extension’s international engagement. For the past 25 years, our office has been collaborating with land-grant universities to strengthen Extension systems overseas, starting with Poland in 1990 through our current project in Afghanistan. University Extension Services also have a rich history of working with other countries. Please help identify and describe this historical involvement, both to other countries and by enriching our own United States system. Tiffany Freer, tjoy.freer@ufl.edu, a PhD candidate at the University of Florida, will coordinate this effort. Please get information to her no later than mid-September 2014 such as descriptions of overseas Extension projects (1914-current), contact information for Extension personnel who have worked extensively overseas or have historical knowledge in this area, and publications or other resources about Extension’s foreign involvement. 

National Health Outreach Conference – Linda Kirk Fox, Board on Human Sciences liaison to ECOP, University of Georgia, invites you to Atlanta, GA, May 6-8, 2015 for a conference on Promoting Connections to Create Healthy Individuals, Families and Communities. The conference is a follow-up to the work of the ECOP National Task Force on Health chaired by ECOP member Michelle Rodgers, University of Delaware. Workshops will focus on integrated nutrition, health, environment, and agricultural systems; health literacy; chronic disease prevention and management; positive youth development for health, and health policy issues education. A pre-conference workshop on health insurance literacy also is being planning. For more information about the conference at the Crowne Plaza Ravinia, see https://www.facebook.com/NationalHealthOutreachConference or contact Janet Valente, University of Georgia, 706.583.0343, jvalente@uga.edu.

White House Honors Ag ChampionsAt an event last week in Washington, DC, agricultural innovators from MN, AL, GA, MI, DE, NY, NJ, MA, KY, WA, NM, CA, IN and NE were honored by USDA and the White House as Champions of Change for Agriculture. Cooperative Extension, including 4-H, and land-grant universities were cited in comments by awardees. Directors and administrators may wish to make contact with awardees as listed at http://www.whitehouse.gov/champions. Jane Schuchardt, Cooperative Extension Executive Director, attended the event on behalf of ECOP.

Strong, Local EconomiesKaron Harden, Director of Professional Development, Education and Training, National Association of Counties (NACo), recommends the following new research http://www.naco.org/research/Pages/strong-economies.aspx. The report Strong Economies, Resilient Counties: The Role of Counties in Economic Development was one topic of discussion during the quarterly NACo-Cooperative Extension National Leadership Team meeting last week. ECOP immediate past chair Daryl Buchholz, Kansas State University, and others have been instrumental in engaging NACo in discussions at the national level for the purpose of strengthening this critical partnership at the local and state levels.

Monday, July 28, 2014

ECOP Monday Minute 7.28.14

ECOP Meets in San Diego – Among action at the meeting 7.22.14 in San Diego, ECOP accepted the interim report of the eXtension Strategic Planning Committee (see next item), approved continuation through 2015 of the AES-CES Communications and Marketing Project, endorsed a Futuring Task Force to be funded and managed by the BAA Policy Board of Directors, and accepted the recommendation by the ECOP National Task Force on Health to establish an implementation team. Votes are in process to approve an ECOP representative to the BAA Committee on Legislation and Policy and to approve a joint ECOP-ESCOP memorandum of understanding with USDA regarding regional climate hubs. Jimmy Henning, ECOP Chair, University of Kentucky, appreciates the strong participation at the meeting and critical national leadership of ECOP.

eXtension Strategic Plan Interim Report – ECOP has accepted the interim report on the eXtension Strategic Planning process chaired by Keith Smith, Ohio State University. See http://bit.ly/InnovStratFrame for a summary of the new Innovation Foundation (working title) designed to augment electronic capabilities of participating institutions. The business model calls for a membership structure in place of the current assessment process. The final report is due to ECOP at its October face-to-face meeting in Lexington, KY.

Power of Excellence in Extension Database (by Deborah J. Maddy, Associate Director, Oregon State University Extension) – You never know when comprehensive data, at your fingertips, might be needed to tell the Extension story to elected officials, to university administrators or to members of your own organization. The Excellence in Extension database provides historical and comparative information for Cooperative Extension systems across all land-grant universities. This important tool designed especially for Extension leaders is most powerful if everyone participates. As of the June 30 data entry due date, only 17 out of 75 Extension organizations had complete or partial data in the database, including Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Kentucky, Texas, Virginia, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Missouri, North Dakota, South Dakota (partial), Alaska (partial), Oregon, and Wyoming. Special thanks to those who made it a priority to provide Excellence in Extension data by June 30. If the due date slipped by you, it’s not too late to enter 2014 data. The recent program upgrade has many improvements, making entry easy. The data is used to describe the overall scope of Extension, market it as a national system, document Extension’s strengths, and focus on areas of impact.

USDA Announces Foundation for Food and Ag Research – For details about the new Foundation for Food and Agricultural Research (FFAR) and the appointment of its 15-member board of directors, see http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?contentid=2014/07/0156.xml. The foundation, authorized in the Ag Act of 2014, will leverage public and private resources to increase scientific and technological research, innovation, and partnerships critical to boosting America's agricultural economy. Congress provided $200 million for the Foundation which must be matched by non-federal funds as it identifies and approves projects.

USDA-NIFA Requests Comment on Centers of Excellence – Join a webinar 7.31.14 (1:00-3:00 p.m. ET) about the Centers of Excellence, which will receive priority for funding for competitive research or Extension grant programs. Stakeholder input is welcome at any time, but to be incorporated into planning for the 2015 cycle, must be received by 7.31.14 via email to vbest@nifa.usda.gov (please put “comments” in the subject line) or sign up to speak during the 7.31.14 webinar. NIFA is particularly interested in input on how best to define the scope of a Center of Excellence, whether there are models being used by other federal agencies that might be useful to examine, and at what point in the review/selection process “priority” should be given to applications submitted by Centers of Excellence. For more information, go to http://www.csrees.usda.gov/about/offices/legis/pdfs/excel_stkhold_wbnr_announce.pdf