ECOP Monday Minute 4.7.14

Secretary Vilsack to Speak at Convocation – USDA Secretary Vilsack will be among keynote speakers at the Extension Centennial Convocation May 7-8, 2014 in Washington, DC. The room block at the Wardman Park Hotel has been expanded with the conference rate available until 4.15.14. Early registration http://www.cvent.com/d/g4qqj5 closes 4.18.14. Join Secretary Vilsack, futurist Lowell Catlett from New Mexico State University, CEO LaJune Montgomery Tabron of the Kellogg Foundation, and others to celebrate and, most importantly, think creatively together about how Cooperative Extension will thrive for the next 100 years. For details about the poster competition featuring emerging leaders, contact Chrystal Checketts at cchecketts@tamu.edu and for the opening flag bearing ceremony, contact Bill Woodrum at extensioncentennial@gmail.com.

Contact Congressional Representative Now – Your help is needed to assure the Congressional representatives from your state and districts signed on to the resolutions commemorating the Extension Centennial. For current sponsors and co-sponsors, go to http://beta.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/house-concurrent-resolution/86 for H. Con. Res. 86 and http://beta.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/senate-concurrent-resolution/33 for S. Con. Res. 33. Action needs to occur this week and no later than the last week in April.

ECOP Accepts Health Task Force Report – In ECOP action in late March in Sacramento, the report of the ECOP National Task Force on Health
https://www.aplu.org/document.doc?id=5134, Michelle Rodgers, chair, University of Delaware, was accepted. ECOP supported the recommendation to launch an implementation team for next steps related to Cooperative Extension health and wellness programming and resource development. The current task force has been asked to continue in its role until an implementation team can be organized. ECOP expresses thanks to Michelle and her team for this significant national leadership.

ECOP Week in Review – ECOP Chair Jimmy Henning, University of Kentucky, will carry his Extension centennial three-part message of relevance, rigor and relationships in many venues this week. On Monday, Henning addresses the Public Issues Leadership Development Conference http://www.jcep.org/pild-conference; Tuesday speaks on Capitol Hill to House and Senate staffers through the National Coalition for Food and Agriculture Research (NC-FAR) lunch and learn series http://www.ncfar.org/Hill_Seminar_Series.asp, and on Wednesday returns to Capitol Hill as part of the 4-H Congressional breakfast hosted by the National 4-H Council.

ECOP Announces NC-FAR Representation – Tim Cross, University of Tennessee, and Michael Ouart, University of Missouri, have been named by ECOP to be on the National Coalition for Food and Agriculture Research Board of Directors and Research Outreach Committee, respectively. ECOP is a full member of NC-FAR www.ncfar.org representing Cooperative Extension. Both Cross and Ouart will participate in the NC-FAR Board meeting this week in Washington, DC.

NEDA Presentations – If you missed NEDA 2014 last month in Sacramento or want to review what you heard, you can view presentations at http://ecopmondayminute.blogspot.com/. If those who attended NEDA, please take time to fill out the evaluation sent directly to participants. Your response, due 4.15.14, is critical as plans for NEDA 2015 take shape.

Celebrating Cooperative Extension (by Cathann Kress, Iowa State University) -- The Iowa Senate unanimously passed a bipartisan resolution March 27, 2014, celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Smith-Lever Act, the founding legislation of the nationwide Cooperative Extension System. Polk County Extension Council member Harold Hommes, Terry Maloy, Executive Director for the Iowa Association of County Extension Councils, several extension specialists, and I were on hand as the resolution was read and passed. Watch our video about the resolution’s passage at http://www.extension.iastate.edu/content/celebrating-cooperative-extension.

Extension Award Nominations Due 5.30.14 – Take time now to submit nominations for the Excellence in Extension and Diversity Awards. To prepare a nomination for submission, use the handy pdf version which includes criteria found at https://www.aplu.org/document.doc?id=5116. Then submit the nomination at https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/ECOPAwards2014.