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.