Monday, May 18, 2015

Honoring ECOP Member Michael Ouart

In celebration of Memorial Day, ECOP Monday Minute will return on 6.1.15. 

Michael Ouart, University of Missouri
Honoring ECOP Member Michael Ouart – Today Michael D. Ouart steps down from his position as Vice Provost and Director of Extension at the University of Missouri. Ouart is a member of ECOP representing the north central region and also serves ECOP on the Research and Outreach Committee of the National Coalition for Food and Agriculture Research. Ouart will continue at the University of Missouri in the position of Outreach and Engagement Coordinator working with the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (CAFNR) and the Provost Office. Ouart has a 40-year career in higher education, research, and Extension at several universities across the nation. In that time, he has authored or co-authored more than 120 scientific and popular publications. 

Sandy Ruble and Jane Schuchardt of the ECOP National Office join APLU colleagues for the 1890s wellness walk.
APLU Supports 1890s Wellness Walk – In celebration of the 125th anniversary of the 2nd Morrill Act, APLU staff organized and participated in a wellness walk, which raised $1,500 for the 1890s Justin Morrill Scholarship Fund. See www.1890universities.org to learn more 125th celebration plans.

SAVE THE DATE 2016 Health Conference – Roanoke, VA will be the site of the 2016 National Health Outreach Conference April 6-8, 2016. Co-chairs of the ECOP-ESCOP Health Implementation Team Celvia Stovall, Alabama Cooperative Extension, and Rick Klemme, University of Wisconsin, will facilitate continued work of the Health Action Teams at the meeting. 

Food Safety Webinar for Extension – For those who missed the April 30, 2015 webinar about the Food Safety Modernization Act, here is the Recording Link. The webinar describes how Cooperative Extension can build a partnership with the Food Safety Preventive Controls Alliance (FSPCA) to help small businesses be prepared and comply with regulations. Questions can be directed to the FSPCA Administrator, Dawn Johnson at djohns39@iit.edu

LAST CALL for Extension Awards Nominations The 2015 nomination process for the national Excellence in Extension and Diversity awards ends June 1, 2015. Regions may have announced earlier deadlines for their purposes. CLICK HERE for contact information by Region. For details and to access the online nomination forms go to: http://www.aplu.org/CESawards. Questions can be directed to Sandy Ruble sandy.ruble@extension.org, ECOP Staff Associate.

Monday, May 11, 2015

Health Implementation Team Meets in Atlanta

l-r Rick Klemme, University of Wisconsin Extension; Virginia Brown, University of Maryland; Sekai Turner, North Carolina A&T University; Sonja Koukel, New Mexico State University; Roberta Riportella, Kansas State University; Celvia Stovall, Alabama Cooperative Extension System; David Buys, Mississippi State University. Atlanta, GA
Health Implementation Team Meets in Atlanta – With leadership by co-chairs Celvia Stovall, Alabama Cooperative Extension System, and Rick Klemme, University of Wisconsin Extension, the ECOP-ESCOP Health Implementation Team continued its launch with its first face-to-face meeting in Altanta, GA, last week prior to the National Health Outreach Conference. All five action teams were fully represented with leadership by David Buys, Mississippi State University (Chronic Disease); Virginia Brown, University of Maryland (Health Insurance Literacy); Sonja Koukel, New Mexico State University (Health Literacy); Roberta Riportella, Kansas State University (Health Policy Issues Education), and Sekai Turner, North Carolina A&T University (Positive Youth Development for Health). Over a three-year period the effort will implement Cooperative Extension’s National Framework for Health and Wellness. The overall expected outcome is to increase the number of Americans who are healthy at every stage of life. The co-chairs express thanks to Cooperative Extension and Experiment Station Directors and Administrators for nominating and supporting efforts of action team members. As indicated in the national framework (pg. 2), “This same system of Extension can do for the nation’s health what it did for American agriculture.” 

BAA-BoHS Focuses on Human Health and Agriculture Nexus – Prior to the National Health Outreach Conference in Atlanta last week, Rich Linton, North Carolina State University, and Chris Ladisch, Purdue University, co-chairs of the BAA-BoHS Healthy Food Systems, Healthy People Steering Committee facilitated a face-to-face meeting. Among action items were redirection of the committee’s charge, additional focus on understanding research priorities, and planning for updates on committee actions for land-grant university system and strategic partners. The committee was launched following a work session at Joint COPs in 2014 and has as its ultimate goal to improve human health and reduce chronic disease. 

USDA-NIFA Announces Liaisons to Regions – Director Sonny Ramaswamy announces the primary agency liaisons to the Cooperative Extension regions as follows: Northeast region – Muquarrab Qureshi; Western region – Louie Tupas; Southern region – Bob Holland; North Central region – Parog Chitnis; and 1890 Institutions regions – Bob Holland. Liaisons enhance communication between USDA-NIFA and Cooperative Extension directors and administrators for the benefit of improving programs, streamlining administrative functions, and articulating outcomes and public value of our work together. Bob Holland, Associate Director for Operations, also serves as the liaison to ECOP. Paula Geiger, Budget Officer, is liaison to the ECOP Budget and Legislative Committee.

RFP for JOE Editorial Services – Extension Journal, Inc. is reopening its invitation for 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. Please consider our invitation. The deadline for proposals is May 31, 2015, with the contract to begin January 1, 2016. For the full RFP go to: http://www.joe.org/rfp.php.

Extension Award Nominations Due 6.1.15 – ECOP and USDA-NIFA announces the 2015 nomination process for the national Excellence in Extension and Diversity awards. The due date for nominations is June 1st at 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time. Nominations, submitted online, must be completed by this date and time. Regions are subject to announcing earlier deadlines for their purposes. CLICK HERE for contact information by Region. For details and to access the online nomination forms go to http://www.aplu.org/CESAwards. Questions can be directed to Sandy Ruble, ECOP Staff Associate sandy.ruble@extension.org.

Monday, May 4, 2015

1890 Universities Celebrate 125 Years With Wellness Walks

1890 Universities Celebrate 125 Years With Wellness Walks  – Here is one example of celebrations going on all across the country in honor of the 125 anniversary of the signing of the 2nd Morrill Act, which created 1890 universities. At the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES), hundreds attended the 1890 Day (April 23rd) Wellness Walk and posed for the “1890 photo” as they waited for the pre-walk program in the university gym. The keynote speaker for the program was Catherine Woteki, USDA Chief Scientist and Under Secretary for Research, Education and Economics. The 1.89 mile wellness walk was led by the UMES pep band and the university athletes. Students, staff, faculty, citizens from the tri-county area and area youth all participated in the programming. Proceeds from the walk will go to the 1890 Justin Morrill Scholarship Fund. For more information or to make a contribution, see www.1890universities.org

USDA Climate Hubs National UpdateThe USDA Climate Hubs Strategic Plan was recently published and can be found on the Hubs website along with a highlight of the Hubs accomplishments to date http://climatehubs.oce.usda.gov/content/climate-hubs-update-april-2015. Cooperative Extension and Experiment Stations have been working closely with the USDA Regional Climate Hubs in alignment with the Memorandum of Understanding signed in the fall of 2014. 

Extension Award Nominations Due 6.1.15 – ECOP and USDA-NIFA announces the 2015 nomination process for the national Excellence in Extension and Diversity awards. The due date for nominations is June 1st at 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time. Nominations, submitted online, must be completed by this date and time. Regions are subject to announcing earlier deadlines for their purposes. CLICK HERE for contact information by Region. For details and to access the online nomination forms go to http://www.aplu.org/CESAwards. Questions can be directed to Sandy Ruble, ECOP Staff Associate sandy.ruble@extension.org.  

Elbert Dickey
Terry Meisenbach
eXtension Names Interim Director – The eXtension Foundation Board of Directors chaired by Dennis Calvin, Pennsylvania State University, has named Terry Meisenbach, eXtension Communications and Marketing Director, as Interim Director, replacing Elbert Dickey. Dickey served as interim director from January 2014 through April 2015 providing oversight for the transition to the NEW eXtension. Please join ECOP in thanking Dickey for his national leadership during a pivotal transition period for eXtension. Meisenbach will assume leadership until a permanent eXtension chief executive office is identified. The Board continues the selection process with interviews of three finalists 5.13.15 in Chicago. 

Legacy Award honorees Nosa Akol, New York 4-H and
Texas 4-H alumnus Javier Palomarez, President and CEO, United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
National 4-H Council 6th Annual Legacy Awards – National 4-H Council exceeded its fundraising goal for this year's event, where Cooperative Extension's 4-H positive youth development program took center stage at the Newseum in Washington, D.C. on April 23. Extension leadership contributed more than $8,000 to support the event with the southern region raising the most money. Hundreds of supporters were on hand to honor the recipient of the 2015 Youth in Action Award, 17-year old Nosa Akol from Broome County, NY, who was recognized for her achievements with Cornell University Cooperative Extension's 4-H programs. Texas Agrilife Extension 4-H alumnus Javier Palomarez, president and CEO, United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, received the Distinguished Alumni Medallion. Other highlights included an announcement by University of Georgia Extension 4-H alumna and singer-songwriter Jennifer Nettles who will serve as the 4-H celebrity spokesperson in the year ahead. Mara Schiavocampo, ABC News correspondent, emceed the evening festivities. To see more photos, click here: http://www.4-h.org/get-involved/sponsor/4-h-legacy-awards-gala/