4-H Grows Here! Campaign Launches

4-H Alumna & ECOP Chair Michelle Rodgers,
University of Delaware

ECOP Chair Michelle Rodgers joined former 4-H members who are now members of Congress and USDA-NIFA Director Sonny Ramaswamy last week speaking at a Congressional Breakfast hosted by the National 4-H Council. This was part of multiple events launching a powerful new campaign designed to make 4-H accessible to 10 million young people, up from the 6 million reached now. 4-H Alumna Jennifer Nettles, county music star and Grammy award winner, is the national spokesperson for this effort to “Grow True Leaders” with 4-H. Learn more online at http://www.4-h.org/get-involved/grow-true-leaders-campaign/ or by Twitter at #TrueLeaders. Encourage 4-H alumni to engage in this effort by signing up at www.4-H.org/4HAlumni. 

"Urban Innovation: The New Extension Story” was featured at the
JCEP Public Issues Leadership Conferencelast week in Crystal City, VA.
Presenters pictured (L-R) are Travis Burke, North Carolina State University;
Jody Squires, University of Missouri; Patrick Proden, Oregon State University,
and Julie Fox, Ohio State University. Joining via video was Deno De Ciantis,
Pennsylvania State University.

Focus on Urban Programming – Aligned with the ECOP 2016 goal to advance urban programming while maintaining rural presence, the National Urban Extension Leaders point you to www.nuelaction.org for current updates. Included is the “National Framework for Urban Extension” (December 2015) and directions for joining the mail list. The next NUEL meeting is May 23-26, 2016 in Columbus, OH, http://cityextension.osu.edu/NUEL_meeting. Also, mark your calendars for the National Urban Extension Conference, May 7-11, 2017 in Minneapolis.

Chronic Disease Survey Due 5.15.16 – All Extension professionals are encouraged to participate by May 15th in an environmental scan conducted by the Chronic Disease Prevention and Management (CDPM) Action Team chaired by David Buys, Mississippi State University. The CDPM is part of the ECOP-ESCOP Health Implementation Team. The survey https://msudafvm.co1.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_bBnfv3eNsmku6C9 asks questions about CDPM program characteristics and processes, partnerships, and barriers. Responses will be used to identify model programs, process, and evaluation approaches. 

USDA-NIFA Suspends University POWs – A memorandum from USDA-NIFA Director Sonny Ramaswamy describes the suspension of plan of work submission requirements for FY 2017 and FY 2018. Additional information is available at the NIFA Plan of Work web page. The transition to a new reporting and accountability system at USDA-NIFA was advised by a Panel of Experts which ECOP helped to form with representation from all regions. 

Extension to Meet at 2016 APLU Annual Meeting – ECOP Chair Michele Rodgers invites you to the Cooperative Extension dinner Monday evening of the 2016 APLU Annual Meeting November 13-15 in Austin, TX. Make hotel reservations at the JW Marriott Austin in Austin, TX at https://resweb.passkey.com/go/APLU2016. To register, go to http://www.aplu.org/meetings-and-events/annual-meeting/.

Resources for Climate Change – Iowa State calls your attention to fact sheets for Extension educators and other farm advisers related to impacts of climate variability. Go to http://store.extension.iastate.edu/Product/Climate-Change-and-Agricultural-Extension. 

LESS THAN 2 WEEKS LEFT: Awards Reminder-Nominate by 5.1.16 – ECOP in partnership with USDA-NIFA offers the 2016 nomination process for the national Excellence in Extension and Diversity awards. The due date for on-line nominations is May 1, 2016 at 5:00p.m. Pacific Time. 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.