ECOP Meets This Week in WY

ECOP Chair Michelle Rodgers, University of Delaware, welcomes ECOP members to a face-to-face meeting at Jackson Lake Lodge, WY, in conjunction with the Joint ESS-CES/NEDA meeting September 19-21. As ECOP provides national leadership to benefit state and local Extension programming, key discussions are based on ECOP 2016 goals related to innovation, national system, private resource mobilization, and urban programming. Thanks to the work of the ECOP Budget Task Force, Jimmy Henning, Chair, University of Kentucky, ECOP will consider approval of a balanced budget for 2017. Further, the agenda includes discussion with USDA-NIFA, possible next steps on civil discourse for community safety programming, and ECOP emphasis areas for 2017. Watch the ECOP Monday Minute for reports of actions. 

Rick Klemme, University of Wisconsin, &
Gary Thompson, Penn State University

ECOP and ESCOP Budget and Legislative Committees to Connect in WY – ECOP Budget and Legislative Committee (BLC) Chair Rick Klemme, University of Wisconsin, and ESCOP BLC Chair Gary Thompson, Pennsylvania State University, combine efforts of the two committees Tuesday, 9.20.16, at Jackson Lake Lodge, WY. The primary purpose is to engage in a conversation about how the two committees can work most effectively together to advance advocacy for federal appropriations and authorizations. Priorities for 2018 farm bill preparation also are on the agenda for discussion. 

James Trapp, Oklahoma State University, &
Albert Essel, Lincoln University

Next Farm Bill Focus of Workshop – The ECOP Farm Bill Coordinating Committee co-chaired by James Trapp, Oklahoma State University, and Albert Essel, Lincoln University, will engage with others in facilitating a workshop Tuesday, 9.20.16, as part of the ESS-CES/NEDA meeting in Wyoming on New Ideas and Key Changes for Federal Authorization. The purpose of the two-hour workshop is NOT to set priorities, instead it is to identify through a facilitated process some concepts for potential authorization of interest to directors/administrators of Cooperative Extension and Experiment Stations. It is expected the results of the discussion will be considered at the October 3-4, 2016 meeting of the APLU Board on Agriculture Assembly Committee on Legislation and Policy in Washington, DC. 

Celvia Stovall, Alabama A&M University, &
Mike O'Neill, University of Connecticut

Orientation for New Directors/Administrators on Agenda Today – ECOP Personnel Committee co-chairs Celvia Stovall, Alabama A&M University, and Mike O’Neill, University of Connecticut, helped plan the ESS/CES New Director/Administrator Orientation 9.19.16 to precede the ESS-CES/NEDA Joint Meeting in WY. Stovall will moderate the panel discussion based on core competencies for leadership in Extension and research, dealing with the political realities of these top positions, and highlighting state-level ESS and CES collaboration to achieve results. 

Urban Conference Proposals Due 9.30.16 – Proposals for the 2017 National Urban Extension Conference, “Engaging in Collective Purpose”, are due the end of this month. The conference in metropolitan Minneapolis, MN, May 8 – 11, 2017 will include presentations and applied research on urban programs with impact along with how to position your Extension office or program in your urban community, how you attract and retain personnel in highly competitive environments, and creative and effective partnerships. See https://sites.google.com/a/umn.edu/urbanextensionconference2017/call-for-proposals. 

Cultural Competency Workshop – Those attending NAE4-HA http://www.nae4ha.com/2016-national-conference are encouraged to add the daylong pre-conference on Sunday 10.9.16 to professional development plans. The topic Towards Cultural Competency - Tools for the Journey Towards Cultural Competency is designed for Extension professionals to increase proficiency in navigating ever increasing global communities. Models and theories will be presented that can guide work with others in cross cultural interactions with applications for both personal and professional relationships. An additional registration fee is required for the pre-conference.