Monday, March 27, 2017

ECOP/ESCOP Chair DC Visits

Fred Schlutt, University of Alaska and
Bret Hess, University of Wyoming
ECOP Chair Fred Schlutt and ESCOP Chair Bret Hess recently conducted several agency and organization visits. The visits spanned nearly two weeks and continue the strong collaboration between these two BAA organizations. The content of these meetings included (depending on the audience) an introduction to the land-grant capacity in extension/research, presentation of ECOP and ESCOP priorities, overview of the one ask proposal and dialogue about potential partnerships. Western Association of Agricultural Experiment Station Executive Director Mike Harrington was instrumental in arranging these meetings, and he along with ECOP Executive Director Rick Klemme participated in several of these meetings with Fred and Bret. Several follow up actions are in play.


Award Nominations Deadline Only 5 Weeks Away - May 1 is the deadline for nominations for the 2017 Excellence in Extension and Diversity Awards offered in partnership by ECOP and USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). Self-guided worksheets for these nominations have been designed to assist with preparation. Recipients will receive cash awards and travel reimbursement to the 2017 APLU Annual Meeting in Washington DC when NIFA officials present the awards on the national stage. Go to www.aplu.org/CESAwards. Direct questions about nominations to ECOP Program Assistant Sandy Ruble sandyruble@extension.org.


Crop Protection and Pest Management (CPPM) Competitive Grants Program - May 9 is the deadline to apply for CPPM, the program that supports research and extension projects that address critical state, regional, and national integrated pest management (IPM) needs, ensure food security, and respond to other major pest challenges. To learn more go to https://nifa.usda.gov/announcement/usda-announces-121-million-support-crop-protection-and-pest-management. To sign up to receive these updates directly from NIFA go to: http://bit.ly/NIFAsubscribe


4-H Grows: The Engagement Campaign - The ECOP 4-H National Leadership Committee formally extends an invitation to interested land-grant institutions to enroll in years two and three of 4-H Grows: The Engagement Campaign. To date, 30 land-grant institutions have already co-invested along with National 4-H Council in this national marketing initiative. Institutions will have access to turn-key national marketing tools, resources and training as well as dedicated marketing expertise to assist every region. Click here to download the application and supplemental enrollment materials. On April 3, 2017, at 1:00 PM ET, National 4-H Council will host an informational webinar for those institutions considering enrollment in years two and three of the program. Click here to register for this opportunity to learn more. For more information, contact Jennifer McIver, VP, Field Marketing at National 4-H Council - jmciver@fourhcouncil.edu; 301-755-7062.


eXtension Innovation Lab Projects Selected - Five projects have been selected for funding by the eXtension Innovation Lab for 2017. Topics include precision agriculture, Maker Education, Citizen Science, Internet of Things, spatial technologies, drones, wearables, and more! The projects represent premium member institutions from several states including Ohio, Colorado, Virginia, and New Hampshire. Learn more https://extension.org/five-innovation-grants-awarded-by-extension-more-than-90-proposals-submitted/

Monday, March 20, 2017

One Ask Budget Proposal

The BAA’s Budget and Advocacy Committee and Policy Board of Directors have endorsed a one ask budget proposal that requests a $200 million increase in the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) competitive line and the following capacity lines: 1890s Extension Program, Evans-Allen, Hatch, McIntire-Stennis and Smith-Lever. The proposal was central to the Hill visits conducted during the recent CARET-AHS meeting and will be central to the Hill visits during the upcoming PILD conference in early April. This represents a bold request that brings to together the advocacy efforts of the 1862 and 1890s land-grant communities and their supporters. The 2018 Single-Ask Request document and all other former years’ documents is available at http://www.land-grant.org/appropriations_docs.html.


Ag Exhibit on the Hill - This year’s event is scheduled for 5:30-7:30 p.m. ET on April 5, 2017 at the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center, Congressional Auditorium and Atrium. This event profiles USDA-funded research and Extension projects and will feature several land-grant universities. The Agricultural Research Congressional Exhibition and Reception is a partnership of the AFRI coalition, APLU, National Coalition for Food and Agricultural Research (NC-FAR), and Supporters of Agricultural Research Foundation (SoAR). To RSVP email agresearchexhibit@gmail.com.


Request for Applications for Building a Culture of Health - Robert Wood Johnson Foundation is expected to launch an unprecedented partnership with Cooperative Extension to build a national Culture of Health starting with 1,000 communities across the next 10 years. The Request for Applications (RFAs) for the pilot phase of the initiative is now live and can be accessed at http://grants.4-h.org/index.do. For more information about the partnership, click here to watch the on-demand recording of the Partnership Overview Webinar held on March 9 or download the Culture of Health frequently asked questions document via the webinar recording. Click here to register for the webinar on April 6 to learn more about successful completion of the RFA for the pilot program. Partnership questions may directed to National 4-H Council’s Director of Healthy Living Programs and Foundations, JoAnne Leatherman at jleatherman@fourhcouncil.edu. Contact Sarah Hunt at shunt@fourhcouncil.edu for questions about webinar registration.


National Extension Energy Summit - Energy educators and researchers are invited to attend the third biennial National Extension Energy Summit will be held April 3-6, 2017, in Knoxville, Tennessee, and it is the third biennial conference sponsored by the Cooperative Extension System. This will be a learning and networking opportunity for energy educators and researchers with opportunity to participate in presentations and discussions of current work and future energy research and education opportunities. Information about the summit is available at http://tiny.utk.edu/nees2017. Direct question to Tim Prather at tprather@utk.edu.


Blog Features and Submissions - There is more to the ECOP Monday Minute than meets the eye. Don't miss the value of the following features found in the web version of the blog. The right panel includes Search This Blog, Reports and Initiatives, NEDA Links and Downloads, Keep our lists up to date, Job opportunities, and Calendars. Direct blog feature questions to ECOP Program Assistant Sandy Ruble sandyruble@extension.org. Direct blog submissions to ECOP Executive Director Rick Klemme rickklemme@extension.org by noon ET each Thursday.

Monday, March 13, 2017

SAVE THE DATES for 2017 NEDA

“Invigorate, Innovate, Celebrate: Positioning Extension for 2020s” is the theme of the 2017 National Extension Directors and Administrators (NEDA) meeting at near Burlington, VT October 2-4, 2017 at The Essex. Business meetings of the Cooperative Extension Section and eXtension Foundation are also held during this time. ECOP will meet on location after NEDA adjourns, October 4-5. Following guidance from the 2016 NEDA meeting survey, ECOP Past-chair Michelle Rodgers and her team have established following outcomes. Participants will: 1) learn from each other about innovative approaches to programming, resource development, evaluation and impact reporting, and internal and external partnerships; 2) understand how to maximize programming impact, and effectively communicate the value of that impact; 3) engage one another on how to anticipate and plan for significant changes in the world of Cooperative Extension; 4) explore strategies to attract an innovative, nimble workforce to Cooperative Extension, and 5) support shared goals and priorities for a national Extension system for the benefit of state and local programming excellence. A priority for the meeting will be dialogue among participants. Stay tuned for future details. Registration is scheduled to begin in June.


Partnership Overview for Building a Culture of Health - For all that were unavailable to participate the webcast held on March 9 Building a Culture of Health with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation: Cooperative Extension Partnership Overview, it is now available on-demand: CLICK HERE! To access the presentation document, Culture of Health video, and FAQ document referenced during this webinar, CLICK HERE. Next week, access to the request for application (RFA) for this exciting opportunity will be announced. The second of the 2-part series of webinars that occurs on April 6 @ 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time will provide more details about applying for the pilot program. CLICK HERE to register.  


Personal eXtension “Virtual Update” - The new eXtension is designed to help member institutions strengthen their local impact. Are you curious as to how this works? If so, schedule a “virtual update” and invite others at your institution. Find out more about the new eXtension and get answers for your questions about tools and services offered to members. Contact Chief Operating Officer Beverly Coberly beverlycoberly@extension.org to schedule your update.


Extension Award Nominations Due 5.1.17 - Extension Directors and Administrators are encouraged to initiate nominations for the 2017 Excellence in Extension and Diversity Awards supported by ECOP and USDA-NIFA. Self-guided worksheets for the 2 Awards are provided to assist with preparing online entries. Awards for Excellence in Extension, a project of the ECOP Personnel Committee, recognizes a select group of Cooperative Extension professionals who excel at Extension programming, make a positive impact on constituents served, and provide visionary leadership for the System. The National Extension Diversity Award, a project of the ECOP Program Committee, is to acknowledge accomplishments of Cooperative Extension Professionals in achieving organizational changes that support diversity, pluralism and innovation in programs that impact our Extension audiences. Go to www.aplu.org/CESAwards and contact Sandy Ruble sandyruble@extension.org if there are questions.

Monday, March 6, 2017

Gary Lemme Joins ECOP

Gary Lemme,
Auburn University
Gary Lemme, Director, Auburn Cooperative Extension System, joined the Extension Committee on Organization and Policy (ECOP) representing the Southern Region in February 2017 when Jimmy Henning, University of Kentucky stepped down as Extension Director. ECOP is the representative leadership and governing body of Cooperative Extension nationwide and made up of 15 members, three from each of the five Cooperative Extension regions (1890 Institutions, North Central, Northeast, Southern, and Western).


Karla Trautman,
South Dakota State University
ECOP Announces Co-chair to National Impacts Database Committee  - Karla Trautman, South Dakota State University, has been appointed by ECOP to provide leadership as Co-chair to the National Impact Database Committee. “Being able to maintain a usable, demonstrative record of the impacts of our Extension and Research programs is critically important to our system and we appreciate Karla’s willingness to help provide leadership in this effort,” says ECOP Chair Fred Schlutt. Bill Brown, University of Tennessee, is the committee’s research Co-chair.


TAG WEBINAR: March 14, 2017 at 2PM - Adolescent Health: Think, Act, Grow® (TAG) is a national call to action to improve health, to reduce risky behavior, and to promote engagement and healthy development among young people. This webinar will introduce the TAG framework, make connections between TAG's goals and those of the Cooperative Extension programs, highlight local/state programmatic leadership, and describe available resources. Register to attend Think, Act, Grow (TAG) on Tuesday, March 14th at 2pm ET. Hosted by NIFA and presenters from HHS Office of Adolescent Health, this webinar is brought to you by the ECOP/ESCOP Health Implementation Positive Youth Development for Health Action Team.


Digital Education Delivery - Extension programs in Asia and Africa have used digital technologies to great effect. The Center for International Programs at USDA NIFA and eXtension are sponsoring a webinar with Digital Green www.digitalgreen.org on Wednesday, March 8th at 12:30 pm ET. Co-Founder and CEO of Digital Green, Rikin Gandhi, will present on his organization's work and the potential for adapting relevant approaches here in the U.S. with a new Digital Green/eXtension Fellow. Pre-register today https://learn.extension.org/events/3023.