Monday, January 29, 2018

Klemme’s Appointment Extended

ECOP Chair Chuck Hibberd is pleased to announce that Rick Klemme has agreed, and the ECOP Executive Committee has unanimously approved, to extend his contract to work as the Executive Director of ECOP through April 2020. "Rick will continue the important work he is doing to advance Cooperative Extension nationally through strengthened relationships and partnerships with federal agencies as well as key organizations such as NC-FAR, NACo and many others. Rick’s ability to stay on top of a large number of conversations with APLU, BAA, BAC, CLP, ECOP BLC as well as Cornerstone and kglobal and insert our reactions, comments or position at the right time is critical to our success," says Hibberd. "Please join me in recognizing Dr. Rick Klemme for his continued commitment to Cooperative Extension in service to all of us."


Next Generation Extension – Learning for Leaders Webinar Series #3 - ECOP Chair Chuck Hibberd’s 3rd Web Conference, designed for Extension leaders across the country, takes place this Friday, February 2. The topic is how Cooperative Extension can contribute to the university-level mission of our Land-grant Universities. The intended audience, Extension Administrators and Directors, will address ways to align with, and contribute to, the university-level mission. Each is asked to come to this conference prepared to share one idea, a practice or a project they are engaged in, to advance the university-level mission of their institution. As a reminder, each Learning For Leaders conference is promptly archived for continued learning and engagement by the Cooperative Extension Section. Previous topics are Making a Difference with the Opioid Epidemic and 10 Big Ideas to Think Differently About Extension. The archive is perpetually available via the ECOP Monday Minute (see Learning Center menu on Right). For more information contact Rick Klemme.



Designathon One Update - A major change is coming to Designathon One. eXtension has been listening to feedback and are re-evaluating the regional location approach. As such, four events are being postponed (San Antonio, TX, Indianapolis, IN, Atlanta, GA, and Pittsburgh, PA) in order to provide more time to craft events around state needs and to consider requests for additional locations that have been received. The events still continuing as scheduled are: Portland, ORPortsmouth, NH, Madison, WI, and Ithaca, NY. For more information on this change and answers to questions that may arise, visit https://www.extension.org/designathon-one/.


Promoting an Energy Efficient America with Outreach Education - Consumption of energy affects many things, from food production to human health, and education to socioeconomic status. Global demand for energy is increasing in the face of limited resources, making our energy decisions of growing importance. The USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) and Cooperative Extension System (CES)* support several directed outreach education programs toward energy efficiency in businesses, homes, and farms. Learn more about these programs and much more at Promoting an Energy Efficient America with Outreach Education (Infographic).

Monday, January 22, 2018

2 Unique Features of 2018 Public Issues Leadership Development Conference (PILD)

Registration is now open for the PILD Conference which is scheduled for April 8-11, 2018 at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City in Arlington, Virginia. PILD is for Extension Directors, Administrators, employees, and volunteers. Most institutions send a team, although individuals are certainly welcome. The program focuses on preparing attendees to effectively promote and tell the Extension story to decision makers at federal, state, and local levels. Attendees are encouraged to make appointments and meet with their US Senators and Representatives on April 11th. This year’s conference theme is, Cultivating a Climate of Civil Dialogue.

NOTE: There are two uniquenesses of this year’s PILD conference: 
  1. PILD and National 4-H Conference are being held on the same dates so joint State’s Night Out on April 10th, and joint Hill visits on April 11th will be coordinated. Attached is a guide sheet for Extension Directors and Administrators. Also attached is a list of the institutions who have had PILD and National 4-H Conference delegations in the past two years.
  2. On April 11-12, 2018 a post PILD conference workshop will be offered, titled, "Civil Dialogue in the Public Arena." The workshop features Rachel Welborn, Southern Rural Development Center, and Gwen Poindexter Whiting, Director of Training and Leadership Development for Everyday Democracy. Those attending PILD may add the Post-Conference Workshop for an additional $50. Space is limited to 60, so be sure to extend your hotel reservation and sign up early.

Learn More and Register



Designathon One - Nine Designathon One events are being hosted by eXtension and a dozen member institutions in January-March, 2018. These events kickoff the Impact Collaborative which is a process to catalyze next-level Extension programs and professionals. These are available only faculty and staff affiliated with eXtension member institutions. Non-member institutions that choose to become members for 2018 can still access Designathon One and the Impact Collaborative. To become a member for 2018, contact Chief Operating Officer Beverly Coberly beverlycoberly@extension.org.


Diversity and Inclusion - Faculty and staff working on diversity and inclusion programs will have several upcoming professional development opportunities. The 2018 Diversity & Inclusion Impact Collaborative is nearing launch. The 14th Annual National Land-Grant Diversity Conference February 15-16, 2018, in the Cincinnati, OH area will include a session by eXtension. Additionally, the Program Fellow for the Collaborative has been named. Dr. Shatomi Luster-Edward, University of Missouri, will set up an organizing committee and develop a request for applications for release within a few weeks. More about Dr. Luster-Edward: https://www.extension.org/2018/01/11/shatomi-luster-edward-named-diversity-equity-and-inclusion-program-fellow/


eXtension Foundation Announces Board of Directors -  eXtension is pleased to announce its Board of Directors for 2017-18. Serving as chair is Jason Henderson, Purdue University. Vice-chair is Barbara Petty with the University of Idaho. Ken LaValley from the University of New Hampshire is the Treasurer. Additional members of the board include Gary Jackson, Mississippi State University, Courtney Owens, Kentucky State University, Jane Clary Loveless, USDA NIFA (ex officio), and Rick Klemme, Interim Executive Director, ECOP (ex officio).                  


Save the Date – Webinar on Rural Information Center - USDA NIFA Division of Family & Consumer Sciences will host a webinar on the USDA Rural Information Center (RIC), a service of the National Agriculture Library. Mary Louise Reynnells will present an informational webinar on the resource assistance available. The RIC has resources related to Community Development, Rural Citizen Services, Sustainable Rural Communities, and Rural America Collections. RIC staff provide customized information products to specific inquiries including assistance in economic revitalization issues; local government planning projects; funding sources; technical assistance programs; research studies; and other related issues. Learn how you can maximize these resources to help your community. When: January 31, 2018, 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) 
Connection:
Join from PC, Mac, Linux, iOS or Android: https://zoom.us/j/773608196
Or by Telephone 669-900-6833, 646-558-8656 | Meeting ID 773 608 196

Monday, January 8, 2018

10 Big Ideas to Think Differently About the Future of Extension

ECOP Monday Minute will return on January 22, 2018 so as to observe Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.

10 Big Ideas to Think Differently About the Future of Extension: Last Friday’s web conference included 5 Extension Administrators or Directors each sharing 2 big ideas about what they see in the future of Cooperative Extension in their respective state and nationally. More than 30 institutions participated. You can view this conference at https://youtu.be/IXcCDGggf3U. ECOP Chair Chuck Hibberd encourages Extension Administrators and Directors  to continue the dialogue on this topic by reviewing the recording and sending your questions/comments to ECOP Executive Director Rick Klemme at rickklemme@extension.org. Each Learning For Leaders web conference is archived and available via the ECOP Monday Minute (see Learning Center menu on Right). Stay tuned for the calendar invitation for the next web conference scheduled for February 2. The topic and other details will soon be determined.


Granting Emeritus Status to Non-Tenured Extension Educators - Scott Reed, Oregon State University, administered a survey on the granted of emeritus status to non-tenured Extension Educators last fall. The following summarizes what was reported to Scott. Of 76 Land-grant institutions 41 (54% response). Of the respondents, 25 (61%) do not award emeritus status to non-tenured and 16 (39%) do award this status. While all universities have an established process for approval, conferring emeritus title to non-tenured faculty is conditioned on special requirements at some universities. Examples include:
  • Ten years or more experience and senior rank (Colorado State University)
  • Ten years or more in professor rank or five years and qualifying time elsewhere (Rutgers)
  • Only with district supervisor, dean, senior VP and provost approval (University of Florida)
  • Only professor rank (Mississippi State University)
  • Dean approval as an exception that is regularly exercised (Washington State University)
  • Only to central campus-based faculty (Auburn)
The most progressive policy described was provided by West Virginia University where approval is expected next month by the Board of Governors for long-serving classified staff and the university president qualify for emeritus status.


The Food Systems Impact Collaborative Is Now Accepting Applications - The Impact Collaborative (IC) is designed to catalyze next-level Extension programs and professionals. The experience includes professional development, Designathon events, networking and much more! Through the IC, Extension professionals will follow a process for developing programs for visible and measurable local impact. Anyone at an eXtension member institution is eligible to apply. The request for applications is available at: https://publish.extension.org/impactcollab2018/food-systems-request-for-applications/ (RFAs for Behavioral Health and Diversity & Inclusion are coming soon!) Extension Directors and Administrators are asked to please share this opportunity with Extension faculty and staff interested in Food Systems in your state.


Ag Outlook Forum Registration Available - The 94th annual 2018 U.S. Department of Agriculture Outlook Forum, “The Roots of Prosperity” is Thursday and Friday, February 22-23, 2018 and will be held at the Marriott Crystal Gateway in Arlington, Virginia. The Forum, which has been hosted by USDA since 1923, serves as a platform to facilitate discussion of key issues and topics within the agricultural community, both domestic and international. ECOP, ESCOP, and NIFA worked together in developing several Forum sessions to be considered for this year’s Forum program. We are delighted that our sessions “Livestock Reproduction Meets Modern Technology” and “Helping Consumers to Make Informed Food Safety Choices” were selected for this year’s program. We expect a Forum attendance of 1,600, with attendees drawn from farm organizations, agribusiness, academia, and international organizations as well as domestic and foreign government officials and members of the press. The Forum program and registration information can be found at https://www.usda.gov/oce/forum/. The registration direct link is at http://www.youreventinfo.org/USDA_AgOutlook_Forum2018/reginfo.html.


Ag Census Questionnaires Are Due Back in Less than a Month - The 2017 Census of Agriculture questionnaire was mailed to nearly all of our nation’s farmers and ranchers in December, and there are only four weeks left to respond!* Every response to the census matters and is required by law (Title 7, U.S. Code, and Public Law 107-347), even if the person did not operate a farm or ranch in 2017 (there are just a few quick questions, in this case). The Census of Agriculture is the most complete agricultural data resource in the country. The data play a vital role in the future of U.S. agriculture – from farm advocacy and assistance programs to community planning, ag education, extension, research, rural development, even disaster relief – which is why every voice, every operation needs to be represented. Better data mean better decisions. The deadline to respond to the census is February 5. Producers can respond online at www.agcounts.usda.gov or by mail. For more information, visit www.agcensus.usda.gov. For questions or assistance filling out the census, call 888-424-7828. See https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOqqJOcsX_c to learn more about why and how to respond to the ag census online.

*More than 35,000 producers of select commodities will receive the Agricultural Resource Management Survey, or ARMS, this month. Completing the ARMS survey fulfills the 2017 Census of Agriculture requirement.