Monday, August 27, 2018

Pioneering the Best Ideas and Methods for Leadership - Oct. 1-3

ECOP Monday Minute Returns on Monday, September 10, 2018. Have a safe, pleasant Labor Day.

Thirty of the 76 leaders and members of the Cooperative Extension Section have yet to register for the 2018 NEDA, October 1-3 in Portland. Don't miss the robust, decision-making, business meeting agenda that compliments the leadership/professional development components of this important annual meeting. Members, partners and liaisons are reminded that there are only 14 days left before the early registration rate and hotel room block expires. Go to http://www.cvent.com/d/0gqxkw to learn more and to register.


eXtension Scales Up Efforts For State and Local Program Impacts - In July, the Impact Collaborative trained 29 new Facilitators representing 26 different institutions across the nation. These new Facilitators were trained in the Impact Collaborative process and are now qualified to help lead statewide Innovation Kit Workshops and Designathon One events alongside the Impact Collaborative back at their institutions. Facilitators will also play a critical role at the Impact Collaborative Summit this October. Click the short video below to hear what one of the newest Facilitators has to say about using Impact Collaborative at her institution. The next Facilitator training will be in January 2019. Premium member institutions may send one member at no cost to be trained in the Impact Collaborative process. Want more information? Contact Terry Meisenbach at tmeisenbach@extension.org.




Impact Stories Highlighted: Food Security - The April 9th edition of the ECOP Monday Minute included an update on the national impacts database with a reference to the 6 topic areas that showcase the success of land-grant universities across the country. Cooperative Extension programs are addressing food security issues including filling the voids in food deserts, providing access to fruits and vegetables in areas of ample production, increasing knowledge and access about fruits and vegetables to Native American populations and increasing awareness and knowledge of hunger-related issues. Click Here to download the Food Security Fact Sheet and go to www.landgrantimpacts.org to explore more about land-grant impact and submit impacts stay tuned for the release of summaries of 5 more topic areas.

Monday, August 20, 2018

NEDA Is Just Around the Corner!

Extension administrators, associate administrators, directors and associate directors will gather in Portland, Oregon on October 1-3 for learning, networking and capacity building! Don’t miss this once a year opportunity to be a participating member of the Cooperative Extension Section; hearing updates from ECOP and participating in the future of the System! To learn more about NEDA and to register go to www.cvent.com/d/0gqxkw. Early registration and hotel room block expires after September 10


"Deep Concern" Raised Over Moving NIFA Outside of DC - Last Friday the BAA, including the leaders of Cooperative Extension Section/ECOP, responded to the announcement made on August 9th that the land-grant's key partnering agency NIFA will be located outside of DC by the end of 2019. To read the entire letter with 3 important question raised by Policy Board of Directors' Chair Orlando McMeans to USDA Secretary Perdue go to http://www.aplu.org/members/commissions/food-environment-and-renewable-resources/board-on-agriculture-assembly/nifa_ers_letter_august_2018.pdf.


Assessing Communications and Marketing Outcomes - Last week the ECOP Executive Committee voted to place the BAA Policy Board of Directors (PBD) on notice that the Cooperative Extension Section is undertaking an outcome-based assessment to identify the following 4 components of an effective communications and marketing initiative; investments, structure, timing and results. Directors and Administrators will receive a brief survey this week to kick off the effort. The letter to the PBD Chair Orlando McMeans was delivered by Michelle Rodgers, Cooperative Extension Section's representative to that body. The Section commits $133,331 each year (22% of its annual budget) to this type of effort. All Directors and Administrators are asked to participate in 2 events, September 7, 3-4:00 p.m. Zoom Meeting (details to be released by invitation), and the morning of October 2, 2018 in person in Portland, Oregon, (NEDA details are highlighted above) as part of the assessment process.


Cooperative Extension Section's
ECOP Chair Chuck Hibberd (Left) and 1890s Extension
Executive Administrator Albert Essel (Right) engage CES/ESS/NRCS
meeting participants.
Land-grant Extension and Research Leaders and USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Working Together - Last week a group of 25 leaders from NRCS and the Cooperative Extension and Experiment Station Sections (CES/ESS) gathered in Fort Collins, Colorado to discuss and plan for stronger collaboration. On behalf of the Cooperative Extension Section, EDA Team member Robin Shepard (North Central Region) helped to organize the event. Stay tuned to the ECOP Monday Minute for the release of the summary of how the three organizations will move forward towards improved collaboration and synergy.



Jason Henderson, Purdue
University
Extension Mobilizes to Address Urban Programming- Since 2015 the Cooperative Extension Section/ECOP http://bit.ly/UrbanExtension has aligned with the National Urban Extension Leaders (NUEL) and affirmed the organization's good work. NUEL has fostered regional and national collaborations to share resources and grow Extension’s reach into urban communities. As the need for Extension Programming increases, the Section encourages membership in NUEL. NUEL continues to recruit new members into its Regional Caucuses across the five ECOP regions and has made strides in their Action Team work including professional development as they seek to build partnerships with the Joint Council of Extension Professional (JCEP) and eXtension Foundation. NUEL is developing an Urban Extension Implementation Plan to be presented to Extension Directors and Administrators during the October NEDA meeting in Portland, Oregon on October 3, Why Urban Matters to our Future Success. Directors and Administrators are invited to NUEL’s Biannual Network meeting in Raleigh, North Carolina, December 3-5, 2018 with an agenda to assess intersections of collaboration with other colleagues from your region and across the country as NUEL advances urban Extension efforts. For more information contact NUEL Chair Patrick Proden patrick.proden@ces.uwex.edu. Also, keep in mind the 2019 Semi-Annual National Urban Extension Conference (NUEC), May 20-23, 2019 in Seattle. The relationship of NUEL to ECOP is enhanced by having an ECOP liaison. Chris Boerboom (former North Dakota State University Extension Director) served in this role for several years prior to his retirement. Jason Henderson (Purdue University Extension Director) has recently been named to replace Chris and continue the important liaison relationship.

Monday, August 13, 2018

2018 NEDA - All CES Members Are Called to Attend

The 2018 National Extension Directors and Administrators (NEDA) and Annual Cooperative Extension Section (CES) Business Meeting occurs October 1-3 in Portland Oregon. At their regular meeting last week the ECOP Executive Committee, chaired by Chuck Hibberd, considered the business meeting agenda that will occur on the morning of Oct. 2. Based on the positive feedback of the interactive engaging approach undertaken and 2017 NEDA (Survey found at bit.ly/17NEDASurvey), the Committee decided to once again use an interactive discussion platform and direct polling, such as Slido, to engage CES and to build consensus. Topics include Advocacy and Communication, Strategic Realignment (Federal Budget), Plan of Work Reporting, and more. All Extension leaders (or their designated associates) from each of the 76 land-grant institutions are encouraged to be present and prepared with appropriate technology to contribute to the discussion portions of the business meeting, Tuesday morning, October 2. To learn more about NEDA and to register go to www.cvent.com/d/0gqxkw. Early registration and hotel room block expires after September 10.


Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion - In light of events relative to inclusiveness in the 4-H program, on Thursday, August 9, 2018 ECOP Chair Chuck Hibberd delivered a letter bit.ly/ECOP-Inclusion to all Extension Administrators and Directors across the country, re-affirming the Cooperative Extension Section’s commitment to diversity and inclusion in 4-H and all Extension education programming. Other resources for leaders may be found from A Conversation For Extension Directors and Administrators About Inclusivity in 4-H Programming from May 18, 2018.


eXtension: Registration For the Impact Collaborative Summit is Now Open - The Summit is in Indianapolis, IN, from October 16-18, 2018. All member institutions are invited to send teams to the Summit and community partners are welcome. Premium member institutions can send a team of up to five people with no registration fee. Basic member institutions can send a team of up to three people with no registration fee. More information on the Summit, registration, and learning outcomes can be found here. A webinar is scheduled for August 15th at 1 PM EDT to share more information about the Impact Collaborative and the Summit, and answer any questions you may have. You can register for the webinar here.

Funding Available For Rural Community Infrastructure - USDA has more than $4 billion in funding to help rural communities build or upgrade water and wastewater infrastructure. Safe water is fundamental to improving the quality of life and growing stronger rural economies. USDA is providing the funding through the Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant program. It can be used to finance drinking water, storm water drainage and waste disposal systems for rural communities with 10,000 or fewer residents. For communities needing technical assistance, funding is available through USDA’s Circuit Rider program and through Special Evaluation Assistance for Rural Communities and Households (SEARCH) grants. Eligible rural communities and water districts can apply online for funding to maintain, modernize or build water and wastewater systems. Visit the interactive RD Apply tool, or apply through one of USDA Rural Development’s state or field offices.


Please Distribute NASS-CES MOU - Executive Director Rick Klemme with support of the EDA Team (on behalf of ECOP/CES) and Agricultural Natural Resource program leaders from each for the five regions, recently completed the process of finalizing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). Also described as a "Memorandum of Opportunity", the MOU identifies ways that NASS and CES colleagues across the country can collaborate and add value to the work of each organization. ECOP Chair Chuck Hibberd, the signer of the document, asks that every agricultural agent/educator and specialist be made aware of the MOU and to be encouraged to look to NASS as a resource in their work whether it be on campus or in the field. To share the MOU go to bit.ly/CES_NAS.

Monday, August 6, 2018

ECOP Supported NC-FAR Seminar on the Hill

The National Coalition for Food and Agricultural Research (NC-FAR), of which ECOP is a member on behalf of the Cooperative Extension Section, sponsors weekly seminars for Congressional staff and NC-FAR partners from September through July. On July 24, Jason Henderson (Associate Dean, Purdue College of Agriculture & Director, Purdue Extension), the ECOP representative to the NC-FAR Board of Directors, presented a seminar titled Ag Workforce Development: The Role of Cooperative Extension. Fifty-two staffers and partners attended the two seminars with several very good questions. Click Here to view/download Jason's PowerPoint. Thank you, Jason!


Unraveling the Mysteries of ECOP and Cooperative Extension Section - On August 3, 2018, ECOP Chair Chuck Hibberd, University of Nebraska, was joined by ECOP Chair-elects Ed Jones, Virginia Tech (2019) and Mark Latimore, Jr., Fort Valley State University (2020), to present the Next Generation Extension - Learning for Leaders Session. The topic was requested by the participants of the recent CES Capital Quest program. To review or engage here are the details:
  • View/listen to recording below.

Remember that complete archive of the 2018 Next Generation Extension - Learning for Leaders conversations is available all day, any day, on the ECOP Monday Minute - right-side menu,  "Learning and Initiative Resources."


Two New Opportunities at eXtension Foundation -
  • Innovation Facilitator Manager: eXtension Foundation seeks an expert facilitator and experienced innovator to join our team and help lead innovation capacity-building for our members of the U.S. Cooperative Extension System. You can find more information about this position and the application here. The position will be open until filled and the first review of applications will begin on August 9th, 2018.
  • Fellowship - Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Sandbox: eXtension is funding an opportunity for a Fellow position to lead a process with a national committee and eXtension to explore and document needs and potential solutions for Customer Relationship Management functions in Cooperative Extension across the country. This opportunity is open to all Land-Grant Universities regardless of membership with eXtension as part of our cooperative agreement with USDA-NIFA. More information about this position and the application can be found here


National Agriculture Statistics Service (NASS) 2018 Row Crop Objective Yield Survey - Now that farmers had a successful planting season this spring and the growing season has been favorable in most areas of the country, USDA-NASS is preparing to partner with farm operators to set out objective yield plots. The objective yield surveys for corn, cotton, potatoes, and soybeans will be conducted from August to January. These plots will be visited each month prior to harvest and helps USDA-NASS measure and estimate yields by collecting and counting plants, pods, kernels, bolls, and hills. This information is used by farmers and agribusinesses to evaluate expected prices and help determine when and how to market the crops produced. NASS officials ask Directors and Administrators to inform county educators: if a farmer is approached by a nice field enumerator sent by USDA-NASS, please encourage the farmer to volunteer their sampled crop field for the 2018 Objective Yield Survey program. Thank you.


Countdown to NEDA Early Registration Deadline
Pioneering the Best Ideas and Methods for Leadership in Portland, the 2018 National Extension Directors and Administrators (NEDA) and Cooperative Extension Section Annual Business Meeting, is scheduled for October 1-3 in Portland, Oregon. Cooperative Extension Section Leaders, together with key partners, will convene for deep conversation and collaboration. The Deadline for early registration and the closing of the hotel room block is only 5 WEEKS FROM TODAY! Go to http://www.cvent.com/d/0gqxkw to learn more and to register.