Positioning 4-H and Extension for Investment

The ECOP Monday Minute returns January 27 to honor Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.

Martha Bernadett, M.D., MBA, President and
CEO of The Molina Foundation

On Friday, Jan. 10, 2020, Dr. Martha Bernadett, National 4-H Council (Council) Board of Trustees, and Andy Ferrin, Council’s SVP, Chief Strategy Officer, gave a presentation that all Directors and Administrators ought to review; a comprehensive overview of 4-H (assets and recent alumni survey). Please contribute to conversations on how Cooperative Extension can position its high-quality 4-H programs for growth -- and for increased investment from public and private sources. Everyone is encouraged to use the links below to view/review the session and keep the conversation going!
   -  Recording: https://youtu.be/6TP_jxaju7I
   -  Dr. Bernadett’s remarks 
   -  Slide presentation
   -  Information on the alumni survey - www.4-h.org/alumnisurvey 
   -  Send questions and comments to ecopblog@gmail.com



NIFA Working Group for Reporting - ECOP announces the 2020 NIFA Extension Working Group for Reporting (page 10 here) and an informational webinar set for this Thursday, Jan. 16, 2020, 2PM ET (Click here for more info). The Extension Working Group was formed by the 2015 Panel of Experts to streamline reporting, reduce burden, and add a module that highlights the accomplishments of Extension capacity-funded programs. The new group is being re-engaged to specifically advise NIFA on the design of the new Extension reporting module given the integration of POW and REEport. Contact Executive Director Rick Klemme, rickklemme@extension.org, if there are questions. 



DC Connections in Nutrition Education - SNAP-Ed and EFNEP leaders from Land Grant Universities are planning trips to Washington, DC for the upcoming ASNNA (February 4-6) and EFNEP (March 3-5) Conferences. Additionally, a variety of Extension staff may attend the PILD Conference (April 5-8). Attendees are likely to make visits to your state’s legislators to provide program updates/outcomes resulting from USDA Smith-Lever, 1890s Extension, EFNEP and SNAP-Ed investments in Cooperative Extension. The SNAP-Ed Program Development Team (see pg. 3 here) encourages Extension leaders to inform conference participants about your institution’s policies around legislative education and supports that may be in place. Nutrition specialists and educators can learn more about getting started with legislative education and making visits to Capitol Hill by contacting Christine Hradek, Hradek@iastate.edu, Legislative Education Committee Chair.



Recording of Economic Diversification in Coal-reliant Communities Webinar - The webinar recording for “Putting the Challenge in Perspective: Lessons Learned from Coal Communities Across the Country” is now available for viewing on-demand. This recording of the webinar, hosted by the University of Illinois Extension, discusses how rural coal-reliant communities in the West and in Appalachia are setting a new course in a variety of ways, including through workforce development and retraining, entrepreneurship, outdoor recreation, cultural heritage, renewable energy, and more. Presenters Brett Schwartz from the NADO Research Foundation and Jack Morgan from the National Association of Counties have spent the past five years visiting and collaborating with coal-reliant counties and regions as they work to build stronger economies by tapping into local assets and strengths. While every place is unique with its own set of challenges and opportunities, these case studies can serve as inspiration for communities across the country as they explore ways to create a more prosperous future. Click here to access the recording and slides.

Natural Resources Conference - Oregon State University Extension is hosting the 12^th biennial Association of Natural Resource Extension Professionals (ANREP) conference in central Oregon May 3-6, 2020 www.anrep2020.org. The ANREP conference attracts more than 300 Extension professionals from around the country and offers great opportunities for professional growth and sharing new ideas. Extension agents, specialists, and program coordinators work every day to share knowledge about the latest techniques and state-of-the science in natural resources management, and ensure that this critical information can be used by landowners, managers, decision makers, and students. ANREP 2020 will highlight conversations about innovation and the importance of this work in a rapidly changing world with the theme “Place-Based and Future-Focused: Fulfilling the land grant mission in an evolving landscape.”