BoHS and CAFCS Meeting March 5-8, 2019 in Arlington, VA

The ECOP Monday Minute returns January 28 to honor Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.

Extension Directors and Administrators and their colleagues are invited to the Board on Human Sciences (BoHS) and the Council of Administrators of Family and Consumer Sciences (CAFCS) Joint Meeting, The Human Sciences’ Role in Promoting Rural Prosperity and Quality of Life. Participants will take a closer look at issues confronting rural communities throughout the country—opioid addiction, mental and physical wellness, affordable housing, and discrimination revolving around sexual/gender orientation—and the unique role of the Human Sciences to research, educate, and engage our communities to promote the science and art of living well in our complex world. Click here to view a meeting schedule. Registration details:  http://www.cvent.com/d/qbqjqw.



National Extension Awards Request for Nominations Begins 2/1/19 - Save the date of Friday, February 1, 2019, 3-4:00 p.m. ET for the Next Generation Extension - Learning for Leaders Zoom Meeting. ECOP Members Carolyn Williams, Prairie View A&M University, and Vonda Richardson, Florida State A&M University, will join Chair Ed Jones, Virginia Tech, to launch the annual call for nominations. Colleagues who have succeeded with nominations will be invited to share their experiences and given ample time to ask questions. The 1-hour session will feature a segment on "Winning Words" from experienced writers Suzanne Deatherage and Ann Kellett (formerly from Texas A&M University). Directors and Administrators are encouraged to participate and share the invitation with associates with responsibility for preparing award nominations. Stay tuned to email for connection details.


Announcement and Action Item: True Leaders in Equity Institute - The newly formed True Leaders in Equity Institute will equip 26 youth-adult pairs to be change agents within the Cooperative Extension System as it seeks to create a more inclusive environment for all youth. Youth and adults who exhibit the following characteristics are invite to apply to participate in this three-day convening and training at the National 4-H Conference Center in Chevy Chase, MD, April 5-7, 2019.

•   Aged 15 and up 
•   A desire to champion equity in your community 
•   A passion for an experience to create belonging for marginalized groups 
•   Connection to the Cooperative Extension System through 4-H, Well Connected Communities, SNAP-ED volunteering, National Mentoring Project volunteering or other Extension programs 

Applications available at www.4-h.org/trueleadersinequity are due February 2, 2019. Interested parties may register to join the Q&A call January 17, 2019, 2:00 p.m. ET, for additional information and/or inquire with Dr. Dorothy Freeman, Equity Director, National 4-H Council, at dfreeman@fourhcouncil.edu.

eXtension's Impact Collaborative: Statewide and Institution-Wide Events - eXtension members are invited to schedule an Innovation Skill-Building experience by state or institution to help develop innovative programs to strengthen local and statewide impact. Members provide their own venue, food, and teams. eXtension provides the staffing and support for prior planning with leadership teams on designing an experience contextualized to specifically meet each members' needs. Plus during the event, eXtension works with project and program teams on building skills in innovation, ideating using design thinking and lean experimentation methodology, and helping the teams create action plans for their projects and programs ready for incubation. To learn more about scheduling an event, please click here or contact Chris Geith at christinegeith@eXtension.org.

ECOP, ESCOP Chairs Engage USDA-NIFA Staff

Michelle Rodgers, University of Delaware,
and Shirley Hymon-Parker, North Carolina
A&T University

“Research to Application: National Leadership, Local Impacts” was the theme of a seminar last week for USDA-NIFA colleagues in Washington, DC. Speakers were ECOP Chair Michelle Rodgers, University of Delaware, and ESCOP Chair Shirley Hymon-Parker, North Carolina A&T State University. The purpose was to brief NIFA partners on joint Cooperative Extension and Experiment Station efforts including pest management, water security, healthy food systems and people, climate, communications and marketing, impacts reporting, and the need for both capacity and competitive funding. Other meetings during the day-long visit focused on communications, program planning and reporting, and other items to advance the partnership with USDA-NIFA. 

Chris Boerboom, North Dakota
State University

Boerboom Named to Pest Management Team – ECOP member Chris Boerboom, North Dakota State University, has been named to the National Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Coordinating Committee. The committee makes recommendations to ESCOP and ECOP on programs, policies, reports, and budget matters that affect pest management implementation. It also facilitates national collaboration for IPM research and Extension at land-grant universities, and between land-grants and federal agencies. Membership includes representatives from regional IPM technical committees and centers, USDA agencies including NIFA, other federal departments, and non-government organizations. 

Grow True Leaders Campaign Thunderclap Deadline 5.21.16 – There is still time to participate in the 4-H Thunderclap. Join Reba McEntire, Jennifer Nettles and others in supporting #TrueLeaders. If 4-H reaches its 500 supporter goal by May 21, Thunderclap will blast out a timed Twitter, Facebook, or Tumblr post, spreading the message of #TrueLeaders to millions. Join here http://bit.ly/4HThunderclap and add an extra note celebrating young people passionate about 4-H. 

County Health Rankings Webinar 5.17.16 – The County Health Rankings & Roadmaps, a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation program, is hosting a webinar titled First Things First: Priority Setting. This short webinar will examine how to collaboratively set priorities building on data while also honoring multiple voices in the community. A priority setting tool from the National Association of County & City Health Officials, called First Things First, will be featured and examined. For registration and more information, click here. 

International Programs Webinar 5.9.16 – The APLU International Agriculture Section announces a webinar 1:00 p.m. ET, 5.9.16, featuring Otto Gonzalez, USDA-NIFA’s new director of the Center for International Programs. ECOP Chair Michelle Rodgers, University of Delaware, met with Gonzalez and other USDA-NIFA colleagues last week where he described how he will work across all USDA-NIFA institutes to develop global engagement opportunities. Webinar registration is at https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/3471901852318820609. 

eXtension What’s New Webinar – If you missed the webinar last week reviewing recent changes and new opportunities now available for eXtension member institutions, view the recording at https://learn.extension.org/events/2621. The eXtension leadership team answers questions and provide examples of how to use new tools and services.

Study Documents Extension’s Value

Stephan Goetz, Penn State

Cooperative Extension programs have helped nearly 138,000 farmers stay in business since 1985, according to economists. In a recently published study, Stephan Goetz, professor of agricultural and regional economics at Penn State, and Meri Davlasheridze, assistant professor and economist, Texas A&M University at Galveston, said that without Cooperative Extension and the underlying land-grant university research, the country would have lost an estimated 28 percent more farmers than actually left agriculture. The broader youth, family and community development programs offered by Extension also support rural entrepreneurship and innovation, enhancing rural economic vitality. "An obvious policy recommendation for keeping farmers on their farms and supporting rural economies is to continue to fund the land-grant universities and their Cooperative Extension and related research efforts," said Goetz. Learn more at http://aese.psu.edu/nercrd/news/2016/land-grant-programs-keep-farmers-farming. 

Extension Award Nominations Due Now – ECOP in partnership with USDA-NIFA offers the 2016 nomination process for the prestigious national Excellence in Extension and Diversity awards. The due date for on-line nominations is 5.1.16 at 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time. For details and to access the online nomination forms go to: http://www.aplu.org/CESawards. Winners are recognized at the Board on Agriculture Assembly Awards Event 11.13.16 prior to the APLU Annual Meeting in Austin, TX. Questions can be directed to Sandy Ruble sandy.ruble@extension.org, ECOP Staff Associate.

Grow True Leaders Campaign Launches – The Grow True Leaders Campaign is off to a great start thanks to the support of Cooperative Extension and 4-H leaders. New, national coverage over the past week includes CNN Money, USA TODAY and Farm Journal on top of the many other national stories reaching millions via print, online and social channels. Social media activation peaked with the true leaders hash tag trending on Twitter, a first for 4-H. The campaign public service announcement has aired in 24 states. News coverage continues to highlight the 4-H National Youth Survey on Leadership conducted by the Harris Poll, which found that 90 percent of young people (high school students) say they are concerned about the future leadership of America, and nearly 70 percent are more confident in the next generation of leaders than in the leaders they see today. View and download the survey findings at www.4-H.org. Less than a week after the National 4-H Council Congressional Breakfast, the United States Senate, independently and unanimously approved a bipartisan resolution authored by Senators Roger Wicker, R-MS, and Heidi Heitkamp, D-ND, in support of 4-H and the Grow True Leaders Campaign. The measure, which was co-sponsored by 34 senators, recognizes the benefits of the 4-H program for young people and its potential growth. 

MEiE Survey Responses Due – Managing Excellence in Extension (MEiE)is a database supported by ECOP to share information amongst Extension directors and administrators. It documents institutional-level indicators of Extension’s success. The usefulness of this database will depend on the extent of participation of land-grant institutions and the quality of the information each institution provides. Please take a moment to complete the MEiE Assessment if you received an invitation to do so. Those needing to complete the assessment are users in the MEiE system and should have received an email from Scott Cummings dated April 11, 2016. If you did not receive an email and think you should have, or have questions, please reach Scott at s-cummings@tamu.edu.

Urban Extension Webinar This Week – Register at https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/7332687399589713665 for a 3:00 p.m. ET webinar 4.28.16 focused on the basics of National Urban Extension Leaders (NUEL). This webinar will cover the NUEL structure, goals, engagement benefits, and action team initiatives underway, strategies for involvement and networking opportunities. Urban programming, while maintaining Extension’s impact in rural areas, is a goal of ECOP in 2016. Participation in NUEL is encouraged. 

Jason Henderson, Purdue University, USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack, and
CEO Bill Bynum, Hope Enterprise Corporation

Poverty Forum Highlights Extension  – Jason Henderson, Extension Director, Purdue University, joined USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack and Bill Bynum, CEO of Hope Enterprise Corporation of Jackson, MS, last week in Washington, DC, to speak at a Farm Foundation Forum on rural poverty. The forum focused on the costs of poverty in rural America and the role of public policy in the fight against poverty. For presentation details and to hear the audio, CLICK HERE.

4-H Grows Here! Campaign Launches

4-H Alumna & ECOP Chair Michelle Rodgers,
University of Delaware

ECOP Chair Michelle Rodgers joined former 4-H members who are now members of Congress and USDA-NIFA Director Sonny Ramaswamy last week speaking at a Congressional Breakfast hosted by the National 4-H Council. This was part of multiple events launching a powerful new campaign designed to make 4-H accessible to 10 million young people, up from the 6 million reached now. 4-H Alumna Jennifer Nettles, county music star and Grammy award winner, is the national spokesperson for this effort to “Grow True Leaders” with 4-H. Learn more online at http://www.4-h.org/get-involved/grow-true-leaders-campaign/ or by Twitter at #TrueLeaders. Encourage 4-H alumni to engage in this effort by signing up at www.4-H.org/4HAlumni. 

"Urban Innovation: The New Extension Story” was featured at the
JCEP Public Issues Leadership Conferencelast week in Crystal City, VA.
Presenters pictured (L-R) are Travis Burke, North Carolina State University;
Jody Squires, University of Missouri; Patrick Proden, Oregon State University,
and Julie Fox, Ohio State University. Joining via video was Deno De Ciantis,
Pennsylvania State University.

Focus on Urban Programming – Aligned with the ECOP 2016 goal to advance urban programming while maintaining rural presence, the National Urban Extension Leaders point you to www.nuelaction.org for current updates. Included is the “National Framework for Urban Extension” (December 2015) and directions for joining the mail list. The next NUEL meeting is May 23-26, 2016 in Columbus, OH, http://cityextension.osu.edu/NUEL_meeting. Also, mark your calendars for the National Urban Extension Conference, May 7-11, 2017 in Minneapolis.

Chronic Disease Survey Due 5.15.16 – All Extension professionals are encouraged to participate by May 15th in an environmental scan conducted by the Chronic Disease Prevention and Management (CDPM) Action Team chaired by David Buys, Mississippi State University. The CDPM is part of the ECOP-ESCOP Health Implementation Team. The survey https://msudafvm.co1.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_bBnfv3eNsmku6C9 asks questions about CDPM program characteristics and processes, partnerships, and barriers. Responses will be used to identify model programs, process, and evaluation approaches. 

USDA-NIFA Suspends University POWs – A memorandum from USDA-NIFA Director Sonny Ramaswamy describes the suspension of plan of work submission requirements for FY 2017 and FY 2018. Additional information is available at the NIFA Plan of Work web page. The transition to a new reporting and accountability system at USDA-NIFA was advised by a Panel of Experts which ECOP helped to form with representation from all regions. 

Extension to Meet at 2016 APLU Annual Meeting – ECOP Chair Michele Rodgers invites you to the Cooperative Extension dinner Monday evening of the 2016 APLU Annual Meeting November 13-15 in Austin, TX. Make hotel reservations at the JW Marriott Austin in Austin, TX at https://resweb.passkey.com/go/APLU2016. To register, go to http://www.aplu.org/meetings-and-events/annual-meeting/.

Resources for Climate Change – Iowa State calls your attention to fact sheets for Extension educators and other farm advisers related to impacts of climate variability. Go to http://store.extension.iastate.edu/Product/Climate-Change-and-Agricultural-Extension. 

LESS THAN 2 WEEKS LEFT: Awards Reminder-Nominate by 5.1.16 – ECOP in partnership with USDA-NIFA offers the 2016 nomination process for the national Excellence in Extension and Diversity awards. The due date for on-line nominations is May 1, 2016 at 5:00p.m. Pacific Time. For details and to access the online nomination forms go to: http://www.aplu.org/CESawards. Questions can be directed to Sandy Ruble sandy.ruble@extension.org, ECOP Staff Associate.

RESERVE NOW: ESS-CES/NEDA 2016 Joint Meeting

“Partnership: Power and Possibilities” is the theme of the 2016 National Extension Directors and Administrators (NEDA) and Cooperative Extension Section (CES) meeting, this year held jointly with the Experiment Station Section (ESS). All details about registration and lodging are available at https://conferencereg.colostate.edu/Jackson2016. Since this is the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service with high demand on the conference venue, you are encouraged to make lodging reservations promptly. The meeting begins 3:30 p.m. on Monday, September 19, 2016 with an orientation for ESS/CES new directors and administrators. The opening dinner for all is at 6:00 p.m. on Monday with programming through the closing banquet Wednesday evening, September 21, 2016. ECOP continues with a meeting Thursday, September 22, 2016 which ends at noon. ECOP thanks ESCOP colleagues for securing this special venue for the meeting in Grand Teton National Park and working with Cooperative Extension on an engaging agenda celebrating our joint work. ECOP also thanks planning team members from Cooperative Extension – Delbert Foster, ECOP immediate past-chair, South Carolina State University; Bev Durgan, University of Minnesota; Tony Windham, University of Arkansas; Glen Whipple, University of Wyoming, and Steve Bonanno, West Virginia University. 

ECOP to Launch Innovation Task Force

Michelle Rodgers, University of Delaware, &
Keith Smith, The Ohio State University (retired)

– During the National eXtension Conference next week in San Antonio, TX, ECOP Chair Michelle Rodgers, University of Delaware, and Keith Smith, Ohio State University (retired), will launch ECOP’s new Innovation Task Force. The Task Force, chaired by Smith, will have its first meeting while in San Antonio. It is charged with using the Extension Innovation Inventory http://bit.ly/ExtInnovSummary and other related research and tools to provide guidelines for implementing innovative strategies in the Extension system. Focus areas will be learner engagement, innovation environment/criteria for innovation, and employment issues for existing and new hires related to innovation. 

4-H Grow True Leaders Campaign: Invitation for Extension Leaders – The nationwide launch of the Grow True Leaders brand campaign is less than a month away. Extension Directors/Administrators, 4-H Program Leaders and university communications professionals are invited to join Artis Stevens, Chief Marketing Officer, National 4-H Council, for a special pre-launch update on Tuesday, April 5th from 2:00 - 3:00 p.m. ET. Hear late breaking news on national media outreach, the Shout Out for True Leaders and the steps you can take to make sure your state is ready for the campaign launch and beyond. Go to https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/TrueLeaders to register for this webinar.  

County Health Rankings Available – The 2016 County Health Rankings, supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, were released last week. Every county in the nation is ranked within its state using a set of 10 health indicators such as adult smoking and obesity. Cooperative Extension professionals can use the rankings to guide health programming. Learn more at http://www.countyhealthrankings.org/reports/key-findings-2016. 

ECOP Chair Keynotes EFNEP Conference – Michelle Rodgers, ECOP Chair, University of Delaware, (pictured above) was a featured speaker at the EFNEP National Conference last week in Crystal City, VA. Her message of ECOP IS YOU focused on the ECOP 2016 goals related to private resource mobilization, urban programming, professional development, innovation and working as a national system. To view the presentation slides, see http://bit.ly/ECOP2016EFNEP. 

Extension Shout-out at Federal Hearing – USDA-NIFA Director Sonny Ramaswamy calls your attention to comments by U.S. Representative Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE) at a hearing last week of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs. Scroll to 1:15.40 at http://www.c-span.org/video/?406159-1/appropriations-state-foreign-operations-related-programs for positive comments about the Land-grant University System and Cooperative Extension.  

Respond to Chronic Disease Survey: DEADLINE- Friday, March 25 – The Chronic Disease Prevention and Management Action Team, one of six teams making up the ECOP-ESCOP Health Implementation Committee, needs your help to determine current Extension education related to chronic disease prevention and management. Responses will be used to identify gaps and make recommendations to equip Extension “to do for the nation’s health what it did for American agriculture,” according to action team chair, David Buys, Mississippi State University. The survey, available HERE, asks questions about program characteristics and process, partnerships, and barriers. Please encourage participation by colleagues at state, regional and local levels. Some participants may be asked for additional information based on their responses to the original survey. Direct questions to Buys at david.buys@msstate.edu or 662.325.3060.  

Awards Reminder - Nominate by 5.1.16 – ECOP in partnership with USDA-NIFA offers the 2016 nomination process for the national Excellence in Extension and Diversity awards. The due date for on-line nominations is May 1, 2016 at 5:00p.m. Pacific Time. For details and to access the online nomination forms go to: http://www.aplu.org/CESawards. Questions can be directed to Sandy Ruble sandy.ruble@extension.org, ECOP Staff Associate.