ECOP Monday Minute 6.2.14

ECOP THANKS YOU – The ECOP Extension Centennial Task Force sends a heartfelt thank you to everyone who helped make the Centennial Convocation a huge success. From our speakers to flag bearers to convocation participants in Washington, DC and online, you made celebrating 100 years of extending knowledge and changing lives a success. Original pictures from the convocation, including the Parade of States, are available for download at https://aplu.sharefile.com/d/873866241bc64c34. Note: File is nearly 1G in size. A limited number of program booklets remain from the Convocation. This booklet https://www.aplu.org/document.doc?id=5220 includes a history of Cooperative Extension, a list of ECOP chairs over the 100 years, and a welcome letter from ECOP Chair Jimmy Henning. The keepsake may be ordered in lots of 10 copies each while supplies last. To either ask questions about photo download or to order booklets, contact Sandy Ruble, sandy.ruble@extension.org.

New Jersey Celebrates Cooperative Extension Month – Larry Katz, Extension Director, Rutgers reports the New Jersey Governor proclaimed May 2014 as Cooperative Extension Month. See http://sebsnjaesnews.rutgers.edu/2014/05/celebrating-100-years-gov-christie-declares-may-as-cooperative-extension-month-in-nj/.

Nutrition Education for Low Income (by Helen Chipman, National Program Leader, USDA-NIFA) – The final report Aligning and Elevating University-Based Low-Income Nutrition Education through the Land-Grant University Cooperative Extension System is now available at http://www.nifa.usda.gov/nea/food/efnep/pdf/align_elevate_report.pdf. This project was funded by NIFA’s Institute of Food Safety and Nutrition in response to a request from Douglas Steele and Daryl Buchholz, former ECOP Chairs. Recommendations are provided for universities, the land-grant university system, and federal/national partners. National webinars on how to use the report will be June 10 and 11, 2014. Sign-up is required at https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/X5978JC. For questions about this report, contact Connie Schneider, University of California, at cschneider@ucanr.edu or 530.750.1334.

Missouri Extension Captures Centennial Convocation – Extension Director Michael Ouart, University of Missouri, brings to your attention a video summary of the Extension Centennial Convocation on May 8, 2014 in Washington, DC, produced by Missouri Extension communicators. See http://youtu.be/MDwv5JOVQYU. Teens Take on Health -- Molina Healthcare Company and National 4-H Council released findings from an 18-month project listening to teens about their health concerns. The comprehensive report includes an extensive literature review and recommendations for action by state and local 4-H programs leaders. See http://www.4-h.org/about/youth-development-research/health-research/?utm_campaign=MOLINATTOH&utm_source=4HORG&utm_medium=CAROUSEL.

National Urban Extension Conference – The University of Georgia Cooperative Extension invites you to submit a presentation proposal for the 2015 National Urban Extension Conference in Atlanta, Georgia May 4-7, 2015. Participants will be “honoring the past, living the dream, and embracing the future” as they learn the best practices for working in an Urban Extension program. For more information and to submit a proposal, go to http://urbanextension2015.com/. The deadline October 1st.

ECOP Monday Minute 5.12.14

Cooperative Extension, USDA-NIFA, and National 4-H Council Sign Agreement – Surrounded by 4-H members, Cooperative Extension, USDA-NIFA and National 4-H Council showed united support of positive youth development by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) (https://www.aplu.org/document.doc?id=5187) clarifying the roles and responsibilities of each party. ECOP Chair-elect Delbert Foster, South Carolina State University, who signed the MOU on behalf of ECOP Chair Jimmy Henning, University of Kentucky, indicated its purpose was to encourage collaborative and enhanced communication and management of national 4-H policies and procedures affecting state and local programs. USDA-NIFA Director Sonny Ramaswamy also signed the document together with National 4-H Council President and Chief Executive Officer Jennifer Sirangelo. The signing took place as part of the historic Cooperative Extension Centennial Convocation May 8, 2014 in Washington, DC. The convocation commemorated the Smith-Lever Act signed on the same day 100 years ago establishing Cooperative Extension nationwide through the Land-grant University System. A video recording of the event, including the signing of the MOU, will be available later this week at http://www.windrosemedia.com/windstream/ext100years/. In addition to honoring the legacy of Cooperative Extension, speakers provided a compelling vision for another 100 years of Extension educational excellence by extending knowledge and changing lives. About the MOU, Henning said, “The 4-H program, designed, delivered and evaluated nationwide by Cooperative Extension in cooperation with USDA-NIFA and with support from the National 4-H Council, will continue to be one of our flagship programs as we work diligently to grow a new generation of leaders for our Nation and the world.”

L-R at the table - National 4-H Council President and Chief Executive Officer Jennifer Sirangelo; USDA-NIFA Director Sonny Ramaswamy; ECOP Chair-elect Delbert Foster, South Carolina State University, on behalf of ECOP Chair Jimmy Henning, University of Kentucky.

Virtual Centennial Festivities – Cooperative Extension’s Centennial is an eXtension featured event this month in the online virtual world Second Life. Access to the event is at http://secondlife.com/destination/extension-centennial-celebration. The celebration includes a Virtual State Fair decorated with a Centennial theme, live musical performances, educational exhibits, live stream of the Centennial Convocation on May 8th, and a fun video recorded entirely on eXtension’s Morrill regions, where 86,000 unique visitors enjoyed a variety of virtual learning environments in 2013. View the four-minute video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EadsygNwc48.

USDA Celebrates Extension – USDA honored the 100th anniversary of Cooperative Extension with highlights at This Week at USDA (2nd part of news clip).
Secretary Tom Vilsack spoke at the May 8th convocation, along with USDA Chief Scientist Catherine Woteki and USDA-NIFA Director Sonny Ramaswamy, all of whom challenged Cooperative Extension to be innovative in the next 100 years.

Congratulations from President Carter – Watch the two-minute video message from President Jimmy Carter first aired at the centennial convocation on May 8th
The 89-year-old is a 4-H'er, peanut farmer, public servant and statesman. He comments on the importance of Cooperative Extension in his family and his life as well as the important role Extension will play in the future to feed the world. The video, made possible by the University of Georgia, is view only. There is an additional charge to use anything other than the produced piece shown at the Convocation.

APLU Celebrates Centennial – President Peter McPherson wrote an essay http://www.aplu.org/page.aspx?pid=2962 and spoke at the May 8th convocation https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SsE5Fudyb7Y&list=UUjNa4QiDEehsw74V0pMfQMQ. APLU staff posed with Smith, Lever and Knapp, cut-outs made available by the University of Florida Extension http://aplublog.blogspot.com/2014/05/slideshow-aplu-hangs-out-smith-lever.html.

Extension Award Nominations Due 5.30.14 – Take time now to submit nominations for the Excellence in Extension and Diversity Awards. To prepare a nomination for submission, use the handy pdf version which includes criteria found at https://www.aplu.org/document.doc?id=5116. Then submit the nomination at https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/ECOPAwards2014. For questions, contact Sandy Ruble at sandy.ruble@extension.org. Supporting documents for Diversity and Excellence awards are available at https://www.aplu.org/document.doc?id=5165 and https://www.aplu.org/document.doc?id=5166, respectively.

ECOP Monday Minute - 5.5.14

Marking 100 Years – While the Cooperative Extension Centennial Celebration lasts all this year, the BIG DAY is May 8th when the founding legislation, the Smith-Lever Act, was signed in 1914. For those heading to DC for the Extension Centennial Convocation, be sure to stop by the National Archives, 700 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC, to see the original document in the East Rotunda Gallery, open seven days a week 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. If you are not in DC, the convocation can be viewed live and via recording for three months at http://www.windrosemedia.com/windstream/ext100years/. ECOP sincerely appreciates the efforts of the Centennial Task Force Doug Steele, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, and Frankie Gould, Louisiana State University AgCenter, co-chairs; Chrystal Checketts, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension; Jimmy Henning, University of Kentucky; Judy Rude and Bill Hoffman, USDA-NIFA; Bill Woodrum, contractor, and Sandy Ruble and Jane Schuchardt, ECOP National Office.

ECOP Names 4-H National Leadership Committee – The Extension Committee on Organization and Policy (ECOP), Jimmy Henning, Chair, University of Kentucky, has named five directors/administrators, five 4-H program leaders, and representatives from USDA-NIFA and the National 4-H Council to its new 4-H National Leadership Committee. The purpose of the committee is to discuss issues of national importance to the 4-H youth development program and make recommendations to ECOP. Initial topics for discussion might include how to expand the 4-H program to reach more urban and rural underserved audiences; how to recruit a more diverse 4-H workforce; how to increase the cultural competency of existing paid staff and volunteers, and how to develop sustainable, new resources to support the expansion of the 4-H program.

ECOP member Charlotte Eberlein, University of Idaho, will convene the committee until co-chairs can be named. Committee members are North Centrol Region – Cathann Kress, Iowa State University, and Renee McKee, Purdue University; 1890s Institutions – Edmund Buchner, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, and Woodie Hughes, Jr., Fort Valley State University; Southern Region – Ed Jones, Virginia Tech, and Chris Boleman, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension; Western Region, Glen Whipple, University of Wyoming, and Deb Jones, University of Alaska; Northeast Region, Steve Bonanno, West Virginia University, and Christy Bartley, Pennsylvania State University; USDA-NIFA – Lisa Lauxman, and National 4-H Council, Jennifer Sirangelo. Extension Executive Directors working with the committee are Lyla Houglum, Western Extension Directors Association, and Nancy Bull, Northeast Extension Directors.

The Memorandum of Understanding designed to establish a structure for identifying and openly communicating about issues of importance to the 4-H program by all partners is scheduled to be signed by Cooperative Extension Section/ECOP, USDA-NIFA and National 4-H Council officials during the Extension Convocation May 8, 2014 in Washington, DC. Details will appear in the next issue of the ECOP Monday Minute.

Extension Award Nominations Due 5.30.14 – Take time now to submit nominations for the Excellence in Extension and Diversity Awards. To prepare a nomination for submission, use the handy pdf version which includes criteria found at https://www.aplu.org/document.doc?id=5116. Then submit the nomination at https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/ECOPAwards2014. For questions, contact Sandy Ruble at sandy.ruble@extension.org. Supporting documents for Diversity and Excellence awards are available at https://www.aplu.org/document.doc?id=5165 and https://www.aplu.org/document.doc?id=5166, respectively.

Executive Directors/Administrators Meet in DC – APLU Vice President for Food, Agriculture and the Environment Ian Maw called a meeting of the AES and CES Executive Directors and Administrators this week in Washington, DC. Among agenda items were joint marketing and impacts projects, alignment of support for federal budget priorities, and orientation for new deans/directors/administrators. The ECOP Executive Directors and Administrative Team met separately and engaged in discussion with NACo, USDA-NIFA community development and family and consumer sciences, and USDA climate hub representatives.

Borlaug Award Nominations Due 6.30.14 – Nominate an individual less than 40 years of age for the 2014 Norman Borlaug Award for Field Research and Application endowed by the Rockefeller Foundation. Please click on this link to learn more.

California Science Project Notes Centennial – In celebration of Cooperative Extension’s 100 years on May 8, University of California is inviting everyone in the state to a participate in a one-day science project. Go to http://100.ucanr.edu/Day_of_Science_and_Service/ and answer three questions: • How many pollinators do you see? • How are you conserving water? • Where is food grown in your community? On May 8, data maps will automatically populate with answers from all over the state at beascientist.ucanr.edu. Help spread the word by joining our Facebook event and pledging a social media update with Thunderclap campaign. For information or questions, contact Marissa Stein, UCCE Centennial Coordinator, at mpstein@ucanr.edu.

ECOP Monday Minute - 4.21.14

New Extension Centennial Convocation Deadline – The early registration and hotel block for the Extension Centennial Convocation May 7-8, 2014 at the Marriott Wardman Park has been extended to April 25th. Join USDA Secretary Vilsack, Under Secretary Woteki and Director Ramaswamy; Kellogg Foundation CEO, and Land-grant University colleagues from across the nation for this historic event. Register at http://www.cvent.com/d/g4qqj5.

Poster Deadline Extended to 4.25.14 – Growing new leadership is the purpose of the poster session for the National Extension Centennial Convocation for the segment the evening of May 7th. See https://www.aplu.org/document.doc?id=5167 for guidelines, which include expanded eligibility to include Extension educators with five or fewer years of experience. Please encourage participation by this Friday, 4.25.14. 

Original Smith-Lever Act on Display -- Cooperative Extension's founding legislation is on display through May 8, 2014 in the United States National Archives, 700 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC. See the original document in the East Rotunda Gallery, open seven days a week 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.  

Power of Extension – If you’ll be in DC for the Centennial Convocation, plan to attend a half-day conference on 21st Century Energy Challenges: The Power of Extension at the Marriott Wardman Park Wednesday afternoon, May 7, 2014. The agenda is posted at the event website.

Oklahoma Whistle Stop Celebrates Centennial – Extension Associate Director James Trapp, Oklahoma State University, reports a successful train ride launch to celebrate Extension’s 100 years. Check out the video at http://bit.ly/1eFjBQR and find out more at http://extension100.okstate.edu/.

Extension Award Nominations Due 5.30.14 – Take time now to submit nominations for the Excellence in Extension and Diversity Awards. To prepare a nomination for submission, use the handy pdf version which includes criteria found at https://www.aplu.org/document.doc?id=5116. Then submit the nomination at https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/ECOPAwards2014. For questions, contact Sandy Ruble at sandy.ruble@extension.org. Supporting documents for each award are available at the following links:

• Diversity Award
• Excellence in Extension Award

Thanks for 4-H Award Support – Thank you for your generous donations to support the Extension table at National 4-H Council's fifth annual 4-H Legacy Awards. Thirty-five Extension Directors/Administrators and 4-H program leaders from across the country contributed over $10,000 so that Extension could host the national 4-H Youth in Action Award recipient. Nineteen-year old Andres Parra, an outstanding 4-H'er from Arizona, received the award. Nancy Grace, CNN host and Georgia 4-H alumna, served as emcee for the evening. Facebook's Andrew Bosworth (California 4-H alumnus) and the Food Network's Anne Burrell (New York 4-H alumna) received the Distinguished Alumni Award. To see photos, click here: http://bit.ly/1egxLXX.

ECOP Monday Minute 4.7.14

Secretary Vilsack to Speak at Convocation – USDA Secretary Vilsack will be among keynote speakers at the Extension Centennial Convocation May 7-8, 2014 in Washington, DC. The room block at the Wardman Park Hotel has been expanded with the conference rate available until 4.15.14. Early registration http://www.cvent.com/d/g4qqj5 closes 4.18.14. Join Secretary Vilsack, futurist Lowell Catlett from New Mexico State University, CEO LaJune Montgomery Tabron of the Kellogg Foundation, and others to celebrate and, most importantly, think creatively together about how Cooperative Extension will thrive for the next 100 years. For details about the poster competition featuring emerging leaders, contact Chrystal Checketts at cchecketts@tamu.edu and for the opening flag bearing ceremony, contact Bill Woodrum at extensioncentennial@gmail.com.

Contact Congressional Representative Now – Your help is needed to assure the Congressional representatives from your state and districts signed on to the resolutions commemorating the Extension Centennial. For current sponsors and co-sponsors, go to http://beta.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/house-concurrent-resolution/86 for H. Con. Res. 86 and http://beta.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/senate-concurrent-resolution/33 for S. Con. Res. 33. Action needs to occur this week and no later than the last week in April.

ECOP Accepts Health Task Force Report – In ECOP action in late March in Sacramento, the report of the ECOP National Task Force on Health
https://www.aplu.org/document.doc?id=5134, Michelle Rodgers, chair, University of Delaware, was accepted. ECOP supported the recommendation to launch an implementation team for next steps related to Cooperative Extension health and wellness programming and resource development. The current task force has been asked to continue in its role until an implementation team can be organized. ECOP expresses thanks to Michelle and her team for this significant national leadership.

ECOP Week in Review – ECOP Chair Jimmy Henning, University of Kentucky, will carry his Extension centennial three-part message of relevance, rigor and relationships in many venues this week. On Monday, Henning addresses the Public Issues Leadership Development Conference http://www.jcep.org/pild-conference; Tuesday speaks on Capitol Hill to House and Senate staffers through the National Coalition for Food and Agriculture Research (NC-FAR) lunch and learn series http://www.ncfar.org/Hill_Seminar_Series.asp, and on Wednesday returns to Capitol Hill as part of the 4-H Congressional breakfast hosted by the National 4-H Council.

ECOP Announces NC-FAR Representation – Tim Cross, University of Tennessee, and Michael Ouart, University of Missouri, have been named by ECOP to be on the National Coalition for Food and Agriculture Research Board of Directors and Research Outreach Committee, respectively. ECOP is a full member of NC-FAR www.ncfar.org representing Cooperative Extension. Both Cross and Ouart will participate in the NC-FAR Board meeting this week in Washington, DC.

NEDA Presentations – If you missed NEDA 2014 last month in Sacramento or want to review what you heard, you can view presentations at http://ecopmondayminute.blogspot.com/. If those who attended NEDA, please take time to fill out the evaluation sent directly to participants. Your response, due 4.15.14, is critical as plans for NEDA 2015 take shape.

Celebrating Cooperative Extension (by Cathann Kress, Iowa State University) -- The Iowa Senate unanimously passed a bipartisan resolution March 27, 2014, celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Smith-Lever Act, the founding legislation of the nationwide Cooperative Extension System. Polk County Extension Council member Harold Hommes, Terry Maloy, Executive Director for the Iowa Association of County Extension Councils, several extension specialists, and I were on hand as the resolution was read and passed. Watch our video about the resolution’s passage at http://www.extension.iastate.edu/content/celebrating-cooperative-extension.

Extension Award Nominations Due 5.30.14 – Take time now to submit nominations for the Excellence in Extension and Diversity Awards. To prepare a nomination for submission, use the handy pdf version which includes criteria found at https://www.aplu.org/document.doc?id=5116. Then submit the nomination at https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/ECOPAwards2014.

ECOP Monday Minute 3.31.14

ECOP Meets in Sacramento – ECOP Chair Jimmy Henning, University of Kentucky, facilitated a face-to-face meeting of ECOP following the National Extension Directors and Administrators meeting in Sacramento last week. Among action highlights were the acceptance of the ECOP Task Force on Health report and plans for an implementation team, establishment of the 4-H National Leadership Committee, approval of funding recommendations for the Agriculture Act of 2014 Title I requirement for crop insurance education, and acceptance of the ECOP 2013 financial report.

Board on Human Sciences Awards (BHS) Competition (by Linda Kirk Fox, University of Georgia, BHS liaison to ECOP) -- The purpose of the BHS Outstanding Engagement Award is to recognize an individual "campus based" or "state level faculty member" for exceptional creativity and scholarship in the development, application, and evaluation of outreach, extension, and public service programs http://www.thebohs.org/outstanding_engagement_award0.aspx. Nominations are due 5.21.14 to Carol Kellett, Executive Director, BOHS, Carol.Kellett@TheBoHS.org or (785) 760-7134. Instructions for the awards  nomination packet can be found at the BOHS web site www.thebohs.org.

Extension Award Nominations Due 5.30.14 – The deadline for Extension in Excellence and Diversity awards was reported incorrectly in the last ECOP Monday Minute. The deadline is 5.30.14.  ECOP Program Subcommittee Chair, Jon Boren, New Mexico State University, and ECOP Personnel Subcommittee Co-Chairs, James Trapp, Oklahoma State University, and Chuck Hibberd, University of Nebraska, together with Sandy Ruble in the ECOP National Office, have developed an electronic submission, review, and notification process. To prepare a nomination for submission, use the pdf version found at https://www.aplu.org/document.doc?id=5116 which includes criteria. Then submit the nomination at https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/ECOPAwards2014. 

JCEP to Consider National Meeting – ECOP approved Chuck Hibberd, University of Nebraska, to serve on a Joint Council of Extension Professionals (JCEP) exploratory committee to consider options for a system-wide Cooperative Extension conference. The JCEP Board voted against a fifth Galaxy Conference in 2018. Hibberd serves as the ECOP liaison to ECOP.

Extension Centennial Convocation Update – This is a reminder that the Extension Centennial Convocation May 7-8, 2014 in Washington, DC, values participation from every institution in order to make this the celebration event of the century. Here’s how to participate –

      1) Register at http://www.cvent.com/d/g4qqj5 by 4.18.14. Hotel reservations are due 4.15.14.

2)      Nominate a poster by 4.4.14 (deadline extended). Click Here to download Poster Nomination Details.

3)      Name a representative to carry the state/territory/DC flag in the Centennial Opening Ceremony by 4.15.14. Send name, title and contact information to extensioncentennial@gmail.com.

News About APLU 2014 Annual Meeting -- APLU is seeking proposals for a series of three Sunday afternoon sessions at the 2014 Annual Meeting in Orlando, FL. Proposals must be submitted by April 12, 2014. For details, see the APLU 2014 Annual Meeting Request For Proposals.  Register at http://www.aplu.org/page.aspx?pid=1462.

Engaging for Impact – Oregon State University Vice Provost for University Outreach and Engagement Scott Reed shares a new flier developed as an insert to the alumni association’s periodical, the Oregon Stater. Check it out at www.osualum.com/s/359/file_lib/1/47/OutreachAndEngagement_201312_635223737675796847.pdf.