Monday, April 28, 2014

ECOP Monday Minute - 4.28.14

USDA-NIFA to Celebrate Centennial – Cooperative Extension’s federal partner, USDA-NIFA, will host a one-hour celebration of the Centennial on May 1st at USDA-NIFA headquarters in Washington, DC. USDA Secretary Vilsack will greet participants with the following video.
The DC Chapter of Epsilon Sigma Phi has been engaged in planning the event and according to Marty Draper, chapter president and USDA-NIFA national program leader, several NIFA staff members with Extension experience will be sharing their stories with the rest of the agency.

Centennial Convocation Live Video 5.8.14 – The Smith-Lever Act creating Cooperative Extension nationwide was signed on May 8, 1914. One hundred years later, you have opportunity to join the centennial celebration via live streaming video from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. eastern time on May 8, 2014. Connect at http://www.windrosemedia.com/windstream/ext100years/. Hear USDA Secretary Vilsack address participants at the Centennial Convocation at the Reagan Building in Washington, DC. See the impressive parade of states. Gain insights from keynote speakers about where Cooperative Extension is headed for the next 100 years. The event also will be recorded and available at http://www.windrosemedia.com/windstream/ext100years/ for 3 months and then on Extension100years.net.  

SNAP-ED Team Meets in DC – Paula Peters, Kansas State University; Helen Chipman, USDA-NIFA, and CY Wang, South Dakota State University, the executive committee of the Cooperative Extension Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (SNAP-ED) Program Development Team (PDT), facilitated a work session last week in Washington, DC. In addition to actions related to communications, evaluation, and legislation/advocacy, the team participated in a roundtable discussion with key leaders from USDA Food and Nutrition Service, USDA-NIFA, and ECOP. The work of the PDT is supported by assessments from institutions where Cooperative Extension receives funding for SNAP-ED. In 2013, ECOP approved continuing the annual assessment through 2016. The most recent accomplishment report is at http://msucares.com/archive/2012/snap-ed/snap-ed.html.

Centennial Celebration News – Oklahoma State University College of Human Sciences unveiled the only known portrait of the first federally appointed black home demonstration agent, Annie Peters Hunter, from Oklahoma. See photos at https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.282553805238015.1073741832.213096972183699&type=3 and learn about her life at http://ncsu.edu/ffci/publications/2012/v17-n1-2012-spring/scholl-finchum.php


Ag Census Available This Week – USDA National Agriculture Statistics Service will release the 2012 Census of Agriculture on 5.2.14 Preliminary results were available earlier this year. See http://www.agcensus.usda.gov/index.php for more information.

Urban Conference Call for Proposals – University of Georgia Cooperative Extension invites presentation proposals for the 2015 National Urban Extension Conference, May 4-7, 2015 in Atlanta, GA. 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 by the October 1st deadline, see http://urbanextension2015.com. Agriculture Act of 2014 Highlights and Implications – See the USDA Economics Research Service analysis of the Agriculture Act of 2014 (farm bill) at http://www.ers.usda.gov/agricultural-act-of-2014-highlights-and-implications.aspx#.U1aEb1VdV3U.

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:

Monday, April 21, 2014

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:


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.

Monday, April 14, 2014

ECOP Monday Minute 4.14.14


Future of Extension Panel at Convocation – The ECOP Centennial Task Force, Doug Steele and Frankie Gould, co-chairs, announce an engaging panel for the Centennial Convocation May 7-8, 2014 in Washington, DC. The panel representing higher education, private industry, foundations and the federal government will summarize a vision for Cooperative Extension’s next 100 years of excellence. On the panel are Jennifer Sirangelo, President and Chief Executive Officer, National 4-H Council; The Honorable Catherine Woteki, Under Secretary, USDA Research, Education and Economics, and Chief Scientist; Martha Bernadett, Executive Vice President, Research and Innovation, Molina Healthcare, Inc., and Bruce McPheron, Vice President for Agricultural Administration and Dean, College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences, The Ohio State University. This prestigious panel joins USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack, futurist Lowell Catlett from New Mexico State University, and CEO LaJune Montgomery Tabron of the Kellogg Foundation. Be a part of this historical event by registering at http://www.cvent.com/d/g4qqj5 by 4.18.14 to avoid penalties. The room block at the Wardman Park Hotel at the conference rate is available until 4.15.14. For details about the poster competition featuring Cooperative Extension emerging leaders, contact Chrystal Checketts at cchecketts@tamu.edu and for the opening flag bearing ceremony, contact Bill Woodrum at extensioncentennial@gmail.com.

Extension 100 Highlighted at 4-H Congressional Breakfast -- ECOP Chair Jimmy Henning, University of Kentucky, and Mark Latimore, Fort Valley State University, spoke at the 4-H Congressional Breakfast on Capitol Hill on April 9.  Joining them at the event were several Extension directors and administrators. Government and Congressional leaders, including 15 members of Congress; Robert Listenbee, the administrator of the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP), and Sonny Ramaswamy, director, National Institute of Food and Agriculture at USDA, put a spotlight on the importance of 4-H positive youth development programs and Cooperative Extension.  During their remarks, Henning and Latimore recognized the 100th anniversary of Cooperative Extension with the signing of the Smith-Lever Act on May 8, 1914. In addition, leaders from 4-H National Headquarters at USDA, land-grant universities, youth, 4-H professionals, and National 4-H Council Trustees and staff thanked members of Congress and government leaders, including OJJDP, for their support of positive youth development and recognized Congressional 4-H alumni. Nearly 250 people were in attendance. Click here to see photos - www.4-h.org/congressionalbreakfastphotos/.

Call for Papers on 4-H Youth Development (by Cathann Kress, Director, Iowa State University Extension) -- "To commemorate the 100th anniversary of the signing of the Smith-Lever Act, I have been invited to serve as guest editor of a special issue of the Reclaiming Youth and Children international journal  (http://reclaimingjournal.com/) focused on 4-H youth development. Authors for manuscripts not to exceed 10 pages are needed on three topics --  4-H and its breadth of work from rural communities to underserved groups, impact of 4-H, and future of 4-H. Submit a brief proposal (two pages, double-spaced maximum) to Glennda Bivens at glennda@iastatate.edu by 4.25.14. The issue will be published in November and final manuscripts must be submitted in July."

eXtension Announces 2013 Annual Report – Dennis Calvin, chair of the ECOP eXtension Governing Committee, Extension Director, Pennsylvania State University, encourages you to review the eXtension annual report featuring growth and change at http://create.extension.org/sites/default/files/2013%20Annual%20Report.pdf.

USDA-NIFA Summarizes Nutrition Education Opportunities – Helen Chipman, USDA-NIFA National Program Leader for Food and Nutrition Education, encourages you to view a webinar where she reviewed EFNEP, SNAP-Education and related matters referenced in the Agriculture Act of 2014.  See www.farmmanagement.org/aginuncertaintimesenglish/ag-in-uncertain-times/recordings/.

Extension Challenge Fund – Hiram Larew, USDA-NIFA Director of Center for International Programs, directs your attention to a request for applications for the New Alliance Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Extension Challenge Fund. Funding will be used for ICT-enabled service providers (which may include a mix of mobile phone-enabled, low-cost video, radio and television service providers) in six countries in sub-Saharan Africa to provide agriculture extension services to achieve crop yield goals. Grant applicants need to propose services that can be well integrated, are moving toward financial sustainability and scale, and are not prototypes or pilot projects. The six countries are Ethiopia, Ghana, Malawi, Mozambique, Senegal and Tanzania. Please click here to download the USAID Request for Application (RFA) via Grants.gov. Concept notes are due 4.24.14 with full applications due 6.19.14.

North Dakota Releases Impact Report – Chris Boerboom, North Dakota State University Extension Director, invites you to review  the 2013 Annual Highlights of the Agricultural Experiment Station and Extension Service at www.ndsu.edu/vpag/annual_highlights/.

Monday, April 7, 2014

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.