ECOP Welcomes New Members

Please welcome Carolyn Williams, Executive Associate Director, Prairie View A&M University, and Raymon Shange, Associate Dean and 1890 Extension Administrator, Tuskegee University, to the 15-member working board ECOP. The role of ECOP voting members is explained in full on page 2 of the ECOP operating guidelines. Dr. Williams, who previously served a term 2017-2022, is fulfilling an unexpired 4-Year term until the fall of 2024 and will devote additional time and effort to the ECOP Executive Committee Plan of Work. Dr. Shange, serving his first term ending the fall of 2026 will devote time and effort to the ECOP Professional Development Committee Plan of Work. Click the 2 national leaders' portraits to learn more. Thank you Carolyn and Raymon for your national leadership!

Carolyn Williams

  

Raymon Shange

 

Black History in the Making for Extension - One way to keep a pulse on growth and impact of 1890s Cooperative Extension programming all year long is to sign up to receive Extension Today, a monthly newsletter that highlights Cooperative Extension and provides updates across the 1890 land-grant system. Extension Today http://1890aea.org/extension-today-newsletter is published by the Association of Extension Administrators and the Marketing and Communications Committee. Contact communications@1890aea.org for more information or to join the mailing list. 

Still Time to Complete Census of Agriculture -The USDA National Ag Statistics Service (NASS) has extended data collection for the 2022 Census of Agriculture through the spring of 2023 to ensure all farmers and ranchers take advantage of the opportunity to be represented in the widely used data. Everyone who received the 2022 Census of Agriculture and has not yet responded should be made aware it is not too late to be counted. The Partner Tools web page has materials to help with outreach, including social media tools, ads, brochures and more. NASS is grateful for the support and partnership with Cooperative Extension to share this information widely.

FREE Webinar Series on Food Insecurity & Military Families - Nearly 24 percent of America’s active-duty service members and their families are food insecure. Extension educators and other service providers have the ability to expand food security in the communities they support. OneOp’s Food Security in Focus collection offers free webinars listed at https://oneop.org/food-security-in-focus exploring the impact of food insecurity on military families. The webinars discuss how providers can best support the communities they serve. All webinars are virtual and free. Recordings will be available on demand. Programming topics include:
· Increasing children’s fruit and vegetable exposure
· Reducing food waste
· Helping clients inflation-proof their budget
· Connections between Medicaid, food security, and well-being
In addition to webinars, the collection offers engagement opportunities through a LinkedIn group and free continuing education credits from multiple credentialing agencies.

Advocacy Call to Action for FY24 and Farm Bill

The ECOP Monday Minute will be on hiatus February 20 in observation of President's Day. 

Advocacy Call to Action for FY24 and Farm Bill - Last week, APLU released a call to action for CARET Delegates and Administrative Heads, the chief administrators of the APLU-member universities’ agricultural programs, to review materials listed below established at www.land-grant.org. The 2 groups meet next month in DC and will visit Capitol Hill. Talking points and communications are coming soon. ECOP's Budget and Legislative Committee meets tomorrow to review and discuss matters concerning the Cooperative Extension System.

APLU FY2024 Annual Appropriations

• APLU BAA Unified Fiscal Year 2024 Appropriations Request

2023 Farm Bill Reauthorization

• APLU BAA 2023 Farm Bill Title VII Policy Recommendations
• APLU BAA 2023 Farm Bill Request for the Research Facilities Act
• A National Study of Capital Infrastructure at Colleges and Schools of Agriculture

Register for PILD Conference April 16-19
- Registration is live for the annual Public Issues Leadership Development (PILD) conference, April 16-19 at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City. PILD 2023 is open to Extension professionals – Administrators and Directors, through county Agents and Volunteers –  from all 1862, 1890, and 1994 Land-grant institutions. The Joint Council of Extension Professionals (JCEP) is the organizer of the conference. The purpose is to learn and practice leadership skills, meet federal partners, and explore national priorities and funding streams. The ECOP Budget and Legislative Committee will lead a special informative policy and legislative session for members of the Cooperative Extension Section on Monday, April 17, 1:00 p.m. Visit www.jcep.org/pild/2023 for full details and links to register and book a hotel room. 

Nominations Begin for National Awards

The following awards are open for nomination and offered by ECOP in partnership with USDA-NIFA.

--> ECOP Program Committee Award Project
The purpose of National Extension Diversity Award is to acknowledge accomplishments of Cooperative Extension Professionals in achieving organizational changes that support diversity, pluralism and innovation through educational programs. The Award for Diversity is designed to focus national attention on innovative models and techniques that ensure that Extension programs equitably engage all learning audiences effectively.

--> ECOP Professional Development Committee Award Project - 2 Categories!

These awards are designed to focus national attention on the role of Extension – one that is fundamental to the lifelong education and development of residents in communities around the nation.

• The Individual Awards for Excellence in Extension recognize Cooperative Extension Professionals who excel at Extension programming, make a positive impact on constituents served, and provide visionary leadership for the System. 
  
  
• The Team Award for Excellence in Extension recognizes excellence of a team of Cooperative Extension Professionals in performing the work of Extension research, technical assistance, and outreach education.

To begin the nomination process with a competitive edge, review each opportunity, share with leadership teams and potential nominees by February 15. Online submissions accompanied by authorizing endorsement by land-grant university Extension Director or Administrator are required by May 1. Winning Cooperative Extension professionals are selected by the end of July and will travel to the APLU Annual Meeting in November to receive their awards. 

For full details, visit the new website

 awards.extension.org today! 

Click Here for a video with helpful tips and insights from the 2022 winners recorded last Friday!

EXCITE RFA Announcement
The EXCITE Implementation Phase RFA has been released and is now open for submission. This RFA for the Implementation Phase is an opportunity for all applicants, regardless of previous participation in the Design Phase, to submit proposals for the next phase of EXCITE. The project leaders are also pleased to announce that the budget for EXCITE Implementation Phase grant funding has increased 30% from $70,000 to $100,000! This additional funding will enable teams to provide more support to their projects. All interested land-grants should submit applications and take advantage of this increased funding opportunity.