Organizational and Delivery Response Resources

The ECOP Monday Minute will be on hiatus on November 29, 2021. Have a safe and enjoyable Thanksgiving holiday.

Organizational and Delivery Response Resources -  As a result of robust national network dialogue by a majority of the members of the Cooperative Extension Section during the 2021 National Extension Directors and Administrators meeting on October 13, 2021, these 2 reports are available for review. 

• Extension Organizational and Delivery Responses - "How the pandemic changed the way we work and lead" and "A System Without Borders"
• Eight national dialogues for Envisioning the future of Cooperative Extension – A System Without Borders – bit.ly/2021_EXTLead

More assets from the the entire 3 day meeting are found at neda.extension.org.

Workforce and Economic Development Programming Uplift in 2 Steps - The ECOP Program Committee, led by Ivory Lyles, Oregon State University, has launched a Program Action Team (PAT) to refine programming and generate resources for Cooperative Extension System's Workforce and Economic Development response for the nation. ECOP, NIFA, and Extension Foundation are investing with implementation-oriented resources; funding, involvement by Carlos Ortiz, National Program Leader, Division of Community and Education, and more. A Workforce Development Fellow will soon be hired to orchestrate strategic planning and programmatic structure geared toward national funding. Today Dr. Lyles invites the rest of his colleagues, all Extension Directors and Administrators, to get involved to lift up Workforce and Economic Development in their state/territory/tribal community in 2 easy steps explained in this important one-page memo. Please review the memo at the link provided and take action today! Thank you.

Executive Director, ECOP 4-H Leadership Committee to be Hired in 2022 - The ECOP 4-H Leadership Committee (Committee) led by Laura Stephenson, University of Kentucky, and Lisa Diaz, University of Illinois, provides leadership for Extension’s 4-H Positive Youth Development Program, by convening national partners on policy issues of national importance, facilitating systematic responses to critical challenges, coordinated implementation of national priorities, and by making timely recommendations to ECOP that inform collaborative efforts. Staffing support is needed for programs and initiatives of the Committee, and to ensure positive impact for the 4-H program nationally and locally. An Executive Director for the Committee is essential to maintaining the significant progress and momentum achieved in recent years. This position will be open for applications in early 2022. This will be an 18-month contractual position funded by both Cooperative Extension and National 4-H Council, reporting directly to the Co-chairs of the Committee. A core deliverable of the Executive Director will be to develop a sustainability plan, i.e., to pursue revenue generating opportunities to support Committee staff and initiatives beyond the initial 18-month phase. More information on hiring process will be shared soon. 



Webinar Addresses Antifungal Resistance - The National Institute of Antimicrobial Resistance Research & Education (NIAMRRE) is pleased to offer a webinar - Starting Conversations: Antifungal Resistance and its Impact on Food Production and Human and Animal Health on December 9, 2021, at 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm (ET). Goal: Learn what growers and practitioners are doing to improve antifungal use, and be part of the conversation to assure the continued health around human, animal, and plant sectors. Read more here or proceed to register here.

2020-2021 National Recognitions

During the 2021 NEDA and the Cooperative Extension Section Business Meeting on October 14, Chris Watkins, 2020-2021 ECOP Chair, recognized several ECOP members and partners for their exemplary work in support of Cooperative Extension. A mahogany and maple clock was presented to Gary B. Jackson, Mississippi State University, for serving a full 4-year term on ECOP with thanks for his national service. Other recognitions included: 

• Brent Elrod, National Science Liaison, Institute of Youth, Family, and Community, USDA NIFA, for dedicated support of NTAE and NIFA's support of the ECOP Program Committee and for service to the ECOP 4-H Leadership Committee.
• Jon Boren, New Mexico State University for leadership of the 4-H Leadership Committee as Co-chair since 2019. Jon continues to serve as ECOP Budget and Legislative Committee (BLC) Chair and the Section/ECOP's representative to the BAA Policy Board of Directors' Budget and Advocacy Committee.
• Andy Turner, Cornell University for leadership of the 4-H Leadership Committee as Co-chair since 2017.
• Lyla Houglum, WEDA Executive Director for service on the EDA Team for more than a decade in various national efforts, second only to Ron Brown of Southern Region in terms of longevity. Lyla retired in August 2021.
• Jason Henderson, Purdue University for leadership as Cooperative Extension Section/ECOP Appointee to NC-FAR Board of Directors since 2017. Jason continues to serve as a member of ECOP and Vice-chair of the ECOP BLC.
• Debby Sheely, University of Rhode Island for service as a member of ECOP since October 2019 and as interim Chair of the ECOP Professional Development Committee. Debby retired in June 2021. 

Thank you all for your outstanding contribution and efforts in the advancement of Cooperative Extension!

First Friday Conversation Reaction - Last Friday, ECOP Chair Wendy Powers, University of California, conducted the first in a series of monthly chats with 25 colleagues from all 5 Regions. The main topic was about for capacity funding for Extension. Here are just a few quotes from the anonymous post-meeting survey:

-- "I liked ample time to discuss rather than just updates and presentations. Thank you!"

-- "Dialogue is richer when all can relate to topic and have skin in the game."

-- "Succinct and focused meeting!"

The 76 Members of the Cooperative Extension Section are encouraged to attend the next conversation on Friday, December 3, 2021, 3-4:00 p.m. ET. Contact National Office Assistant Director Sandy Ruble sandyruble@extension.org for details.

Ag Outlook Registration Now Open - Registration is now open for the 98^th annual Agricultural Outlook Forum, USDA's largest annual meeting and premiere event. This virtual two-day event will be held on February 24-25, 2022, and features a keynote address by Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, a presentation on the 2022 agricultural economy by USDA’s Chief Economist Seth Meyer, a panel of distinguished guest speakers, and 30 breakout sessions organized by agencies across USDA and covering a range of timely issues impacting the sector. More than 100 government, industry, and academic leaders will share their perspectives and insights on a wide array of topics including commodity and food price outlooks, U.S. and global agricultural trade developments, climate change, and innovations in agricultural production and sustainability. The 2022 Forum theme and full program will be announced soon. For more information, read this USDA press release.

Cooperative Extension System Partners with the Ad Council on Vaccine Education - Rural communities have been hit hard by COVID-19. In September alone, incidence rates of COVID-19 were roughly 54% higher in rural America than elsewhere. As part of its ongoing rural vaccine outreach, the Cooperative Extension System and the CDC EXCITE Program have partnered with the Ad Council to release a set of nine new rural-focused PSAs. Backed by research showing the power of personal stories, the videos aim to meet rural Americans where they are with clear and accurate information. From the farm to the football field to the pharmacy, every story is unique and unscripted -- the stories of how COVID-19 and vaccines have impacted rural America. View all nine stories, including messages in Spanish, here. To access the Ad Council’s rural community toolkit, including messaging guidance, radio content, social graphics and more, click here. See the press release detailing the breadth of rural-focused work here.

New Health Framework Serves as Roadmap

Health Program Action Team Update - Cooperative Extension’s National Framework for Health Equity and Well-Being outlines a bold and ambitious plan by which the Cooperative Extension System can advanced its work to improve population health and achieve equity in health status. The Framework includes five high-level recommendations and a robust set of specific recommendations for achieving this goal. National 4-H Council, through the generous support of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, along with the Extension Foundation and USDA-NIFA have joined forces to provide funding to support implementation of the recommendations. Leadership for implementation of the recommendations will be provided by the Health Program Action Team of the ECOP Program Committee. The Health Program Action Team is currently being established through a transitional process that will incorporate membership of several existing groups (including the Health Innovation Task Force) into a consolidated leadership group. Messaging information about this work is located here. For more information, contact Roger Rennekamp, Extension Health Director, at rogerrennekamp@extension.org.

Thank You! to the 55 Members of the Section plus 2, 1994 Extension Directors, from 44 states and 1 US territory, who participated in 2021 NEDA last week! - Watch for highlights and Leadership Resources. Have a look during the week at ECOP Chair Wendy Powers's 2021-2022 Action Plan at www.aplu.org/CESgoals and hold 3-4:30 p.m. ET every first Friday beginning November 5 (except August 2022) to virtually meet with Wendy for member-driven updates and/or Learning for Leaders events. 

Leadership Development for the 21st Century (LEAD21) Call for Application Deadline November 30 - The LEAD21 program is intended to meet the future needs for leadership development of faculty, specialists, district and regional directors, program and team leaders, research station and center directors, department heads and chairs, and others in the universities’ colleges of agricultural, environmental, natural resources, veterinary sciences, and human sciences and USDA/NIFA. Individuals from land-grant, NARRU institutions, and USDA are encouraged to participate. The primary purpose of LEAD21 is to develop leaders in land grant institutions and their strategic partners who link research, academics, and extension in order to lead more effectively in an increasingly complex environment, either in their current position or as they aspire to other positions. Learn about the program goals, components, and costs here.




DEI Professional Development Opportunity for Extension Professionals - Michigan State University Extension’s Tollgate Farm and Education Center is hosting a virtual professional development panel discussion series for Extension and educational professionals about learning to better incorporate the perspectives of diverse groups in educational programs. Moderators and panelists from each community provide a chance for educators to deepen their teaching practice in a safe online space for open conversation and community. Interested parties may register here for upcoming sessions, including:

• November 4: Incorporating Indigenous Perspectives and Maple Sugaring Experiences in Place-based Teaching and Learning
• December 2: Incorporating Black Perspectives in Place-Based Teaching and Learning
• February 3: Special Needs Perspectives and PBE In and Beyond the Classroom
• March 3: Engaging with LGTBQ+IA Communities in PBE in Formal and Non-Formal Settings
• April 7: A Latinx Lens: Incorporating Latinx Perspectives through Place-Based Educational Programming
• May 5: Incorporating Asian Principles, Practices, and People in Community- and Place-Based Learning

RFA Vaccine Hesitancy of the Cooperative Extension System: PROPOSAL DEADLINE EXTENDED - The EXCITE team invites all Land-grant Institutions to apply for up to $300,000 funding for Dec. 1, 2021- April 30, 2023, to: 1) assess vaccine hesitancy of Extension field educators, specialists, and administrators, and 2) create and implement a strategy to reduce vaccine hesitancy for COVID-19 and other adult immunizations to increase confidence and willingness to become immunization educators in their community. The goal of this project is to reduce hesitancy around vaccination and increase willingness to serve in educational roles around adult vaccination among Cooperative Extension personnel at all three types of Land-grant institutions (1862, 1890, 1994). View the Vaccine Hesitancy of the Cooperative Extension RFA, and view the application guide. The deadline for the RFA is now November 12, 2021.

Annual Passing of the Gavel

Wendy Powers,
University of California

On October 14, 2021, during the Cooperative Extension Section Business Meeting portion of NEDA, Members will witness the official passing of their Chair's gavel from Chris Watkins, Director, Cornell Cooperative Extension, Cornell University to Wendy Powers, Associate Vice President for Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of California. Dr. Powers’ vision as ECOP Chair is to advance the ECOP Strategic Directions, focusing on priorities, as identified by member institutions, and building on successes and lessons learned during the recent past. The intended outcome is a cohesive Cooperative Extension System and stronger member programs, inclusive of all. Our sincere appreciation for outstanding leadership and commitment to the mission of Extension over the past year is extended to Dr. Watkins.



NIH Requests Information from Extension on Research Opportunities to End Hunger, Food and Nutrition Insecurity - NIH has posted NOT-OD-21-183 - Request for Information (RFI): Research Opportunities to End Hunger, Food and Nutrition Insecurity. Through this RFI input is invited on the approaches NIH can take to address hunger, food insecurity and nutrition insecurity through innovative and multidisciplinary research - including implementation science and health outcomes-based research. Several areas of investigation could potentially reveal strategies to advance nutrition science, and improve coordination of federal food and nutrition policy, along with strategies and tactics to integrate nutrition with healthcare. This RFI is intended to solicit input from a broad array of stakeholder communities beyond the biomedical research community and healthcare sector. Responses can be provided by email or an email attachment. There are no forms or page limits. Responses will be accepted until November 1, 2021. Please direct all inquiries to Christopher Lynch, Ph.D., OD/Office of Nutrition Research (ONR), Telephone: 301-827-3988, and Email: nutritionresearch@nih.gov.



Competitive Nutrition/Health Grant Program Listening Session - The Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program (GusNIP) brings together stakeholders from various parts of the food and healthcare systems. The competitive grant program portfolio includes nutrition incentive projects, produce prescription projects, training, technical assistance, evaluation, and information centers which provide support services to both nutrition incentive and produce prescription projects. NIFA will host a webinar to listen to stakeholder feedback regarding all aspects of the GusNIP program. Go online here for more information or to register for the October 20, at 2:00 p.m. ET session.



Final Call for Editor for Youth Development Journal - The Publications Committee of the Journal of Youth Development: Bridging Research and Practice (JYD) is searching for their next Editor. JYD is an established open access, peer-reviewed journal in which neither authors nor readers pay anything for access. JYD is hosted by the National Association of Extension 4-H Youth Development Professionals (NAE4-HYDP) and the National Afterschool Association (NAA) with a collective membership of over 35,000 practitioners, researchers and leaders in child and youth learning and development throughout communities across the country including state affiliates. JYD’s editorial policies and practices are set by the Publication Committee in consultation with the Editor. Nominations (including self-nominations) for Editorship should send a brief (one- to two-page) statement of interest and vision for the journal and a letter of support from the head of the institution or department where the individual works by November 1 and request two letters of reference from individuals who can comment on the qualifications of the candidate for meeting the job qualifications outlined above. All materials should be submitted to Dale Blyth, Chair of the Search Committee at blyth004@umn.edu.

Future Federal Funding Survey

Extension Directors and Administrators of land-grant universities are encouraged to schedule time to complete an important program oriented survey organized by the Cooperative Extension Section Farm Bill Committee. The 35 programs included in the survey fall under various Titles of the Farm Bill. The deadline to submit is by close of business September 2, 2021. Responses will guide the Committee to lift up priorities identified  for the Cooperative Extension System, first with the BAA Committee on Legislation and Policy (CLP) and ultimately with members of Congress. Details were released by the EDA Team last Friday region by region. Direct questions or concerns regarding the survey to Caroline Henney, Executive Director, CES/ECOP at carolinecrocoll@extension.org or 202-478-6029.

Networking App Becomes Hallway Conversations and Much More - The 2021 National Extension Directors and Administrators (NEDA) Meeting Planning Committee, chaired by the immediate past-chair of the Cooperative Extension Section/ECOP, Mark Latimore, Fort Valley State University, met last week. The award winning event app Whova® has been acquired for NEDA neda.extension.org. All Extension Directors and Administrators who register for NEDA may opt into the networking app and immediately begin the hotel hallway conversations they sorely miss when meetings are held virtually. Also, some of the 8 facilitated conversations set for October 13 are being added as conversation topics on Whova®! Direct questions or concerns regarding NEDA to Sandy Ruble, Assistant Director, CES/ECOP at sandyruble@extension.org or 202-478-6088.

Big Ideas for Extension Leaders - The following recent articles are chocked full of big ideas for Extension Directors and Administrators to ponder regarding the role of the Cooperative Extension System in land-grant universities and the USA of the future. The source for the articles is funded by New Technologies for Ag Extension Funding (NTAE) with wrap-around services provided by Extension Foundation.

• Extension in the 21st Century: A conversation with Chuck Hibberd
• A Conversation with Dr. Scott Reed, Extension Foundation Catalyst
• Accelerating Success: Q&A with Dr. Fred Schlutt

Farm of the Future RFA Deadline is 10/15/2021 - As a follow on to the article published on April 26, the RFA for NIFA's Farm of the Future, a competitive grant program with $3,936,000 to invest in a single Land-Grant institution, is available here.

NEDA Registration Update

Thank you to 59% of the Cooperative Extension Section who have registered early for 2021 National Extension Directors and Administrators (NEDA) Meeting! Small group discussions organized by the planning committee are:

• Extension as Integral to the Health Response for the Nation 
• Perceptions of the County Delivery System
• Embracing a Remote Workforce-University Policy Impacts on Field Personnel
• Broadband Access and Digital Skills
• Who Are We Leaving Behind and What Are We Going to Do About It?
• Envisioning the Rural Workforce of the Future
• Urban Programs
• Envisioning Extension’s Role in Student Recruitment

The meeting on October 12-14 is for the members of the Section and 1 or 2 members of their team, Associate/Assistant Directors or Administrators. The registration deadline is September 21 at neda.extension.org. Questions? Contact Sandy Ruble at sandyruble@extension.org. 

BAA Virtual Events Proposed November 8-12 - The Board on Agriculture Assembly (BAA) section and committee virtual meetings are proposed for the week of November 8-12, 2021. Final decisions will be made soon (in consultation with NIFA) about the awards ceremonies (teaching, research, and Extension), lecture series and Food Systems Leadership Institute programs. Draft agendas and more details will be discussed during the JointCOPs Virtual Summer meeting this week! The 2021 APLU Annual Meeting will be conducted utilizing a “hybrid” format of in-person meetings with livestreaming for General and Keynote Sessions. The location for on-site participation is the Philadelphia Marriott Downtown (1201 Market Street). Conference dates are Sunday, November 14 - Tuesday, November 16, with a limited number of pre-meetings that will be held on Saturday, November 13. Registration and fees for portions of the meeting will released sometime next month.  

Extension Foundation Report Available: Technologies Impacting the Cooperative Extension System - The Extension Foundation, in partnership with a research team from Ohio State University, has released a new report on emerging technologies. The Extension Foundation Report on Emerging Technologies Impacting the Cooperative Extension System was supported by funding from USDA-NIFA New Technologies for Agricultural Extension (NTAE). The report found here, was developed by the research team in part through interviews with a panel of thirteen experts representing all five Extension Regions, as well as non-Extension personnel. Panel participants were selected based on their background and experiences in adult learning and development, applied technology use, and innovation. 

 

Water Management Addressed in New SARE Video - The increased frequency of severe weather events puts additional strains on water quality and quantity, threatening the success of farms worldwide. SARE’s Water Conservation animation illustrates how efficient water management can help farmers and ranchers increase the resilience of their operations while improving the health of their crops and livestock. The newest episode in SARE’s What is Sustainable Agriculture? series provides a simple and short introduction to efficient water use strategies and is intended to complement more detailed training materials.

2021 NEDA Registration Begins

Last week the 2021 NEDA Planning Committee announced registration for the 2021 National Meeting, Envisioning the Future of Cooperative Extension - A System Without Borders, to be held October 12-14. For a second consecutive year, the meeting will be held virtually. The purpose of the annual event is to conduct important national dialogue and business by the Cooperative Extension Section. Registration is open exclusively to Cooperative Extension Administrators and Directors of 1862, 1890 and 1994 land-grant institutions and details are found at neda.extension.org. Space is limited to attending leaders, 1 or 2 members of their leadership team, the EDA Team, ECOP Liaisons, and officials of meeting sponsors - USDA-NIFA, Extension Foundation, APLU, and National 4-H Council. The deadline to register is by close of business September 21, 2021. Direct questions about registration to Assistant Director Sandy Ruble, sandyruble@extension.org. Stay tuned to email and the ECOP Monday Minute for the announcements of guest speakers and more details.




Explore New Toolkit - Health Equity & Well-Being Focus: A Resource by and for Extension Directors and Administrators - ECOP’s Budget and Legislative Committee has developed an Advocacy and Education Toolkit - advocacy.extension.org - to provide ECOP leadership and Cooperative Extension System Directors and Administrators with consistent messaging and resources focused on System advocacy and education priorities. These resources include priority language, talking points, and background information for consistency in land-grant university science-to-application messaging. Take a few moments this week to check out the talking points on Health Equity & Well-Being found here. Direct questions and comments to advocacy@extension.org.

 

Extension's Climate Change Forum Recordings Now Available - The recordings from the April 2021, 3-day the Climate Change in Extension: Elevating and Amplifying Action, is now available at https://nationalextensionclimateinitiative.net/events. Extension faculty, staff­, federal representatives, administrators, interested partners and constituents met to address the question: What can/should the Cooperative Extension System do to advance climate change programming? Share this information as appropriate.

New Grant Program to Help Expand Regional Economies and Create High Wage Jobs in Distressed Rural Communities - USDA’s Rural Development Rural Business-Cooperative Service Administrator Karama Neal recently unveiled a new grant program to help rural communities create good-paying jobs and support new business opportunities in high-growth fields. Rural Innovation Stronger Economy is intended to help rural communities identify and maximize local assets and connect to networks and industry clusters within their region. The new grant program encourages a regional, innovation-driven approach to economic development. For more information, see the USDA press release.

NIFA’s Upcoming AFRI RFA Calendar - As requested by stakeholders in NIFA’s Project CAFÉ feedback, NIFA is working to create a more streamlined process. The calendar provides target dates that are subject to change until the RFAs are published in Grants.gov. The current list, now targeted in the May/June 2021 timeframe, applies to continuations, directed and second year RFAs of a multi-year solicitation. Bookmark this https://nifa.usda.gov/upcoming-rfa-calendar and check back often for updates as target dates draw near. Questions regarding this timeline can be directed to either the National Program Leader (NPL) with the associated program or email policy@usda.gov.

Community Development Extension Library Webinar

On, June 15, 2021 at 2:00 PM ET join the North Central Region Center for Rural Development (NCRCRD), Purdue Extension, and University of Illinois Extension for the release of the new Community Development Extension Library website. Participants will be introduced to the site and will learn how to navigate as well as how to submit a resource. There will also be a Q&A session. Register for the event here.

Envisioning the Future of a Cooperative Extension System Without Borders - The ECOP National Office and 2021 National Extension Director and Administrator (NEDA) Meeting Planning Committee led by ECOP Past Chair Mark Latimore, Fort Valley State University, will release the registration for the 2021 NEDA Meeting this week! Watch for official email invitation in the few days or contact Sandy Ruble, Assistant Director, sandyruble@extension.org for details.

The FREE virtual meeting highlights:

• October 12, 2021, 6:00-7:00 p.m. ET, - Virtual Reception 
• October 13, 2:00-6:00 p.m. ET, - Peer-based sharing and leadership learning to create productive environments around tomorrow’s challenges and contribute to a resource document of discussion themes, opportunities and best practices for Director and Administrator reference and future use. 
• October 14, 12:30-5:00 p.m. ET - All voting members may contribute to the business of the Cooperative Extension Section and ECOP actionable items and celebrate the accomplishments in 2020-2021.

NIFA Virtual Stakeholder Listening Session Opportunity - NIFA will conduct a virtual listening session from 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. (Eastern) on Thursday, June 17, 2021. The purpose of the virtual listening session is to seek stakeholder input on future priorities for NIFA research, education, and extension programs. Each participant may provide input by speaking for up to 3 minutes. Register online in advance to attend this virtual listening session. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing details about joining the webinar. Send written comments (1-page limit) to: NIFAlistens@nifa.usda.gov by June 24, 2021.

USDA to Strengthen Food System - The USDA will invest more than $4 billion to strengthen critical supply chains, citing lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and recent supply chain disruptions. The new effort will strengthen the food system, create new market opportunities, tackle the climate crisis, help communities that have been left behind, and support good-paying jobs throughout the supply chain. Funding is provided by the American Rescue Plan Act and earlier pandemic assistance such as the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021. How the USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways has direct correlation with the success of the mission of Cooperative Extension. ECOP is devoted to "strengthen Cooperative Extension at national, state and local levels". For more information, read the USDA press release.

2021 NEDA - Save the Dates

This weekly news update appeals to the work of Cooperative Extension Directors and Administrators in the USA with a focus on these Strategic Directions and Priorities. The ECOP Monday Minute shares member-driven opportunities designed to enhance resources, relationships and recognition for Cooperative Extension. 

The 2021 NEDA Planning Committee, Chaired by Immediate-past President of ECOP, Mark Latimore, Fort Valley State University, is pleased to announce the dates for the National Extension Directors and Administrators, or NEDA Meeting for 2021 that will take place virtually. 

Please save October 12-14, 2021! 

A brief survey to generate ideas for theme, topics, guest speakers and virtual format will be circulated through the Regional Associations with a deadline of February 12. The Planning Committee is grateful for the input. 

The next Learning for Leaders meeting on establishing a Racial Equity Plan, short- and long- term, is Friday, February 5, 2021, 3-4:30. p.m. ET.  Reminders to register by February 3^rd are coming soon. Click here for details.

Military Family Readiness Academy Offers Eight Free Sessions in 2021 - The Military Families Learning Network presents its 2021 Military Family Readiness Academy series, Disaster and Hazard Readiness in Action. Eight sessions will focus on the skills, contexts, and situations military family service providers may draw from and navigate as they manage disasters and emergencies within their professional fields. Participants can choose from a range of sessions that will prepare providers to support the readiness and wellbeing of military families during disasters and hazards in areas such as connecting with communities, caregiving, children and family needs, nutrition, and finances. Sessions will offer guidance on how to work effectively with families during disasters and hazards, and many will draw from recent and ongoing situations providers are facing during the COVID-19 pandemic. Dialogue will be a central component of this series—lessons learned, resources, and insights will be shared across panelists and speakers, and participants are encouraged to contribute as much as possible. All eight sessions are free to participants and several continuing education credits will be available. For more information and to register go to: https://militaryfamilieslearningnetwork.org/mfra2021/





NIFA Plan of Work Reporting Webinar Opportunity - NIFA will hold a NIFA Reporting System (NRS) on January 27, 2021, at 2:00 pm ET and every fourth Wednesday of the month same time. For those already registered, New Connection Details are available upon request. For everyone else, it is not too late to register. Everyone should contact POW@usda.gov with "POW Webinar" in the subject line to either obtain the latest connection detail or to sign up for these helpful webinars. Who should attend?

• People with a role in putting together the Plan of Work updates, Annual Report of Accomplishments and Results, and the OGFM Supplemental (all due April 1, 2021);
• Organizational administrators who are helping onboard users of the NRS;
• Extension staff who are initiating programs in the NRS;
• People who help manage Hatch Regular, Hatch Multistate, and Evans-Allen research funds for updates on the rollout of the new research initiation module, expected to go live mid-March;
• Anyone else with interest.

2021 National Extension Conference on Volunteerism - The National Extension Conference on Volunteerism Planning Committee and Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service, encourages those who are interested to save April 26-29, 2021, for the National Extension Conference on Volunteerism "NECV” 2021! Plans are underway for an exciting Extension professional VIRTUAL conference with a focus on volunteerism. This conference is ideal for volunteer-focused professionals who are serving within all areas of Extension programs (4-H, ANR, FCS). For information about calls for proposals and registration opening:

• Join the NECV 2021 interest list-serv at: http://eepurl.com/gY8Pzz. Receive pertinent information about the conference without filling up email inbox! Unsubscribe at any time.
• Follow developments on Facebook at www.facebook.com/1NECV/