Register for NEDA 2015

With the theme Innovation: Driving Extension’s Next Century, Cooperative Extension leaders will have opportunity to gather in downtown St. Louis, October 12-15, 2015 for the National Extension Directors and Administrators (NEDA) Meeting. In a peer-to-peer learning environment, find out how to be an innovation leader and learn from each other about innovative approaches to program, resource development, evaluation, and partnerships. Register at http://www.cvent.com/d/wrq424.

Chris Boerboom,
North Dakota State University

Boerboom Named to ECOP – The North Central Region has named Chris Boerboom of North Dakota State University (NDSU) as an ECOP member for a four-year term. Boerboom began work as director of Extension at NDSU in 2012 and is a professor of weed science. He also represents the north central region on the ECOP Program Committee and is a member of the NEDA 2015 Planning Committee. Each of the five Cooperative Extension regions names three representatives to serve on ECOP. For a directory and other details of ECOP’s work, see www.extension.org/ecop. 

Celvia Stovall and Rick Klemme

Health Implementation Team Continues Work – With leadership by co-chairs Celvia Stovall, Alabama Cooperative Extension System, and Rick Klemme, University of Wisconsin Extension, the ECOP-ESCOP Health Implementation Team continued its work last week focusing on a process for articulating the science base, identifying existing programs and curriculums, and determining gaps where Cooperative Extension can provide education. The five action teams are chaired by David Buys, Mississippi State University (Chronic Disease); Virginia Brown, University of Maryland (Health Insurance Literacy); Sonja Koukel, New Mexico State University (Health Literacy); Roberta Riportella, Kansas State University (Health Policy Issues Education), and Sekai Turner, North Carolina A&T University (Positive Youth Development for Health). Over a three-year period the effort will implement Cooperative Extension’s National Framework for Health and Wellness. The overall expected outcome is to increase the number of Americans who are healthy at every stage of life. As indicated in the national framework (pg. 2), “This same system of Extension can do for the nation’s health what it did for American agriculture.” 

Impacts Needed on Water Security Programs – Tim Cross, chair, National Impacts Database Committee, University of Tennessee, requests your assistance to input impacts at www.landgrantimpacts.org related to water security. The Board on Agriculture Assembly has advanced a proposal for significant funding for research, academic programs, and Cooperative Extension to be focused on securing the nation’s water supply. Impact statements from Cooperative Extension are critical to this process. 

Cooperative Extension Social Media – The effort to raise awareness of Cooperative Extension continues on Social Media. After last year's work to create a unified and regular social media presence for the Cooperative Extension System, ECOP is supporting the continued operation of these platforms under the leadership of Frankie Gould, Chair of the Social Media Team. Bill Woodrum, Social Media Associate for ECOP, is coordinating the project across many platforms. Send information to him at extensioncentennial@gmail.com. Also please encourage to participate -- Facebook: facebook.com/Extension100Years, Twitter: Twitter.com/ext100years, YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9GyqMs0FKlUKBTxtcyg04w/videos and Pinterest: Pinterest.com/ext100years/pins/.

Metropolitan Extension Focus of Webinar

The Western Center for Metropolitan Extension & Research invites you to a webinar 3:00 p.m. ET, 6.25.15 featuring Colorado State University in the city. The theme is Evolving from Program-Based to Project-Based Extension in Denver, Colorado – Hot Shots, Dream Teams and Setting a National Model by Reinventing Extension in an Urban Area. Pre-registration is required at https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/355808926939403521. Participants will learn about the deliberate shift from program-based Extension to project-based activities that will generate revenue to preserve core and traditional programming in Denver. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. 

Register by June 30 for 1890 125th Celebration – The hotel block at the Liaison Capitol Hill Hotel closes today, June 22, 2015. You can a book your room today under the name of 125th Anniversary of the 1890 Morrill Act by calling the Liaison at 1-866-233-4642. The rate is $209.00 per night plus tax. Registration, which is required for all of the 125th events July 14-16, 2015 in Washington, DC, is at http://www.1890universities.org/node/298. The welcome reception Tuesday evening and the dinner on Wednesday evening will be at the Hyatt Hotel. The Exhibition at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday and the Convocation from 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. on Thursday are at the Library of Congress. Direct questions to L. Washington Lyons, Executive Administrator, Association of Executive Administrators, lwlyons@ncat.edu or 336-340-6465. 

Efforts Continue with Health Implementation Team – With leadership by co-chairs Celvia Stovall, Alabama Cooperative Extension System, and Rick Klemme, University of Wisconsin Extension, the ECOP-ESCOP Health Implementation Team continues work on 7.7.15 with progress reports from action teams chairs David Buys, Mississippi State University (Chronic Disease); Virginia Brown, University of Maryland (Health Insurance Literacy); Sonja Koukel, New Mexico State University (Health Literacy); Roberta Riportella, Kansas State University (Health Policy Issues Education), and Sekai Turner, North Carolina A&T University (Positive Youth Development for Health). Over a three-year period the effort will implement Cooperative Extension’s National Framework for Health and Wellness. The overall expected outcome is to increase the number of Americans who are healthy at every stage of life. As indicated in the national framework (pg. 2), “This same system of Extension can do for the nation’s health what it did for American agriculture.” 

High Touch: Strategies for Dealing with Extension's Obscurity Challenge -- The Association of Communication Excellence (ACE) had its international conference last week in Charleston, SC. This is an opportunity for land-grant communicators and IT professionals to share professional development, network and present top awards. ACE’s Professional Award is the highest recognition given and this year Kevin Gamble, Director of Knowledge Systems, Michigan State Global, was given this honor. His comments focused on how Extension needs to be reaching new audiences. Frankie Gould, Louisiana State University AgCenter Communications Director and lead for the ECOP Social Media Project shares the following link https://aceweb.org/index.php/en/33-awards/454-kevin-gamble-2015-professional-award-honoree-2 and encourages viewers to learn more about new strategies for delivering Extension programs.

ECOP Monday Minute 9.16.13 - Galaxy IV ECOP Highlights

Galaxy IV ECOP Highlights – ECOP Chair Daryl Buchholz, Kansas State University, will facilitate a face-to-face meeting during the Galaxy conference this week in Pittsburgh. Expected actions relate to work of the ECOP 4-H Implementation Team, the ECOP Assessment Policy Work Group, and the eXtension Governing Committee. Preparation will be made for 2014 with a review of the proposed ECOP budget, goals and calendar. In addition, ECOP is featured in two concurrent workshops at Galaxy on the Extension Centennial and the 21st Century Extension Professional Project. The launch of the Extension Centennial www.extension100years.net is part of the Wednesday evening dinner.

Smart Choice Training (by Michelle Rodgers, ECOP member, and University of Delaware Extension Director) – Health Insurance literacy is a strategic initiative identified in the ECOP National Task Force on Health.  Research  indicates that Americans are confused and uninformed regarding health insurance needs and options.  Extension is ready to respond with Smart Choice Health Insurance© consumer education program.  Research and theory based,  Smart Choice Health Insurance© is designed to reduce confusion and increase capability and confidence among consumers making health insurance plan choices.  It is applicable to both current health insurance consumers and those who are newly-eligible through the Affordable Care Act providing Extension with a teachable moment.  It is also the basis for additional curriculum coming in fall 2013: You and Health Insurance: Making a Smart Choice for Farm Families and in 2014, Smart Use Health Insurance: Smart Choice Health Insurance-Young Adults. Developed by a multi-state  Extension team and consumer tested in multiple states, the training and curriculum is now available for the national Cooperative Extension System.  States with interest in this program delivery can obtain training certification, curriculum and national evaluation forms with data compilation and comparative reports.  States can gear up to deliver this program by attending one of the following national trainings: October 9-10, 2013 -- Beltsville MD, October 14-15, 2013 -- St Louis MO, October 30-31, 2013 --  Portland OR. Please see and share the program announcement and registration information here.  This is the first opportunity for the ECOP National Task Force on Health to implement and evaluate a health program nationally.  Please consider participation by your  state in this national educational effort.

eXtension External Evaluation – View the ECOP webinar last week reporting the findings of the eXtension External Evaluation athttps://connect.extension.iastate.edu/p56t0sqnne7/. The final report on the evaluation can be found here. Your views are critical and welcomed as ECOP, chaired by Daryl Buchholz, Kansas State University, together with the eXtension Governing Committee, chaired by Jimmy Henning, University of Kentucky, works with eXtension staff to guide pivotal changes for eXtension.

Farm Bill Social Media Campaign– USDA Secretary Vilsack encourages Cooperative Extension administrators, educators and stakeholders to use hashtag #MyFarmBill to tell the story of what the farm bill means to their community.

4-H Clover Attracts Journalist (by Chuck Hibberd, ECOP member and director, University of Nebraska Extension) – The Economistmagazine recently included a story called Farming as Rocket Science Click here. The story features Nebraska 4-H and 4-H’s influential role in STEM education and workforce development throughout the United States. A columnist for the magazine was curious about 4-H after seeing the 4-H emblem prominently showcased during his travels throughout thousands of communities across the United States. As a result, he reached out to National 4-H Council to learn more about 4-H. He then spent several days seeing 4-H in action in Nebraska – meeting prominent 4-H alumni, University and Extension leadership, collegiate 4-Hers and several 4-H clubs and interacting with the members, volunteers and parents. He also visited the Nebraska State Fair and spent time with young people presenting their projects there. The article is a great testament to all of our excellent work. Let’s celebrate together in the success of what we do and share in the great attention that this high-profile story will bring to 4-H programs across our nation.

USDA Farm to School Program Webinars – The USDA Farm to School Program is hosting two webinars in partnership with theeXtension Community of Practice in Community, Local, and Regional Food Systems on Wednesday, September 25th at 1 p.m. EST and Wednesday, October 9th at 1 p.m. EST to explore how partnering with Cooperative Extension professionals can support local and regional farm to school programs. The purpose of these webinars is to feature best practices and case examples of how Extension professionals are involved with farm to school and to describe how other farm to school related organizations are collaborating with Extension on many diverse farm to school activities. Connect by phone at 1-800-988-0278, pass code: 91613# or through the web at
https://www.livemeeting.com/cc/usda/join?id=SJ9CSP&role=attend. For more information, seehttp://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/F2S/webinars.htm.