To assure that all of you are kept up to date on a regular basis, the three regional directors and the state Extension Administration Office provides bi-weekly Extension Updates. This forum is for all Extension announcements, so if you have something to distribute, please forward it to Lori Bates with FOR EXTENSION UPDATE noted.
June 25, 2015
On Behalf of JoAnn Powell:
- Program News
- SNAP-Ed Update—Susan Baker
- Opportunities
- Searches
- Program Highlights
- Energy Masters
- CSU Alumni Farm to Table Tour & Dinner — May 30
- CSU/LEAP Board Training
Program News
AmeriCorps. We were notified on June 16 that Serve Colorado – Governor’s Commission on Community Service voted to fund our $210,338 Formula AmeriCorps Grant Application. The funding will begin August 15th and support 17 counties and approximately 25 AmeriCorps members in delivering 4-H STEM education during out-of-school time. Many thanks to the grant writing and now grant implementation team of Annette Haas, Claire Dixon, Jessi Fuentes, Jeff Goodwin, Sonjia Graham, and JoAnn Powell.
SNAP-Ed Update—Susan Baker
CSU leadership has decided not to submit a SNAP-Ed (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program – Education) proposal for funding for FY 2015-2016. While CSU, CSUE, and the Colorado Department of Human Services have each worked hard on this program partnership, it has become clear that our program mission, interests, and direction are no longer aligned. This funding decision will not impact the employment status of our current staff. As of October 1, 2015 each of our current SNAP-Ed educators will become EFNEP (Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program) educators. The nutrition program supervisors—Jane Burnett and Michael Lucero—have begun communicating with all agency partners to assure them individually that this change in funding will not affect availability of CSU nutrition education programming and to introduce EFNEP to those collaborators previously served by SNAP-Ed. Our leadership team will also be providing additional training and support as we transition all current SNAP-Ed educators to EFNEP funding. Thanks to each of you for your willingness to support EFNEP and/or SNAP-Ed programming in your county and to work with us to build an effective program.
Effective June 1, Brigid McDonnell accepted a position as a Research Associate II with the Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition at CSU. Brigid will be providing support to the Western Regional Nutrition Education Center of Excellence (RNECE-West) and the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP).
Opportunities
Short term position. Looking for a change of pace or adventure for yourself, a colleague, or family member? Click here for information about this 3 – 4 week long position using GPS to map invasive plants in the Pecos National Historical Park near Santa Fe New Mexico. Housing provided.
Free Webinar. Social Media Strategies for Extension presented by Paul Hill, MBA, Utah State University Extension. Held Thursday, June 25 (tomorrow). Begins at noon. To connect, visit www.naepsdp.org and click on webinars.
Searches
Megan Blaser is the new 4-H / youth development agent in Larimer County. She will begin July 15; just in time for county fair. Her masters is in Education (Adult Education and Training) and she has a bachelor’s in Apparel Design. Megan most recently worked as the community health care education coordinator for the Centennial Area Health Education Center. The center’s mission is to address health workforce shortages and health disparities in a service area that includes Larimer, Weld, Logan, Morgan and Golden Plains Area counties. Megan has also had experience as a 4-H agent in Douglas County, Oregon (Katie Perry performed at their county fair) and as a substitute teacher. The Adams County 4-H staff—Julia, Amy, and Erin—will be mentors for Megan.
Larimer County Extension FCS / CD agent. Interviews are scheduled for July 6 and 7. Candidates for the position are: Shelly Mahon, Ann Bruce, Suzanne Schneider, and Alyson Sothoron.
4-H STEM AmeriCorps program manager. The search committee has reviewed applications and is waiting for OEO approval to initiate reference checking and schedule interviews. The committee would like to have this position filled by July 15.
Program Highlights
Urban Farm Tour. Through partnership with NRCS and CSU Extension, a workshop at an urban farm in Greenwood Village focused on gardening, soils, irrigation conservation, and pasture management. The unique site is home to an urban CSA and 5 acres of llama pasture. We had really good feedback in the evaluations. People are more conscious of local food and excited to implement soil health and water conservation practices! Danielle DuBois, Arapahoe County Extension program coordinator, and Jennifer Cook, Front Range small acreage management coordinator, were the workshop coordinators.
Energy Masters
CSU Extension’s Colorado Energy Masters program was offered for the first time in Arapahoe County in 2015. Twenty participants, some from as far away as Georgetown, attended nine webinars and three in-person classes covering energy-related topics critical to Colorado including energy challenges (fossil energy and climate change), energy solutions (green energy, transportation alternatives, and energy policy) and ‘your choice’ (home energy assessments, home energy conservation, and home renewable energy) to get their Energy Master Certification. Tim Aston, Arapahoe County Extension director, facilitated the course and also achieved his certification as did Chris Crouse, Clear Creek County Extension director. Highlights were a ‘grab and go energy classroom kit’ for K-12 educators, a ‘trash to energy’ presentation on the Xcel DAD (Denver and Arapahoe Landfill) methane capture facility, and a Butanol/biofuel conversion proposal for the nation’s carbon-based transportation sector. The class agreed to continue communicating and collaborating, and has since attended a field trip to NREL (National Renewable Energy Lab) in Golden.
CSU Alumni Farm to Table Tour & Dinner — May 30
About 50 CSU Alumni and friends gathered in Denver for a bus tour of a Denver-based CSA, a community greenhouse and production facility, an innovative aquaponics system, and a trendy, locally-based community gathering place. Participants finished their day with a farm to table dinner catered by Curtis Bell from Rogue Food Works, and Zach Kopp and David Kenney from Caveman Chefs that incorporated produced from the tour stops. The dinner was held at the CSU Denver Center.
CSU/LEAP Board Training
A 5 week board training workshop is being provided by LEAP Institute at Colorado State University. The Arts Board Leadership Entrepreneurs (ABLE) Workshop focuses on helping board members of creative industries to understand their duties and responsibilities as a board member. (Click here for the brochure.)
When: July 22 – August 19, 2015 (every Wednesday 5:30 – 8:00 pm)
Where: Walnut Creek, 222 Walnut Street, Fort Collins, CO 80524 / Virtual Attendance Option Available
Cost: $560 for 5 week session plus light dinner and onsite leadership consultation / $400 for Virtual Attendance (doesn’t include food or onsite consultation)
More info: Leah Stone, ABLE Coordinator. leah.stone@colostate.edu / phone: (970) 491.7869 or (801) 809-1258
