Extension Updates

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.

December 18, 2014

On Behalf of JoAnn Powell:


Greetings all,

It’s almost here—the end of another year. The holidays are a good time to reflect on everything that you have accomplished and perhaps share some of that with your family and friends. I have recently been reminded of how little some of the people closest to us realize about what we do at work. I would encourage you to share a little about the communities and lives that your work influences. It’s a gift your family will appreciate. Who knows, you may even be able to shape the stories that others will share as part of the family history. Hope you have some fun and relaxation planned for the holiday season. A couple reminders to get your holidays off to a good start:

  • Get program reporting out of the way so that you can enjoy the holidays. Data can be entered into CPRS until 9:59 p.m. on the 31st of December.
  • Schedule time away from work. This is a good time of year to add a few days of leave to the holidays and get a whole week away.
  • Enjoy those activities—whatever they are—that allow you to refresh and renew as you move toward 2015.

Here are those last items of the year:

  • December RD Webinar – Annual Performance Evaluations. RDs host and invited C/ADs will share their approaches and best practices. December 18 (Thursday) from 1:30 - 2:30 p.m. Connect at: http://connect.extension.iastate.edu/colodac

Front Range Searches

El Paso 4-H Extension Agent. Lynn Bloomfield, Emily Killeen, and Shay McNeil have been selected to interview on January 5/6. Search committee members include: Barbara Bates, Jean Glowacki, Kim Morrison, Judy Barth, and Todd Marts (El Paso County, Division Manager). Chaired by JoAnn Powell.

Denver Horticulture Extension Agent. This position closed November 25. Application materials are under review. Search committee members: Rusty Collins, Tony Koski, Judy Barth, and Dody Erickson (City & County of Denver, Director of Special Projects). Chaired by JoAnn Powell.

Larimer County Family & Consumer Science Agent (50%)/Community Development Specialist (50%) vacancy. A search committee will be formed in January to begin looking at this position. A team from the state, College of Health and Human Sciences, and Extension are currently working to identify leadership and grant administration for the CYFAR and FLTI grants that Jacque Miller was administering.

State 4-H Office Announces New Animal Science/Shooting Sports State 4-H Specialist – Jeff Goodwin

Sam Lowry

Sam Lowry, Las Cruces, NM, will join the Colorado State 4-H staff as the new 4-H Youth Development Specialist responsible for providing leadership to the animal science and shooting sports program areas. Sam graduated from New Mexico State University with a Master of Science in Agriculture – Agriculture Biology. He is currently serving as a 4-H agent in Silver City, NM. Sam also has a significant 4-H background as a member in the shooting sports and livestock program areas. Sam will join the state staff on January 23 as we kick off the 2015 LDC and 4-H Day at the Capitol. Please join us as we welcome Sam to the Colorado 4-H state team!

AmeriCorps Webinars

Webinars are planned for those county 4-H programs that have indicated an interest in pursuing AmeriCorps. 4-H agents and staff, county directors, and others are encouraged to participate.

January 7 (Wednesday) from 9:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. Discussion of STEM out-of-school programming with AmeriCorps members. Claire and Annette will lead the webinar, sharing what they know, and asking for your input in designing our approach.

February 10 (Tuesday) from 2:30p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Discussion of the AmeriCorps budget. Jessi and I will lead this discussions and share what we know. We will also gather your input around staffing, match requirements, and cost.

Peyback Foundation

If you are considering participating in the AmeriCorps volunteer program, you may also want to consider applying for a 2015 PeyBack Foundation Grant. The deadline is February 10, 2015.

Suggest you apply for direct funding through your county, in collaboration with a county partner, or through your 4-H Foundation. CSU is not an eligible applicant.

CSU Hemp & Marijuana Research FAQs/Guidelines

A conference meeting on CSU Hemp and Marijuana Research Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) / Guidelines is scheduled for January 15 (Thursday), 2015 from 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. Linda Schutjer, Mark Wdowik, Lou Swanson, and Judy Barth will host the meeting.

To start or join the meeting, go to: https://bluejeans.com/358080056/
9290?ll=en&g=inuhe2ltfzbwqylhnzxw4qddn5wg643umf2gkltfmr2q

Just want to dial in?

  1. +1 408 740 7256 +1 888 240 2560 (US Toll Free) +1 408 317 9253 (Alternate Number)
  2. Enter Meeting ID: 358080056

CAS Specialists Reporting – Jan Carroll

Beginning January 1, 2015, we will pilot a different reporting method for CAS specialists (only).

  • CAS specialists will report through their college’s Faculty Staff Activities System (FSAS) which utilizes the Digital Measures system, and not into CPRS.
  • CAS will provide data to Extension after December 31, 2015.

All other college-based, regional, and 4-H Youth Development specialists will continue to report into CPRS. These data are critical for various required and requested reports to stakeholders.

Programs in counties will be reported by the county – and participating specialists will be associated with the output.

  • This is the same reporting process for any collaborative/cooperative program that is conducted by more than one person.
  • Decide in advance who will enter the report; all others will add in their time.

Thanks to CAS for suggesting this pilot, and to Joy and Ed for working it out. In the future, there may be opportunities for other specialists to participate in reporting through their required college systems. Please be in touch with any questions.

Blending the new CSU brand campaign 'State of' into 'Extension outreach' – Joanne Littlefield

At Forum this year, the new creative director for CSU External Relations presented the new CSU brand campaign called 'State of'. Different colleges and outreach units are using the taglines in different ways, including ‘State of Innovation’ and ‘State of Courage’ (http://source.colostate.edu/amy-van-dyken-rouen/). Another product of this campaign is the 2014 institutional spot, ‘Find Your State.’ It will be shown on television during the Royal Purple Las Vegas Bowl on December 20, and has been posted to the CSU Facebook page, with interesting comments from current students and alumni on their ‘State’.

Participants at the Forum breakout session brainstormed a bit regarding a tagline or two (or more) for Extension. At the recent Director’s Advisory Council meeting, DAC members gave input on ideas for Engagement and Extension: ‘State of’ -Relevance -growth -food security -local -local foods –life –value -moving forward -to county needs –community –diversity –innovation -challenge –significance -–authenticity -applied research –immediacy -youth development –family –need –possibility –solutions –response –potential -public value -positive youth development -future –knowledge- etc…

Are there some of these that resonate more with you than others? Are there additional thoughts that spring to mind? Please send your ideas to Joanne.Littlefield@colostate.edu

PLT Spring Funded Reports – Jan Carroll

Early in 2014, Planning and Reporting Units (PRUs) were invited to apply for program funding through the Program Leadership Team (PLT). The funds had to be spent by the end of the fiscal year. All funded programs reported their results by December 1. You are invited to review the reports that are posted in one document at www.ext.colostate.edu/staffres/program/2014plt-spring-funding-reports.pdf.

County Area Director Meeting (C/AD) – Bill Nobles

The County/Area Director meeting for 2015 has been put on hold till the following year 2016. The RD’s have decided to offer C/AD every other year. The rationale is to allow agents to spend their county funds on programs, task forces, and PRU’s to take advantage of needed face to face time in 2015. It is also an opportunity to develop more programs via social media and collaboration tools. An example will be to place more emphasis on RD webinars and regional meetings throughout 2015. For further detail positive or negative contact your regional director.

Congratulations!

…to Nicolette and David Ahrens on the birth of their son—Sloan Lee Ahrens.

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