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Extension Update – June 14, 2016   arrow

On Behalf of JoAnn Powell:

This past week Extension lost a bright young 4-Her, Ashley Doolittle, from Boulder County. We also lost 50 potential friends, neighbors, and colleagues in Orlando. We are all poorer for these horrific events. I encourage you to take a few moments to remember those who lost their lives and those they leave behind, to reflect on how you can invest in your communities, and to let those who are important to you know it.


The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)

Final changes to the overtime rule were released May 18. These changes (effective December 1, 2016) will have a significant impact for Extension. We ask county/area directors and agents who supervise to participate. Also, anyone else who is interested is invited to attend. The same information will be provided at each session so you only need to attend one. Judy Barth and Lori Bates will be giving an update on the changes on the following dates:

  • June 16 (Thursday) from 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
  • June 20 (Monday), from 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.

If you’d like to join in person, go to room 205 in University Square.
To join from PC, Mac, Linux, iOS or Android: https://zoom.us/j/942574380.
Or iPhone one-tap:  16465588656,942574380# or 14086380968,942574380#
Or Telephone:
(646) 558-8656 or (408) 638-0968
Meeting ID: 942 574 380


Front Range Office

This past week saw office shuffling at University Square. The Front Range Region has claimed the southeast suite of offices on the second floor—you will find me, Sonjia Graham, Melinda Macpherson, Assefa Gebre-Amlak, and Martha Sullins there. Jan Carrol has moved to my former office in the northwest corner of the first floor—she is joined in that hallway by Kyle Christensen and future members of the FLTI team. Lori Bates and Sue Harris moved into the offices adjacent to Judy Barth, and Yvonne Bridgeman has taken over Lou’s former office. Lou is out of the conference room and is now where Sue Harris used to be. Extension has also gained access to the classroom on the second floor that was previously used by Kraig Peel for Integrated Resource Management classes. Still a lot of boxes, but beginning to feel more like home.


June Pay Period & SALX Distribution—Jessi Fuentes

Just a friendly reminder that June payroll will be delivered on July 1 rather than June 30. We hope you’ve received your salary letters. Please contact your supervisor or regional director if you have not. For those with a 2015 performance rating of Meets Expectations or above, you will see an increase (final salaries are rounded to the nearest hundred) in your July paycheck. Here was the SALX distribution:

  • Exemplary rating: 1% of base salary +$950 ($1350 – $2150 range)
  • Exceeds Expectations rating: 1% of base salary +$450 ($850 – $1450 range)
  • Meets Expectations rating: 1% of base salary + $25 ($400 – $800 range)


Extension Assistant Director of Finance

Jana Smilanich-Rose has accepted the position effective July 20. She will be spending July 20 – 22 in Denver attending the AmeriCorps Program Management/Finance workshop with Jessi and Melinda. Jana grew up in Pueblo where she was active in 4-H. She is currently finishing up her role as Chief Financial Officer for the Graduate School of Education at Portland State University. She holds a master’s degree in Public Administration (Finance Management and Accounting) from Portland State and a B.A. in Art History from Colorado State University.


THANK YOU JESSI!

There are not enough words to express our thanks to you. As Extension Director of Finance you found ways to say “yes” to people and projects and then worked with us to implement those strategies. You made the finance office a fun place to visit, learn, and have really good conversations. It is wonderful knowing you will be acquainting Jana with the financial workings of Extension, CSU and the counties, our culture and creative (lawful and ethical) approaches . No good-byes—we know where your office is.


Assistant Vice President for Engagement and Deputy Director of Extension

Thanks to all of you who participated in the search and provided input; we had three excellent candidates—Steven Newman, Ashley Stokes and Randy Stoecker—who gave us great information about themselves and their vision for the position. A big thanks to Denver Extension for hosting our candidate webinars and receptions. The search committee of Reagan Waskom (chair), Kathay Rennels, Mike Palmquist, James Pritchett, and I developed our recommendation and sent it to OEO and Lou for their consideration.


AmeriCorps Update—Melinda Macpherson

Last week we gathered in the Grey Rock room in the Lory Student Center on campus to celebrate the completion of our first AmeriCorps year. AmeriCorps members gained valuable experience and developed marketable skills from their service year including initiative, interpersonal and intercultural communication, adaptability, collaboration, and accountability. We have been lucky to work with so many dedicated supervisors and AmeriCorps members. We would especially like to thank those who were able to attend the festivities: supervisors Emily Spada (Arapahoe), Kim Morrison (Boulder), Toby Swaford and Laurel Kubin (Larimer), Janice Dixon (Logan and Morgan); and members Eyerusalem Abraha (Denver), Melanie Erickson (Weld) (pictured with poster board), Ellie Hennes (Jefferson), Erica Quihuiz (Larimer), Karol Sventko (Arapahoe), and Trish O’Grady (Garfield). Those who were able to attend enjoyed presentations by members, a delicious dinner and several “LAFTA” (Life AFTer AmeriCorps) presentations. Special thanks to those who joined us to share their knowledge with our members: Annette Haas, Megan Blaser, and JoAnn Powell (pictured left to right) who joined our Extension panel, Judy Brobst and Katie Lloyd from CSU’s Career Center, and Trevor Eyden and Steven Gaisford from CSU Online.

Americorps celebration


Front Range Searches

  • Adams County. Extension Agent, 4-H Youth Development, #16-16. Final negotiations are underway.
  • Boulder, Denver, Larimer & Weld Counties. Nutrition Program Supervisor, #17-16. Jane Burnett is reducing her time to 50% until such time as a replacement for her position is hired and trained. Katie McGirr is chairing this search; it will be advertised soon.
  • Broomfield County. Extension Agent & Director, 4-H Youth Development, (60% Time). This position is under review. The search committee is being assembled.
  • Douglas County. Extension Agent, 4-H Youth Development/Livestock. Brenda Kwang resigned this position to take a position in Boulder County effective July 6. This position is under review.
  • Douglas County. Extension Agent, Horticulture. Jane Rozum resigned her position effective June 17. This position is under review and will be advertised soon.
  • Larimer County. Extension Agent, 4-H Youth Development, #08-16. Keeton Ehrig has accepted this position effective June 6. He is currently an Extension Agent, Agriculture and Natural Resources at Texas Agrilife Extension in Lee County, Giddings, TX. Keeton received a BS in agricultural education, minor in animal science and an MS in agricultural science at Texas Tech University.
  • Weld County. Extension Agent, Horticulture, #11-16. Amy Lentz has accepted this position effective July 1. Amy received her BS in natural resource conservation and management and her MS in plant and soil science, horticulture from the University of Kentucky, Lexington Kentucky. She is currently working at Morehead State University, Department of Agriculture Sciences as a Horticulture Supervisor.
  • Weld County. Extension Program Associate, 4-H Youth Development, .45 FTE, Endowed, #15-16. Final negotiations are underway.


End-of-Year Travel, Payment Requests, Purchases, & Leave

For travel…submit payment and travel requests ASAP. It is vital to submit all June travel upon your return and before June 21 in order to hit FY 16. There are travel requests in Kuali awaiting approval by either the traveler or supervisor. In order for payments to hit FY16, Kuali electronic approvals must be done in a timely manner. Please do not forget to approve travel electronically otherwise reimbursements may be delayed until FY17. Any travel after June 21 will most likely be paid in FY17.

For payment requests…submit paperwork (including all required documentation) to the Fiscal Office no later than June 15 in order for payments to hit FY16. The Fiscal Office cannot guarantee that payment requests submitted after June 16 will hit FY16.

For purchases…purchase what you need as early as possible. Computers (and related equipment purchases) must be submitted to Jan Behunek by June 9. These deadlines exclude county accounts (TRA, SEA, GPA, and SLV 99 accounts) and 53 accounts with an end date later than June 30. There is no guarantee PCard or computer-related purchases made mid- to late June will hit FY16.

For leave…turn in June leave on or before July 2 to Ellen Hughes. Make sure leave reports are correct at year’s end. Remember that leave over the cap hours will be lost. State classified: don’t forfeit excess leave hours; donate to the Leave Sharing Bank.


Working with Extension Agents on LGBTQ Issues – June 14 @ 11:00 a.m.

Please join us for Epsilon Sigma Phi Public Issues Committee’s “Diversity Awareness Webinar Series”—a series of FREE webinars covering diversity issues related to Extension programming. This webinar will provide an overview of diversity-related materials and opportunities in TN and MT; describe a new publication titled ”Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender (LGBT) Youth and Families: An Informational Guide for Agents”; and discuss how this and other empirically-based materials can be used to facilitate attitudes, knowledge, and professional work with the LGBTQIQ community. “Safe Zone” training to increase awareness and acceptance of LGBTQIQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, questioning) individuals will also be discussed. Safe Zone Allies are dedicated to supporting members of our community who identify within the LGBTQIQ spectrum and offer safe, welcoming places for all members of the community. www.montana.edu/safezone

To join this FREE webinar:

  1. Go to http://msuextensionconnect.org/commdev
  2. Select the “Enter as a Guest” option and type your full n Then click “Enter Room.”
  3. Listen to the audio via your computer speakers. To call in for questions or comments, dial(605) 477-2100; participant code: 742340#.
  • NOTE: If you phone in, please mute your computer’s speakers to avoid feedback (if you don’t intend to ask questions, you don’t need to phone in and can save the toll charge and listen to the audio on your computer’s speakers).
  • If you encounter any technical difficulties before or during the session, please call406-994-6694 or email commdev@montana.edu.
  • You can join us on your mobile device: adobe.com/products/adobeconnect/feature-details/adobe-connectmobile.html

PresentersKatie Conrad, M.S., Ph.D. Candidate, Department of Child & Family Studies, University of Tennessee Knoxville; Ann Allgood Berry, Ph.D., Professor & Consumer Economics Specialist, Department of Family & Consumer Sciences, University of Tennessee Knoxville; Paul Lachapelle, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Extension Community Development Specialist, Department of Political Science, Montana State University

If you are not able to join us for the live webinar, we will be recording the session and adding the link to this event listing in Learn. For more information, please contact paul.lachapelle@montana.edu or (406) 994-3620.