December 2012  

Other News & Articles

Don’t Be Left Out!
Debby Mathews (AL), VP for Public Affairs

Make sure your state affiliate “makes it” into the 2013 NEAFCS Impact Statements! You can do this by providing your affiliate Public Affairs VP/Chairman information to include in the impact reports. This officer will send reports to me on any or all of the impact topics using the report template on our website in the documents library in the public affairs category.


Galaxy IV: Networking, Professional Development & Leadership
Sonja Koukel, Ph.D. (NM), Vice President for Professional Development

What are some of the reasons you have for attending the NEAFCS Annual Sessions and Galaxy? To list a few:

• To meet new professionals
• To connect with friends and colleagues
• To discover new and interesting programs

Professional conferences offer members opportunities to network. But, while handing out business cards at social/professional functions is one way to network, it’s not necessarily the only method.


Public Issues and Advocacy-What CAN you do?
Debby Mathews (AL), VP for Public Affairs

When it comes to hot button topics, how should Extension professionals respond? Providing good quality, unbiased information for decision making is the hallmark of Extension work, but sometimes the line between education and advocacy becomes blurred.


Details Are Important When Submitting Awards Applications
Dianne Gertson (TX), Awards Training Sub-committee

Once you have decided to submit an award, the first step is reading the award application guidelines closely – both the general award guidelines and award specific guidelines.  

Choose binders or folders that show your application clearly and will fit in flat rate type boxes.  Label all materials and package your award packet securely.  Your award packet and a signed copy of the online application should be sent to your Affiliate awards chairperson.


Invitation to Participate in Survey on Noroviruses
Amy Peterson (NE), Immediate Past President
 
NEAFCS has been contacted by researchers from RTI International and Clemson University to participate in a survey they are conducting to learn about food safety professionals’ knowledge of norovirus. The survey findings will inform the development of educational materials.  The web-based survey will take less than 10 minutes to complete. All data will be kept confidential.  Results for individual persons or organizations will not be published. Survey respondents will receive a copy of the survey findings. 


Galaxy IV
Jane Conroy (NM), NEAFCS Representative to Galaxy IV

The “Galaxy” Conference provides a unique opportunity to work together on a joint conference while celebrating the diversity of the individual JCEP member associations.
Every five years the Joint Council of Extension Professionals sponsors and provides leadership for a Galaxy Conference for the entire Extension System. This conference invites participation from all JCEP member associations, ECOP and other partners critical to the Extension mission.


Message to Affiliate Treasurers
Peggy Ehlers (IN), NEAFCS Treasurer

A big Thank You for submitting the information and funds for your state dues.

Please continue sending the information to the National Office at .....


Meet the Board
Sonja Koukel, Ph.D. (NM), Vice President for Professional Development

I am delighted to have this opportunity to share a bit about myself with the NEAFCS members. Since 2006, I have been a member of the NEAFCS organization. My leadership roles within the organization during the past six years have included: President, Alaska Affiliate; Chair Elect, Registration Sub-Committee; Chair, Registration Sub-Committee; and, currently, Vice President for Professional Development.

President's Message

Holiday Greetings!

It doesn’t seem possible that we are approaching the end of 2012. Is it just me, or do you also feel like time just goes by more quickly each year?
Your NEAFCS Board, Management Company, and various committees have been very busy since our Annual Session in Columbus. Memberships have been updated and dues have been collected. Awards applications are in process. We have a new website which required a lot of time and effort on the part of our Management Company. We continue to award Living Well – More Than a Cookbook grants. Subcommittee action plans are being fine-tuned. Watch for the 2012 edition of the NEAFCS Journal to be published to the website in early January. Plans are being confirmed for the 2013 Galaxy Conference and a lot of work is being done on arrangements for our 2014 Annual Session in Kentucky. Webinars are scheduled and additional ones are being planned. Board members are working on details for the JCEP leadership conference and the Public Issues Leadership Development (PILD) conference.

The previous list is just a sampling of work that is being done in order to offer a variety of opportunities to you. As an association, we need you to stay connected so that you don’t miss opportunities that are available to you. Please read eNews thoroughly and encourage the other members from your state to do so. I realize that if you are reading this message, I am “preaching to the choir.” However, you can assist the membership from your affiliate by encouraging others to make it a priority to read the information in eNews, too.

Also, make sure you look at the eBlast messages that are sent from time to time. They contain time sensitive information that is important to you and your affiliate.
Communications are a key factor to helping you get maximum benefit from your NEAFCS membership. Your national board tries to make sure that you get the information that you need, but as you well know, communication is a two way street. If you have suggestions for additional strategies that would be effective for sharing information with you, let us know.

I am looking forward to some vacation time soon. We’ll be spending time with our family and catching up with friends. I love that this time of year offers me opportunities to reconnect with those who are special to us.

I hope you will each be taking some time to enjoy the season with family & friends. Give yourself the gift of some time for YOU!

Wishing you all the best,

Carol