President's Message
Sandra J. McLain, 2005-2006 NEAFCS President

I feel very fortunate to represent NEAFCS as your president on the Joint Council for Extension Professionals or the JCEP board. JCEP is a partnership of Extension Professional organizations. These organizations are: Association of Natural Resource Extension Professionals, (ANREP), Epsilon Sigma Phi, (ESP), National Association of County Agricultural Agents, (NACAA), National Association of Extension 4-H Agents, (NAE4-HA) and our association, NEAFCS. JCEP focuses on strengthening the efforts of the member organizations and doing what each cannot do effectively alone. NEAFCS Past President Marilyn Gore and President-Elect Carol Schlitt also serve on the 2005-06 JCEP board.

Leadership and Scholarship Activity for Extension
One of the agenda topics for the January JCEP board meeting included Leadership and Scholarship activity for Extension. Below I have listed some of the topics that are relative to our board discussion.

What can we, as JCEP partners, agree to what is considered scholarly? How do we inform those in the system that what we do is scholarly work?
What are the consistencies within states and between states on extension scholarship?
Would a peer reviewed association-specific journal be helpful?
Should JCEP provide criteria for what is a peer-reviewed journal?
A few states were mentioned that have done a substantial amount of work on extension scholarship.
Higher level administration may be resistant to the comparison of outreach extension work and field research with campus based research.
What procedures need to be followed for extension leadership positions to be given equal accountability?
What documentation do extension professionals need to do to increase credibility for scholarship and presentations for tenure or promotional purposes?

My goal in sharing this JCEP agenda item is to increase the communication that actions from the JCEP board can affect each member in our shared associations. My second goal is to request any sharing that you as a NEAFCS member may be able to add to the subject. Are you aware of what is happening in your affiliate that we can add to the summary? Are you aware of extension staff who have done papers on the leadership and scholarship topic?

Your Journal of the National Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences, (formerly The Reporter) received high reviews among the JCEP board members. It was highlighted as one of the high quality peer reviewed journals available for scholarship advancement and sharing among our members. High compliments and many thanks go to our Journal Committee, under the leadership of Jan Scholl and the Journal Editorial Task Force for all their hard work.

In closing, please e-mail me (smclain@iastate.edu) if you know of scholarship activities being done, so we can include them as we continue our work on this important topic.

Calendar

2/6/2006-3/6/2006--Partnering with Parents Online Training

2/17/2006--Call for Proposals Deadline for 2006 Food Safety Education Conference

2/22/2006-2/24/2006--Regional Leadership Workshop—Eastern Region

2/28/2006-3/2/2006--Regional Leadership Workshop--Central Region

3/1/2006--PILD Conference Early Registration Deadline

3/8/2006--Reflections on Extension Leadership

3/12/2006-3/18/2006--NEAFCS Living Well Week

3/15/2006--Deadline: New Public Issues Stakeholder Support Report to Affiliate Public Affairs VP

3/16/2006-3/17/2006--12th Annual Northwest Conference for Parenting Educators

3/31/2006--NACo Extension Fellowship Application Deadline

4/1/2006--Application Deadline for NEAFCS Mini-Grants

4/1/2006--Deadline Friend of NEAFCS Award Nominations

4/1/2006--JCEP Extension Teamwork Award Applications Due

4/1/2006--National Officer Applications Due

4/1/2006--Awards Deadline

Other News

Professional Development Opportunities
Luann Boyer PILD Conference Chair, urges PILD registration. Also, learn how to make the most of your Capitol Hill visits by reading artcles from four 2005 PILD scholarship recipients.more>>

Laura Sant, Vice President for Professional Development, previews 2006 closing keynote address more>>

Laura Sant highlights In-depth Session "A New You" added after registration brochure was completed. more>>

Julie Mumme Smith, Exhibits Task Force Chair, reviews the exhibit referral program and finder's fee. more>>

Luann Boyer, Colorado EAFCS member, highlights pre- and post-conference tours developed by CEAFCS for your enjoyment. more>>

Other Officer Reports
Johanna Hahn, Vice President for Awards & Recognition, and Awards task forces report on what's new. more>>

Vice Presidents Sant & Breland remind members of the April 1, 2006 Mini-grant application deadline. more>>

Past President, Marilyn Gore, details National Executive Board Elections for 2006. more>>

Public Affairs
Tandy Rundus, Building Support/Forging Coalitions Task Force Chair, reviews the new Public Issues Stakeholder Support Report more>>

External Marketing Task Force Member, Debbie Bartman, reports on:
Promoting National Extension Living Well Week, March 12-18

Living Well Week Sample Proclamation

Using the New Living Well CDs

How to Order a Living Well Banner Display

Living Well Bookmarks & Labels

Friend of NEAFCS Award Application Process

Other News
Honoring FCS professionals with a military background. more>>

Position #131 Extended: 4-H Youth Development Extension Educator--Sandy Vailancourt

Meet NEAFCS National Office Staff Bev Bauer, Membership & Meetings Assistant

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