Table of Contents
It’s Time for Membership Renewal
Action Plans Indicate NEAFCS is Healthy
Apply for a NEAFCS Award!
Exciting PILD Conference Shaping Up for April 2015
Central Region Director Thanks Affiliates
Affiliate Highlights Eastern Region
Mark Your Calendars for 2015 Annual Session
JOE Editor Position is Open
Invitation to join AAFCS to encourage family meals
Meet the Board- President-Elect Debby Mathews
Important Dates
Awards Application Opens • Dec 1
Call for Proposals Opens • Dec 1 For 2015 Annual Session
Partnership for Food Safety • Dec 4-5 Consumer Food Safety Education Conference
JCEP Leadership Conference • February 11-12 The Tropicana - Las Vegas, NV
Call for Proposals Closes • Feb 1 For 2015 Annual Session
PILD Conference • April 12-15 Hyatt Regency - Crystal City, VA
NEAFCS 2015 Annual Session • Nov 2-5 White Sulphur Springs, WV
View All Events...
National Extension Association of Family & Consumer Science 140 Island Way, Ste 316 Clearwater, FL 33767 (561) 477-8100 [email protected]
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President's Message Peggy Ehlers, Ed.D. (IN), President
Late fall is a season of thanksgiving. We are grateful for being able to harvest our crops before the winter season sets in. There is much for everyone to do this time of year. Personally being a farm operator with my husband we have been actively harvesting corn and beans. We are nearing completion and love this time of year when the trees show their color.
As the year ends for our professional life, we need to look back at our year of achievements and evaluate the successes of our programs. We live in a changing society, are we reaching all audiences?
- We are now planning our annual session, PILD, and JCEP Conferences.
- The 2015 JCEP Leadership Conference “Leading Through Trust”, will be held February 11 and 12, 2015.
- Public Issues Leadership Development: Imagining Extension – Eyes on the Future, April 12 -15, 2015 and
- NEAFCS Annual Session November 2-5, 2015 in White Sulphur Springs West Virginia at the Greenbrier Resort.
Congratulations to Diane Mason – Kentucky, Pam Pruett – Arkansas, and Karen DeZarn – Texas, who were the first to find the key hidden in the newsletter. Keep looking each month for the key!
One final thought, please know your national board is working for you. The restructuring proposal will be discussed in detail at the winter board meeting. Contact your regional director or board member with your thoughts.
Until next month, remember you are the KEY – Knowledge, Experience, and You -- of NEAFCS.
My Best,
Peggy [email protected]
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It’s Time for Membership Renewal Sondra Ganus Thorne (TN), Treasurer
Greetings from Tennessee! The time is approaching for 2015 membership renewal. You should be receiving details from your state affiliate treasurer identifying your state deadline and specific instructions. You will need to send a copy of your member renewal form and dues payment to your state treasurer or other designated officer. Below are the steps to ensure renewal.
- Log in with your member username and password.
- Under the "Member Resources" tab, click "Dues Renewal."
- Update your profile information in the online renewal form.
- Print the Confirmation Page that comes up after you click submit.
- Send the printed page to your Affiliate Treasurer, along with your $100 check for your 2015 dues. Note that state and/or district dues may also apply.
If you encounter any problems or have trouble with the process, please do not hesitate to contact me, Sondra Ganus Thorne, [email protected].
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Action Plans Indicate NEAFCS is Healthy Debby Mathews (AL) President-Elect
Before the November 1 deadline arrived, NEAFCS subcommittee action plans were coming into my email “box.” That is a sign of good health of our association! More importantly, these plans indicate involvement of many NEAFCS members in the detailed work of our association. Our mission is to provide personal and professional development and to recognize Extension professionals who impact the quality of life for individuals, families and communities. It takes quite a few people to do this!
This month the spotlight is on the Awards Training subcommittee. This committee has 18 members from 11 different states. Five of those members will write articles for eNEAFCS this year, and one will conduct a concurrent session during Annual Session 2015. Kudos to Barbara Hennard (OH), chairperson; Donna Daniel (VA), chair-elect; Cheri Burcham (IL), apprentice; Dianne Gertson (TX), past chair; and to all the Awards Training subcommittee members for their efforts to increase member participation in the NEAFCS awards program! Of course, “Hats Off!” to Roxie Price, VP Awards and Recognition, for her leadership of all four of her subcommittees.
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Apply for a NEAFCS Award! Roxie Price (GA), Vice President for Awards & Recognition
The NEAFCS on-line awards application will open on December 1, 2014.
Now is the perfect time for you to showcase your excellent programs and get the recognition you deserve! The online system for the awards process is moving forward, so follow instructions closely this year. Files will be uploaded to the website, and you will also mail your award application and files. Award applications are to be UPLOADED and POSTMARKED to Roxie Price by March 15, 2015 for regional and national judging. State affiliate deadlines will be PRIOR to this. Check with your state affiliate Awards VP, or chair, to find out when your state deadline will be.
Please visit the Awards section of the NEAFCS website to find out more about NEAFCS awards and instructions on how to complete the application and upload your files. Refer to the Awards-at-a-Glance section for brief award descriptions and application instructions. The Awards Manual has more detailed instructions. There is a new award this year and it is highlighted in the Awards information section. You can find examples of national award-winning entries, as well as articles on Award Winning Applications FAQs and Award Winning Tips on the website.
If you have never applied for a national award before, now is a great time to start! If you have won awards in the past, I encourage you to mentor an agent this year through the awards process. It would be great if every agent submitted one award!
As many of us are starting to write year-end reports, these would be perfect to use as a starting point in submitting an award application. If you are unsure in which category to submit your program for an award, you may submit it in more than one category—just be sure to customize it for that specific award category (but you can only win in one category for that program). If you have any questions about the awards application process, contact your state affiliate's Vice President for Awards and Recognition.
Your dues must be in to the National Office by January 1, 2015 for you to be eligible to apply for awards.
I look forward to seeing applications for all the wonderful programs that I know are being presented across the United States! Good luck!
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Exciting PILD Conference Shaping Up for April 2015 Theresa C. Mayhew (NY), Vice President for Public Affairs
Next year’s JCEP Public Issues Leadership Development (PILD) Conference is April 12-15 at the Hyatt Regency in Crystal City, VA. Kicking off pre-conference activities on Sunday is a PILD First Timers Orientation, which will precede the Washington Twilight tour. The orientation will answer questions first-time attendees might have about the events of the next two days. The full conference opens on Monday with USDA/NIFA and ECOP updates, a celebration of the 125th anniversary of the second Morrill Act, and a “Reconsider Extension, Imaging America” keynote address. The afternoon will feature JCEP Select Presentations and a panel discussion on “Communicating on the Hill: Two Roles – Advocacy and Educating” before culminating with the traditional State’s Night Out.
Tuesday’s schedule opens with panel discussions featuring NIFA National Program Leaders. It is followed by “Understanding the Structure of the Extension System from the County to the State to NIFA Our National Partner” general session, breakout sessions, and a “Working within the Political Environment” keynote. More breakout sessions ensue after lunch as well as a “How Extension May Work in the Future” presentation. Following closing comments, there are meetings for volunteers, professional development associations (including NEAFCS), and Extension Directors and 1890 Administrators. The evening is set aside for professional development associations’ night out activities of which NEAFCS will again partake (more on that soon!).
The conference culminates on Wednesday with congressional and agency visits. This is when all the information you’ve gleaned from the past three days and all the preparation leading up to the conference really pays off. It’s also when you find out just how good your stamina level and walking shoes are! Be prepared for security checkpoints, whirlwind visits with Congressional and Senate leaders and/or their staffs. It’s all worth it!
Applications for NEAFCS PILD First Timers Scholarships will open on Monday, December 8 so be on the lookout for information via the website, e-blasts and social media. There are twenty $200 scholarships that will be made available to first-time PILD attendees on a first-come, first-served basis. More conference details including overall registration and room costs are available by visiting www.jcep.org. Looking forward to seeing all of you in DC during Cherry Blossom time next spring!
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Central Region Director Thanks Affiliates Nancy Stehulak (OH), Central Region Director
Thanks to each of our affiliate presidents and vice presidents as you worked through the many details of the past year for your affiliate members. From awards to committees to states night out or comparing the membership lists for voting, there is quite a bit of work that gets accomplished through the president of the affiliate! So, thanks for your work!
For some of you, your term of affiliate president has come to a close. An updated Affiliate Officers and Committee Chairpersons’ form can be downloaded from the NEAFCS.ORG website. Look under the ‘member center’ and the ‘document library’. When it is complete, please email to both your Regional Director and to Jody Rosen Atkins at [email protected]. Put this item on your ‘to do’ list to make sure your members get the information they need!
Do take a minute and look through the NEAFCS.ORG website. There are many new ways to find the information that you need and it really is a great website to service our organization. As well, you will want to make certain that you are listed as a member so your door is open for all of the member services that NEAFCS has to offer from awards to all of our great webinars!
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Eastern Region Highlights Daryl L. Minch (NJ), Eastern Region Director
Hello. I am happy to be your Director the next two years. Please contact me, [email protected] or (908) 526-6295 with your ideas or concerns. I plan to send a periodic update to all the Eastern Region state presidents. It will include reminders about dates, events and things specific to our region. I invite you to share your state meeting dates with me, and I will share with the group. Sometimes a speaker or event is of interest to those in neighboring states, especially those of us who live on the borders. I would also like to include a section with what’s happening in Family & Consumer Sciences in each state. I will share a short survey and more information soon. Happy Thanksgiving. Daryl
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Mark Your Calendars for 2015 Annual Session Julie Cascio (AK), Secretary
With tradition to guide us, knowledge to share and the innovation to succeed, West Virginia will be hosting the 2015 NEAFCS Annual Session, November 2-5, 2015. This date is later in the year than usual. It may allow members to participate who have fair or other commitments during usual meeting dates.
Speaking of dates, keep these in mind as you prepare to attend Annual Session.
December 1, 2014 - Call for Proposals Opens February 1, 2015 - Deadline for Call for Proposals Accepted Sessions Notification - April 1 Annual Session Schedule Confirmed - May 15 Registration Opens - June 1
Keep an eye open for information about the beautiful Greenbrier Hotel and While Sulphur Springs area as the West Virginia liaison shares details each month in the eNEAFCS.
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JOE Editor Position is Open Luann K. Boyer (CO), NEAFCS Journal of Extension Board Representative
After 15 years as the Editor for the Journal of Extension, Dr. Laura Hoelscher will retire December 2015. While that seems like a long way off, the Journal of Extension Board is accepting proposals for a new editor to begin work January 1, 2016.
The Request for Proposals for Editorial Services is now posted on the JOE website. Editorial Services range from initial review of all submissions to advising authors, working with reviewers, and doing final copy editing of all issues. The RFP will be for a 5-year contract. The JOE Board is open to contracting with a variety of entities as long as the standards for excellence of the Journal of Extension can be met and the capacity to complete the work can be proven.
This might be an opportunity for a retired Extension professional who has strong communication and technology skills and the ability to provide professional development feedback to authors. I encourage you to go to the website and check out the RFP.
Deadline for proposals is January 15, 2015. The complete RFP can be accessed on the JOE website www.joe.org or directly at http://www.joe.org/rfp.php
If I can answer any questions about this position, call or email me at 970-768-0322 or [email protected]
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Invitation to Join AAFCS to Encourage Family Meals
Celebrate family meals by encouraging families to “Dine In” on December 3, AAFCS’s Family and Consumer Science Day. AAFCS and NEAFCS are part of the Family and Consumer Sciences Alliance. NEAFCS supports them in this effort to get families to dine together. As you promote family meals, add links to great Extension resources on family meals, such as Cook It Quick http://food.unl.edu/fnh/cook-it-quick-recipes or your state’s publications. More info on “Dine In” can be found at aafcs.org/fcsday or #FCSday and #diningin4fam. Show your commitment by pledging at http://bit.ly/FCSday2014.
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Meet the Board Eleanor (Debby) Mathews (AL), President-Elect
Thanks to my brother who has been doing some genealogical work on our family, I’ve got new perspective on who I am! Two of my well-known ancestors in terms of American history are W.E.B. DuBois and John Chandler. W.E.B. DuBois was co-founder of the NAACP, and John Chandler was the youngest person on board The Hercules when it landed in Jamestown in 1610. Note that this group arrived before the Pilgrims by ten years. Officially, John Chandler, age 9, was not supposed to be on that ship because children were not allowed on board! So, I am a descendent of two men who made history in our country, and they represent diversity in my life. Now I know why I love the diversity that is so much a part of the theatrical world.
Theater has been part of my life since elementary school. However, as an adult my involvement has intensified. Roles I have played since 2007 include Florence in The (Female) Odd Couple, The Lady With All the Answers (a one woman show about Ann Landers), the Nightingale of Samarkand in Once Upon a Mattress, Roz in 9-to5 and Eulalie MacKecknie Shinn in The Music Man. Jake, my husband of 36 years, is also an actor. We have been in shows together and that is fun! One year our daughter, Virginia, joined us on stage for The Music Man and that is now a great memory.
Now that I am your president-elect, my theatrical roles will be confined to acting in murder mystery dinner theater performances (because that is not time intensive) and being an enthusiastic audience member! That is okay, though. NEAFCS is worthy of time and devotion.
I am also devoted to my Extension job as a County Extension Coordinator. Not only do I enjoy serving the people of my county through Extension, I love them and this beautiful county with all my heart. We are located in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. It is quite scenic! Talladega National Forest and Cheaha State Park, the highest point in Alabama, are two of many natural resource attractions in our county.
Jake and I actually live adjacent to the national forest, and I regularly enjoy walking the logging road into the forest. Daily walks are important to me and to our poodles, Max and Lucky! Our two daughters both got hooked on regular exercise with me years ago. When they are home they walk with us. Jeanette, a registered nurse, lives in a nearby town with her husband and our only grandchild, Lucas. Lucas is 20 months old and should be taller than Jeanette by the time he is nine! Our other daughter, Virginia, is a registered dietitian. She lives in Springfield, VA with her husband who is stationed at the National Guard Bureau in Arlington. Life is good!
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