President's Message Theresa Mayhew (NY), President
Happy February! Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow so that means six more weeks of winter. Of course, according to my calendar, there’s at least six more weeks of winter no matter what! But I’ll welcome sunshine any day of the year!
Congrats to Linda Law-Saunders (NY), Mindy Mayes (IN), and Barb Wollan (IA). They were the first to notify me of the location of the hidden ear of corn icon in last month’s issue and they will be entered to win a free registration to our Annual Session in Omaha.
Again, I’d like to extend a warm welcome to Partners in Association Management (PIAM) which officially took over the helm as our management company in early January. Hello to Danielle Jessup, our Executive Director; Will Ferguson, our Program Manager; and Elizabeth Lane, our Conference Planner (who comes on board February 20). Our Partners team has been working hard familiarizing themselves with as many facets of our organization as they can -- from reviewing membership data to updating the website, from scrutinizing annual session contracts to promoting all things PILD. We have found everyone we have dealt with so far at Partners to be engaging, forthcoming, responsive and very professional. I’m confident this will be your experience, too. We are mindful of and appreciate your patience as they come fully up to speed!
This year's JCEP Leadership Conference held in Orlando will be history by the time you read this. It attracted over 300 Extension professionals from around the country including over 50 NEAFCS members and boasted the first ever virtual town hall meeting embedded with the conference itself. I was proud to be a part of the planning committee and hope those of you that took part found it fulfilling and worthwhile. I’d like to thank Regional Directors Becky Travnichek and Karen Munden, as well as President-Elect Lora Lee Howard for all their help and assistance with our two NEAFCS meeting sessions and Immediate Past President Debby Mathews for her participation and involvement during the JCEP Winter Board Meeting that preceded the conference.
Up next? March. It’s our time to come together as communities across the country to celebrate Living Well Month. Check out the terrific Living Well information and resources that Vice President of Public Affairs Glenda Hyde and her committees have been busy updating and reinvigorating. Do what you can to spread the word on the importance of “Raising Kids, Eating Right, Spending Smart, Living Well.”
Sincerely,
Terri
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I Look Forward to Working With You! Danielle Jessup (FL), NEAFCS Executive Director
I am excited and honored to join your organization as the new executive director. I want to thank everyone for your warm welcome. Also, I want to thank the board for their assistance in helping with this transition. I look forward to working with each and every one of you. With your input, participation and support, we can be assured that NEAFCS has a bright future. I recognize I have a lot to learn and I intend to invest the time and attention to get to know NEAFCS.
My professional experience includes 4 years at an Association Management Company in the Chief Staff Executive role. Previously I worked for a captive association similar to NEAFCS in size as their main Meeting Planner for 3+ years. My experience includes but is not limited to budgeting, financial management, board relations, strategic planning, committee and volunteer management, membership recruitment and retention, regional and annual meetings, continuing education program management, government relations and publications.
On a more personal level, I am a graduate of Florida State University. I am married with an 18 month old son named Jackson. I am a huge fan of football, love animals, love to volunteer and travel when time allows.
Lastly, we have a great staff team here at Partners in Association Management. Feel free to reach out to any of us at any time; we are happy to hear from you.
Thank you for this opportunity!
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A Look at the 2017 Action Plans Awards and Recognition Lora Lee Frazier Howard (KY), President-Elect
Your Vice President for Awards and Recognition, Dianne Gertson, and her committees started preparing for our Awards Ceremony at the end of last year’s Annual Session. Many days of planning and preparation occur before we will attend the awards ceremony in Omaha, NE. The committee members will work diligently behind the scene to assure us an exciting well-planned event.
The Sponsorship and Support committee works to provide financial resources for awards by seeking sponsors and funding to support our awards. This committee coordinates our Silent Auction which helps to fund awards.
The Display and History Committee coordinates the awards display in our Exhibit Area, giving other members an opportunity to view winning awards.
The Training Committee works to recognize, promote and encourage members to submit awards for recognition Do you have a co-worker that needs encouragement to submit that excellent program they present for an award? Sometimes all it takes is a friend that says, “You need to submit this for an award”.
The Awards Ceremony committee may be the committee you are most familiar with because you see them actively working at our Awards Ceremony. Their work starts once they arrive at Annual Session. They plan the ceremony, write the script, and coordinate the actual event.
Each of these committees are an important component to the success of Awards and Recognition. I would encourage you to view the Action Plans which detail the monthly responsibility of each committee. The links should be active as we have transitioned to our new management company. If you are interested in joining one of these committees, now is the time. Becoming active on one of these committees will enhance your leadership opportunities, your professional development, and impact our Annual Session.
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JOE Board Report Luann Boyer (CO), Journal of Extension Committee
The Journal of Extension Editor, Debbie Allen, has done an excellent job during her first year as editor-in-chief of the Journal. Part of Debbie’s job description is to mentor and assist Extension professionals with manuscript submissions. She has developed several tools for writers to use and feedback from those using them has been positive.
Following the presentation at NEAFCS this fall by Cody Stone and me, I have had inquiries about possible submissions. When I have referred those to Debbie, she has been very responsive in working with potential authors for submissions which meet the criteria for the Journal. Remember, submissions are not just extensive research papers, but other options include Tools of the Trade and Ideas at Work - both shorter submissions to share Extension programming and results. To learn more about submitting, go to www.joe.org
Extension Journal Inc. has signed a Letter of Agreement with eXtension Foundation for the foundation to fund a special issue of Journal of Extension focused on “Innovation” within the Extension system. The goal is to have the issue published in July 2018. As more information is available, I will share with the NEAFCS membership and it will also be on the JOE website. The process for submissions will be similar to all JOE issues with a blind peer review process.
For any questions about Journal of Extension, please email me ([email protected]) or call 970-768-0322.
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Opportunities for Harvesting, Opportunities to be Engaged!! Edda Z. Cotto-Rivera (GA), Vice-President of Member Resources
Are you making any plans to attend our 2017 NEAFCS Annual session in Omaha, NE? By personal experience, I know that it is important to start planning early in the year, so I am ready to join my colleagues and friends in another exciting opportunity to come together. This year, the theme for our conference is Harvesting Opportunities in NEAFCS. That will be a good time to “cosechar”; to harvest the fruits of our yearly efforts as an association. Our Member Resources sub-committees are working hard to complete our plans of work, and would like to provide our members unique opportunities to serve. The exhibits sub-committee will soon start contacting companies, vendors and organizations to invite them to come to the annual meeting and share their ideas, products or services with us at the exhibit hall. Do you know of an entity that would like to come to Nebraska? Send us your referrals, we want to make sure that members are exposed to companies interested in supporting our mission and the work we do to benefit our communities. The membership, mentoring, and life member sub-committee is interested in recruiting members to help them plan the first-timers event. Last year we had close to 100 guests during the morning event, and we want to surpass that mark this year! Let us know if you want to help, and we will connect you to this great opportunity. It is February, and in a few months we will blink our eyes and will wake up in Omaha! Get ready and don’t miss out!
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Submitting Your NEAFCS Awards Application Dianne Gertson (TX), Vice-President for Awards and Recognition
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. It’s also a good idea to review the scoresheet for your specific award category. Scoresheets can be found in the Awards Manual.
Make sure to include all important information in your program outline. Combine program outline and supporting documents into no more than 3 files (each file can be up to 25 MB in size). Complete the online application; upload your files and your .jpg photo. Information on combining files using Adobe Acrobat Pro and imbedding links into your application can be found on the NEAFCS website’s awards tab.
Read the guidelines on the number of supporting pieces that may be included with your award. A support piece is not equivalent to one page. A support piece may be multiple pages, for example a brochure or pamphlet that has been developed.
Remember to consult the online Awards Manual and follow the general guidelines, found on page 3, as well as the specific guidelines for your award category. Upload your completed award application by your Affiliate deadline. If you have questions, contact your Affiliate Vice President for Awards.
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2017 PILD 1st Timer's Scholarships Awarded Glenda Hyde (OR), Vice-President for Public Affairs
“Relationships, Relevance, Results.” is this year’s theme at the Public Issues Leadership Development (PILD) Conference. It is April 2-5 at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City in Crystal City, VA. Highlights include a Washington, DC Monument Tour; USDA, NIFA & ECOP updates; interesting and relevant presentations by Extension colleagues; National Program Leader Town Hall discussions and panel session; and new this year, a combined States Night Out with our professional association meeting that includes fun, interactive activities. The Conference culminates with individual state congressional visits.
NEAFCS state affiliates are preparing to send representatives to attend this informative, exciting and motivational conference that is sponsored by the Joint Council of Extension Professionals (JCEP). Registration information is available now at jcep.org. Early Bird Registration is $395.00, and due by March 3.
The 2017 NEAFCS PILD 1st Timer’s Scholarships have been awarded to NEAFCS members to broaden understanding of public policy issues that impact Extension and Extension clientele, enhance public policy education skills, and learn how the changing political environment affects support for Extension. Participants will also strengthen existing partnerships and explore new linkages with local, state, and federal agencies. Congratulations to: Dianna Bowen (AR), Tracy Trumper (CO), LuAnn Duncan (FL), Denise Everson (GA), Grace Whittman (ID), Amanda Galloway (IN), Donna Krug (KS), Melissa Goodman (KY), Tiffany Williams (LA), Jesse Ketterman (MD) Amy Vance (MO), Hayley Napier (NC), Vanessa Hoines (ND), Kathy Green (OH), Lynda Latta (OK), Tonya Johnson (OR), Justin Thomas (TN), Denita Young (TX), Susan Haws (UT), and Shevonne Newby (VA).
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Ch...Ch...Ch...Changes Nancy Stehulak (OH), Treasurer
OK, so if you are old like me, your head now has David Bowie’s song, “Changes”, in your head.
And changes are happening with your endowment dollars. As you might be aware, we have an endowment committee that is working hard to make the most of the dollars endowed or entrusted to NEAFCS.
But in order for that to happen, our Investment Committee has worked over the past year to create an Investment Policy to guide a reallocation of our investments.
As of December 31st, 2016, our holdings in the Endowment Account were $300,000. And monies held in reserve are just over a million dollars. The investment committee, comprised of Joan Koonce (GA), Ruth Brock (AL) and Andrew Zumwalt (MO) were instrumental in crafting an investment policy that will guide the investments of our organization, but also set a plan in place for the future.
Our endowment committee, led by Judy Hetterman (KY), is beginning a plan for the income from the endowment. They are considering ways to bring this income back into our organization to further the work that you and I do for our communities as Extension workers.
And, your membership dollars will be working even harder for you!
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Omaha: Location for 2017 NEAFCS Annual Conference Carrie Schneider-Miller, Nebraska Extension Educator
The 2017 Annual NEAFCS Conference will be held at Hilton Omaha and the CenturyLink Convention Center, October 16-19, 2017. The Hilton Omaha hotel is connected to the convention center via a skywalk. Since opening in 2013, CenturyLink Center Omaha has elevated the city as the leading Midwest convention destination.
Be part of something big! CenturyLink Omaha has been host to many national events such as the Olympic Swim Trials, US Figure Skating Championships, NCAA Men’s Division I Basketball Tournament, Berkshire Hathaway annual shareholders’ meeting, and the arena’s primary tenant -- the Creighton University men’s basketball team.
The CenturyLink Center is located in the heart of downtown Omaha near the Old Market Entertainment District, and seven minutes from Eppley Airfield Airport. CenturyLink Center is located close to many of the Top 10 Things to do in Omaha found here: http://www.midwestliving.com/travel/nebraska/omaha/things-to-do/things-to-do-omaha/?page=0
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Meet the Board: Eastern Region Director Diane Whitten Diane Whitten (NY), Eastern Region Director
My first real career goal was to work for Cooperative Extension, but it took me 13 years to achieve it. While I was at a two-year college studying to be a dietetic technician, I shadowed a Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) educator. That’s when I realized this was my dream job, so I applied to Cornell University for a bachelor’s degree in Nutritional Sciences. The first job I applied for was with CCE, but to no avail. Fast forward ten years, after having two children, I got my Master’s degree in Education and a few years later finally landed my dream job as a food and nutrition educator for CCE of Saratoga County in Upstate New York. I got lucky, if you define luck as the moment preparation meets opportunity. After 17 years in my position, I can honestly say that that I love coming to work every day.
During my 17 years at Extension I’ve developed leadership skills mostly due to my involvement with NEAFCS for which I’ve held many NY Affiliate positions. Last summer I was asked to consider serving on the National Board of Directors as the Eastern Region Director, and I’m glad I accepted.
I’m an empty nester with a 29 year old daughter, Katy, who lives nearby and works as a nurse anesthetist at a local hospital. My son Brady, who is 27, works for Adobe in San Francisco, a great place to visit. My two six-month-old kittens, Leche and Oreo, entertain me and keep me company.
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