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President's Message
Theresa Mayhew (NY)
I traveled to Dallas, TX, last month to attend the American Association of Family & Consumer Sciences (AAFCS) 108th Annual Conference and Expo. This year’s theme was “Financial Fitness: Trends, Innovations and Impacts.” The festivities kicked off June 24 with a Boots, Buck$ & BBQ that featured some delicious cuisine and a wide variety of western attire. Over the course of the next three days I chatted with dozens and dozens of AAFCS students, active and LIFE members as well as some NEAFCS members who belong to both associations -- all the while promoting NEAFCS – our membership categories, our Omaha Annual Session, and our 2017 Impact Statements. I encouraged those not familiar with their local extension educators to get in touch so they can “cash in” on our timely, exciting and extensive program offerings.
Some BIG Dallas highlights – keynote speaker Dr. Susan Newcomb’s “Rethinking Financial Health” presentation was dynamic and thought provoking – she challenged us to reexamine how we teach money management to folks with limited and moderate incomes. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Director Richard Cordray was an inspirational capstone speaker -- dedicated to serving the consumer – just what we need at this juncture. In between those two offerings, I took part in the Expo where I interacted with the other 23 vendors including NEAFCS Partner Members the American Cleaning Institute, Learning ZoneXpress, NASCO and NEFE. I also attended a Community of Extension sponsored breakfast, several interesting concurrent sessions and took part in a fun accessory swap. My last official function was attending the Alliance for FCS meeting which was led by Dr. Caroline Crocoll and which proved to be most interesting. All in all, I left Dallas feeling very excited about our profession and the critical work we do across the country and the globe.
The winners of last month’s Hidden Ear of Corn Icon Contest are also excited to be entered into the drawing for a free registration to Omaha. They are Liz Gardner-McBee (Oklahoma State); Kelly Kunkel (University of Minnesota) and Nancy Nelson (Kansas State). To those of you who’ve entered but haven’t been the first three to report where the ear of corn is imbedded in the Network -- you still have this month’s issue plus August and September’s to get in the running. Good luck and thanks to those of you who are already in the drawing.
We’re busy finalizing details for Omaha, as you can imagine. If you haven’t already registered, do so today! I’m off to Texas later this month for our on-site San Antonio visit for AS 2018. More on that later!
Sincerely,
Terri
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And the 2017 President's Charity is...
Theresa Mayhew (NY), President
With this year’s Annual Session theme being “Harvesting Opportunities,” I knew my choice of President’s Charity would most definitely reflect that principle. After consulting with our terrific tri-liaisons, I’ve made my choice – the Food Bank for the Heartland -- which serves the entire state of Nebraska and western Iowa. I’m a huge supporter of several food banks in my local community. The need is great wherever one goes and while we gather to celebrate our accomplishments and achievements, I’m hoping that you will be financially generous and support the fine work that this hard-working organization does. I’ll share more details in the coming months. In the meantime, I encourage you to learn more about their mission, vision and values at www.foodbankheartland.org. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!
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Meet Beverly Samuel: USDA NIFA National Program Leader for Housing and Environmental Health
Caroline E. Crocoll, Ph.D., CFCS, Director, USDA NIFA DFCS, Washington, DC
Beverly C. Samuel, CFCS provides National Program Leadership for Housing and Environmental Health, contributing to quality of life through sustainable housing initiatives that support healthy, safe and affordable housing; energy efficiency; disaster preparedness, response and recovery; and community living/engagement. She serves as the team-leader for Family Well-Being in the Division of Family & Consumer Sciences, focusing on financial capability, healthy family development, and home and community living.
As a NPL, Beverly Co-Chairs the State Energy Extension Partnership to promote the adoption of energy efficiency and renewable energy in the United States. She serves as the NIFA Liaison to the eXtension Home Energy Community of Practice (CoP) and the eXtension CoP on Volunteer Administration. She serves on the President’s Task Force on Environmental Health Risks to Children, Federal Interagency Committee on Indoor Air Quality, Federal Healthy Homes Work Group, Coalition of Organizations for Disaster Education, and Extension Disaster Education Network Executive Board (EDEN). Beverly also oversees the Master Family and Consumer Sciences Volunteer Program.
Prior to her career at USDA, she was a Senior Extension Educator with Virginia Cooperative Extension for over 25 years. She also taught at State University College at Buffalo, New York. She received the Distinguished Service Award and Continuing Excellence Award from NEAFCS, and Commendation from the Senate of Virginia and recognition from the Governor of VA for outstanding community programming addressing critical issues. She received an M.S. in Housing, Interior Design and Resource Management from Virginia Tech, and a B.S. in Home Economics Education from Georgia College.
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Partners in Association Management Receives Governor’s Business Ambassador Award
Danielle Jessup (FL), Executive Director
Pictured from left to right are Adam Putnam, Agriculture Commissioner, Pam Bondi, Attorney General, Eric Thorn, General Counsel, Partners in Association Management, Rick Scott, Governor, Bennett Napier, CAE, President/CEO, Partners in Association Management, Amy Bean Napier, Vice President and CIO, Partners in Association Management, Rachael Luoma, CAE, Vice President, Partners in Association Management, John Ricco, CAE, Vice President, Partners in Association Management, and Jeff Atwater, Chief Financial Officer.
At the June 14, 2017 meeting of the Florida Cabinet, Partners in Association Management was recognized by Governor Rick Scott with the Governor’s Business Ambassador Award. The Governor’s Business Ambassador Award is given to individuals for their efforts in creating jobs and opportunities for Florida families.
“It is an honor to have our firm recognized for its role as an employer. Our wonderful staff should be proud of this recognition as they are the people that allow us to fulfill our corporate mission. We are grateful for the opportunity to work with numerous state, regional, and national nonprofit organizations and assist their volunteer leaders in achieving their strategic and operational objectives’ says Bennett Napier, CAE, President/CEO.
Partners in Association Management, an accredited association management company will celebrate its 20th anniversary in 2018.
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Did You Get The Email?
Danielle Jessup (FL), Executive Director
 Here at NEAFCS, we’ve been working to fine tune the emails you receive from us. In an effort to bring you emails that are easier to display in a variety of email programs, we are starting to include the email system Constant Contact. You will still receive all the automated emails from our current system when you do things like register for Annual Session, submit a form online, or renew your membership. Those emails come from [email protected].
New emails will start arriving from Constant Contact using the email address [email protected]. We strongly suggest adding both of these email addresses to your “safe sender” or “white list” lists to ensure they are not directed to your junk or spam filters. For those of you accessing your email through a work email server, you may wish to share this information with your IT person and ask for their help in ensuring the email addresses are added to your safe sender lists.
As always, we are dedicated to bringing you the information you want to hear about and not filling your inbox with junk. This is just another step to help us achieve that goal. If you have any questions or concerns, please email us at [email protected].
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Relationships, Relevance, Results Highlights in 2017 PILD 1st Timer’s Scholarship Recipient Reflections
Edited by Glenda Hyde (OR), Vice President Public Affairs
The PILD Conference experience was enlightening and surprisingly exciting. Public/Governmental Affairs is a bit out of my comfort zone, so I was anxious about attending the conference and especially going to the Hill to share my story. The Keynote and concurrent sessions, however, put me somewhat at ease by concretely explaining the process, giving excellent examples and advice, and offering time to practice our pitches. By Wednesday afternoon, I had a much greater understanding and appreciation of the importance of sharing our stories with elected officials. What a terrific professional development opportunity. Tonya Johnson (OR)
In the session, “Critical Conversations with Public Officials: Methods and Messages,” presenters from Ohio shared their “tool kit” that they use to communicate their message and ultimately build relationships. Building relationships will help create results and then relevance for our programs, something we are always striving to achieve. Tracy Trumper (CO)
Attending the PILD Conference was a great experience, and it was exciting to see how all of the pieces fit together. I attended the breakout session on moving beyond the hours and dollar value of volunteer work; we learned new ways to look at and recognize volunteer value. The second breakout looked at how we can provide leadership in energy conservation on the local level. My favorite part was the national program leader panel. They talked about FCS national programs that we are working with on the local level. I learned more about the political process and Extension in general. Susan Haws (UT)
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2017 Silent Auction
Elizabeth Gardner-McBee (OK), Chair, Awards and Training Sponsorship Committee
One of the highlights of the Annual Session is the Silent Auction. An exciting change is that we will have bidder numbers this year!
Bidding for the Silent Auction will be held only one day – Wednesday, October 18, from 12:30 PM to 5:00 PM. The auction will be conveniently located in the CenturyLink Convention Center EXHIBIT HALL. So while visiting the venders, come back to our tables often to make sure you are the successful bidder!
We hope each member will consider contributing an item or two to make this year’s auction fun and successful! Below is a list of items that are often very popular at the auction:
- Items from your state (nuts, fruit, jelly, etc.)
- handmade items
- jewelry
- quilted items
- wines
- baskets
We hope each affiliate will help support the fund by bringing an item or two for the auction too. Large donated items can be shipped directly to Nebraska. The address and shipping information can be found here: https://neafcs.memberclicks.net/2017-shipping. All the money raised goes to the NEAFCS Awards Fund.
Check the conference schedule online for drop-off times and locations. If you have any questions about the silent auction, please contact Liz Gardner-McBee, 580-625-3464, or email: [email protected]
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The Myth Is Busted!
Jeanette Friesen (NE), Tri-Liaison
Myth: Nebraska is a fly-over state with nothing interesting to see.
Fact: There are many unique adventures found only in Nebraska. Think about adding some of these to your Annual Session trip to Omaha. Here are just a few:
Bob the Bridge – A 3,000 foot pedestrian bridge over the Missouri River connects Nebraska and Iowa. It starts at an easy walking distance from the convention center, 705 Riverfront Dr. Check out “Bob with a Vlog” at: https://www.visitomaha.com/bob/vlog/
Arbor Lodge - The picturesque home of Arbor Day is located in Nebraska City, only about an hour’s drive south of Omaha.
TD Ameritrade Park – The home of the College World Series is just across the street from the Convention Center.
Old Market – Just a short distance from the Convention Center, this historic area of Omaha has been restored with unique shops and restaurants along cobblestone streets.
Runza – If you have never eaten a Runza, here is your chance to experience a unique fast food restaurant found only in Nebraska!
International Quilt Study Center & Museum – The home of the largest known public collection of quilts in the world is located on the University of Nebraska campus in Lincoln. Beginning with1000 quilts from the Ardis and Robert James collection, it is now the home of quilts representing over 30 countries from around the world.
Joslyn Castle – A beautiful, historic castle nestled in the middle of Omaha was the home of George and Sarah Joslyn, early settlers of Omaha. Their love for art and generosity left an indelible imprint on the city. This 35-room Scottish Baronial mansion was built in 1903. Open on the 3rd Sunday each month (October 15).
For more events during October, go to https://www.visitomaha.com/events/.
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In-Depth Sessions Will Challenge Your Thinking!
Jeanette Friesen (NE), Tri-Liaison
Don’t overlook great opportunities to expand your effectiveness as an Extension professional! Take note of several in-depth sessions that will certainly expand your thinking and increase your impact as an educator.
Creative Ways to Work with Millennials- Are you puzzled how to relate to millennial clientele or co-workers? Experience the creative culture of Archrival’s workplace in Lincoln’s Haymarket and learn from the experts on how to relate to Millennials and GenZ consumers.
Investing In Ages 0 – 5- Have you heard of Educare? This new early childhood education model is an innovative partnership between the public and private sectors creating a more efficient and effective early learning program for at-risk infants, preschoolers and families. You will certainly see the value of investing in the first five years and go home with many ideas you can use.
What are Makerspaces?- Makerspaces are places where people gather to create, share, network and make things. These are unique collaborative spaces that encourage inventing, tinkering and exploring. When visiting Nebraska's Premier Makerspace – Innovation Studio, you will learn how this entrepreneurial concept is sweeping America and adding value to communities.
Food Innovation & Entrepreneurship Nebraska Style- How are new food products developed and marketed? At UNL's Food Innovation Center you will see a state-of-the-art facility which aids entrepreneurs from across the country develop an idea into a product ready to market. You will gain insight into the entire process and go home with tools you can use in your classroom.
Successful Youth at Risk Program- Everyone has heard of Boys Town. Now is your opportunity to visit the national headquarters where 400 boys and girls receive care and guidance for behavioral, emotional and academic issues. While touring Boys Town, you will learn proven parenting skills used with at-risk youth.
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Culturally-Sensitive Nutrition Education
Ines Beltran (GA), Diversity Subcommittee
Immigrants and refugees go through a process of adjustment affected by language and cultural barriers making difficult the practice of healthy behaviors and increasing the incidence of chronic disease. Dietary differences of populations can be considered a strength of social and cultural capital that Extension nutrition educators can adapt to and build upon. As Extension educators learn more about the dietary preferences and perspectives of newcomers they can be more effective in influencing the knowledge and behaviors about health within diverse audiences.
Food is one of the cornerstones of any culture, and immigrants use food to maintain a connection to home and to identify themselves within a diverse community. Newcomers will have access to new foods and will, therefore, experience new consumption patterns. Food choices will be wider and dietary habits will change, often resulting in poor eating habits. Extension nutrition educators have the capacity to intervene as they strive to improve dietary behaviors and the health status among immigrants.
Studies have shown that translation of existing nutrition educational programs into other languages is not sufficient to meet the needs of the immigrants. Programs and the people who deliver them must be culturally aware or culturally-sensitive to be effective.
To facilitate culturally-sensitive nutrition education, Extension nutrition educators can teach newcomers how to preserve the healthful dietary practices they have and minimize the negative health aspects of acculturation to the "American diet”. Immigrants can maintain their traditional eating habits, while adopting the healthful aspects of eating in this country.
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Meet the Board – Treasurer
Nancy Stehulak (OH), Treasurer
This is Nancy Stehulak’s second board appointment, having served as the Central Regional Director 2013-2015. Nancy retired from her position as County Extension Director and Educator in Henry County Ohio early in 2017. Her specialization in Ohio was financial education and leadership development. You might have met up with Nancy in a financial concurrent session at one of our annual sessions. Nancy and her husband, Carl, are the parents of three sons and six beautiful grandchildren.
Why did she put her name up for a national officer? It was really time to give back to the organization, as NEAFCS has allowed her to meet up with very dedicated people across the nation. As well, these connections have led to greater programming and very interesting discussions about Extension and the changing role of Family and Consumer Sciences. It appears the need today is great to encourage families toward success…financially…emotionally…and healthfully.
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