Election Results

There were mixed election results this week, for the OSU Extension-only and county sales tax levies. OSU Extension is grateful to voters for their support at the polls on Tuesday. Our supporters know that Extension provides programming that boosts the job outlook and the economy. We provide training for workforce development. We work with farms and businesses to make them more profitable. We offer personal financial management education. We help young people involved in 4-H turn into leaders and good citizens. We pledge to continue our work on behalf of all Ohio citizens.

While our levy did not pass in several counties, we understand the economic realities of the day for many of our county citizens. Local Extension staff and Extension administration will be meeting with the county commissioners to determine what the outcome of the vote will mean to each county office. No decisions have been made at this time, and more information will be passed along as available.

Extension Levies

• Hardin - passed
• Coshocton - failed
• Jackson - failed
• Monroe - passed
• Paulding - failed

Sales Tax Levies

• Allen - failed
• Hancock - passed
• Stark - failed
• Van Wert - failed

OSU Extension Web Site Update

As you’ve probably noticed, the new state and county Web page design is live as of November 3; and the development team has been refining our server capacity and accessibility since then. Please be patient as these issues are worked out.

Thank you again to all of our content migration assistants for your work getting your county information ready for the transition. Please note: your existing http://county.osu.edu URL remains the correct URL for public use. There is no need to forward anyone to a different URL. However, please double check your contact information, electronic signatures and other paperwork to make sure they list the correct URL(s) - http://extension.osu.edu and http://county.osu.edu.

The new site template is on brand, with a consistent design between all counties and the state site, and is very user-friendly. The calendar function and photo posting are just two of the tasks that are greatly improved in the new Plone v3 environment.

This project will continue to be a “work in progress” as all counties continue filling in your template items. Remember to delete any "Greek" type in the template, even if you have no information for a particular section. No text is better than fake text! The development team will also continue to review site content in the public view, as well as on the programming side to help with any migration issues and questions.

Remember, your old site information will be accessible only until November 30. If you still need to transfer any information from that site, please do so as soon as possible. The county migration assistants have been notified about how to access that information.

A list of site needs is still being compiled, and we are developing a timeline for other upcoming site features and projects. We also are working on a communication plan to help you update clientele and other local stakeholders about the template and design update; you will receive more information later this month. In the meantime, please continue refining your new site content, and our Web visitors will be pleasantly surprised by our updated look and accessibility of information. Please send any content questions to Cheryl Buck (buck.19@osu.edu).

Pulse Survey - Successes Related to the Strategic Plan

Recently, 28 of your colleagues shared their opinions and insights in response to the open-ended question in the monthly pulse survey - “My successes related to the strategic plan are…” Here are samples of the responses to this question:

• Being willing to aim toward ever-changing targets; providing financial and nutrition education in local programming while partnering with other agencies; giving targeted messages; and searching for ways to increase or economize available program dollars.
• Educating the public on the commitment we as Extension have to the community and serving those who are in need.
• Legislative Relations - our commissioners understand the strategic plan and have supported us through recent changes in OSUE.
• Implementation of a signature program to an underserved audience. Increased communication of OSU Extension programming to a non-agricultural public. Increased use of technology to assist clientele and enhance productivity and efficiency.
• Programming within EERA rather than strict county-based programs.
• Just beginning. Being able to focus on an area of specialization has allowed me to become more focused and to create plans to implement new and innovative programming within our EERA.
• Have assisted in very successful implementation of one of the signature programs within our county. Have begun to adapt programming to new staffing model emphasizing specializations.

To see a complete list of the responses shared, you can access the Web site at: http://www.zoomerang.com/Shared/SharedResultsPasswordPage.aspx?ID=L23YH5S95GTR. Each month, the responses gathered from the pulse survey are shared with the members of the Extension administrative cabinet, and with the organization through the Communiqué posting. We encourage you to participate in the pulse survey twice a year when you receive the e-mail invitation.

4-H News Story - DVD Mailed to County Offices

Last week, a DVD of 4-H Youth Development highlights was sent to each county office in the county mail packets. This is a shortened version of a half-hour television program that was produced by WHIO-TV in Dayton. You may show this video at meetings, but it is not to be posted online or published. Please follow the instructions that were sent to your office with the DVD. If you have any questions about use of the video, contact Suzanne Steel, marketing director in Communications & Technology ( steel.7@cfaes.osu.edu; 614-292-9637).

Extension Educator Title Use on Print Materials

As we updated county directors and EERA leaders recently, the attached list is an update about the use of county name with educator titles in print, based upon several suggestions from our educators. We do understand that utilizing your county name can be a valuable tool in local programming and communication efforts. Thus - the use of your county name on educator print materials is fine; and please note: the EERA name MUST also be included.

The attachment has several basic examples noted. Please use these guidelines for your local educator print materials, office stationery, etc. If you have questions, please let us know ( buck.19@osu.edu).

Employee Self-Assessment

During the month of November, Extension employees are being asked to complete an online self-assessment. The Employee Self-Assessment is designed to help employees and the organization as we transition to a competency-based approach to human resource management. Through completing the assessment, individual employees will become more familiar with OSU Extension’s core competencies while reflecting on strengths and areas for improvement. For employees with programming responsibilities, the self-assessment includes both core competencies and one area of expertise - program evaluation. The results will also help the organization to assess capacity and prioritize training needs. If you have any questions about the Employee Self-Assessment, contact Graham Cochran (cochran.99@osu.edu) or Debby Lewis (lewis.205@osu.edu).

Open Enrollment - October 26 through November 6

Benefits Open Enrollment began on Monday, October 26 and will continue through Friday, November 6. The Open Enrollment Web site (http://hr.osu.edu/oe) has detailed information about health plans and other useful tools that can help you make the best choices for you and your family. During open enrollment, please review your covered dependents and ensure they meet the university’s eligibility guidelines. For those who wish to enroll via paper forms, forms are available in printable format online or by contacting Human Resources at service@hr.osu.edu or 292-1050.

Pre-Retirement Workshop - November 12

Registration for the Pre-Retirement Workshop is up and running. If you are within 10 years of retirement, you will want to attend! This year, the workshop will be at the Nationwide and Ohio Farm Bureau 4-H Center on Thursday, November 12 from 8:15 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. Speakers from OPERS, STRS, OSU-HR and Social Security will present information on retirement benefits. A financial planner will join the workshop in the afternoon to discuss how to plan for retirement. There is no charge for Extension employees to attend, and a spouse/partner may attend for a $30 registration fee which includes lunch and workshop materials. You can view the agenda and register at http://zoomerang.com/Survey/?p=WEB229T52HTP4E.

Leadership for Tomorrow Conference - Proposals Due November 30

The Leadership for Tomorrow: Strategies for Resurgence Conference is scheduled for April 21-22, 2010 in Columbus. The conference will encourage discussion about skills and strategies needed for resurgence - leadership needed when the economy rebounds and recovers. Proposals are due November 30. Topics can include, but are not limited to: entrepreneurship, innovation, communication/engagement, prioritizing, diversity, globalization, and creating prominence. To submit a proposal, visit http://leadershipfortomorrow.osu.edu - Call for Proposals section. The RFP is attached.

Graduate Courses - Winter 2010

Attention Extension Colleagues:
If you are looking for professional development opportunities or wanting to earn credit toward a degree that is available 24/7, you just found it! Don’t forget that an OSU employee benefit is tuition remission (in other words, classes are FREE).

For Winter Quarter 2010 in Agricultural and Extension Education (AEE), don't miss out on two "Daily Doubles" - courses offered on the same day (Mondays - AEE 723 and AEE 770) and (Thursdays - AEE 622 and AEE 823).

Why not go green and take a hybrid course (half online, half in person)? Save energy, gas, and time by going hybrid with AEE 622 and AEE 823.

Don’t miss out on a new seminar class: “Redefining the Land-grant Mission - University’s Engagement with Communities” - AEE 795.02. Also check out the research series courses: AEE 885, 886, 888, 995. Register now so courses do not get cancelled or reach capacity. Course descriptions and registration instructions are listed in the attached summary.

Two Things You Need to do with eXtension: OSU Extension Implementation Plan Update

As one of six national eXtension pilot institutions (along with Louisiana State University, Oregon State University, North Dakota State University, West Virginia State University, and Michigan State University), Ohio State University Extension has developed and been implementing an eXtension implementation plan. Two major parts that affect all Extension employees are:

1. Cabinet has determined that all Extension appointments will have an eXtension ID by December 31. We will offer more training over the next two months, but you can easily sign up at: https://www.extension.org/people/signup. If you have an ID and can’t remember your password go to: https://www.extension.org/people/account/new_password.
2. We will also be implementing an Ask-an-Expert system on all county Web pages over the next few months. This will allow clientele to submit questions directly from the Web pages. We believe that over time this will help streamline questions to Extension professionals based on specialization - reducing the number of questions each of us needs to respond to outside of our area of specialization. More information and webinars will come out this month via the Communiqué and the all-Extension listserv. All Extension professionals are expected to participate in the system.

November eXtension Professional Development Opportunities

Give eXtension 30 minutes, and they'll teach you something useful. eXtension's professional development opportunities are open to all Extension faculty, staff and employees. No pre-registration is necessary. Instructions are attached.

*November 6 at 11am ET - "Search Engine Optimization" by Wright Frazier, webmaster for Purdue's Agriculture Communications Service. Learn what search engine optimization means, why it is relevant, and who is your audience. Wright will discuss search engine optimization concepts, the importance of subjects and bylines, using keywords, originality of text, and tools for measuring success.

*November 10 at 2pm ET - "Successes and Challenges of a Statewide Ask-an-Expert Widget Implementation" by Rhonda Conlon, Kyleen Burgess and Adrian Gaskins. North Carolina Cooperative Extension is well into a statewide effort to implement the eXtenson Ask-an-Expert widget on all of its county Web sites. Learn how NCCE has obtained administrative support for the project, enabled adoption by field faculty and staff, and provided on-going training, support and motivation for using the Ask-an-Expert widget.

*November 18 at 3pm ET -  "Intro To Pachyderm: Interactive Multimedia on the Web" by Jeff Hino, lifelong learning leader, Oregon State University. Hino will demonstrate Pachyderm-- an open source Web-based, media-rich interactive flash presentation and authoring system. Pachyderm allows the construction of online nonlinear learning objects and modules that can incorporate video, audio, graphics and text in a template-driven user-friendly environment.

*November 24 at 2pm ET - "Connecting with Online Communities: The Seaman Knapp Model of Engagement." This session will focus on helping you unearth existing networks in your areas of expertise, monitoring community conversations, and sensing emerging issues. A special focus will be placed on real-time search and trending topics.

Recordings of many past professional development sessions can be found at the main eXtension Wiki at http://about.eXtension.org/wiki. Scroll down under the Professional Development heading and find "Recordings of eXtension Professional Development Sessions" or search on the word Recordings.