Why Trees Matter - A Signature Program

Jim Chatfield and John Conglose
Co-Coordinators, Why Trees Matter Signature Program

The OSU Extension Why Trees Matter Signature Program was started in 2005, and currently involves OSUE educators and specialists in the ANR, CD, and
4-H program areas. Why Trees Matter focuses on the economic, environmental and social benefits of trees to Ohio citizens and communities. With the teachable moment for Ohioans of the importance of invasive species such as the emerald ash borer, the development of tools such as i-Tree models for estimating the environmental services of trees, and the emerging emphasis of green infrastructure for sustainability, the time for Why Trees Matter is now.

What have we done with the Why Trees Matter Program to date? A brief history of our projects is attached.

Pulse Survey – Assessing the Climate for Change

In an effort to assess the organization’s current climate for creating change, we asked the same questions (below) for two months. In this way, one-third of the organization had the opportunity to respond to the same questions - increasing the size of the response pool and assessing input from a larger portion of the organization.

By compiling results received in the July and August surveys, we found that your peers and colleagues shared the following responses:

*Mean scores could indicate agreement … 

• I do not tend to focus on the old ways of doing things. (mean score of 6.97)
• I am clear about why the strategic plan is being implemented. (mean score of 6.71)
• Important habits/routine procedures are not disrupted by the strategic plan. (mean score of 6.20)
• I think that there is a high reward for successfully implementing the strategic plan.
  (mean score of 6.04)

*Mean scores in the middle of the scale between agreement and disagreement …

• Extension’s rewards are aligned with our priorities. (mean score of 5.01)
• I am not experiencing a significant amount of work-related stress. (mean score of 4.93)
• Extension has been consistently successful in implementing organizational change.
  (mean score of 4.91)

*Mean scores could indicate disagreement … 

• I believe the strategic plan implies Extension has performed poorly in the past. (mean score of 3.48)

*Using a scale of 1 (strongly disagree) to 10 (strongly agree)

Although these mean scores provide insight, we also saw a great deal of difference among individual responses. To see the complete range of scores to these questions, click on the following link:

July: http://www.zoomerang.com/Shared/SharedResultsSurveyResultsPage.aspx?ID=L23GW5QK7Z7E

August: http://www.zoomerang.com/Shared/SharedResultsSurveyResultsPage.aspx?ID=L23HTLLMU547

At the site, you will also see the responses to the three questions we continue to ask each month:
1) OSU Extension is heading in the right direction; 2) I am committed to OSU Extension; and
3) I receive adequate support in completing my job responsibilities. These three questions are repeated monthly, and compiled each six months.

Healthy Eating at Meetings Guidelines

Extension Administrative Cabinet recently endorsed the following guidelines for all of OSU Extension:

Ohio State University Extension promotes healthy lifestyles, including healthy food choices and regular physical activity, through our statewide programming efforts. As such, we recognize the importance of modeling our commitment to healthy lifestyles by striving to create a healthy work environment.

Due to the strong relationship between diet and health and the increasing rates of overweight and obese people, we are committing to health by supporting healthy food choices at work. Therefore, employees shall select healthy, low-fat and low-calorie food and beverage options for all Ohio State University Extension meetings.

By working together and striving to follow the recommendations outlined in the Selecting Healthy Food for Meetings and Selecting and Working with a Caterer fact sheets, we will promote better health and help reduce risks for chronic diseases. The intention of these guidelines is not to dictate what individual staff members eat or bring into the office for special occasions. Rather, these guidelines are intended to assist OSU Extension employees in making healthy food and beverage choices purchased with OSU Extension resources for all in-services, meetings, trainings, conferences, events, etc.

You will find these guidelines, fact sheets and a PowerPoint at http://extensionhr.osu.edu/resources/meetings/meeting.htm.

Linda Kutilek Retires October 31

Linda Kutilek will be retiring on October 31, after a 30-year career in Extension. Linda joined OSU Extension in 1995 as a member of the Human Resources unit, and became Leader of the Human Resources unit in 2003. For the last several years, Linda has served as Associate Director, Operations.

Due to current funding levels, this Associate Director position will not be filled immediately. Many of her responsibilities have been temporarily distributed among Administrative Cabinet members. OSU Extension will be hiring Linda back in mid-November for a temporary, part-time (.4FTE) role to assist in several specific areas for the organization.

Galaxy III Participation - One Correction

Andrea Tessier's name was omitted from the list of presenters at Galaxy III last month (attached to the October 8 issue). Andrea was a co-presenter with Kathy Dodrill during the Tuesday morning poster session, with an exhibit on Keep the "Pickle" out of Your Program. Again, congratulations to all of our poster and session presenters for representing Ohio's great Extension work at Galaxy!

Now Is Our Time! - Annual Conference is December 17-18

Reminder - the OSU Extension Annual Conference will be held on December 17-18 at the Ramada Plaza hotel in Columbus. Note: there is no pre-conference day this year. However, Dr. Paul Kuber is planning an animal science in-service on Tuesday, December 16 on main campus; it will include quality assurance training.

Renewable Energy Workshop - November 12

The Renewable Energy Workshop will be held on Wednesday, November 12 at OARDC/OSU in Wooster. Learn about current applications and future trends for wind, solar and biomass energies. For program details and registration, visit http://www.oardc.ohio-state.edu/ocamm/REW08.pdf. For more information, contact Mary Wicks (wicks.14@osu.edu; 330-202-3533) or Dr. Yebo Li (li.851@osu.edu; 330-263-3855).

2009 Ohio 4-H Foundation Grant Applications Now Available

The 2009 Ohio 4-H Foundation grant applications are now available. A detailed list of the 2009 grant opportunities and the grant application can be found at http://www.ohio4h.org/foundation/grants/forms.html. All Extension and University faculty and staff are eligible to submit an application for any of these funds if the proposal is appropriate to the funding focus.

The deadline for the 2009 grant cycle is 5 pm on November 19. This deadline applies to all 4-H Foundation grants, including Sauder grants.

*Please note - This year, the Sauder grants are due at the same time as the other 4-H Foundation grants, and the funding cycle is now January 1-December 31, 2009. Also, the focus for the Sauder mini-grants is no longer Real Money, Real World. Please see the 2009 Grants Opportunities document for a full explanation of the new priorities for Sauder mini-grants. 

Contact Erin Wingfield, Ohio 4-H Foundation Resource Development Manager, if you have any questions (614-247-7606; ewingfield@cfaes.osu.edu).

Leadership for Tomorrow: Exploring New Approaches Conference - April 2009

Save the date...the Leadership for Tomorrow: Exploring New Approaches conference will be held on April 28-30, 2009 at the Ramada Plaza hotel in Columbus.

General session and research breakout topics will focus on working with the next generation of leadership, changing definitions of leadership, new leadership models, leading in times of change, changing demographics, and the future of leadership. More information will be available later this fall - visit http://leadershipfortomorrow.osu.edu/ for more information. The call for proposals (due November 30) is also attached.

Sponsored by OSU Extension, the Gist Endowed Chair for Extension Education and Leadership, and Epsilon Sigma Phi - Alpha Eta Chapter (Ohio).

Endowment Income - Update from OSU Provost Alutto

With the recent changes in the economy, Provost Alutto has communicated the following message regarding endowment income:

"The University's endowment is affected by market movements just as any other investment vehicle. I am sure you are aware of the declines in market value that have affected all investment vehicles. As a result of shrinking endowment values we can expect academic units with endowments to be receiving lower revenues as we move forward. Although we do not know the impact these market changes will actually have on funds made available to units of the university, it is important to anticipant reduced funding being available from a smaller endowment base. This will affect colleges differently, because endowment income as a percentage of total budget varies considerably. Please keep this in mind as you develop your fiscal plans."

This will impact endowments for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2010 - as endowment income is recorded in July of each fiscal year, and the fiscal year 2009 endowment income has been recorded.  Please note that this impacts any positions that are funded through endowment income.

Personnel Update