Thoughts as Our Organization Continues to Change…for the Better

I want to thank everyone for your contributions to OSU Extension and your belief in our mission and the purpose of our work. Despite these extreme budget challenges, we are all doing exciting things for Extension’s future. From the strategic plan implementation to working out restructuring details to daily responsibilities within your particular unit, it takes a consolidated effort and everyone’s positive attitude to keep OSU Extension moving forward. As Paul Hawken, author, has said…“Everything is connected…no one thing can change by itself.”

Of course, there are many factors that we do not yet know about the budget situation, which is foremost in our minds at the moment - and we’re hoping to learn more next week, but the budget is only part of our story.

Our clientele’s needs dictate most of our efforts -- the research of our own staff and Ohio State colleagues gives us valuable knowledge to share -- the enthusiasm of our volunteers and other local supporters means we reach more people in communities throughout the state than we can on our own -- funding gives us the means to disseminate information -- and the talents of our staff mean that we use the resources we have as efficiently and effectively as possible.

I remain very proud of the support we continue to have from our stakeholders, legislators overall, and county commissioners. I am extremely confident in the value of Extension - we all know that we have much to offer the citizens of Ohio. As we work through many of the restructuring plan details, keep in mind an often-repeated quote from Mahatma Gandhi - “We must become the change we want to see.”

This process is challenging, but we have a vision for OSU Extension that we created when we drafted the strategic plan. We must keep the end goal in mind as we restructure, regroup, and reconfigure how we work together - within counties, throughout areas, and across the state. An interesting take on things by Georg Christoph Lichtenberg, German scientist and satirist…“I cannot say whether things will get better if we change; what I can say is they must change if they are to get better.”

Your continued hard work and your focus on making this plan work for the good of the organization is paramount. It’s important to keep in mind our history, but it’s also necessary that we change our way of thinking to bring our organization forward. “Disconnecting from change does not recapture the past. It loses the future.” - Kathleen Norris, author.

As always, our overall goal remains the same - our mission is to engage the people of Ohio to strengthen their lives and communities through research-based educational programming. I appreciate your commitment to this organization. Thank you.

Sincerely, Keith

Video Communiqué Available Online

The link for the latest edition of the Video Communiqué is available online at: http://clickvideo.ag.ohio-state.edu/communique_609/communique_609.html. If you cannot view the video online, please contact Cheryl Buck (buck.19@osu.edu) to request that a DVD be sent to you via county mail. If you have any questions, also please direct those to Cheryl, who will forward them to the appropriate contacts.

Pulse Survey Report

Recently your colleagues responded to the monthly pulse survey in the following way:

*Mean scores could indicate agreement…

• The FAQs posted have been useful in helping me understand the restructuring process.
  (mean of 6.67)
• I am aware of changes made based upon the implementation of the strategic plan. (mean of 6.67)
• I am looking forward to working within the newly restructured area. (mean of 6.42)
• The proposed nine staffing areas (EERA model) reflect our current programming efforts.
  (mean of 5.55)
• I am confident that the strategic plan is guiding staffing decisions. (mean of 5.50)

*Mean scores do not clearly indicate agreement or disagreement…

• In the restructuring plan, my county is similar to other counties within our defined area.
  (mean of 5.27)
• Our local program offerings have been reduced within the last six months. (mean of 5.21)
• OSU Extension will be a more productive organization after restructuring is complete.
  (mean of 5.07)

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

Note - the same questions were also asked the previous month, for a comparison. The first responses were printed in the May 20 issue. Additional information is available at: http://www.zoomerang.com/Shared/SharedResultsPasswordPage.aspx?ID=L23T53LLV6DE. Please continue to share your opinions and insights through participation in the pulse survey!

OSUE Restructuring - Working Across Program Areas

As mentioned in the Video Communiqué, it is NOT the intent of the restructuring model to have people work in one program area only. All educators must work in cross-program areas as appropriate - especially in this time of restucturing and transition. Educators may be assigned to one program area as a priority/specialization, but you have always been asked to cross areas and share expertise as necessary. Many Extension staff already use work this way in your daily activities, and we appreciate everyone's work within and across program lines to address needs and issues for all of our clientele. Your positive attitude about the restructuring process has been helpful as we work through the details of this new mode of operation.

Director’s Internal Advisory Committee

Keith Smith held his Director's Internal Advisory Committee meeting on Tuesday, June 23. There was excellent attendance at the meeting. The first topic was the state budget. Keith shared the latest update on the budget at the time, given the Governor’s recent announcement of his suggestions to the conference committee on ways to cut the budget; this actually meant going back to even less than the original cuts suggested by the Ohio executive branch. Further discussion focused on what we are doing to alert conference committee legislators and ask our clientele for help contacting legislators about how important it is to maintain the budget the House and Senate had recommended.

A second item of discussion was the name of Extension. This involved a very lively discussion on ramifications of the suggested name change for Extension that was communicated in a previous issue of the Communiqué (June 17). Other ideas on how to deal with the name change were suggested. Again, very lively discussion; more information will be shared with the system as a result of this discussion.

Shared services were also discussed, especially questions about the accountant positions. More information will also be available on this after we know the state budget.

The last discussion item was about relocation of Extension educators given the budget situation in the state, and if there would be possibilities or suggestions for relocation for individuals based on needs in given areas. The answer was affirmative that we are in discussion on possibilities, and more information will be available soon.

Again, good discussion with the Director's Internal Advisory Committee. The next meeting will be Friday, September 25, 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. in Room 111, Ag Administration Building in Columbus.

OSUE and OARDC on YouTube

OSU Extension and OARDC now have a presence on YouTube, thanks to the efforts of the Educational Media Services team in Communications & Technology (led by Randy Nemitz, Chris Dicus, Mitch Moser, John Rice, and Walter Warkus). Visit both channels at http://www.youtube.com/user/osuextension and http://www.youtube.com/user/oardc to view a number of videos about our work with various audiences. Encourage your clientele and colleagues to share and use these links as well.

Online Registration via Certain

As of spring 2009, a new online registration system is available for county and state use. OSU Extension will continue working with the Office of Continuing Education to use Certain for the next year, as well as utilize the services of Julia McCafferty in CED to develop registration systems using Certain. Part of Julia's time will also be spent creating a training component and materials for those who are using Certain.

The April 2009 Leadership for Tomorrow Conference registration was handled via Certain, many woodland management programs have used Certain, and the upcoming all-Extension Annual Conference will also use this system. All Extension personnel are strongly encouraged to utilize Certain for online registration. You can link directly to the Online Registration System Instructions, Online Registration System Form, and the Fee Calculator. Please contact Cindy Buxton (buxton.65@osu.edu) with additional questions.

You can use the LimeSurvey software for non-fee events and meeting scheduling. If you have questions, the primary contact is Rob Luikart, associate director, Communications & Technology (luikart.7@osu.edu; 614-292-2011). 

Hold the Dates! Developing OSU Extension Curricula In-Service

What: A curriculum development “how-to” in-service for OSU Extension educators from all program areas delivered via blended e-learning outlets.

Why: To improve knowledge and skills in creating effective OSU Extension curricula (as outlined in our strategic plan). As we move toward greater content-area specialization, increased understanding of instructional design and curriculum development methodologies will result in higher-quality learning engagements with our clientele and greater overall program impact.

When: September 21 to October 9. A self-paced pre-training will be available via Moodle (the “e” part), from September 21 to October 5, followed by an in-person session on October 9 at the Nationwide & Ohio Farm Bureau 4-H Center, from 9:30am-4pm. More details and registration information will be forthcoming. Class size will be limited to 35; book time on your calendar now.

FMI: Contact Kirk Bloir (614-247-6527; bloir.1@osu.edu) or Donna Brown (614-292.0529; brown.36@osu.edu).

ANREP National Conference RFPs due July 18

Opportunities for Extension in a Changing Environment:
Lessons from the Last Frontier
 
The 7th Biennial Association of Natural Resource Professionals (ANREP) National Conference at the University of Alaska-Fairbanks (June 2010), offers a forum for sharing methods, tools, and programming to help us address the challenges we are facing in providing research-based community outreach in a changing environment. The conference will emphasize creating effective multi-state and multi-agency collaborations to meet these challenges with the greatest impact and efficiency.

ANREP conferences feature diverse natural resource topics, including wildlife, forestry, water quality, sustainability, youth, and community involvement, etc. They are also seeking presentations that focus on emerging issues including climate change and energy and how Extension is dealing with programming under challenging budget times. Examples of interdisciplinary programming, collaborations with researchers or multi-state efforts are encouraged. Educators and state specialists from all Cooperative Extension program areas are invited to submit an abstract. The submission deadline has been extended to July 18.
 
For more information on the conference and review the criteria and submission process for abstract proposals, view the ANREP conference Web site. The abstract information is also attached.

Department of Human & Community Resource Development Update

Announcement from Dr. Moser -- After two terms (eight years) of faithful and effective service as chair of the Department of Human and Community Resource Development (HCRD), Dr. Bob Birkenholz has requested to return to a full-time faculty position as a professor of HCRD. I am grateful to Dr. Birkenholz for his steadfast service to the department and the college.

In the near future, the faculty in Rural Sociology will transfer from HCRD to another academic unit. I am hopeful that several faculty in our Department of Extension will elect to affiliate with the faculty who remain in HCRD. Together, I am asking the faculty in HCRD to reinvent the department to meet the emerging needs in Ohio and beyond that their disciplines can serve well.

I am delighted that I have persuaded Dr. L.H. Newcomb to come out of retirement to serve as Interim Chair of Human and Community Resource Development for a period of time, during which he will lead the reinvention efforts of the department. As you may know, before Dr. Newcomb served for 18 years as Associate Dean and later Senior Associate Dean of the College, he was chair of the (then) Department of Agricultural Education. He is uniquely suited to assume this key leadership position at this critical time.

Ohio Plant Diagnostic Network Is Now Established

A new partnership announced June 24 between The Ohio State University and the Ohio Department of Agriculture will enhance the protection of Ohio's crops, forests and food supply. The Ohio Plant Diagnostic Network will be part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Plant Diagnostic Network, and brings together all labs within ODA, OSU Extension, OARDC, and outreach facilities in Ohio counties that conduct diagnostic work. 

The network will provide a quick detection, response and recovery approach to high-consequence disease or pest outbreaks so that crops, forest products and our food supply can be protected. Recent examples of high-consequence diseases/pests include emerald ash borer, Asian soybean rust and sudden oak death.

The OPDN will link plant health specialists and diagnosticians throughout Ohio, including from the USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, ODA, and Ohio State. The partnership expands and enhances services within the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences, such as the C. Wayne Ellett Plant and Pest Diagnostic Clinic. The new announcement between Ohio State University and ODA also improves existing partnerships, such as those with the OSU Extension Pesticide Safety Education Program.

ODA director Bob Boggs said that the new partnership brings together in one location state and federal regulators, research scientists and students. "With this joining, Ohio will be on the cutting edge for other states to follow," he said.

Farm Science Review - September 22-24

The 47th annual Farm Science Review will be held September 22-24 at the Molly Caren Agricultural Center in London, Ohio. This year’s theme, “Your 2009 Bale Out,” is intended to emphasize the resources available at the show to help farmers strengthen their business.

Not only does Farm Science Review provide equipment, technology, products and services all in one location, the show is unique because it incorporates the education, research and expertise of a major land-grant university. In addition to Ohio State's presence, Farm Science Review will also involve Purdue University, whose researchers will offer information in several areas such as field crops, family and consumer sciences, economics and conservation. The Purdue partnership is in its fourth year and is a great example of collaboration and outstanding outreach education.

For information about Farm Science Review programs and events, visit http://fsr.osu.edu/. Tickets will cost $8 at the gate or $5 in advance when purchased from OSU Extension county offices or participating agribusinesses.

eXtension Community of Practice Awards

eXtension recently announced the formation and call for nominations for its first national eXtension Community of Practice Awards. The awards presentations will occur at the National eXtension Conference, October 20-23 in St. Louis, Missouri (for additional conference information, visit:  http://about.extension.org/wiki/2009_eXtension_National_Meeting).

National eXtension awards for Communities of Practice (CoP) will be presented in three categories:
1. Outstanding CoP - One awarded annually. Will include $5,000 awarded to the CoP budget.
2. CoP Achievement Awards - No more than three individual awards presented annually. Award to include $1,500 in travel budget to attend and present eXtension information at national/ professional meeting(s) of his/her choice.
3. CoP Partnership Awards - No more than three awarded annually.

Deadline for application is August 16. Nomination guidelines and evaluation criteria can be viewed at: http://about.extension.org/wiki/National_eXtension_Awards.

July eXtension Professional Development Opportunities

Give the eXtension staff 30 minutes and they'll teach you something useful. This month, eXtension is offering "30 Minute Sessions" on several topics including the much asked "Why Can't Google Find My Stuff?" as well as the Ask eXtension widget, Moodle, Ning, and profiles in the Extension directory, People. eXtension's professional development opportunities are open to all Cooperative Extension faculty, staff and employees. No pre-registration is required. To find out more about these and other eXtension-sponsored training sessions, visit http://about.extension.org/2007/06/29/july-professional-development-opportunities/.

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.

Personnel Update