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Strategies and programs that provide a more effective educational system for Ohio's workforce.

Fostering connections between rural and urban communities.

Growing Ohio's green industry and agriculture with high-impact commodity/issue teams.

Helping to create jobs through innovation and entrepreneurship.

Education leading to good stewardship of Ohio's natural resources.

Improving health and wellness, and positively impacting the state's economy.

Approaches for improving community quality of life.

02/26/2008

Special Issue: OSU Extension Strategic Plan

Dear Extension,

As you know, we are well in to our organization's strategic planning effort and you've probably already taken an opportunity to get involved. The strategic planning group has been hard at work, there are strategic issue committees that you might have joined, or perhaps you've taken a few minutes a couple of times over the last year to participate in the pulse survey. If you were in attendance at the annual conference, you had the chance to offer input for the strategic issues during roundtable discussions, as well as the chance to do so at one of the 2007 Spring Conferences. I appreciate any effort you've made to get involved and offer your thoughts. As we've said before, this is the whole organization's strategic plan - not one belonging just to the cabinet, or just to those who are working on a strategic planning committee. It is a plan that will lead us into the future as a group and help us to grow and continue to be relevant to the clientele we serve.

This is why I have asked all of you to attend the 2008 Conference, “Launching the Strategic Plan: See Yourself in Extension’s Future,” on May 15 in Columbus at the Rhodes Center. I want everyone to be a part of the celebration of launching into a new strategy to help us reach our future goals. Extension as a national program will celebrate its 100th anniversary in the year 2014. As we look to that 100 year milestone, we need to begin laying the groundwork to enter our next 100 years successful and relevant. We will begin the process of putting the plan into action when we meet. The Conference is our kick off to a plan to help our organization grow and increase our importance to the State of Ohio and beyond.

Between now and May 15, we will share parts of the strategic plan that have been developed. The information will be shared in the Communique (so please keep reading), during the March 20 Video Communique, and at the county director's training session April 23 and 24. In addition, I will be traveling the state and conducting dialogue sessions in 30 counties - 10 from each region. During these sessions, I want to hear your thoughts on what is best for the organization, ask questions about where you feel we are heading and take time to understand the pressing concerns for the counties. Betty will set up the dates that work best with schedules.

This issue of communique is all about the strategic plan, so all articles are related to strategic planning and information that is having an impact on the plan. Please take a few minutes of your time to read through and get up to speed so that we can move forward together into our future. As always, as we move forward, please feel free to contact me directly about any concerns or questions you might have. All members of the Extension Administrative Cabinet also have open doors for questions and concerns.

Thank you for your continued commitment.

Sincerely,

Keith Smith



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