As we head into a New Year, I want to thank you and all our staff and volunteers for your dedication, commitment, and many contributions you've made this past year in our work with the citizens of New Hampshire. You can take great pride on the completion of another year of Cooperative Extension work that showcased numerous program accomplishments.

This past year, UNH welcomed a new president, Mark Huddleston, who immediately began learning about UNH Cooperative Extension. He was our guest at a September State Advisory Council and has already participated in one of our County Conversations hosted by Belknap and Carroll Counties. He toured the Coos County office as well and noted how impressed he was with our extensive outreach efforts.

We continued to welcome new faces this past year, most recently with Hugh Christian. As Assistant Director, Hugh will assume responsibility for oversight of Cooperative Extension's Financial and Human Resource activities. Also new on campus is Dr. Malcolm Smith, Extension Faculty and Specialist, Family Education and Policy; Kristina Ferrare, Forestry and Wildlife Program Outreach Assistant; and Emma Carcagno, Wildlife Program Assistant. Also joining us was Patrice Mettauer, Community Outreach, UNH Manchester.

In the counties, we welcomed Donna Lee, administrative assistant, Grafton County; Fred Borman, Rockingham County Forest Resources Extension Educator; Sue Farris, administrative assistant, Hillsborough County; Giegie Marrone, administrative assistant, Belknap County; Pam Joslin, administrative assistant, Sullivan County; Dana Karuza-Tulp, volunteer management program assistant, Grafton County; and Elizabeth Brink, Rockingham program assistant, agricultural resources.

The UNH Cooperative Extension Strategic Plan 2007-2012 was distributed earlier in the year and a Strategic Plan Implementation Team is currently looking at what the next steps will be to actualize the plan, assignment of responsibilities, resources, time frames for each action, and tracking/reporting of the plan's progress. The first goal of the 2007-2012 UNHCE strategic plan is at the heart of what we do to improve the lives of the people who live and work in New Hampshire:

UNH Cooperative Extension will enhance its responsiveness to significant issues facing youth, families and communities, the state’s natural resources and its economy in a changing social and natural environment.

The Strategic Planning Implementation Team recommended a proposal process through which significant resources would be dedicated to a small number of high priority issues. I will be sending out a "Request for Proposals" that respond to significant issues in early January.

We’ve looked at how to expand and become more effective with our outreach initiatives, with the most recent awarding of six grants focused on community outreach that will benefit several organizations in the greater Manchester area in the coming months. With funding from UNH Cooperative Extension, UNH’s Office of Outreach Scholarship and UNH Manchester, the $40,000 in grants will touch such diverse organizations at the Manchester Area Homeschoolers, YWCA of Manchester and the Hillcrest Terrace Retirement Community. These awards stem from the "engagement and outreach" priorities of the UNH Academic Plan, UNH Manchester’s plan, and our Extension strategic plan.

Again, I reiterate my admiration for your dedication to our mission and willingness to invest the effort necessary to make a difference. I continue to be proud to lead an organization that makes a positive difference in the lives of so many New Hampshire citizens. Given our outstanding network of county extension advisory councils and the strong political and public support for UNH Cooperative Extension, I'm confident we will remain a strong outreach system making impacts important to New Hampshire people.

I extend warmest wishes to you and your family for an enjoyable and restful holiday season. I wish you a happy 2008 and much personal and professional fulfillment.