Extension Update: March 2004 Archives
Roundtable discussions looking at issues and questions about program development and evaluation are scheduled by the Program Development and Evaluation Council. The three half-day-roundtable discussions are not set up as professional development workshops, but as discussion and work time where staff bring ideas or a program in progress to receive feedback from colleagues. All roundtable discussions, offered through PicTel if there’s enough interest at a given site, will run from 9-noon.
Dates and Topics:
March 31- Logic Models: Bring your draft or an idea for a program and spend time working on it. Logic Models are created most effectively within a group framework, so take advantage of sharing your model with others. At the same time, you’ll get some practice with the model and a head start on your next plan of work.
April 19 - Evaluation Methods: If you’re planning a program, but aren't sure of the best way to evaluate it, this discussion will get you started. We'll talk about what methods work best for particular outcomes and help each other out, as “evaluation consultants.” There will be time to discuss the April New England Evaluation Conference and answer any questions that came from those presentations.
May 18 - PD&E Grab Bag: We'll discuss evaluation methods and talk about preparing for the next Plan of Work.
To schedule PicTel use, email Lisa Townson to let her know if and where you will attend at least four days prior to the scheduled discussion. If there aren't enough people at a site, we need to let locations know so they can schedule the room for other uses.
To handle all updates to our website, an on-line form is now used to request web updates, deletions, and the addition of new content. The form is located at: http://cecf1.unh.edu/webupdate/index.cfm?fuseaction=webupdate.home .
To log in, use the username sent to you in October (e.g., sjudd) and the password you received, or the one you changed it to. If you're not sure of your password, you may have it emailed to you from the login form.
All requests for changes to the website must be made using this form. Please do not email or call in your requests, as this new system enables us to track changes and distribute workload when necessary. Any content for the front page of the website needs to be approved by Nancy Franz, Peg Boyles, or Holly Young. Anytime you login, you’ll be able to see the status of your requests
Representatives from several horticultural trade associations came together March 10 at the University of New Hampshire to explore formation of a Horticultural Industries Council. Cathy Neal, an Extension specialist who facilitated the meeting along with Rick Simpson, president of the NH Plant Growers Association, sees the council as a vehicle for promoting communication and facilitating action on issues of common concern. The discussion touched on many common challenges and opportunities, such as legislative and regulatory action, membership recruitment and member benefits, support for education and Extension, and visibility and promotion of the horticultural industry. “Every trade group contacted was very excited about the opportunities such a council presents, to share resources, to enhance and promote the industry, and to respond with one voice when legislative or other issues surface that affect the industry.” said Neal. The council meets again in November.
Environmental horticulture, the largest and fastest-growing sector of agriculture in New Hampshire, includes over 900 firms in the industry and an estimated gross value of $438 million annually. This figure includes production firms such as nurseries and greenhouses, retail operations such as garden centers and florists, and landscape and tree services. Vegetable and fruit production adds another $26 million to the horticultural industry’s value.
To access an individual's "electronic records" without his or her expressed consent, you need written authorization from a University of New Hampshire Vice President. Please take the time to familiarize yourself with: USNH Policy on Privacy and Security of Technological Resources and Acceptable Use Policy for Information Technology Resources at the University of New Hampshire.
Basically, you may not access an employee's data (email, files, etc.) without written approval from a VP or consent of the individual.
Staff seeking reimbursement for travel and other expenses through the BSC for January, February and March must submit them by March 31. This includes grant-sponsored programs. Timeliness enhances management of our budget deficit. Thanks for observing this important deadline.
Paul Bonaparte-Krogh completed his first year on March 10 as Assistant Director, County Operations, and I’m preparing for his annual performance review. Please use the attached form to provide specific and substantive feedback regarding your experiences with Paul and perceptions of his effectiveness as Assistant Director. The position announcement is also available for your review. Please return your completed form by Friday, April 16. Many thanks for taking time to provide your assessment. Feel free to call if you have any information you prefer to discuss with me.
Strafford County is searching for a temporary 50% time Extension Educator for 4-H Youth Development. If you know of possible candidates please direct them to the UNH web site to apply on line.
UNH Cooperative Extension’s Strengthening New Hampshire Communities Program collaborates with the University of Vermont Cooperative Extension, the Vermont Center for Rural Studies, and the University of Maine Cooperative Extension to develop a web-based tool that helps northern New England communities measure their capacity for self-development in the following community functions:
Economic Vitality
Sustainable Environment
Cultural and Historic Preservation
Health and Well Being
Services for Youth, Families and Seniors
Social Networks and Civic Engagement
Not only does the interactive, web-based survey enable communities to determine their capacity for self-development in these areas, it directs them to resources that help them address existing or emerging needs or deficiencies. Foremost in importance, the survey design helps Cooperative Extension in northern New England enhance outreach programming to meet community needs and help communities benchmark progress in building their capacity.
The survey works in this way: Steering committee members planning a Community Profiles or other Extension program receive a password to enter the “Community Capacity Assessment” website. Members divide into groups of two or three based on their knowledge, skills and/or interests since the survey comes in six sections. Each group fills out one section of the survey. The questions for each section vary from community to community, based on the demographics of the community selected from lists available within the survey.
After each group completes their survey section, they receive a score that provides a rough indicator of their community’s capacity to address issues for that particular section heading. In addition, the steering committee receives a summary of the community’s strengths and opportunities, based on survey responses. Each Extension system provides a directory of resources. Group then come together and discuss their findings at a steering committee meeting.
The goal of the Community Capacity Assessment Survey is for communities to think critically about resources and assets the community maintains and to identify opportunities to build the community’s capacity to address issues or needs.
The Program Area Structure Team recently submitted their recommendations to enhance Cooperative Extension’s program excellence. Their charge included reviewing the program leadership structure and determining if change is needed, and if so, recommend the most effective structure for interdisciplinary programs, base programs and cost effectiveness. I’ve endorsed their recommendations and ask all staff to review them as attached. The recommendations will be discussed across the organization as follows:
Overview with Leadership Team – March 10
Overview of the process with EMT - March 11
Overview of agriculture related recommendations with agricultural staff on March 19
Discussion of recommendations with all staff at regional staff meetings - April 12-14
Overview of recommendations with State Advisory Council on April 22
Discussion with specialists on April 23
We owe team members Larry Barker, Charlene Baxter, Anna Boudreau, Karen Bennett, Brian Doyle, Nancy Franz, Jim Grady, Val Long, Amy Ouellette and John Porter a huge thank you for a superb effort in fulfilling their committee charge. I know PAST invested a great deal of time and effort in a compressed period of time to analyze numerous options and scenarios. In the end they produced a set of recommendations that I believe positions us to fully achieve our Strategic Plan goals.
The investment this team made to produce recommendations for culture and structure change provides a strong foundation to build the organization we intend to become consistent with our Strategic Plan. Thanks again to PAST for the valuable contribution they've made to the future of UNH Cooperative Extension. Staff should contact PAST or myself to discuss these recommendations for program excellence.
Cooperative Extension’s community outreach, according to The Extension System: A Vision for the 21st Century, will only succeed if State Extension Systems around the country pool their knowledge and resources to build citizen capacity that strengthens communities. With this spirit of cooperation in mind, Cornell Cooperative Extension and UNH Cooperative Extension will host an exchange program enabling educators from each state to observe first-hand innovative programs and projects.
Educators from a variety of program areas within Cornell Cooperative Extension and the Community and Rural Development Institute (CaRDI) visit New Hampshire April 25-28 to learn more about the following innovative programs:
WREN (a female-run small business incubator in Bethlehem),
A forest cooperative in Carroll County,
Main Street programs in Littleton and Plymouth,
Jackson Community Profile,
GIS for Community Decision Makers,
UNH’s agricultural experiment farm, and other programs and projects. The week of June 21, educators from UNH Cooperative Extension travel to New York for two and a half days to observe first-hand, innovative programs and projects sponsored by Cornell Cooperative Extension. These include:
The Garden Mosaics Youth Community Gardening Project,
Ithaca Eco-Village,
Eco-tourism development in New York’s wine country,
Local community and economic development,
Niche agriculture, and other programs and projects.
Cornell Cooperative Extension will house up to eight UNH Cooperative Extension staff so the only expenses are meals and a portion of the transportation costs. For more information about the program or to indicate interest in participating, contact Charlie French by March 26.
One of five strategic themes in the recently approved University’s Academic Strategic Plan is “engagement and outreach.” To reflect this theme, grant money from the UNH Vice President for Research and Public Service’s discretionary fund is available for “outreach scholarship.” Outreach Scholarship projects represent research efforts that provide a mutually beneficial collaboration between UNH and external partners to generate and apply relevant knowledge that directly benefits the public.
Applications are available now for Fiscal Year 2004 discretionary grants. An application form and other guidelines are available in the Vice President for Research and Public Service office in Thompson Hall or by calling Kathy Mandsager at 862-1997. The deadline for proposals is April 15 at 4:30 pm. Awards will be announced by May 15, and funds available June 1. A total of $100,000 is available for FY04. All funding is for one year.
Jon Nute received the New Hampshire Forester of the Year award at the annual winter meeting of the NH Society of American Foresters February 13. Jon, an Extension Educator, Forest Resources, in Hillsborough County for 16 years, is a licensed New Hampshire forester, a certified national forester and international arborist. He served on Executive Committees for NH Tree Farms, NH Timberland Owners and the NH Society of American Foresters. He currently serves as the New Hampshire contributing newsletter editor for the New England Society of American Foresters. Previous Extension educators to receive the award are Peter Pohl, 1990, Karen Bennett, 1992, and Phil Auger, 1997.
The UNH Coastal Floating Lab is taking reservations for the 26th season. From May 12 to May 28, youth ages 10-18 will board the Lady Merrilee-Ann in Seabrook Harbor for a three-hour, hands-on learning adventure into the Gulf of Maine. They will collect critters from the bottom of the estuary, drag plankton nets to discover the microscopic ocean world, use hand-held bearing compasses and charts to navigate the harbor and trawl for fish. Participants sample estuary and ocean water to compare dissolved oxygen levels, temperature and salinity at different locations. They also use a current meter to determine the rate of water flow.
UNH Marine Docent volunteers and UNH students receive detailed training for the cruises and assist groups of students learn about the marine environment through onboard stations using simple equipment. A New Hampshire science framework-based Floating Lab curriculum is available for educators to prepare students for the cruise.
The Great Bay Living Lab is also offered for the same age group in the fall at the Jackson Estuarine Lab on Adams Point in Durham. The three to four hour program includes sampling aboard the University's research vessel, the Gulf Challenger, an inter-tidal investigation, an uplands trail hike and tours of the Jackson Lab.
Each program costs $370 for 25 students, their teachers and chaperones. The program is open to schools, home-school groups, scout troops and 4-H clubs. Contact Sharon Meeker or Barbara Pinto at 749-1565 to make reservations.