Extension Update: October 2006 Archives

Debbie Luppold has recently had her position redefined as an Extension Specialist, Food and Nutrition. Debbie provides statewide leadership for the Nutrition Connections Program and has been with UNH Cooperative Extension for 20 years, joining the organization in 1986.

The staff with whom she works provide educational programming to limited income individuals, groups and youth to teach the basics of nutrition, food safety, shopping wisely for food, menu planning and reading food labels. Debbie also provided key leadership, support and supervision for the Family Lifeskills Program until that program contract ended on September 30.

Debbie is a registered and licensed dietitian with a B.S in Human Nutrition from the University of Massachusetts and an M.S. in Nutrition from Boston University.

Students, faculty and staff from the Community Leadership Program at the Thompson School, the Department of Resource Economics and Community Development, UNH Cooperative Extension, Project L.E.A.D. and the Office of Community Service and Leadership are sponsors of the first annual Community Leadership Film Festival.

Throughout the coming year, five films open to the UNH community and to the public will serve as a way of engaging them in dialogue about key community development and leadership issues from a variety of perspectives. The films are free, so come join us!

Upcoming films are:
The Milagro Beanfield War, directed by Robert Redford
When: November 6, 6:30-9pm
Where: COLE 219 Theater (Thompson School)

Bringing Down a Dictator, directed by Steve York
When: November 30, 6:30-9pm
Where: Wildcat Den (MUB)

As Bob Edmonds retires, Lisa Townson has agreed to provide leadership for the organization in the area of professional development and new staff orientation. In addition to continuing the new staff mentoring program and offering new staff orientation workshops, she will be responsible for conducting needs assessment around professional development and coordinating in-service offerings that support Extension staff in their delivery of innovative programs that respond to critical and emerging issues in New Hampshire.

We are also pleased to announce Barbara Wright will take on a new role in the organization. As of November 6, she will work with Lisa as a staff development and instructional design coordinator. Barbara will support staff development for the organization by providing expertise in instructional design, distance education applications for programs, and assistance in assessing current and future professional development needs of staff.

2007 will be the launch of a new Communications and Information Technology Leadership and Management Institute. The Institute is being sponsored by the Association for Communication Excellence (ACE). Partners in development include the American Distance Education Consortium (ADEC) and representatives of the National Extension Technology Conference (NETC). Initially, this institute will be open to professionals working in the Land-Grant University system and our partners in the USDA.

The flagship class of this Institute begins following the 2007 ACE/NETC meeting in Albuquerque, NM in June 2007. At this time, the Management and Evaluation Team is seeking proposals for both the programmatic aspects of the Institute as well as the management and support of the Institute.

Management Support: The goal is to find a suitable institutional home for the Institute. The team is looking for an institution that can provide the technical hosting support as well as an individual who can work one quarter time as the Institute director.

Content Development & Delivery: The goal is to find suitable developers and providers for one or more of the three multi-day learning sessions that will make up the year-long Institute experience.

Although it will make for a more competitive proposal if the hosting institution and the home institution for the director are the same, that is not a requirement.

If you have questions, please go to: http://extension.oregonstate.edu/leadme You will find a question box to submit your question. Questions will be answered in a posting to this site. That way all people who ask questions will see the answers to all questions.

November 6 is the starting date for two new 4-H Youth Development staff.

Trent Schriefer is the new Extension Specialist, 4-H Youth Development. Trent comes to us from Pennsylvania, where he is currently teaching science and serves as adjunct principal at Grace Prep High School. Trent is also founder/consultant of AgriTrain International, where he provides consultation in agriculture and community development, participatory needs assessments, value-added development, marketing, business and management plans.

Trent has degrees in animal science, agricultural science, agricultural and Extension education. His office will be at the Equine Center on campus, and his work will focus most closely with 4-H animal science, and science and technology programs.

Michael Koski is the new Extension Educator, 4-H Youth Development in Hillsborough County. Michael comes to us from UMass, where for the past five years he has been a 4-H Extension educator in Plymouth County. Michael has a strong community club background, specializes in science, animal science, leadership and financial education. He is also trained in the youth component of the Strengthening Families program. Michael has degrees in biology and school administration.

Welcome Trent and Michael!

The 4-H Foundation of New Hampshire recognized Tom Fairchild, longtime UNH Cooperative Extension dairy specialist and 4-H supporter, with the Friend of 4-H Award during the Foundation's annual meeting last night at Canterbury Woods Country Club.

As chair of the 4-H Foundation Board, in 2002 Fairchild led the group through a successful Centennial Campaign to raise an additional $100,000 for the Foundation. His efforts helped move the board into active fundraising activities and broaden the Foundation's scope to support all areas of the 4-H youth development program.

Tom received the award from Foundation Chair Tom Frangione.

The annual meeting of the Foundation also showcased how it "invests" in New Hampshire youth. Guest speakers included parent Janet McCarthy, who's son Jessie, has attended 4-H Camp for the past five years, Justine Morris, a UNH freshman, Alice Ballenger, a VISTA volunteer for 4-H, Rachel Henderson, a Hillsborough County 4-H'er, and Extension Specialist Charlotte Cross. Janet and Jessie are shown in the photo to the right.

UNH Cooperative Extension Educator Marilyn Sullivan received the Distinguished Service Award for her outstanding leadership, educational programs and professional development at the recent annual meeting of the National Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences. Marilyn was recognized for her programming on family economics issues, food safety and healthy lifestyle behaviors.

Extension Educator Karen Blass received third place in the Communications Award, Internet Education Technology, also at the National Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences annual meeting. She was recognized for the Project C.A.S.H. website, part of an overall initiative at UNH to reach college students and their parents with information on basic money management. The website includes downloadable worksheets, PowerPoint presentations, and links to a variety of resources.

The North Country Resource Center in Lancaster was the site Monday night for the second round of County Conversations with UNH Interim President J. Bonnie Newman. Over 50 people attended.

Legislators, partnering organizations and others heard from a panel that featured participants from UNH and Cooperative Extension, as well as collaborators during the session. The panelists showcased how UNH, through Cooperative Extension and the Carsey Institute, are working in Coos County to strengthen families and communities.

Panelists included Chris Colocousis, a UNH Graduate Student from the Carsey Institute who reviewed what's happening in rural America and the Northern Forest region, Charlie French, Extension Community and Economic Development Specialist, who looked at the community in context of a regional economy, Cathy McDowell, Executive Director, Family Resource Center at Gorham, who examined what's happening with the family in these communities, Valerie Herres, Project Director, Coos County Coalition for Substance Abuse Prevention, who talked about helping families through the Coalition and programs like Strengthening Families and DARE to Be You program and Martha McLeod, Executive Director, North Country Health Consortium, on how the North Country Health Consortium and Dartmouth-Hitchcock's Indian Stream Clinic are examples of how Extension works with local collaborators.

Larry Barker, 4-H Youth Development Educator and Coos County Office Administrator, facilitated the panel and introduced Coos County Extension staff, making note of their contributions.

The next County Conversation II is scheduled January 22 in Cheshire County.

A Farm Viability Task Force, appointed by Gov. John Lynch, submitted its final report to the legislative committee on farm viability September 21. The legislative committee will meet November 14 and is scheduled to complete its work by December 15.

The full report is now online.

The Landaff Community Profile held September 29-30th drew over 65 participants on Friday night and over 40 on Saturday-over 20 percent of the town's population.
Action groups formed included:
* Fund, update and complete natural resource inventory and Master Plan
* Create a community bulletin board and town newsletter
* Assess and upgrade fire, highway and police facilities and equipment, including possible new facilities.

Grafton County staff participating included Deb Maes (county liaison and small group facilitator), Nory Parr and Robin Peters. Other staff included Charlie French (large group facilitator) and Michele Gagne (coordinator).

Two students from UNH's Thompson School Community Service and Learning Program also facilitated/scribed at the event: Nicole Finitis and Bryan Dwyer. Former Plymouth State University President Don Wharton and State Representative Edmond Gionet also attended.

The follow-up meeting (facilitated by UNH Cooperative Extension) takes place October 10 from 7-9pm where the action groups will begin planning their projects.

Upcoming Profiles include Auburn on November 4 (our pilot of a one-day Profile) and Epping on April 14, 2007.