Extension Update: April 2007 Archives
"Tempting New Technologies - The UNH Cooperative Extension 2007 Conference" is a statewide event for all staff to learn about programs, gain new knowledge, improve skills and socialize with colleagues. The date is May 16 and the place is the Memorial Union Building on the UNH Durham campus.
All staff are invited to participate in this professional development conference and I anticipate your full involvement that day. You can register now.
I am pleased to announce our keynote speaker will be Dr. Woodie Flowers. Dr. Flowers received national recognition in his role as host for the PBS television series Scientific American Frontiers from 1990 to 1993 and received a New England EMMY Award for a special PBS program on design. He is the Pappalardo Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a Distinguished Partner at Olin College.
Dr. Flowers participates in the design of the FIRST Robotics Competition game each year. He has served as a National Advisor to FIRST since the inception of the FIRST Robotics Competition. Dr. Flowers will speak on Gracious Professionalism, Lifelong Learning and Change in Organizations.
The Awards Committee is preparing special presentations at our lunch session. The Maynard and Audrey Heckel Extension Educator Fellow Award will also be presented. Plan to arrive in plenty of time for check-in and light refreshments, the registration table opens at 8:15 am right outside the Granite State Room of the MUB. The conference starts promptly at 9 am and concludes at 3:45 pm.
All staff are asked to complete the online form even if they are presenting a workshop or are excused from attending the conference. Twelve dynamic workshops are offered and space is limited in several of them, so sign up early to get your first choice. Workshop assignments are on a "first come, first served" basis.
Register by May 10. Please pay special note to the parking information and a map of the campus.
A special attraction this year: the UNH Bookstore will again offer all conference participants a 10 percent discount on books and 20 percent off giftware if you are wearing your UNHCE nametag.
Special thanks to the Conference Planning Committee for its excellent work in designing this educational and fun-filled event. Members are Charlene Baxter, Shane Bradt, Sue Cagle, David Foote, Becky Levesque, Sadie Puglisi, Gail Ramsey, Deb Russell, Sarah Smith, Barbara Wright and Holly Young.
Over 100 citizens attended the Epping Community Profile April 14. Approximately 16 UNH students from an applied community development class also were on hand to record the event as well as develop an asset inventory of services and organizations in the community.
A follow-up meeting (facilitated by UNH Cooperative Extension) was held April 24 with over 30 in attendance. The following projects/action groups formed as a result:
* Revitalization of the downtown with a focus on zoning for open and green spaces and more sidewalks,
* Enhanced communication through development of a community newsletter, bulletin board and additions to the current website,
* Creation of an Epping Volunteers! committee to train and recognize volunteers and gauge the needs in the community for volunteer activities;
* Development of a recreation activity inventory to include trails, parks and other places in the community to participate in activities for all ages, and
* Encourage the use of the school and facilities for community activities after school hours.
Charlie French was the large group facilitator for the event, Claudia Boozer-Blasco the community liaison and Michele Gagne provided small group facilitation. The community will come together to celebrate accomplishments as well as talk about project progress July 17 at 6 pm for a community picnic.
The 2007 LifeSmarts State Champion, the Sullivan Country 4-H Club, finished fifth from a field of 30 teams in the recent national championship held in Orlando.
Congratulations to team members Allen Abendroth, Amy Barriger, Rachel Shklar, Rebecca Mailhot, Caroline Mailhot and coaches Nancy Berry and Allison St. Aubin.
The team is already preparing for next year's competition. Congratulations!
Gear ratios, differential slippage, torque, pit crews and race strategy are all part of a new and exciting 4-H Science and Technology program racing ahead to teach science and technology to youth. In March, a team of youth development professionals, local business owners, educators, youth and parents came together in the Seacoast area to form a fun and challenging science-based after-school program called the "Techno Team."
Youth from the Seabrook and Hampton areas learn science and technology concepts while building and racing radio-controlled cars. Teams of three are responsible for kit-building 1/10 scale R/C race cars, developing an array of technical skills and scientific knowledge while investing 10-12 hours of teamwork and labor in each car.
Shown in the photo, are left to right, standing, Trent Schriefer and Don Desharnais from Maximus R/C Raceway, and seated, left and right, Joey Catalano and Patrick O'Brien from Seabrook.
Many physical science properties are addressed and geometric racing strategies developed. Trent Schriefer, 4-H Science and Technology Extension Specialist, said, "Kids learn scientific principles and practices and don't even realize it." Staff from the Maximus R/C Raceway and
4-H educators provide technical support for each race team.
This 10-week pilot program, based at Seacoast Youth Services and designed in collaboration with the UNH Cooperative Extension 4-H Science and Technology staff, CYFAR, 21st Century and the Maximus R/C Raceway in York, delivers science-oriented youth programs to teens at risk. "Techno Team" 4-H programs are all about teaching science and technology concepts while fostering positive youth development, community partnerships, and the "real-world" relevant engagement of youth, says Schriefer.
Future "Techno Team" topic areas for the Seacoast will include GPS, Aerospace and Robotics. If interested in a 4-H "Techno Team" program or collaboration, contact Trent Schriefer at trent.schriefer@unh.edu
Despite the April snow showers, rain and cool weather, our 4-H Camps staff is preparing for opening day July 1.
Volunteers are needed to help clean up camp May 5 and 6. Both general help, as well as those with construction skills, are needed.
Bring your tool belt, cleaning supplies and bug spray, of course! Cabins must be cleaned, walking paths raked, docks put in, and general repairs made. If your talents include carpentry, plumbing or landscaping, your expertise is greatly needed.
Work gloves, cleaning materials, paint and garden tools necessary for the days' work are provided. The experienced culinary staff will prepare a great barbecue lunch. Please join us! To help plan for lunch, contact Chris Conlon at 603-862-2184 or by email at chris.conlon@unh.edu
The eighth annual Undergraduate Research Conference (URC) takes place on campus from April 23-28. I hope many of you will try to attend the wide variety of events that highlight student research and creative endeavors at UNH - on the Durham campus and UNH Manchester as well.
At the week-long symposium, hundreds of UNH students from all academic disciplines present the results of their scholarly and creative research in an array of professional and artistic venues campus-wide. Demonstrations, performances, a world-renowned keynote speaker, and special guests add to the excitement of the annual conference.
There are many, many events and descriptions. Highlighted events include:
UNH Durham Events:
Naked Arts: Creativity Exposed on Thursday, April 26 at 3:30 in Hennessy Theatre. This is an event that exposes the inner creative process of artists working in various disciplines. Students will describe the work they undertake to bring an artistic creation from initial inspiration to the stage or gallery.
The Vice President's University-wide symposium on Friday, April 27 takes place all day in the MUB. This event has a range of student presenters across many disciplines.
UNH-Manchester Events:
Monday, April 23 - 8-5 pm - Engineering Technology Senior Project Presentations, University Center, 400 Commercial Street
Tuesday, April 24 - 11-1:00 pm - Oral Presentations from various disciplines, University Center, 400 Commercial Street
Wednesday, April 25 - 4-6 pm- UNHM Poster Presentations, University Center
Thursday, April 26 - 11-1 pm - Student Film Presentations, University Center
The NH Jump$tart Coalition Board of Directors has voted to award UNH Cooperative Extension the 2007 NH Jump$tart Volunteer Service Award. This annual award is given at the coalition's MoneySmarts teacher conference to an individual or organization that has demonstrated its willingness, passion and assistance in helping it improve the personal financial literacy of young people in the Granite State.
UNH Cooperative Extension, through the generosity and effort of many of its employees, has been a major supporter and partner in the coalition's efforts since 2000. As a result of the collaboration in the promotion and distribution of the High School Financial Planning Program, over 30,000 students have been introduced to personal finance concepts since 2002.
NH Jump$tart Coalition State President Daniel Hebert said, "Many of your employees volunteer their time to assist us in many of our activities and they share the same passion and commitment in providing this important life skill to the next generation."
Extension will receive the award at this year's MoneySmarts event on May 9 at the Grappone Conference Center in Concord.
A memorial service to celebrate the life of Maynard Heckel, who passed away April 8, will be held Saturday, May 12 at 2 p.m. at the Community Church in Durham.
Maynard held faculty and administrative positions at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University before coming to the University of New Hampshire, from which he retired as director of Cooperative Extension in 1983. He also served as the first dean of the University System of New Hampshire's School of Lifelong Learning (now Granite State College) from 1972 to 1977.
Please click on this link to read more about Maynard's life.
Congratulations to Charlie French, this year's recipient of the Maynard and Audrey Heckel Extension Educator Fellowship Award for his Community Development Internship Program, which engages faculty advisors and student interns to provide direct outreach to communities. Charlie receives a $1,000 award to "support/enhance the continued work of the chosen fellow within UNH Cooperative Extension" as designated by the Heckels. During the May 16 State Extension Conference, Charlie will highlight the program for fellow staff.
To date, nine UNH teaching and research faculty from five different departments have helped to structure the program and guide students through the applied internship experience. Perhaps more important, 19 student interns provided over 30 New Hampshire communities with direct assistance and educational outreach on a range of topics with the support of their faculty advisors.
Of the 19 students, nine have since secured jobs in community development-related fields after completing their degree program (subsequent jobs acquired by past interns include three town and regional planners, one land trust specialist, one conservation advocate, and one Extension Associate). Seven others are still enrolled at UNH and are pursuing degrees in fields such as Natural Resources, Community Development and Community Leadership.
Eleven of these interns helped coordinate and implement Community Profiles in over a dozen towns. These interns also provided technical assistance and educational outreach to community action committees subsequent to Community Profiles. In fact, faculty members in two departments now require students to participate in Community Profiles as part of their course requirement.
Congratulations, Charlie!
Our updated video featuring several of our programs is now on our web site. Please take a moment to check it out.
Contact Holly Young for additional DVDs of the video, which also are available.
Congratulations to the Suncook Valley Sports Swap (SVSS), Peppermint Ponies, Beads for Needs, and the Night Riders Renovation Team. These teams are the first to launch as a result of the NH 4-H Youth Venture partnership. A special thank you goes out to the 4-H Foundation of New Hampshire and Youth Venture for providing the start-up funds needed to launch these community-benefiting Ventures.
The Suncook Valley Sports Swap plans to create a sportship fund - a scholarship for underprivileged youth to help offset the costs of playing sports in Pittsfield. To raise money for the sportship fund, the team plans to host two sportswaps a year - the first scheduled for April 14.
The Peppermint Ponies of Fremont is devoting its time to helping abused animals in their community. Members hope to sell personalized horseshoes and horseshoe picture frames - donating a percentage of the money raised to the NHSPCA.
Beads for Needs will host a five-series workshop to teach jewelry-making to underprivileged girls and young women at Girls, Inc., New Generations, and the Lee Library. The photo shows, left to right, Beads for Needs participants Talya Auger and Rachel Ameduri.
The Night Riders Renovation Team plans to do an "Extreme Makeover: Nursery Edition" to the children's nursery of the Pilgrim Church in Brentwood. The team wants to renovate and improve the nursery by replacing the carpet, repainting the walls, and buying new furnishings.
If you are interested in becoming a 4-H Youth Venture team, have questions about the program, or would like to host an informational Dream It. Do It. workshop, contact Alice Ballenger, 4-H Youth Venture Partner Specialist at aballenger@youthventure.org or (603)-223-9864.
Scott Estle and Karen Balnis will spearhead work on the Lighten Up NH! Initiative, aimed at helping New Hampshire residents reach and maintain a healthy weight.
The project includes a comprehensive website of New Hampshire-specific resources and formation of a statewide Lighten Up NH! alliance of organizations and health professionals interested in reducing obesity in the Granite State. The project is funded with a three-year grant from HNHfoundation.
An interdisciplinary team has been reviewing the many dimensions of the obesity issue to find ways to expand UNH's outreach. Each team member knew of many first-rate local and statewide initiatives aimed at some aspect of the problem, but soon realized the state lacked a program to make them visible to one another, and to connect all these people and programs in some meaningful way.
This website will collect and integrate all obesity resources specific to New Hampshire as well as connect people in interactive online communities of practice and interest. The site will organize and integrate the best online resources in ways that individuals, parents, teachers, health professionals and community leaders will find useful. As a result, community leaders might visit the site to learn about approaches other communities have tried, health professionals to connect their patients with local programs, and individuals to find information and peer support. The alliance will help concerned professionals, organizations and individuals connect with each other to share ideas, collaborate on programs, and maximize scarce resources.
Extension works in communities throughout New Hampshire in nearly every dimension of human life. With its long history of establishing successful coalitions that bring together a wide array of people and organizations working toward a common goal, forming the alliance was a natural role for Extension to play in our statewide effort to tackle obesity.
The Carsey Institute Brown Bag series continues on Thursday, April 19, with the topic of Health Care Reform in New Hampshire: The New Hampshire Citizens Health Initiative.
Speakers include James McCarthy, UNH School of Health and Human Services Dean and Ned Helms, Director, UNH Institute for Health Policy and Practice.
The New Hampshire Citizens Health Initiative, chartered by the Office of the Governor, is a long-term effort to engage constituents in the reform of the current health care system. McCarthy, chair of the Initiative's Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Team, will discuss research on the underlying causes of illness and death in New Hampshire and the approach the Health Initiative is taking to address the underlying causes.
Helms will discuss the Health Initiative's overall efforts to improve health care quality while reducing costs. This special event taked place from 7-9 pm in the Piscataqua Room of Holloway Commons at UNH. No RSVP is required.
The 2006 UNH Cooperative Extension annual report has been submitted to our federal partners at CSREES and is available to print and review on our web site. The annual report contains executive summaries and outcome data about our educational programs, organized around five federal goals:
Goal 1 - An agricultural system that is highly competitive in the global economy
Goal 2 - A safe and secure food and fiber system
Goal 3 - A healthy, well-nourished population
Goal 4 - Greater harmony between agriculture and the environment
Goal 5 - Enhance economic opportunity and quality of life for Americans
Thanks to all staff who collected data and submitted key theme reports that became part of this document and to Lisa Townson for the work she does in coordinating the process. The impacts you make and communicate on the state's youth, families, communities, businesses and environment are important contributions to the outreach mission of UNH and the national Extension system.