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Staff News & Notes - Week of 01.05.09
Hi,
As I write this note, it is exactly four weeks until our annual 4-H Professionals Update, scheduled for February 2-3 here in the Nationwide and Ohio Farm Bureau 4-H Center. Given the situation with county and state budgets, I briefly considered changing the format, or cancelling this altogether.
We may re-think this type of event after February 2009, but there are several reasons to continue at least one more year: First, we do have the funds to make a minimum registration fee for 4-H Professionals ($10 for each day or $15 for both days), so the travel and overnight costs will be the expenses for you.
Secondly, by the end of January, we should know better the financial position of Ohio Extension for the next year, and this February In-Service will be a good opportunity to share concerns, listen to alternatives, make plans, and become a team in addressing the financial and related programming challenges.
There are so many good things happening in Ohio 4-H. With a two-day, packed program of sharing ideas and networking, this should be an efficient use of time for any 4-H professional. It would take a plethora of WebEx sessions to share the same information, and networking is just not very well accomplished through WebEx, emails, phone calls, or items posted on a web site.
Finally, I am still pretty new to this position, and I need the "face" time with as many 4-H Professionals as possible - just to know people better. Besides, if there is one general theme that I have heard from 4-H Professionals in the last four months, it is that most do not feel there are enough opportunities to get together. The word I have heard the most is that there is a "disconnect" between local and the state. This event should help address that concern.
So, be creative. Find a way to attend our February 2-3 Ohio 4-H Professionals Update.
Thanks,
Tom
4-H Professionals Update Registration
Monday, February 2 and Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Nationwide and Ohio Farm Bureau 4-H Center
Please register today at:
http://www.zoomerang.com/Survey/?p=WEB228NMCUJQWY
CLICK HERE for a tentative agenda, area accommodations and directions to the 4-H Center
Available: Horse Helmet Policy Discussion
Approximately 25 colleagues participated in the December 3, 2008 presentation and discussion about the new helmet policy for 4-H horse shows. Special thanks to Dr. Kimberly Cole for her leadership with this topic. The WebEx discussion was recorded and can be accessed at the link below. The conversation lasts about 2 hours.
http://www.ohio4h.org/staff/resources.html
Input Regarding the Transformation of 4-H to the National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Most of you have heard about the transition of CSREES to the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (The Institute). Here is some information explaining The Institute:
All programs currently administered by CSREES will be transferred to a newly named National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA).This new agency will have a director, appointed by the President of the United States, for a 6-year term with a second 6-year term possible. This politically appointed Chief Scientist will report directly to the Secretary or the Secretary’s designee. The National Institute will be the only research agency in the Department required to have a politically appointed director rather than a career executive as administrator. The National Institute must be established no later than October 1, 2009.
This transition includes 4-H Youth Development, and a representative group of Cooperative Extension Directors has been working to enable the transition. As State 4-H Program Leader, I was asked to send ideas in response to the premise: Give us one idea of the most important thing to you, our organization or our institutions in the transition of the 4-H Youth Development Program to the newly forming National Institute of Food and Agriculture. I submitted my thoughts in mid-December.
Your Help is Needed
For the second part of this input, I need your help. I am need to ask the same premise as stated above to my Ohio 4-H constituencies. The feedback that you provide will come to me, and I will summarize that input and send one synthesized response by January 15, 2009. Please click on this link to provide your input:
http://www.zoomerang.com/Survey/?p=WEB228NBEZCNUW
Thank you for your thoughtful response to this request. I appreciate your time and effort. For further information contact archer.3@cfaes.osu.edu
The January 31, 2009 - Dog Judges' Seminar
HAS BEEN CANCELLED
New Idea Starters Online
Three new idea starters—365.14 Global Climate Change, 365.15 Cake Decorating, and 365.16 Viruses, Bacteria, and Fungi, Oh My! (Plant Pathology)—are now available online at http://www.ohio4h.org/~idea/projects.html. You’ll notice that they have an updated format, one that eventually all of the idea starters will share.
Two of these idea starters—Global Climate Change and Viruses, Bacteria, and Fungi, Oh My!—are decidedly challenging. Interest in these projects may be limited, but if we can capture the interest and imagination of even a few 4-H members, we might also encourage the next generation of climatologists and plant pathologists! Please don’t hesitate to share comments and suggestions—the authors worked hard to make these “accessible” and want to know how they do. Contact Jane Wright at 614.292.0909 or wright.646@cfaes.osu.edu with comments and suggestions.
Still Waiting on These Publications . . .
A handful of publications that were supposed to be available for sale in December are still in the works: 491 Adventures in Home Living, 531 Science Fun with Electricity, 166 Raising Turkeys, and 751 Archery Member Record Book. The first three should be online within the week, but Archery is likely to be closer to the end of the month. Thank you for your patience!
MXC Counselor Retreats - CALL for Proposals
Anyone who would like to teach at one or both of the two statewide camp counselor retreats is encouraged to complete the call for proposals and submit it by Friday, January 16, 2009. The MXC Camp Counselor Retreats are scheduled for February 28- March 1 at Canter's Cave and March 21-22 at Camp Ohio. Presenters may teach at one or both of the training sessions. The proposals will be peer reviewed (looks good on your vita for promotion as well as in your teaching section!) Objectives and the outline for proposals are posted at: http://www.ohio4h.org/plt-camps/index.html
OSUE Action Leadership Retreat to be held in April and November, 2009
Designed for educators (or others with similar responsibilities) with 18 months to three years experience, the Action Leadership Retreat is a professional development opportunity built around simulated on-the-job experiences. Led by a facilitator and two experienced Extension professionals who are trained as observers, ALR is designed to help you evaluate and reflect on your skills in twelve key areas (e.g., conflict management, communication, and interpersonal skills) important for success as an Extension professional.
Your peers have good things to say about ALR. One former participant said:
“By far the most productive in-service I have ever been involved with. Excellent faculty, well-planned program.”
Space is limited and registrations will be accepted until we reach capacity!
For additional information and to register, go to:
http://extensionhr.osu.edu/resources/newemp/alrinfo2009.pdf
2009 Ohio 4-H Foundation Grants
The results of the 2009 Ohio 4-H Foundation grant cycle are now available. Those who applied will receive an official letter from the 4-H Foundation with comments and/or feedback on your application as well as funding information if your application was successful. Those letters will be mailed shortly after Christmas. In the meantime, please review the follwing document for information about the applications.
Contact Erin Wingfield ewingfield@cfaes.osu.edu if you have any questions.
Ohio 4-H Volunteer Conference News
Encourage County Sponsorships: Counties are invited to consider sponsoring volunteers to attend the OVC 2009.
The levels of sponsorship are as follows:
Platinum $1000 = Thirty-five complimentary registrations, first priority seating, name in the program and county recognition.
Gold $500 = Fourteen complimentary registrations, second priority seating, name in the program and county recognition.
Silver $250 = Seven complimentary registrations, third priority seating, name in program, and county recognition.
Green $100 = Two complimentary registrations, fourth priority seating, name in program, and county recognition.
Please contact Vicki Schwartz schwartz.4@cfaes.osu.edu if your county would like to make a sponsorship commitment or upgrade your sponsorship. Deadline for inclusion in the luncheon program is February 1, 2009. Sponsorship checks should be sent to the State 4-H Office and made payable to The Ohio State University.
