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Staff News & Notes - Week of 01.12.09
Hi,
I know there are many rumors about what Ohio State University Extension will look like in a few months. Perhaps some of you think that I know more about future changes and transitions than I actually know. I do believe that by the end of this month we will all have a better sense of the direction, but there are just too many variables right now, and the biggest unknown is the amount of 2009 financial support that Extension will receive from County, State and Federal sources.
I think that we can all agree that things in Extension have to be different. But likewise, I think that we can safely say that we have many good people working together to develop the best possible solutions. Extension administrators have spent countless hours seeking as many facts as possible to consider in the decision making processes. There has been a special task force which has been visiting and meeting since January 5th, and will meet at least three more days before the end of this month. Every County is a unique situation, but every county also has talented people who are contributing ideas for potential solutions.
Extension has seen challenging times before. I grew up in a county Extension program that had one Extension Professional most of my 10 years in 4-H, and only intermittently one or two other Extension professionals. In my own Extension career, I can think of at least three times when we have had serious funding problems. The situation seems bad right now, but I do not think that we will realize how bad until we are a few years down the road, and we compare 2009 with other challenging periods in Extension’s history.
It probably sounds cliché, but I think we must choose to make as many positives from this situation as we can. The current situation provides the best incentive to prioritize programming, and choose to keep the best, and do away with the marginal efforts. This is a great time for investigating other sources of funding even more, for example through grants, contracts and fees. I remember one time, twenty-plus years ago, when office staff was downsized in my county. We organized a plan to better utilize 4-H volunteers, and that structure remains in place today. We in 4-H have the most knowledge and experience in managing volunteers, so we are as poised as anyone to initiate creative use of older youth and adult volunteers to address tasks that the professional Extension staff can no longer do.
So, keep doing what you do the best – keep providing programming that improves the lives of the people in your communities. Keep a positive attitude. Keep thinking about creative ideas that will address our current problems. And share those points that will help others in our organization.
Thanks for all that you do.
Tom
Due By January 28, 2009
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
REMINDER: Send to Lisa Jinks, jinks.2@osu.edu, a scanned, faxed or paper copy of your registration with authorized signature of the County Extension Director or equivalent.
Teen Conference Registration Information
The registration booklet and registration form are now posted on www.ohio4h.org/teenconference. Please promote this excellent educational opportunity for our Ohio 4-H Teens. In the near future, the registration website will be available as well.
OSU Extension Travel Policies
"Travel Policies" have been updated again and the "job aid" has also been updated.
http://osuebusiness.ag.ohio-state.edu/ Check out this up date and WHATS NEW on the Business Office website.
The Business Office’s Power Point presentation at Annual Conference is also been added.
4-H Cloverbud Connection Winter Newsletter
The Winter 2009 issue of Ohio 4-H Cloverbud Connections is now posted on the web at http://cloverbudconnections.osu.edu/
You can follow the link and print a copy for your use and distribution to volunteers. Our issue this winter is all about Healthy Finances. Watch for our spring issue when we focus on Science!
Spread the news about this resource to your volunteers or friends. You can also link your county or 4-H site to the newsletter link.
Pricing of Bottle Rocket Launcher
Just in case you or someone in your county is thinking of ordering a bottle rocket launcher, you should know that the supplier listed in the Family Guide recently raised prices. Still a bargain, these pre-assembled launchers are designed for use with the Rockets Away manual and include instructions for a safe launch. Choose the standard launcher ($65) or one with a built-in pressure gauge ($75). For more information, contact Versey Enterprises, 1258 North 1110 East, Shelley, Idaho 83274, 208.357.3428.
644 Exploring Our Insect World 1
If you’ve received any copies of 644 Exploring Our Insect World 1 from the latest reprint, you’ve probably noticed the odd yellow paper on which it’s printed. Eye-catching? Yes. Attractive? Not so much, but not bad enough to justify throwing them out. Please assure your club leaders and members that the content of the book is exactly the same as before. Thank you!
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
2009 Ohio 4-H Scholarship & Award Applications
Deadline for all scholarship and award applications is February 2, 2009! Please encourage youth in your county to apply.
Visit: http://www.ohio4h.org/youth/awards/index.html for a complete list of scholarships, awards and application instructions.
Note that there are a couple of newer scholarships posted that youth can apply for.
- The J. Lyndon Johnson Scholarship
- AB Graham Leaders of Tomorrow 4-H Scholarship
- Farm Credit Services of Mid-America Scholarship
2009 Teen Leadership Opportunities
CLICK here for more information about teen leadership opportunities available.
- Ohio 4-H Teen Conference
- State 4-H Fashion Board
- State 4-H Ambassador
- Ohio 4-H Teen Council
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.
Understanding and Preventing Urban Youth Violence Jan. 14
As part of its 2008-09 Lecture Series, the Department of African American and African Studies Community Extension Center will present “Understanding and Preventing Urban Youth Violence: How Every Voice Matters” by Deanna Wilkerson, OSU professor of Human Development and Family Science, at 6 p.m. Wednesday (1/14) at the Community Extension Center, 905 Mt. Vernon Ave. The lecture is free and open to the public and will conclude with a Q&A session. Contact: 292-3922. Read more >
