ELT Minutes, November 7, 2012

Extension Leadership Team Minutes

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

102B Libby Hall

Present:         Dennis Harrington, Lisa Phelps, Jon Prichard, John Rebar and Fran Sulinski.

Facilitator:    Lisa Phelps

Note taker:    John Rebar

Please note: Due to the confidentiality and sensitivity of some agenda items, these ELT minutes do not represent the full content of each meeting.

Bond Question:  Question #2 regarding the bond for a new animal and plant diagnostic facility for UMaine will not pass.  The bond was defeated 51% to 49%.  The bond was not supported with a majority “yes” vote in any of the rural counties including Penobscot.  The bond wasn’t a reflection of the value of Cooperative Extension or the diagnostic services that are provided.  The language of the bond was challenging, however, the unwillingness of the citizenry to support infrastructure funding for the UMS and the Community College System is an issue that will need to be addressed by the leadership of both entities.  The ELT appreciates the support of volunteers and staff for Question 2.

Future Strategic Planning for UMaine Cooperative Extension:  Fran led the group in a conversation regarding future strategic planning for our organization and how this work can be a focus within the upcoming organizational meeting.  The future plans for Extension must complement and support the “Blue Sky Plan” for UMaine.  The plan should also review and where appropriate, incorporate the recommendations that will be forthcoming for the group leading the sustainability project within Extension.

Non-Represented Professional Career Ladder:  A sub-group of the ELT has agreed to implement a career ladder for non-represented professional employees within Extension.  This career ladder is a discretionary decision that can be revoked in the future for financial or other reasons.  This decision is being made because of the growing prominence of professional employees within Extension and the need for professionals to take on supervisory roles for more than one other professional.  The ELT will discuss the criteria required for the non-represented professional career ladder at an upcoming meeting.  A professional that goes from represented status to non-represented will enter the career ladder at the same rank as when they were represented.

Professional Evaluation Dates:  Fran informed the ELT that the Office of Human Resources (HR) will convene a meeting to explain the new process for managing salaried employees (professional) evaluations.  HR is expecting that performance evaluation for professionals will be done near the anniversary date of the person’s date with joining UMaine.  Using the hire date as the basis for the annual performance evaluation date, brings a consistency to the process across the campus.  However, there is an opportunity to alter the evaluation date with a written request to HR by the supervisor.  The professional employee would need to be supportive and 90 days notice will be required. Fran will be bringing a recommendation on how to proceed with this issue to a future ELT meeting.

Development:  The ELT welcomed Doug Babkirk who joined the group to review the organizational development plan that he has drafted.  The plan is the most comprehensive development document that UMaine Cooperative Extension has ever had.  Doug is complimented for his efforts and for the process he has used to develop this draft plan.  He gathered information and feedback from experienced, knowledgeable professionals who helped shape the plan into a realistic vision for our future in fund raising.  A critical component of the plan is to build the capacity of Extension staff to be meaningful partners in fund raising.  The positive relationships that our faculty and staff have with potential donors can lead to significant investments in local or statewide Extension programs.

Announcements:

Please remember to visit  University of Maine’s news site for additional University of Maine Cooperative Extension highlights.

• Congratulations to Esperanza Stancioff, who has been awarded $31,576 from the Social and Environmental Research Institute for her project, “Promoting climate change awareness and adaptive planning in Atlantic fisheries communities using dialogue-based participatory vulnerability analysis, mapping, and collaborative systems dynamic modeling” in collaboration with the Maine Sea Grant Program.

• Beth Calder, Seanna Annis and Kathryn Hopkins received $7,345.00 for the project,  “Evaluating Microbial Maple Syrup Contamination”, that was submitted to the North American Maple Syrup Council back in August.

• Congratulations to Ellen Mallory, who has been awarded $34,253 from Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education  (NESARE) for the second year of her program, “Fostering New Ways of Communicating, Engaging New Types of Farmers: Social Media Trainings, Reading the Farm, and SARE Outreach in Maine”.

Status on searches as of:  update on 11/6/12

 

ELT Meeting Dates

2012 — 2013

Meetings are from 9:00 am to 3:30 pm – unless otherwise noted

Anyone wishing to participate in an ELT meeting should contact the facilitator for that date.

 

 Dates                                          Facilitator                           Notes                             Location

 

November 27	Rebar	Prichard	Orono — 102B Libby Hall
December 13	Prichard	Harrington	UMA—Jewett Hall, Room 114
January 14	Harrington	Sulinski	Orono — 102B Libby Hall
February 5	Sulinski	Phelps	Orono — 102B Libby Hall
February 22	Phelps	Rebar	Augusta -TBD
March 14	Rebar	Prichard	Orono — 102B Libby Hall
April 4 *Agenda Item – more calendar dates TBD	Prichard	Harrington	Orono — 102B Libby Hall
April 24	Harrington	Sulinski	Augusta — TBD
May 15	Sulinski	Phelps	Orono — 102B Libby Hall
June 4	Phelps	Rebar	Orono — 102B Libby Hall