Plugged In: For UMaine Extension Staff and Volunteers

Extension Leadership Team Minutes September 7, 2017

Extension Leadership Team Minutes
Libby Hall Room 102B
September 7, 2017

Facilitator: Fran Sulinski
Note-taker: Lisa Phelps

Present: John Rebar, Dennis Harrington, Fran Sulinski, Dick Brzozowski, Jon Prichard, Lisa Phelps

Updates:

Hall of Flags will be February 6, 2018- Cooperative Extension will have three 4-H and three Food Systems displays with a general Cooperative Extension display. Lisa and Dick will work with Audrey Cross on this event.   One of the Food Systems displays will feature the Plant, Animal and Insect Lab – A display based upon the new facility will be created.

New Employee Training is being offered once a month for five months and includes a welcome from the Director and a Human Resources “Things to Know, Delivering Excellent Customer Service, Understanding our Civil Rights Requirements and Values, Getting to Know the Integrated Program Enhancement Team and Equal Employment Opportunity.  The recent session with a Welcome from John Rebar and HR Things to Know was interactive and well received. All sessions are one and a half hours and take place on Tandberg.

Plant, Animal and Insect Diagnostic Lab (PAIL):
Equipment is arriving for the new labs and it is exciting to see the progress and the project is on-time and within budget.

Mentoring Resources:
In light of the many new staff hires, how are our mentoring practices working and how could they be improved? Fran shared with the ELT the results of the survey she sent out (11 people responded) and the current mentoring handbook  https://extension.umaine.edu/plugged-in/hr/faculty/new-faculty-orientation/.  Staff were appreciative of the mentors assigned to them, many spoke of the value of having more than one mentor with each focusing on a different aspect of their new role. Outcome: Fran will work on revising the faculty mentoring guidelines to be used by all staff

Future ELT Meeting Dates:

January 17- Orono
February 8- Augusta
March 7- Orono
March 28- Orono
April 19- Augusta
May 9- Orono
May 31- Orono
June 21- Augusta

Future Agenda Items

Audrey Cross will join the ELT meeting from 10-11AM on Thursday, October 26 in Orono. The purpose of her attending the meeting will be to give a report of her work in marketing after 6 months on the job.

Thursday, April 19, 2018 Meeting schedule future ELT meetings (beyond June 2018).

CONGRATULATIONS

Congratulations to PI Ron Fournier who has been awarded $80,000 by the State of Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife for the “Moose Lottery Scholarship” project.  This project will provide financial support for campers to attend the Basic Conservation Camp, 4-H Shooting Sports activities, as well as other activities and/or events at Bryant Pond and Tanglewood 4-H Camps and Learning Centers.  

Search Updates

4-H Youth Development Professional – Franklin County – Tara Marble Hired
4-H Youth Development Professional – Hancock County – Offered and accepted
4-H Youth Development Professional – Knox/Lincoln Counties – Kathryn Jensen Hired
Ornamental Horticulture Specialist – Orono – Re-advertising
Administrative Specialist CL2 – Pest Management, Orono – Reposted/Reviewing Applicants
Marine Extension Associate (Joint Appt. with Sea Grant) –   Preparing to re-advertise
Agriculture Record Keeping Professional – Calvert Schaefer Hired
Nutrition Education Professional – Advertising
Accounting Support Supervisor CL3  – Amanda Miles Hired

ELT Meeting Dates – 2017-18.  Meetings are from 9:00 am to 3:30 pm – unless otherwise noted.

*December 6, 2017 date may change due to a conflict.

ELT Meeting Dates –2017–18. Meetings are from 9:00 am to 3:30 pm – unless otherwise noted.