Extension Leadership Team Minutes November 16, 2017
Extension Leadership Team Minutes
November 16, 2017
Orono – 102B Libby Hall
Facilitator: Jon Prichard
Note-taker: Dennis Harrington
Attending: D. Brzozowski, D. Harrington, L. Phelps, J. Prichard, J. Rebar, F. Sulinski
Guest: Kate Yerxa
Professional Staff Meeting
John and Fran gave an update about the recent Professional’s staff meeting. The meeting was well attended, and included many new Professional employees.
Stopping the Tenure Clock
Fran and John attended a chair breakfast focused on mentoring junior faculty. One of the items covered was Stop the Tenure Clock. The University recognizes the value of providing flexibility during the probationary period for tenure-track/continuing contract due to childbirth, child rearing, adoption or exceptional life circumstances. To see more about family friendly policies at UMaine go to https://umaine.edu/risingtide/resources-2/sustaining-work-life-balance/ While this compilation of work life policy focuses on faculty many of the benefits/options presented (such as leaves and the Employee Assistance Program) also apply to hourly and professional staff.
Follow a Researcher
The Follow a Researcher Program is underway and receiving significant positive national attention. The FAR Website is at https://extension.umaine.edu/4h/youth/follow-a-researcher/
Dickeya Summit
The 2017 Dickeya and Pectobacterium Summit took place on November 9th in Bangor, Maine. This international meeting was hosted by Cooperative Extension and was attended by approximately 165. They represented 4 countries, 22 states, and 3 Canadian Provinces.
UMaine Equal Opportunity Coordinator
UMaine has a new Equal Opportunity coordinator. Fran will be connecting with the new person to provide an orientation to Cooperative Extension.
Cooperative Extension Faculty Meeting
The Faculty of UMaine Extension will be meeting on November 29th, with electronic access to the meeting available from various locations in Maine.
NEED
John Rebar is the Chair-elect of the Northeast Extension Directors organization.
Sea Grant – Executive Director
Jon Prichard is on the search committee for the new Director of Maine Sea Grant. Public sessions and interviews will be held during the last two weeks of November.
Planning and Reporting
Deadline for all staff to complete 2017 reports is November 20th. Staff should work with their program administrators or supervisors if help is needed.
4-H Science Center
Lisa and Dennis gave an update about planning for updating the current Pest Management Program facility located at 491 College Avenue in Orono to be used as the statewide 4-H Science Center sometime next year.
EDEN
The Extension Disaster Education Network (EDEN) is looking to update their contact for UMaine Cooperative Extension. Dick Brzozowski has agreed to be our organizational liaison to EDEN.
Maine FFA & Master Gardener Certification
Maine FFA has asked Extension about allowing their instructors/advisors across the state to use the Maine Master Gardener curriculum to train high school students and to certify the as Maine Master Gardeners once they have completed their coursework. The ELT will support the decision of the Home Hort team who will review this proposal and address it on a county-by-county basis.
CONGRATULATIONS
Congratulations to PI Jason Lilley and Co-PIs Frank Wertheim, Tori Jackson, and Cathy Kloetzli who have been awarded $47,107 by Northeast Sustainable Agriculture, Research and Education (NESARE) for the “Training the Trainers: Enhancing Cooperative Extension Resources for Beginning Farmers” project. This project allows for training of Extension staff in whole farm planning, business and financial plan development, recordkeeping, marketing, and identifying other key providers. Fourteen UMaine Extension staff will then collaborate to offer training to 125 beginning farmers and 175 ono-on-one consultations.
Congratulations to PI James Dill who has been awarded $171,413 by USDA- NIFA for Year 1 (of 3) for the “Maine Integrated Pest Management CPPM-EIP” project. The overall goals associated with this project include minimization of pesticide use in Maine agriculture and communities, increased crop yield and profitability, increased awareness of complex pest issues, and increased implementation of IPM practices.
Congratulations to PI Caragh Fitzgerald and Co-PI Richard Kersbergen who have been awarded $90,743 by Northeast Sustainable Agriculture, Research and Education (NESARE) for their “Professional Development in Calibrating Pesticide and Nutrient Application Equipment for Agricultural Service Providers” project. The cornerstone of this project is to give agricultural service providers hands-on practice operating and calibrating equipment for pesticide and nutrient application. Improved accuracy will prevent over-application, which can result in financial loss, adverse environmental effects, and potential crop damage
Congratulations to James Dill who has been awarded an additional $21,100 from Cornell University and USDA-NIFA for the continued support of the Northeast Plant Diagnostic Network (NPDN). The NPDN acts as a resource for first detectors of suspicious samples, provides resources and training to facilitate the use of the Network’s data collection network, expands that data collection, and develops protocols for participating diagnostic laboratories to ensure the accuracy of diagnostics.
Congratulations to Maine Families Waldo County and Maine Families Knox/Lincoln/Sagadahoc Counties, on being awarded Blue Ribbon Affiliate Status by the national Parents as Teachers organization, recognizing them as exemplary programs delivering high-quality services to children and families. The review process for Blue Ribbon status is comprehensive, involving a year of self-study and two years of reporting. While the Maine Families program greatest reward is the impact our staff are having on young children and families, it is validating and an accomplishment to be recognized by the national Parents as Teachers program.
Congratulations to Kathy Savoie and Kate McCarty who in October were honored at the National Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences (NEAFCS) annual conference in Omaha, Nebraska. Kathy and Kate received the 1st place National and 1st place Regional Master Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) Volunteer Award, and were recognized by both NEAFCS and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture for their efforts that span a decade to develop and implement UMaine Extension’s Master Food Preserver (MFP) Program. The MFP Program has trained and retained volunteers to help extend the reach of Extension to provide home food preservation education in the community. The Master FCS Volunteer Award recognizes exceptional leadership in implementation of the Master FCS Volunteer Program.
Search Updates
Home Horticulture Professional – Cumberland County – Forming Search Committee
Ornamental Horticulture Specialist – Orono – Preparing to interview
Wild Blueberry Specialist – Orono – In-person interviews scheduled
Administrative Specialist CL2 – Pest Management, Orono – Theresa Eldridge hired
Marine Extension Associate (Joint appt. with Sea Grant) – On hold
Nutrition Education Professional – Offer made
Community Education Assistant CL2 (Lewiston) – Advertising
Finance and Budget Professional (Orono) – Preparing to screen applicants
Community Education Assistant CL2 (Andro/Sag) – Cathy Gray hired
ELT Meeting Dates –2017–18. Meetings are from 9:00 am to 3:30 pm – unless otherwise noted.
| Dates |
Facilitator | Notes | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| December 12 | Harrington | Brzozowski | Orono – 102B Libby Hall |
| January 19 | Brzozowski | Sulinski | Orono – 102B Libby Hall |
| February 8 | Sulinski | Phelps | Augusta – Farmhouse 11 |
| March 7 | Phelps | Rebar | Orono – 102B Libby Hall |
| March 28 | Rebar | Prichard | Orono – 102B Libby Hall |
| April 19 | Prichard | Harrington | Augusta – Farmhouse 11 |
| May 9 | Harrington | Brzozowski | Orono – 102B Libby Hall |
| May 31 | Brzozowski | Sulinski | Orono – 102B Libby Hall |
| June 21 | Sulinski | Phelps | Augusta – Farmhouse 11 |