Plugged In: For UMaine Extension Staff and Volunteers

Extension Leadership Team Minutes March 28, 2018

Extension Leadership Team Minutes
March 28, 2018
Orono – 102B Libby Hall

Facilitator: John Rebar
Note-taker: Jon Prichard

University of Maine Diagnostic & Research Laboratory
The grand opening and ribbon cutting for the University of Maine Diagnostic & Research Laboratory is scheduled for 1:00 pm on Thursday, June 21, 2018.  The laboratory was formerly referred to as the Plant, Animal, and Insect Laboratory (PAIL).

Work and Personal Balance Workshop
The Work and Personal Life Balance workshop held on March 15 in Bangor went very well, with a great turnout, and lots of positive energy from the day.

HR and Job Search Processes
Fran is working with Brian Drisko from HR so that we can be as efficient and accurate as possible with our job searches.

Extension and Native American Studies
The ELT visited with Dr. Darren Ranco, Chair of Native American Programs, Associate Professor of Anthropology, and Coordinator of Native American Research at UMaine to explore ways that Extension might collaborate with him and his programs.

Extension Graduate Assistant
Dan Cox is the current Grad Assistant working with Cooperative Extension to support some of our instructional design needs. Dan will finish his first-year GA position with us in May and he is interested in returning to a GA position for next year and working with us this summer. The ELT approved offering a GA position to Dan for the 2018-2019 academic year to continue to support our instructional design needs.

Supervisory changes in Washington, Hancock, and York counties
With John Rebar’s approaching retirement, the ELT is making some changes to our county assignment of responsibilities as the next Dean of Extension will not expect to be supervising county based faculty and professional staff.  As of July 1, Washington and Hancock Counties will be working with Lisa Phelps. To balance the workload, Lisa will be relinquishing working with York County and Jon Prichard will become the PA for York County.

CONGRATULATIONS
Congratulations to PI Kate Yerxa and Co-PI Kathy Savoie who have been awarded $7,000 by Utah State University for their “ASA24 Field Test Pilot Study” project.  The prime award is a USDA NIFA AFRI award.  In this project, Kate and Kathy will train 4 UMaine EFNEP staff members to deliver the online, Automated, Self-administered 24-hour Dietary Assessment (ASA24) to a minimum of 10 program participants.  This trial will help to develop study instruments and protocols for future assessment and study.

Congratulations to PI Danielle O’Neill who has been awarded $45,000 by The Betterment Fund for her “4H Camper Financial Assistance” initiative.  This is a 3-year award with $15,000 available per year.  This initiative provides financial assistance to campers who will be attending programs at the 4H Camp and Learning Center at Bryant Pond.  These programs offer a rich, year-round curriculum that supports larger educational goals and are closely tied to Maine’s Learning Results outcomes.  The campers support will be primarily from the Oxford and Franklin County areas.

Congratulations to PI Ellen Mallory who has been awarded $8,993 by The Brewer’s Association for her “Spring Barley Varieties – Beer” project.  This is the 3rd year of funding for this research.  The funding will support the evaluation of 25 barley varieties in the Eastern Spring Barley Nursery (ESBN) in 2018 in nine states in the Eastern US.  The goal of the research is to determine if varieties developed outside of the region may be adapted for local production.

Future Agenda Items:

May 9^th ELT: Brian Drisko, HRP and Chris Lindstrom, VP of Human Resources at 10:30.

Early September. What should the focus of the next Hall of Flags be? Do we have a date yet? The 4-H Page component is very visible and beneficial. Possible features for the next Hall of Flags include the Food Safety Modernization Act.

Search Updates
Ornamental Horticulture Specialist – Orono – Matthew Wallhead hired
Wild Blueberry Specialist – Orono – Lily Calderwood hired
Community Education Assistant CL2 (Lewiston) – Offer made
Administrative Specialist CL1 – Cumberland County – Nicole Lennart hired
Administrative Specialist CL2 – Diagnostic Lab/Orono – Interviewing
Administrative Specialist CL2 – Cooperative Extension/EFNEP/Wild BB – Orono – Interviewing
Administrative Specialist CL3 – Bryant Pond – Joyce Donnaruma hired
Pesticide Safety Education Program Professional – Advertising
Molecular Diagnostic Professional – Advertising
Administrative Specialist CL2 – Oxford County – Advertising
Assistant Director – Bryant Pond – Preparing to advertise
Agriculture and Food Systems Professional – Oxford County – Advertising

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