Plugged In: For UMaine Extension Staff and Volunteers

Extension Leadership Team Minutes May 31, 2018

Extension Leadership Team Minutes
May 31, 2018
Augusta – Farmhouse 11

Facilitator: John Rebar
Note-taker: Fran Sulinski

Guest: Ryder Scott provided his annual Camp and Learning Centers update.

Check-in Notes
As a reminder to staff, if you plan to travel more than 250 miles away from Orono using a University vehicle, please write the full cost of the vehicle use at University mileage rates (currently $.44/mile) into your grant; or apply for funds through ELT. However, it is generally more cost effective to fly or take other mass transit because the costs and wear and tear on our vehicle is often greater when driving.

The incoming president Joan Ferrini-Mundy will be a participant of the Legislative Tour of farms and related businesses in the greater Portland area on July 31^st.  This biennial tour is sponsored by the Agricultural Council of Maine (AGCOM) and Extension has supported this tour for many years.

The Maine 4-H Foundation annual meeting was a big success. It is always a wonderful occasion to witness the 4-H’ers receiving scholarships and preparing to attend college. We should be proud!

The University will provide Zoom Pro accounts to staff and students a couple of weeks before the Fall semester begins. Another goal of the UMS Contract with Zoom is to have all existing Polycom and Tandberg equipment to work directly with Zoom, but that will be the second phase of the project and currently no timeline has been given for that to be completed. Everyone should look for information in the coming months about how to access the new zoom accounts.

 4-H Camp and Learning Center at Blueberry Cove, Bryant pond and Tanglewood Annual Update – Ryder Scott attended to present this update and it included:

• Oxford Hills STEM Hub – we came in at the end of the grant funding. Teen Science Cafes were coordinated for kids to get engaged in science and STEM careers. These were well attended and well received.
• Northstar Mentoring program (Lerner Foundation supported) is directed toward under-served and at risk youth will follow 7^th graders through high school.
• Tanglewood Open Air Classroom and school programs are operating successfully and the teaming to coordinate this work is very strong. Bryant Pond Lakeside Classroom likewise.
• Overall grant and contract success – nearly 1 million dollars in revenue was received. Camps revenue and expenses were shared, and overall the camps are doing well financially.
• Strong partnership with the Maine Department of Inland Fish & Wildlife continues.
• Hosting FoodCorps has brought quality nutrition programming to the camps.
• Telstar Freshman Academy is showing excellent results in student scores and student attendance rates.
• The camps capital campaign is moving in to a more active public phase. Staff are satisfied about the funds committed so far.
• The camps will be a partner in an Early College initiative with the financial support of the UMS.

Individual Proposal
Extension Educator, Kathy Savoie requested funding to attend the NEAFCS conference in September. Kathy is being honored at this conference and will also be a presenter. She is using her Flexible Staff Development funds and her award as a PLT leader. This conference is also a part of our agreement to support attendance at a number of conferences. Kathy also received support from the Extension NEAFCS members.  Her request was supported.

Extension’s Overview Information Requested by the Provost for the Incoming President
The ELT brainstormed the content to include in this 5-page document and according to the template provided by the Provost’s Office. Jon Prichard will take leadership to draft this report with support from the ELT.

Every 3 Year Background Checks for Volunteers Who Work with Vulnerable Populations
Our current policy is to complete a volunteer background check once, upon the volunteer’s initial enrollment. However, many volunteers remain active for many years. This is often true for volunteers within 4-H and of course those volunteers who work with vulnerable populations.

Our proposal is to have volunteers who work with vulnerable populations re-checked every three years. While this will mean Extension incurs additional costs, we believe it is a prudent approach given our responsibility to the youth we serve. The ELT approved this new policy and it will be rolled-out gradually over a three-year period.

Educational Credentials and Professional Status
As an educational institution, we require a Bachelor’s Degree for a professional level position. There are rare situations where we have waived and may waive that requirement.

CONGRATULATIONS
Congratulations to PI Richard Brzozowski who has been awarded $11,600 by Cultivating Community (sub award on their USDA Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program grant) for his “Incubator Farm” project.  Through AgrAbility, Richard and Cooperative Extensions AgrAbility Professional, Leilani Carlson, will help make veterans aware of the education, agricultural rehabilitation and business development opportunities available through Cultivating Community’s Incubator Farm training programs.

Future Agenda Items:
Will Biberstein will join the ELT on July 23^rd at 10 AM
Sarah Harebo/EO will join the ELT on July 23^rd at 1 PM
Brian Drisko and VP Lindstrom will join the ELT on August 20^th at 10 AM

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
Dean of Extension – Advertising
Community Education Assistant CL2 (Lewiston) – Re-posted
Administrative Specialist CL2 – Diagnostic Lab/Orono – Offer made and accepted
Pesticide Safety Education Program Professional – Advertising
Molecular Diagnostic Professional – Interviewing
Produce Safety Professional – Preparing to Advertise
Administrative Specialist CL2 – Oxford County – Advertising
Agriculture and Food Systems Professional – Oxford County – Offer made and accepted
Administrative Specialist CL2 – York County – Advertising (re-posted)
Program Coordinator – Bryant Pond – Jeffrey Colpitts hired
Administrative Specialist CL3 – Andro/Sag County – Screening applicants
Web Professional – Advertising
4-H CEA – Somerset County – Preparing to advertise
Extension Crops Entomology Specialist – Preparing to advertise

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