Extension Leadership Team Meeting Minutes July 22, 2019
Extension Leadership Team Meeting Minutes
July 22, 2019
111 Robinson Hall, UMaine Augusta
Facilitator: Jon Prichard
Notetaker: Dennis Harrington
Please note: Due to the confidentiality and sensitivity of some agenda items, these ELT minutes do not represent the full content of each meeting.
Extension’s 2018-2019 Academic Affairs Annual Report (aka “The Provost Report”)
Now available to view on Plugged-in at: https://extension.umaine.edu/about/annual-report/
Safety Management
Jeremy Sales, UMaine director of safety management, recently visited the Presque Isle office and has made recommendations that we begin to address chemical safety issues there. Dennis Harrington, Dick Brzozowski, and Jeremy are following up. One outcome of this situation is the plan to train all staff involved in agricultural programming in the proper handling and storage of chemicals and other hazardous materials. Sales is willing to train staff in person and/or zoom. Brzozowski will arrange for this training to take place this fall/winter.
New Position in Libby Hall
A CL1 Administrative Specialist – Carol Jipson – has been hired to fill a vacant Libby Hall position that addresses organizational support through the Extension fleet and the statewide 1-800 line, and to support the HR office and the Operations office. She will start on Thursday, August 8th.
Budgeting
Budgeting season has begun for our Federal fiscal year. Michael Bailey has been working with individuals who control budgeted Federal FY projects to develop budgets for the upcoming year. Dennis Harrington has asked the ELT to give him any unique items that have not been part of the budget in the past. The budget deadline is mid-August.
Northeast SARE Summer Meeting
This week Dick Brzozowski will be travelling to Northampton, MA as a member of the Administrative Council of Northeast SARE (Sustainable Ag Research and Education) for their summer meeting. Ellen Mallory and Tom Molloy will be attending the first part of the meeting designed for state coordinators of SARE’s Professional Development Programs. UMASS Extension is hosting the meeting.
The Beginning Farmer Resource Network
The Beginning Farmer Resource Network is scheduled to hold a retreat this week. They will be discussing several efforts including a beginner farmer/rancher proposal to NIFA. The BFRN was established through an Extension led “reading the farm” project several years ago. The network has proven to be a very effective working partnership of several agencies and organizations across Maine. https://extension.umaine.edu/beginning-farmer
Maine 4-H Days
Over 350 participants attended Maine 4-H Days at the Windsor Fairgrounds July 19-21. The event was deemed a success thanks to the planning committee and many Extension staff and volunteers.
NIFA Relocation
The ELT discussed the anticipated relocation of NIFA from Washington DC to Kansas City. We are concerned that staffing reductions will affect the services we get from NIFA including support from National Program Leaders and the processing of grants and capacity funds. The ELT is monitoring the situation along with our partners from other Extension and Research Stations in the Northeast Region.
Hannah Statewide!
Dean Carter has been travelling the state to meet Extension staff, get to know our locations and portfolio of programs, and to build new relationships with important partners, stakeholders, and volunteers. Some highlights:
- Organic and statewide blueberry field days
- Maine Potato Board annual dinner
- Roger’s Farm
- Eight County offices (so far!)
- All four 4-H Camps
- Maine 4-H Days
New Chancellor
Our new chancellor, Daniel Malloy, has asked for an orientation of Extension and a tour of some of our offices and programming locations. Dean Carter will be working with his office on the schedule.
Sea Grant National Review
Sea Grant’s national review will be taking place this week, and Jon Prichard will attend as Extension’s liaison with Sea Grant and our Marine Extension Team.
Organizational Meeting Update
Fran Sulinski gave a brief update about the organizational conference that is scheduled for November 13-14 (Wednesday and Thursday), the planning of which is going well. Dean Carter has asked for time on the agenda at 8AM on day two to hold a facilitated session about organizational effectiveness. We anticipate a very positive and productive event.
Congratulations
Congratulations to PI Mark Hutchinson who has been awarded $92,737 by USDA APHIS for his “African Swine Fever Carcass Management Disposal Training” project. In the event of an African Swine Fever outbreak in the US, many pigs may die from the disease or require euthanizing for welfare reasons or to contain the outbreak. This project will evaluate the effectiveness of grinding along with the composting or above ground burial for carcass management in the event of an outbreak, enabling the evaluations, monitoring and training to occur with field effort, thereby saving time and money to achieve three goals.
Search Updates
Extension Crops Entomology Specialist – Initial search failed, New search to start soon
Assistant Director – Tanglewood – Emily Collins hired
Parent Educational Professional – Sagadahoc – Marylou Cook hired
Program Coordinator – Bryant Pond – Gary Proulx hired
Program Coordinator – Bryant Pond and Greenland Point – Advertising
Administrative Specialist CL1 Cumberland – Marissa Caminiti hired
4-H Youth Development Professional – Penobscot & Piscataquis – Sheila Norman hired
4-H Youth Development Professional – Oxford County – Interviewing
4-H Youth Development Professional – Waldo County – Screening
4-H Youth Development Professional – York County – position announced
Administrative Specialist CL1 – Libby Hall – Carol Jipson hired
Administrative Specialist CL2 – Cumberland – Rebecca Gray hired
Administrative Specialist CL2 – Waldo – Preparing to interview
Community Education Assistant CL1 – Aroostook – Elizabeth Carroll hired
Community Education Assistant CL1 – Somerset – Mark Smith hired
Community Education Assistant CL1(Horticulture) – Oxford – Emma Fournier hired
Community Education Assistant – Hancock – Beginning stages
2019 ELT Meeting Dates
Meetings are from 9:00 am to 3:30 pm, unless otherwise noted
| Dates | Facilitator | Notes | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| August 14 | Harrington | Brzozowski | Orono: 102B Libby Hall |
| August 28 | Brzozowski | Sulinski | Orono: 102B Libby Hall |
| September 16 | Sulinski | Phelps | UMA: 111 Robinson Hall |
| September 30 | Phelps | Carter | Orono: 102B Libby Hall |
| October 18 | Carter | Prichard | Orono – 102B Libby Hall |
| October 30 | Prichard | Harrington | Augusta: 111 Robinson Hall |
| November 18 | Harrington | Brzozowski | Orono: 102B Libby Hall |
| December 13 | Brzozowski | Sulinski | Orono: 102B Libby Hall |