Extension Leadership Team Meeting Minutes April 2, 2020

April 17, 2020 ELT Minutes

Extension Leadership Team Meeting Minutes
April 2, 2020
Zoom Meeting

Facilitator: Dennis Harrington
Note taker: Dick Brzozowski

Please note: Due to the confidentiality and sensitivity of some agenda items, these ELT minutes do not represent the full content of each meeting.

Guests

Ryder Scott, 4-H Camps and Learning Centers

Town Hall document

We discussed the Town Hall document and planned follow up for immediate needs or concerns reflected in it.

Hannah’s meetings with county offices and program units

The Program Administrators have scheduled opportunities for Hannah to meet with county office staff and program units during the month of April.

The next 30, 60, 90, and 120 Days

The ELT created a planning grid so that we may stay current on programming and other activities during the next 30,60, 90, and 120 days.  In that regard, here are some of the things we noted:

As of the date of this meeting, we are all effectively working remotely through May 17th.

  • Hannah will send a message to the listserv and communicate the need for our County Associations to remain active. She will also mention that there is a county one pager that is being worked on to be shared with county commissioners and county managers as needed.
  • A UMaine survey to faculty and staff is planned for next week (April 6-10) related to needs and working from home. Hannah will include information about the survey in her regular communications to the organization and encourage Extension staff to complete the survey.
  • The UM retirement and recognition banquets have been cancelled.
  • Are there programs (planned or that typically take place in the spring and summer) that Extension needs to make decisions on whether or not they can occur? The ELT will follow up with staff about these programs.

 4-H Camps Update

Ryder Scott gave an informative presentation about the current and potential future situation of the camps as it relates to COVID-19. The current goal is to maintain year-round staffing of the 4-H Camps and Learning Centers.

The refrigeration at Tanglewood is currently being used to store foods for the community of Saint George to address the food insecurity issue.

The camps are making outdoor-related kits available for youth via public schools as distribution sites. The kits are held by plastic milk crates. The purpose of these kits is to get youth outdoors and off their screens.  These include: Bird watching kit; Fishing kit, and a Wildlife tracking kit.  In addition, a Seed Starting & Gardening is in the works. Camp staff are volunteering in their respective communities during these trying times.

Search Updates

Assistant Financial and Operations Manager (Orono) – Interviews completed, offer to be made pending Provost & HR approval
4-H Youth Development Professional (Washington County) – Brittany Foster hired
4-H Youth Development Professional (Community Central) – Advertising
Crops Entomology Educator (Aroostook County) – Advertising
EFNEP Regional Supervisor – On hold
Extension Crops Specialist (Aroostook County) – Advertising
Sustainable Agriculture Professional (Aroostook County) – Advertising

2020 ELT Meeting Dates

Meetings are from 9:00 am to 3:30 pm, unless otherwise noted

Dates Facilitator Notes Location
April 29 Brzozowski Sulinski Zoom Meeting
May 11 Sulinski Phelps Zoom Meeting
June 4 Phelps Carter Orono: 102B Libby Hall