Extension Leadership Team Meeting Minutes July 7, 2021
Extension Leadership Team Meeting Minutes
July 7, 2021
Virtual Meeting (3:00-4:30 PM)
Facilitator: Lisa Phelps
Note taker: Hannah Carter
Please note: Due to the confidentiality and sensitivity of some agenda items, these ELT minutes do not represent the full content of each meeting.
Communications & Marketing Team and Publication Transition
Michele L. and Tracey F. joined the ELT meeting to discuss the publication transition. Tracey updated us on the publications transition – we were notified last fall; Sequoia will no longer be available to us after July 31st. We need a new solution to house our publications and continue without disruption for our Pesticide-related materials. We began exploring our options. The first was NetSuite, which the UMaine bookstore is utilizing. This won’t work for Extension; it has a high price tag and a short turnaround time for a MOU. We considered SalesForce, which is not available to us at this point. CDMS (our event registration system) is great for our online event registration system, the interface isn’t set up for selling books. The user experience would be clunky. We landed with TouchNet. This is the UMS E-Commerce system and has been in use for many years. It’s a familiar product to us. It works with our chart fields.
Tracey shared what the new website/storefront would look like. Some suggestions were made around the search option, name for the store, names for the categories
All free downloads will be categorized (almost 800) and available. The search engines have always worked well. People typically find the information they want through google. The downside is that the hard copy books are currently not available for sale. They currently account for only 8% of our inventory and they are not authored by Extension staff. Tracey will do an inventory of our current books available and send it out to staff. The upside for using TouchNet eliminates the need to transfer funds between accounts, every product is assigned to a chartfield.
There will be a media release late summer/early fall to share this new information.
July 31 is our end date. Next Monday, July 12, the transition will occur for the sale of the pesticide manuals, which would act like a soft launch. That gives us two weeks for any issues that might arise. Kerry Bernard will be trained to process orders and set up some of the products. We will share this in an email and Tracey may join the August Extension Connections to share this information with the organization.
In the future, SalesForce may be an option for marketing our publications, but in any case, will interface with whatever platform we are using so as to capture customer data.
Extension Vehicles
Oxford County Extension staff wants a car that their EC is willing to purchase and maintain. How would we reconcile this in light of the vehicles that we already have in three of our counties?
The ELT discussed the possibilities of Extension Associations and/or Executive Committees purchasing county-based vehicles for staff and volunteer use, and discussed the potential liability issues. We are looking at current guidelines and policies and brainstorming ideas on how to (hopefully) make this work.
July Lunch and Learn
Looking for some ideas for our next “Lunch and Learn” – does anything come to mind that the organization would be interested in learning about? We agreed that AgrAbility would make a great topic. Also possibly information around the GL tutorials that are being created and maybe updates on Concur. Hannah and Fran have also brainstormed a list of potential topics as well.
Grants Awarded in FY21
UMaine Cooperative Extension experienced one of its highest totals ever for successful grant awards, tallying $5,918,111 during FY21. This is more than $2.6 million higher than FY20 and significantly higher than in recent years (details are at the end of the minutes, below).
Book Club
Information will be posted next week about joining the book club at which the book “The Gatherings” will be the focus. The Gatherings shows how Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples can come together to create meaningful and lasting relationships.
Reopening Supplies
Reopening supplies can be ordered through UMaine at; https://umaine.edu/police/eoc/supplies-request-form/
New APL Regarding Volunteer Drivers
There is a new “Administrative Practice Letter” (APL) for vehicle use effective July 1, 2021. Dennis is reviewing it, but wanted to share this about volunteer use of University vehicles:
Volunteer Drivers
In special circumstances, the University System Risk Manager can approve University volunteers as drivers if it is in the University’s best interest. Volunteer drivers must be a University-approved volunteer and meet the requirements established to become a University approved driver.
If people need to seek permission for volunteers to drive University vehicles, please contact Dennis Harrington. Students can drive university vehicles but they also have to go through the approval process.
FYI – All APLs for the UMaine System can be found here: https://www.maine.edu/apls/
Announcements & Congratulations
Congratulations to Cooperative Extension Dean Hannah Carter on the award of $24,178 from the USDA/NIFA through the Extension Foundation for a project titled ME/UM Vaccinate with Confidence. In this one year project, Hannah will be working with our collaborators; the Maine Farm Bureau, the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, and the Maine Wild Blueberry Commission; to target farmworkers in Washington and Aroostook Counties with print materials, social media, and advertising utilizing the CDC’s “Vaccinate with Confidence” educational campaign and resources.
Congratulations to Ronald Fournier, Director of Bryant Pond 4-H and Learning Center, on the award of $180,000 by the State of Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife for a project titled 2021/2022 Moose Lottery Fund. This one-year project will enable a greater number of Maine youth to enroll in a 1-week Conservation Camp program offered at Bryant Pond, as well as provide virtual sessions and additional programming that complements the conservation education curricula.
Congratulations to PI Dr. Leslie Forstadt on the award of $2,400 from USDA/NIFA and the National Young Farmers Coalition to support the Farm and Ranch Assistance Network. The funding will further the work of supporting Northeast farms, farmers, and farm workers to reduce stress.
Search Updates
4-H Youth Development Professional – Somerset – Interviewing
Administrative Specialist CL2 – Cumberland County – Advertising
Agricultural Engineer Professional – Failed Search
Assistant Director (Bryant Pond) – Advertising
Assistant Extension Professor and Fish Nutrition Specialist – Habtemichael Habtetsion Andemichael and Donald Hawkyard hired
Assistant Extension Professor/Dairy Specialist – Offer made
Climate Services Specialist/Assistant Extension Professor – Negotiation Stage
Community Education Assistant CL2 – Waldo – Advertising
Lead Facilities Maintenance Worker CL2 (part-time) – Janie Knox hired
Statewide Small Business Educator & Assistant Extension Professor – Advertising
| Date Awarded | Project Title | PI / Co-PI Name(s) | Sponsor(s) | Sponsor Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 09/11/2020 | Genetic Improvement of North American Atlantic Salmon & the Eastern Oyster for Aquaculture Production | Deborah Bouchard | US Dept of Agriculture | $847,000 |
| 03/19/2021 | Cellulose nanomaterials: A novel adjuvant and delivery system for aquaculture vaccines | Deborah Bouchard / Sarah Turner | US Dept of Agriculture | $495,000 |
| 07/07/2020 | Potato breeding to improve biotic and abiotic stress tolerance | John Jemison | US Dept of Agriculture | $489,983 |
| 01/13/2021 | Closing the Technology Gap through 4-H School-at Home Enrichment: A Northeast collaborative approach to serving rural communities in the time of COVID | Ryder Scott / Lisa Phelps | University of New Hampshire / US Dept of Agriculture | $328,191 |
| 01/25/2021 | Building Agricultural Literacy through an Immersive Culinary Experience | Kathleen Savoie | US Dept of Agriculture | $300,000 |
| 03/30/2021 | Maine West Workforce Development | Ryder Scott / Tara Pocock | Northern Border Regional Commission / US Dept of Agriculture | $286,800 |
| 08/26/2020 | Detection of African Swine Fever Persistence in Swine Slurry
and Protocols for Inactivation |
Mark Hutchinson | National Pork Board | $261,156 |
| 02/24/2021 | Maine Families | Melanie Bryan | Maine Children’s Trust / ME Dept of Health and Human Services / US Dept of Health & Human Services | $243,264 |
| 04/15/2021 | Education and On-farm Research to Improve Long-term Sustainability of Hemp in the Northeast | John Jemison | University of Vermont / US Dept of Agriculture | $204,331 |
| 09/03/2020 | Maine Integrated Pest Management CPPM-EIP 2017-2020 | James Dill | US Dept of Agriculture | $185,415 |
| 06/15/2021 | 2021/2022 Moose Lottery Fund | Ronald Fournier | ME Dept of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife | $180,000 |
| 08/18/2020 | Maine AgrAbility Continuation Year 3 | Richard Brzozowski | US Dept of Agriculture | $180,000 |
| 03/02/2021 | Value-Added Grains For Local And Regional Food Systems I | Ellen Mallory | Cornell University / US Dept of Agriculture | $159,073 |
| 02/03/2021 | 2020/21 Moose Lottery Scholarship Funding | Ronald Fournier | ME Dept of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife | $150,000 |
| 07/02/2020 | Assessing The Impact Of Winter Ticks And Tick-Borne Diseases On Moose Health | Anne Lichtenwalner | Morris Animal Foundation | $148,492 |
| 05/14/2021 | Maine 4-H Community Central: Engaging Teens in Workforce Development | Kristy Ouellette | US Dept of Agriculture | $132,000 |
| 07/28/2020 | USDA ARS Research Support Agreement | Deborah Bouchard | US Dept of Agriculture | $117,700 |
| 03/03/2021 | Real World Real Science- Implementation | Lisa Phelps | Gulf of Maine Research Institute / National Aeronautics & Space Administration | $111,176 |
| 10/26/2020 | Aspirations Incubator Program Yr 4 | Ryder Scott /
Danielle O’Neill |
Emanuel and Pauline Lerner Foundation | $105,825 |
| 11/12/2020 | Digital Center for Risk Management Education | David Handley | University of Minnesota / US Dept of Agriculture | $100,000 |
| 11/24/2020 | Using Foliar Fertilizers And Soil Amendments To Improve Wild Blueberry Production And Resilience To Warming | Lily Calderwood | ME Dept of Agriculture, Conservation & Forestry / US Dept of Agriculture | $84,647 |
| 11/09/2020 | Maine Potato IPM – 2021 | Griffin Dill | ME Dept of Agriculture, Conservation & Forestry / US Dept of Agriculture | $83,321 |
| 03/22/2021 | Maine Agricultural Mediation Program | Leslie Forstadt | US Dept of Agriculture | $81,998 |
| 08/03/2020 | Building Capacity Of Land-Based Atlantic Salmon Aquaculture In The US (Yr2) | Deborah Bouchard | Maryland Sea Grant College Program / US Dept of Commerce | $81,303 |
| 10/14/2020 | Defining And Overcoming Economic Factors Hindering Adoption Of Food Safety Practices By Small And Medium Sized Farms In The New England Region | Jason Bolton / Robson Machado | Ohio State University / US Dept of Agriculture | $58,307 |
| 09/30/2020 | Identifying Gaps in Knowledge and Capacity to Help Farmers Adapt to a Changing Climate | Ellen Mallory | University of Vermont / US Dept of Agriculture | $46,662 |
| 12/08/2020 | Farm and Ranch Assistance Network | Leslie Forstadt | National Young Farmers Coalition / US Dept of Agriculture | $35,807 |
| 04/16/2021 | Boots-2-Bushels: Improving Farm Viability For Veterans And Farmers With A Disability | Caragh Fitzgerald | University of Delaware / US Dept of Agriculture | $35,374 |
| 02/01/2021 | Aphid and PVY Surveillance | James Dill / Griffin Dill | University of Idaho / US Dept of Agriculture | $33,867 |
| 12/16/2020 | Expanding Maine’s Berry Industry to Improve Farm Profitability Yr2 | David Handley / James Dill | ME Dept of Agriculture, Conservation & Forestry / US Dept of Agriculture | $30,872 |
| 10/07/2020 | New England Plant Disease Network 2020-2021 | Alicyn Smart | University of Florida / US Dept of Agriculture | $30,000 |
| 09/21/2020 | Season Extension Strategies And Profitability In Dairy And Livestock Operations In New England | John Jemison | University of Vermont / US Dept of Agriculture | $29,993 |
| 09/22/2020 | Improving Shelf Life of Fresh Pack Wild Blueberries in Maine | Lily Calderwood / Marjorie Peronto | University of Vermont / US Dept of Agriculture | $28,270 |
| 03/08/2021 | Season Extension Strategies And Profitability In Dairy And Livestock Operations In New England | Caragh Fitzgerald / Richard Kersbergen | University of Massachusetts / University of Vermont / US Dept of Agriculture | $26,046 |
| 12/18/2020 | Maine Agricultural Mediation Program FY 2021 | Leslie Forstadt | US Dept of Agriculture | $25,938 |
| 06/07/2021 | ME/UM Vaccinate with Confidence | Hannah Carter | Extension Foundation / US Dept of Agriculture | $24,178 |
| 02/25/2021 | The Impact Of The Local Food System And Natural Environment On Rural Food Security And Health Outcomes During The COVID-19 Pandemic | Kate Yerxa | University of Vermont | $22,145 |
| 04/02/2021 | DHHS Youth Outdoors Skills program | Ronald Fournier | ME Dept of Health and Human Services | $17,000 |
| 07/01/2020 | 2019/20 Moose Lottery Scholarship | Ronald Fournier | ME Dept of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife / ME Dept of Health and Human Services | $17,000 |
| 01/04/2021 | Pesticide Training Module | Kerry Bernard | Extension Foundation / US Environmental Protection Agency | $16,775 |
| 11/09/2020 | Healthy School Partnerships | Jeffrey Colpitts | Onion Foundation | $15,000 |
| 09/30/2020 | Reducing Risks of Wildlife/Livestock Parasite Transmission | Anne Lichtenwalner | University of Vermont / US Dept of Agriculture | $14,907 |
| 12/16/2020 | Squash: Expanding Maine’s Fresh Vegetable Market through Improved Winter Squash Storage | David Handley / Alicyn Smart | ME Dept of Agriculture, Conservation & Forestry / US Dept of Agriculture | $14,595 |
| 01/12/2021 | SCC STEMports: Community Workforce Development through Augmented Reality STEM Learning Experiences | Ryder Scott | Maine Mathematics & Science Alliance / National Science Foundation | $10,000 |
| 09/21/2020 | Maine 4-H Community Central: Engaging Teens in Workforce Development Yr 2 +$ | Kristy Ouellette / Mitch Mason | US Dept of Agriculture | $9,800 |
| 07/02/2020 | Small Fruit Survey and Vegetable Survey 2020-21 | David Handley / James Dill | ME Dept of Agriculture, Conservation & Forestry / US Dept of Agriculture | $9,500 |
| 04/05/2021 | AgrAbility FRSAN – Software for farmers | Anne Devin | National Young Farmers Coalition / US Dept of Agriculture | $5,000 |
| 06/15/2021 | FRSAN – Cohort Participation | Leslie Forstadt | National Young Farmers Coalition / US Dept of Agriculture | $2,400 |
| 03/03/2021 | Portland Housing Authority Garden Days | Pamela Hargest | Portland Housing Authority / US Dept of Housing and Urban Development | $2,000 |