Extension Leadership Team Meeting Minutes August 23, 2021

Extension Leadership Team Meeting Minutes
August 23, 2021
Virtual Meeting 8:30-10:00 and 1:30-3:00

Facilitator: Hannah Carter
Note taker: Jon Prichard

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

Remote Work Requests and Office Hours

Hannah has received 25 remote work requests so far. If supervisors receive requests that have a medical component please direct the staff member to complete the form at https://umaine.edu/eo/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2020/10/accommodation-request-form-for-online-submission-1.pdf. Staff members may also contact Amanda Paradis. She is the UMS ADA Coordinator- amanda.paradis1@maine.edu or equal.opportunity@maine.edu

Meanwhile as of Monday, August 30, all offices should be open regular hours. Tracey is updating in person program checklists today. County websites should be up to date with current information.

Sales Force

The Salesforce implementation project has been slowed significantly by the failure of the UMaine Procurement-led bidding process. The failure was based on the high cost of implementation consultants, intended to work with the UM Admissions. Procurement will be rebuilding the bid documents and we hope a new RFP will be issued soon. This will undoubtedly result in a delay in implementation for Extension. We are currently on hold; stand by for more updates. Dennis is continuing to lead this effort from Extension.

“Food from Home Recipe Contest”

A reminder to staff to consider participating in the contest. https://extension.umaine.edu/plugged-in/maine-bicentennial-community-cookbook-2nd-edition-recipe-contest/

Marketing and Communications Team Update

Media Outreach and Promotion – Dana Rickman and Lynne Holland joined the ELT meeting to discuss the current relationship with media outreach and promotion.  In part as a result of the pandemic-related challenges of 2020, Extension’s relationship has changed from an operational and organizational perspective. Dana has researched our media efforts, looking at UMaine newsfeed tracks relative to our releases. She also has received feedback from Margaret Nagle and her staff, and we are fortunate to have good working relationships with them.

Dana looked at sample weeks and found the following for the same week in June for the past 3 years. In 2021 we had 31 media mentions; 2020 – 10 mentions; 2019 – 5 mentions. Most mentions were made for Boots 2 Bushels, 4-H Fridays on the Farm, Food preservation and horticulture (e.g. Victory Gardens). We have been cited in national sources. Dana will put together some slides for Hannah to use in an upcoming Extension Connections.

The news media are reaching out to our staff (often directly and sometimes through Dana or Margaret Nagel) for information and interviews on specific stories, topics, or issues. Please contact Dana if you have ideas for news stories, etc. and she can help make it happen.

Advice/Discussion

York/Cumberland Volunteer Management Professional Position

The ELT approved moving forward with filling a York/Cumberland County Volunteer Management Professional position that will combine and expand upon the vacancies created by the recent departures of the Horticulture CEAs in York and Cumberland counties.

Constant Contact

The ELT approved increasing the subscription capacity for the current newsletter platform (Constant Contact) while we wait for SalesForce. This is a temporary measure.

We generally support increasing subscription capacity. Should we also be purging some of the inactive email lists now? Any increases should go through Michelle Snowden and Dana.

Kennebec County 4-H CEA

The ELT approved a proposal for a half-time 4-H CEA position for Kennebec County.

University of Maine Research Council

We discussed who might fill a temporary appointment to the UMaine Research Council.

Updates

Extension Dairy Faculty Position

We learned last week that the Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center had approved the proposal from UMaine to fund a faculty member for 3 years.  This faculty member will focus on dairy forage and be based in central Maine. Their work will also involve dairy farmers from NH, VT, and MA.  This proposal went through PARS and had support from the ORA. A search committee is being formed.

Search Updates

4-H STEM Ambassador: Pending HT approval
4-H Team Leadership (faculty) – Pending HT approval
4-H Youth Development Professional (Aroostook) – Advertising
4-H Youth Development Professional – Somerset – Offer accepted
Administrative Coordinator – Pending HT approval
Administrative Specialist CL2 – Cumberland County – Eavan Sibole-Little hired
Assistant Diagnostician (PDDL) – Pending HT approval
Assistant Professor of Sustainable Ag/Dairy Forage – Pending HT approval
Agricultural Engineer Professional – Failed Search
Assistant Director (Bryant Pond) – Mary Proulx hired
Assistant Extension Professor/Dairy Specialist – Offer made
Climate Services Specialist/Assistant Extension Professor – Negotiation Stage (MOU)
Community Education Assistant CL2 – Waldo – Advertising
CRM Professional – HT approval process
Marketing and Communications Director – HT Approval Process (hold)
Master Gardener Volunteer Manager – Hold
Statewide Small Business Educator & Assistant Extension Professor – Failed Search
Telstar Academy 4-H Professional – HT approval process