ELT Minutes, December 18, 2013

January 7, 2014 ELT Minutes

Extension Leadership Team Minutes
December 18, 2013
Orono – Libby Hall 102

Facilitator: Fran

Note taker: Jon

At noon, ELT members participated in a Libby Hall potluck lunch that was very well attended. Thanks to Fran for organizing the event, and to all who participated and brought such delicious dishes!

Check-in and Updates

Fran’s “Handling Difficult Conversations” workshop went very well and was well received.

Dennis has formed a search committee for Travis’ replacement. Dennis has been using Amanda to temporarily fill some gaps. We anticipate having someone on board 3-4 weeks before Travis is done.

Dennis is working on Impact Statements for inclusion in Extension’s Annual Report of Accomplishments and Results

Lisa is continuing to work with 4-H staff on a 4-H Science/STEM plan.

The Maine Food Summit was very successful with 250 attending and terrific anecdotal feedback. John Jemison and Kate Yerxa are conducting a follow-up evaluation. Special thanks to John Jemison who did a fabulous job organizing this event, and thanks to all who were involved and supported the program.

John Rebar is organizing the Hall of Flags event that will take place in Augusta on Feb 5. Great displays are being created and it promises to be a terrific event.

John has joined as a member of the 4-H Northeast Public Private Partnerships group.

John is working with MPBN on a series of TV programs focused on the work of UMaine Cooperative Extension. The programs will be hosted by Jason Bolton and highlight Extension programs and staff.

Maine 4-H Foundation annual report is complete and looks terrific.

Dennis has worked with the Penobscot County staff to come to agreement on a design for a new kitchen at Caribou Hall. The design has been approved and the project is moving forward.

Camps Updates

Annual appeal letters have gone out from Tanglewood and from Bryant Pond Camps and Learning Centers. Jon Prichard is spending increased time with the 4-H camp boards and staff both to support the camps and also to share best practices between the camps. Maine 4-H Foundation Executive Director Susan Jennings has been working with the camps to support them in the area of development.

Centralized Database

Michele provided the ELT with a demonstration of the new centralized database system. The system is still in the testing phase, and is on track for an early 2014 launch.

Future Leadership of the Parenting Education Programs

Jon has been working with the staff of the Parenting Education Programs of Waldo, Knox and Lincoln Counties, and Jon and John Rebar have met with the staff to support them in their management transition as Nadine Reimer retires in 2014. Staff and Jon continue to explore alternative management structures to support the program.

Special Projects and Compliance Professional

The ELT is acting as the search committee or the Special Projects and Compliance Professional. In that role the ELT met with Sandy to begin screening applications and move the process forward.

Future Agenda Items:

First quarter of each year: Updates from Tanglewood/Blueberry Cove, and Bryant Pond Camps

Announcement Invitation:

The ELT invites you to submit items to be included in the minutes/announcements of the next regularly scheduled ELT meeting. This is an opportunity to share with the ELT and the rest of the organization any of the following:

Notable programmatic accomplishments
Development or fundraising success
Significant new partnerships and/or opportunities
Important transitions

Please take the opportunity to share your good works through this avenue. Keep it brief, approximately two to four sentences would be appreciated. To submit an announcement, please contact your PA or appropriate member of the ELT.

Please remember to visit University of Maine’s news site for additional University of Maine Cooperative Extension highlight.

Announcements:

Congratulations to Kathy Hopkins, Seanna Annis and Beth Calder who were awarded $ 9,245.00 by the North American Maple Syrup Council Research Fund for the proposal, “Detection of Toxins in Contaminated Maple Syrup.”

Congratulations to Wesley Neff, who has been awarded $312,150 from Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to continue the Maine Families program in Waldo County for FY14. Maine Families home visitors partner with parents and parents-to-be to access the information and resources that can support the physical and emotional health of their baby and entire family.

Congratulations to Cathy Elliott and the grant team, including Mitch Mason, Kristy Ouellette and Jon Prichard on receiving a $120,000 grant award from The U.S. Dept of Agriculture (NIFA) for “Maine CYFAR Sustainable Communities Project Yr 5”, and to the implementation team that includes Ryder Scott, Heather Francis, and Mitch Mason.

Search Updates:

POS#208 Small Farm Business Professional – Posting early January

POS#211 Crops Specialist – Accepting applications

POS#212 Special Projects & Compliance Professional – Accepting applications

POS#213 4-H Youth Development Professional – Posting early January

ELT Meeting Dates – 2013 – 2014

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

Dates	Facilitator	Notes	Location
January 6	Phelps	Rebar	Augusta — 208 Richard Randall Center
January 27	Rebar	Prichard	Orono — 102B Libby Hall
February 13	Prichard	Harrington	Orono — 102B Libby Hall
February 27	Harrington	Sulinski	Augusta — 124 Jewett Hall
March 19	Sulinski	Phelps	Orono — 102B Libby Hall
April 2	Phelps	Rebar	Orono — 102B Libby Hall
April 24	Rebar	Prichard	Augusta — 218 Richard Randall Center
May 16	Prichard	Harrington	Orono — 102B Libby Hall
May 29	Harrington	Sulinski	Augusta — 218 Richard Randall Center
	Sulinski	Phelps
	Phelps	Rebar
	Rebar	Prichard
	Prichard	Harrington