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FALL
2008
Alpha Omicron ESP News
National
ESP News & Reports
Alpha Omicron ESP News
Note
from the President -
Karen Vines, 2008 Alpha Omicron President
What an exciting time of year! We're in the midst of preparation for our annual meeting on October 28 - 7:30 PM as part of the Extension Annual Conference and Professional Association meetings. ESP has played a major role in this conference overall by sponsoring the keynote speaker and providing financial support for the JCEP Professional Development session. One of our major goals as an association is to provide professional development opportunities that meet needs throughout the Extension family. Thanks to Beth Raney for representing us on the planning committee and for her work in preparation for these meetings. Being a fan of lists, I've put together two lists to help you prepare emotionally and physically for the meetings. Articles in this newsletter will provide more information on the individual items. I look forward to seeing you there!
Things to look forward to at our annual meeting and the extension annual conference:
- The opportunity to meet face to face and catch up with our colleagues from throughout the state and across program areas.
- Recognition of our national award recipients from the recent Galaxy III and our 2008 Alpha Omicron awardees.
- Election of a new secretary to begin their leadership journey in this organization. (Good work, nominating committee chaired by Sandra Hall. Thank you!)
- Witness the unveiling of the many years of work by the Historical Committee in "Extension Memories of the 20th Century." Special thanks to Guy and the historical committee for your work. (I can't wait to see it!)
- Participate in the silent and live auctions to support scholarships and the ESP Endowment
Things to do to prepare for the annual meeting:
- Register at http://www.extension.psu.edu/internal/main.htm if you have not already done so or if you registered early, revise your registration to include the ESP Annual Meeting. This will give us an accurate head count and provide you with the opportunity to win a door prize.
- Decide on an item to donate for the silent and live auctions.
- Pay your 2009 ESP membership dues.
- Invite someone you work with who is not a member to join ESP.
Extension Annual Conference and ESP Annual Meeting Schedule - Beth Raney, Annual Meeting Chair
October 28th
11:00 AM - Registration - PSU Extension Annual Conference (EAC) PSU EAC Meeting
11:45 AM - Lunch
12:30 PM - Keynote Address: Secretary Michael DiBerardinas, PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (sponsored by Epsilon Sigma Phi)
5:15 PM - Networking Dinner
6:30 PM - Technology Showcase and Poster Session
7:30 PM - ESP Business meeting
October 29th
7:00 AM - PACAA Liaison breakfast
8:30 AM - Penn State Extension Annual Conference Resumes
1:00 PM - Meetings of PACAA, PAE4-HA and PEAFCS
2:30 PM - JCEP Professional Development Session - Biofuels and Global Warming in the Next Twenty Years, Potential Effects On The U.S. Population, Dennis Avery, a Fellow at the Hudson Institute, Washington, DC to speak on the afternoon of October 29, 2008. As a Research Fellow at the Hudson Institute, he has amassed vast knowledge of Global Food Issues that might be second to none. For more detailed information, you can visit the Hudson Institute web page and click on Scholars, www.hudson.org
3:30 PM - JCEP and other Professional Development Workshops
- Will Politics Allow University Based Science to Continue Leading Agricultural Production and Food Safety In The Future? - Dennis Avery
- PEAFCS Advocacy
5:00 PM - Networking Reception
5:30 PM - Silent Auction is Open
6:00 PM - Joint Recognition Banquet
7:00 PM - Association Awards & Live Auction
October 30th
PACAA, PAE4-HA and PEAFCS meetings resume with adjournment at or before Noon
ESP to Participate in JCEP Recognition Banquet Silent Auction – Join Us! -
Jeff Myers – jdm30@psu.edu
Prior to the Annual Conference JCEP Awards Banquet on Wednesday, October 29th, each professional association will be participating in a silent auction which will benefit each individual associations. This is your opportunity to bring one or more (more is always welcomed) auction items along that will benefit ESP. We designate our proceeds to support the National ESP Endowment Fund, which in turn supports the membership through professional development scholarships. Just as a piece of trivia – Pennsylvania has been the beneficiary of more ESP scholarship money than any other Chapter in the country. This is a great way to make a contribution to support the educational opportunities provided by ESP. Bring your auction items with you to registration. Please be sure that your items are clearly marked for the benefit of ESP. If you cannot bring along an auction item, bring your checkbook. Or even better yet, bring an item and your checkbook! This is a great opportunity to show your commitment to the very ideals of ESP.
Membership
& Initiation Committee - Marilyn
Corbin, Membership Chair - YOUR HELP IS NEEDED TO RECRUIT NEW ESP MEMBERS - Do you have a co-worker who would qualify as a member of Epsilon Sigma Phi? An Extension professional is eligible for membership if they have worked at least two years for Cooperative Extension and have exhibited outstanding excellence in programming and leadership. Perhaps, your co-worker declined membership when they were first invited, and they haven’t pursued the option to become a member. So, your help and encouragement is needed to invite your colleague to become a member. Here is the link on our ESP website for our current list of members so you can see who our current members are: http://cas.psu.edu/docs/casprof/esp/Membership/2008.htm. The application for membership is located at: http://cas.psu.edu/docs/casprof/esp/MembershipForms/2009.doc.
And, last of all, here is a link to a copy of the membership brochure that describes the benefits of ESP: http://www.espnational.org/2007ESPBenefitsBrochure-03292007.pdf
Please invite a prospective member to join and encourage their application. I would appreciate receiving all new member applications by October 10th, so that we have adequate time to prepare materials for the initiation scheduled during the ESP Business Meeting at the Extension Annual Conference.
TIME TO PAY ESP DUES - Marilyn
Corbin, Membership Chair
Now is the time to pay your ESP dues for another year. Please make it easy for our new membership chairman, Peter Wulfhorst, and send him a check for your dues by January 5, 2009. If you would like to pay in person and save a stamp, please bring a check for $60.00 payable to Epsilon Sigma Phi to the ESP Business Meeting during Extension Annual Conference. Thank you so much for your cooperation. 2009 Membership Form Link
Historical Committee - Guy Temple, Committee Chair
Our news is good. Copies of "Extension Memories of the 20th Century" will be available for sale at the Extension Annual Conference and ESP Annual Meeting in October. Cost I believe will be $14.00 per copy. They will also be available later at the mailing room for the same amount if picked up. If by mail an additional postage charge will be added.
Hope to see some of you at the session. A spcial "thanks" to each of you who prepared stories for the Extension Memories publication, and a very special "thanks" to the committee ( Helen Bell, John Bergstrom, Tom King, Jack MacMillan, Jane Marhefka, Elton Tait, Betty Parks Strutin, Eunice Tibbott, Bernard Wingert, Fran Zettle) for all the work they did over the past few years to make it happen.
National
ESP News & Reports
Public Issues Leadership Development Conference – Vicki Lewis, 2008 Alpha Omicron Vice-President
“Connectivity: Community to the Capitol” was the theme for the 2008 PILD Conference. It was held at the Key Bridge Marriott in Arlington, Virginia. It is an annual conference sponsored by the Joint Council of Extension Professionals. It is billed as the premier opportunity for professional development in the public issues arena. It also provides us the unique opportunity to interact with federal decision makers.
The Pennsylvania contingent arrived on Sunday, April 27. We spent the evening orienting ourselves in the hotel and walked to dinner. Our opening session was for first timers, giving us opportunity to hear others who had participated in prior years. Our representatives from ECOP and CSREES gave briefings on policy that dictates formula funding, on the farm bill, on implications for sustainability, and on spending for research.
Association news was the theme at luncheons on the first day. In the afternoon sessions, a Congressional Scholar shared her insights into the legislative process and enhanced public understanding of how our government really works. Ilona Nickels was a compelling speaker as she addressed puzzling issues of the Washington policy making process. In a later session, we got an update on the status of federal appropriations for FY 2009 from Scott Smith and Hunt Shipman. Breakout sessions included “Working With Congressional Staffers” and others focusing on how to maximize our visit to Capitol Hill. The evening was spent planning for Congressional and Agency visits with state delegations.
On Tuesday, we had sessions with CSREES National Program Leaders about public policy issues that impact Extension and clientele across the nation. “Connecting with Stakeholders” was the theme of the General Session later in the morning. Following lunch, the general session was devoted to “Connecting with Community Issues” and included the immigration debate, and strategies for success in diverse communities. Breakout sessions included public policy connections. I attended a very interesting session about Phenomenology, which is a PSU Research project in the Forestry Department. It invites partners to find good solutions by getting people to tell their stories and create new knowledge.
On Wednesday, our team headed to Capitol Hill and visited. I was on a team with Darlene Resh and Rick Hackett. We were greeted by congressional aides who listened and warmly received the message we carried about Cooperative Extension.
PILD 2008 was a true learning experience for me and it was time well spent to round out my knowledge base of how to work with constituents and elected officials to affect public policy.
The Pennsylvania delegation consisted of Paul Craig, PSCE Dauphin County; Tim Elkner, PSCE Lancaster County; Rick Hackett, volunteer, Broadsheadville; Lori Hansroth, PSCE Fulton; Daney Jackson; Heidi Kozar, volunteer, Latrobe; Cynthia Kunes, UP PSCE; Murray Laite, volunteer, Lewistown; John Lamb, volunteer, New Castle; Jonathan Laughner, PSCE Beaver; Robert Leiby, PSCE Lehigh; Vicki Lewis, PSCE Lycoming; Kim McManus, PSCE Cambria; Dwayne Miller, PSCE Pottsville; Patricia Murnyack, PSCE, UP; Phyllis Palm, volunteer, Lewistown; Tom Reed, volunteer, Orwigsburg; Darlene Resh, PSCE Adams; Bill Roberts, volunteer, Harrisburg; Greg Roth PSCE, UP; Yvonne Szpara, PSCE Schulylkill.
Galaxy Report - Karen Vines, 2008 Alpha Omicron President
Galaxy III was indeed an exciting time for the 24+ PA Alpha Omicron members in attendance. Highlights for me included the opportunity to network with colleagues throughout the state and country, receive updates on developments at the national level and celebrate our volunteers, membership and chapter. ESP joined with the other PA-JCEP organizations for an outstanding combined state's night out. The fellowship was wonderful (and the food was pretty good, too.)
 Alpha Omicron nominee, Bill Roberts, Jr. was recognized with the "ESP Friends of Extension Award. Bill serves as a volunteer in Dauphin County and has been involved in 4-H urban youth activities, the Master Gardener Class Series and served as president of the Dauphin County Cooperative Extension Board. Bill is also an active member of the 4-H Development Board.
Alpha Omicron members received the following regional awards:
- ESP Diversity Team Award - Extension Reaching Out to Multicultural Programs - At Home & Abroad - Mary Alice Gettings, Roxanne Price, Deanna Behring, Nancy Crago, Nancy Kadwill, Leon Ressler, Robin Rex, Fay Strickler
- ESP Distinguished Service Award - Nancy Stevens
- ESP Distinguished Team Award - Learning Today, Leading Tomorrow - Debra Gregory, Joann Kowalski, Nancy Crago, Winifred McGee, Michael McDavid, Patty Anderson, Jon Laughner, Don Tanner, Janet Allis and Tim Kelsey
- ESP Visionary Leadership Award - Peg Shuffstall
The nominations for PA award recipients are available on our website if you would like to learn more about them.
Individual recognition in the ESP Development Campaign went to:
- Nancy Crago - ESP Silver Key
- Vernon Brose - ESP Bronze Key
- Fredrick Davis - ESP Key
The chapter fared very well achieving the following:
- Platinum level as a Chapter of Merit
- Silver Chapter in the ESP Development Campaign
- 25% Membership Participation in the ESP Development Campaign
- $25 in ESP merchandise
Make plans now to attend the 2009 National ESP Meeting in Fargo, ND September 13 - 16, 2009. The conference theme will be "Engage, Enlighten and Enjoy."
 National ESP Marketing Committee – Jeff Myers, NE Regional Committee Member
The 2008 National ESP Marketing Committee was newly formed by a representative from each region and directed to develop and start to implement a marketing plan to better communicate the purpose, vision, and value of ESP. The new logo and plan were adopted and launched at the 2008 Galaxy Conference. The need for a new ESP image came forth from discussions at the Regional JCEP meetings, in order to convey a fresh identity that would both attract new members and retain the existing membership. Steppingstones, LLC was the marketing firm hired from 8 RFP’s to develop the new logo. All of ESP’s materials have been updated. The National ESP Office will support Chapters with templates for newsletters, letterhead, brochures, and certificates. These templates will be posted on the ESP website. Brochures were revised with the help of the Standing Committees so that they have a fresh look and are easily understood. New promotional items have also been included as part of this marketing plan.
All the new materials should soon be up on the National ESP website! Let’s utilize these materials to their fullest!
National ESP Endowment Campaign – Jeff Myers, National Resource & Development Committee
Your tax-deductible contribution to the Epsilon Sigma Phi Development Fund will support ESP’s continued leadership in excellent professional development opportunities and recognition programs for current and retired Extension professionals.
This campaign is helping to endow sufficient resources to sustain current scholarships, professional development opportunities, and recognition programs for Extension professionals as well as the possibility of new initiatives. Significant progress has been made on the $500,000 Development Fund Campaign goal launched in 2002. With over 675 contributors, ESP is well on its way to reaching the goal.
Please consider including the ESP Endowment in your gift giving. All campaign donors will be recognized in the listing of Epsilon Sigma Phi Contributors. Contribute today and help us reach our remaining goal of $135,000!
National Professional Development - Emerging Leadership - Karen Vines, National Professional Development Committee Member & Emerging Leadership Sub-committee Chair
Penn State once again played host to the ESP Emerging Leadership workshop this year. The workshop is designed to deliver professional development opportunities to extension professionals at their desk. This year's topic was Advocacy, presented by Dr. Gwen Wolford, Ohio State University on July 31, 2008. Forty people from 19 states registered for the presentation. The program was developed using Adobe Connect. Response was very positive with many indicating they gained information they would use to improve their ability to advocate for extension programming from the county to state level. To view the session, go to https://breeze.psu.edu/p13141794/.
The focus for 2009 will be Leading Change for a Healthy Organization and will be connected with the 2009 pre-conference. Watch for more information.
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