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News and Notes: January 31, 2020

OUR VISION: Ohioans have the knowledge and resources they need to actively engage in creating conditions in which they thrive.

OUR MISSION: We create opportunities for people to explore how science-based knowledge can improve social, economic and environmental conditions.

In This Issue:

Leadership Notes

  1. Thoughts from the Director – Upcoming Communication 
  2. Area Leader Update

College Connections

  1. Dean Kress' State of the College Address

Campus Connections/Partnerships

  1. Ohio State Presidential Search Committee Request
  2. University Senate Request

Programming Perspectives

  1. Summit on Extension in Ohio’s Urban Communities: Strengthen Ohio by Strengthening Cities and Urban-Rural Connections
  2. Extension Associate Water Quality Positions
  3. OFMA Junior Fair Conference
  4. ODNR Division of Forestry’s Forest of Honor Induction
  5. Healthy Living Health Heroes

Award Opportunities/Reminders

  1. Outreach and Engagement Award Nominations Due Today

Celebrating Colleagues

  1. National 4-H Congress Design Team

Professional Development Opportunities

  1. JCEP Extension Leadership Conference – Feb. 12-13, 2020
  2. Ohio JCEP Scholarship Deadline – Feb. 15
  3. Public Issues Leadership Development Conference – April 5-8, 2020

  1. Thoughts from the Director – Upcoming Communication 

    Save the date for video updates on March 19 at 9am and May 5 at 9am; and look for the next “print” News and Notes in mid-February. 

  2. Area Leader Update

    Pat Holmes is serving as an interim area leader for area 21 (Hamilton and Butler counties), following Deb Carney’s retirement. You can reach Pat directly at holmes.86@osu.edu. 

  3. Dean Kress' State of the College Address

    During her State of the College address earlier this month, Dean Kress addressed opportunities and challenges facing the college. She recognized the college’s tremendous growth and evolution over the past 150 years; celebrated the impact of work in CFAES; and outlined the college’s new strategic plan. The plan includes continuing to address four grand challenges that require interdisciplinary work – sustainability, one health, the rural-urban interface, and preparing the future workforce. Visit cfaes.osu.edu/news/articles/cfaes-dean-addresses-opportunities-and-challenges-facing-college to read the press release. OSU Extension is aligned with and fully engaged in efforts around each of these grand challenges. Please take time to watch the recording and to think about how we in OSU Extension can participate in the important work of the college and bring the resources of the university out to all of our statewide campuses. 

  4. Ohio State Presidential Search Committee Request

    The Ohio State Presidential Search Committee wants to hear from you. To offer input and comments, and submit candidate nominations, visit the Ohio State Presidential Search website. 

  5. University Senate Request

    University Senate is accepting nominations for secretary of the Senate by Feb. 7; nominations should be submitted to Hannah Torma (torma.9@osu.edu). The secretary will serve a three-year term beginning June 1, 2020. Those eligible are tenured faculty members; nominees will be contacted to confirm their interest and availability; then provide a letter and curriculum vita that outline their qualifications. Suggested qualifications for the secretary of the Senate are posted online. 

  6. Summit on Extension in Ohio’s Urban Communities: Strengthen Ohio by Strengthening Cities and Urban-Rural Connections

    More than 40 participants, representing OSU Extension county and state offices as well as campus and community partners, participated in the Summit on Extension in Ohio’s Urban Communities on Jan. 29. Participants explored converging interests of university, college, and national urban Extension. Diverse working groups discussed the pull of the future, push of the present, and weight of the past for the four strategic “Ps” outlined in the National Framework for Urban Extension – positioning, programs, personnel, and partnerships. These groups moved from dialogue about a potential future to specific goals for a planned future for 2020-2025. Students DaVonti’ Haynes and Amelia Michaels shared preliminary analysis of a case study conducted with Extension’s urban-serving teams in Ohio’s most populated counties. Two outstanding professionals, Christine and Marvin Olinsky, were celebrated for their outstanding contributions to Extension in Ohio’s urban communities. This event followed the OSU Sesquicentennial Think Beyond Summit on Urban Universities + Thriving Communities. See cityextension.osu.edu for additional information and opportunities to join the positive forward motion. 

    I am excited to see what the results of the discussions and goals are that can inform our various efforts in OSU Extension to meet the needs of all Ohioans, and to be cognizant of and responsive to the unique needs of our urban clientele and partners while enhancing our rural-urban interface. 

  7. Extension Associate Water Quality Positions

    County interviews are taking place this week for six Extension associate positions in northwestern Ohio. It’s very exciting that we will be able, through this partnership with NRCS and the college, to build capacity and provide educational programs and applied on-farm demonstrations on relevant local water quality issues. This will impact agronomic productivity, help mitigate environmental impacts, help prevent soil erosion, etc. Each Extension water quality associate will be responsible for a particular group of counties, and will also work outside that area on specialized topics in collaboration with and complementary to the excellent work of our Extension educators. Our partners in SENR and FABE are also working closely with Heather Raymond, the CFAES water quality coordinator, to provide onboarding and ongoing technical support for these positions and our ANR educators. We anticipate having these professionals in place by March. 

  8. OFMA Junior Fair Conference

    At the annual Ohio Fair Managers Association Junior Fair Conference in early January, 35 educational sessions were offered by many of our 4-H professionals from around the state, reaching thousands of Ohio junior and senior fair board members. Our long-standing partnership with our county agricultural societies continues to be one of Ohio 4-H’s most valuable connections and service to our local communities. 

  9. ODNR Division of Forestry’s Forest of Honor Induction

    Congrats to Dave Apsley, Extension natural resources specialist, for his induction last fall into the 2019 Forest of Honor. During a ceremony in October, trees were planted to recognize Dave and two other honorees. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) and the Division of Forestry (DOF) have been very supportive of OSU Extension’s efforts to sustain Ohio’s forests, especially in Appalachian Ohio. Partnering with ODNR-DOF has greatly expanded our capacity to positively impact the people and forests of the region. For more information, read here. 

  10. Healthy Living Health Heroes

    Madelyn Smith, 4-H member from Franklin County, was recognized with an “honorable mention” in the healthy living category of the National 4-H Council’s Youth in Action awards. Working with Dr. Theresa Ferrari, state 4-H specialist, Madelyn and fellow 4-H Health Heroes address teen vaping and helped to develop the Youth Vaping Advisory Panel with the Ohio chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics. 

  11. Outreach and Engagement Award Nominations Due Today

    Nominations for the university Outreach and Engagement awards are still open – the deadline to apply is today, Jan. 31. I know we have many outstanding programs, community and other partners, and personnel who deserve to be recognized for your tremendous contributions to outreach and engagement throughout the state! Detailed information is available at go.osu.edu/oeawards. It only requires 750 words to describe your valuable efforts. Let’s get as many submissions in as we can. I’d love to see OSU Extension recognized in every category of programs, research, and partnerships. 

  12. National 4-H Congress Design Team

    Brooke Fleshman, 4-H member in Franklin County, was selected to be a member of the 2020 National 4-H Congress Design Team (which will plan the 100th National 4-H Congress). Allen Auck, program manager in the state 4-H office, will also be serving on the design team for the next two years representing Ohio and the North Central Region. 

  13. JCEP Extension Leadership Conference – Feb. 12-13, 2020

    There is still time to register for the Extension Leadership Conference hosted by the Joint Council of Extension Professionals in San Antonio, Texas. The theme for this year’s conference is 20/20 Vision for the Future – focusing on soft skills and leadership development not provided by most subject matter conferences. State specialists, area agents, local educators, middle managers, administrators, and leaders of professional associations are welcome to attend. For more information, visit jcep.org. 

  14. Ohio JCEP Scholarship Deadline – Feb. 15

    Ohio JCEP awards $3,000 in scholarships three times per year for a total of $9,000 per year; with a maximum of $750 per person. Applications for this round are due on Feb. 15; applicants must complete a simple online form (osu.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_a9ll9Zj9aF7mUu1). Note: preference is given to those who have not received funding in the past two years; funds must be spent within 12 months of receiving award; and an expense report and short summary must be submitted to Ohio JCEP treasurer for reimbursement with 60 days of training or event. If you have questions, contact Kate Feldhues (feldhues.2@osu.edu), 4-H youth development educator, Ross County. Your peers awarded scholarship money during the third round in 2019 were: Robert Isner – California STEAM Symposium; Karen Kramer – fair entry training; Christy Leeds – Disney Institute; Clifton Martin – National Farm Viability Conference; and Kristy Watters – Leadership Adams County. 

  15. Public Issues Leadership Development Conference – April 5-8, 2020

    Consider attending the PILD conference this year in Arlington, Virginia. Registration opened earlier this month, and you can visit jcep.org/pild for more information. I am working closely with Government Affairs and our Administrative Cabinet to develop legislative visit materials to showcase the impact of OSU Extension. Stay tuned!