News and Notes: November 8, 2021

The Knowledge Exchange has just published a new podcast in its series on “Emerging Research,” with Christie Welch from Direct Marketing at OSU South Centers and Darlene Wolnik with the national Farmers Market Coalition. Their new research project involves surveying farmers market operators across Ohio to find out how they’re collecting, using, and operationalizing data. Improvements to their data collection could attract new farmers and improve experiences for participants and consumers, and increase the impact of farmers markets in the community. Welch and Wolnik hope this project might also help Extension professionals learn more about how they can partner with local markets, especially SNAP-Ed professionals and FCS educators. Listen to the podcast at kx.osu.edu/podcast/8-emerging-christie-darlene.

The theme for this year is “Caring for Ohioans,” and while the campaign has ended, you can still make an online contribution until Nov. 12. You can donate through payroll deduction or a one-time gift to charities in your own community; and you can donate to other charities outside of your county and community as well, more than 850 charities in all. Review the 2021 Buckeyes for Charity Resource Guide online at buckeyesforcharity.osu.edu.

The 15^th Annual Stinner Summit is planned for Nov. 18 from 1-7pm at the OSU Wooster Campus Science Building. You can attend the summit either in-person or virtually. Consider joining in brainstorming different ways to improve the health of Ohio’s land and people with the support from the Ben Stinner Endowment for Healthy Agroecosystems and Sustainable Communities. The Summit will begin with a retrospective of impacts of past Stinner Summits and culminate in a celebratory dinner, featuring local ingredients. Attendees will follow Ohio State’s COVID-19 protocols, which include wearing face masks in buildings. Registration is required by today, Nov. 8. Register here. Visit the Agroecosystem Management Program website for more information.

The Office of Sponsored Programs is now offering open office hours on Thursdays (1:30-2:30pm) for questions and assistance with subawards under sponsored projects.  Laurie Rosenberg, senior SPO/subaward administrator, and Phillip Baum, grants operation center lead, will be available to answer questions about the overall subaward process, including invoicing; initiating new supplier contracts and amending existing supplier contracts in Workday; as well as identifying subaward resources and how to select the correct subrecipient in Workday. Register for the session at research.osu.edu/events.

Effective September 2021, OSU Extension is tweaking how we apply the university brand to our OSU Extension identity. This is officially a secondary signature under The Ohio State University; it is a “brand mark” that is to be used in conjunction with the CFAES tag and the college name. Visit brand.cfaes.ohio-state.edu/guidelines/brand-guidelines/logos/other-marks to see the new mark and basic instructions, as well as download the relevant files.

By year-end 2021, we are required to use the Extension brand mark on all new or reprinted materials. If you have materials already created for events in the next few weeks, you can continue to use those items as is. Add the updated branding on any materials you are revising or creating new during fall 2021. Please note – this is not an option; you must implement the new Extension mark by year-end 2021.

The 4-H name and emblem is a federal mark. The university has the ability to say how that federal mark is used in conjunction with the OSU Extension mark; and files that combine the Extension mark with the 4-H emblem have been created for your use. Instructions for proper use of the 4-H name/emblem with the Extension mark are included in the merchandise and apparel guidelines, and it will be built into 4-H-related templates on the CFAES brand site.

We will be updating all of the Extension-specific templates over time (e.g. infographics), so please be patient as those changes are made. If you need to use a template sooner, you can download the mark and switch it out. There are several other materials this change will affect; those will all also be addressed over time. A Word document also will be developed soon for very basic announcements/content. We also will work on any co-branding needs with Central State University Extension. Extension nametags will remain as is for now. Any brand updates for the Extension state, county, and related unit websites will be handled at the state level. Do not adjust any branding on your county or unit website. If you have any questions, contact Cheryl Buck (buck.19@osu.edu), Extension communication manager.

Brand approval reminder – ALL materials created by OSU Extension professionals for distribution to the public must be reviewed and approved by the CFAES brand approval team. Those items can be submitted to cfaes_bat@osu.edu.

Several OSU Extension professionals were also recognized at the 2021 NEAFCS virtual annual session last week. Melinda Hill, FCS educator in Wayne County, was recognized as the 2021 National Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences Educator of the Year. Several other Ohio FCS educators were recognized during the Central region awards ceremony. Jackie Kirby Wilkins received the Distinguished Service Award. Christine Kendle and Michelle Treber received Continued Excellence awards. Misty Harmon received the Past President’s new Professional Award from the Central region. Emily Marrision received first place for communications radio or podcast. Kathy Tutt and team received second place for communications television/video. Jami Dellifield and team received first place for excellence in multi-state collaboration. Jami Dellifield and another team received first place for excellence in teamwork. Kate Shumaker and team received second place for food safety. Tammy Jones and team received second place for marketing package. Laura Stanton received third place for social media education.

Numerous other OSU Extension professionals are being recognized by their professional associations this fall as well. We plan to share a more complete list before year-end.

Consider attending the next ACEL to Extension session on Trusted Leader: 8 Pillars That Drive Results, taught by Brian Raison. The session will be held on Nov. 18 from 9-10am. Register online for the session.

This is part of the Department of Agricultural Communication, Education, and Leadership (ACEL) workshop series geared specifically to OSU Extension personnel. Visit go.osu.edu/ACELtoExtension to learn more and register for any or all of the sessions, which will run through May 5, 2022. Other upcoming topics are dealing with difficult people, how the brain learns, learner engagement, data visualization, and time management.

The OSU Leadership Center will hold several workshops in November. Learn more about these and other upcoming workshops at leadershipcenter.osu.edu/events.

• Communication and Conflict Management (online): Nov. 10. For more information, click here.
• Trusted Leader: 8 Pillars That Drive Results (online): Nov. 18. For more information, click here.
• Managing Others Using Your CliftonStrengths (online): Nov. 30. For more information, click here.

Remember to mark your calendar for our 2021 virtual Extension Annual Conference on Dec. 7-9, and professional association meetings on Dec. 6. The Ohio association presidents will update each group about specific meeting plans.

Connect online with colleagues to celebrate our work and celebrate each other. The theme for this year is Reflect. Reconnect. Refocus. In 2020, we adapted to change in all aspects of our lives, due to many circumstances beyond our control. We went above and beyond to fulfill our mission and provide exceptional virtual programming, communication, and training to Ohioans throughout the state. As we end 2021, we are reflecting on the past year and moving forward together to an even better future!

All OSU Extension professionals are welcome to attend. Proposal notifications went out on Nov. 3. If you submitted a proposal and do not receive an email from Debby Lewis, contact Debby (lewis.205@osu.edu) or ShaLise Simmons (simmons.761@osu.edu). Visitgo.osu.edu/extconf for more information; and check out a new promo video online.

CES Auction: On behalf of the Chi Epsilon Sigma fundraising committee, consider participating in this year’s silent auction – an opportunity to support a good cause. CES sponsors this annual fundraiser to recognize an Extension support staff member with the CES Extension Support Staff Excellence Award. Visit the CES auction 2021 webpage for more information.

To earn the full 2022 premium credit, complete a verified biometric screening and the Personal Health and Well-being Assessment (PHA) by Dec. 31. You can reduce the cost of your medical contributions by $25 per month, or by $40 per month if your enrolled spouse also completes these steps.