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Ohio State University Extension

CFAES

News and Notes: October, 6, 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
  2. Save the Date – Next Interim Director’s Video Update
  3. Infographics Templates Now Available

COVID-19 Updates

  1. In-Person Programming Process – Essential information, Exception Instructions, and Important Reminders

College Connections

  1. Knowledge Exchange Launched Oct. 1

Community Connections

  1. Ohio 4-H Foundation Facebook Page
  2. Farm Science Review Virtual Results
  3. Election Day Poll Workers Needed

Award Opportunities/Reminders

  1. Professional Extension Awards – Time to Submit

Operations/Business of Extension

  1. Interim Area Leader Update
  2. Recruitment and Hiring Date Changes

Professional Development Opportunities

  1. OSU Extension Mentoring Task Force
  2. eFields Compaction Trial Results

Extension Annual Conference

  1. OSU Extension Annual Conference – RFP Due Oct. 9

Health and Wellness

  1. Reduced-rate Relationship Therapy
  2. Weekly Meditation Group for University Community

  1. Thoughts from the Director

    Hi friends...
    Fall is finally here, and it is a great time to be out of doors enjoying the sunshine, crisp cooler air, and taking in the autumn colors. You have all been working so incredibly hard to meet the needs of our communities through these last intense months as we have navigated virtual environments and negotiated telework through ever-evolving demands. As I’ve mentioned before, finding time to refuel and refill is so incredibly important. I have recently recommitted to daily walks, time to reflect, and time to disconnect. I wanted to encourage all of you to do the same. One thing that has helped me remember to make the time for what matters is a refocus band that I came across during a recent day off. As a fun fall challenge, I have personally purchased some Refocus Bands (total of 12 bands/4 per category) that I’d like to distribute to those who win the following challenges:  

    1. Make the Time: Intentional scheduling of things that matter most for physical health and well-being (e.g., walking (steps), hiking, biking, Zumba, etc.)    
    2. Disconnect and Reconnect: Shutting off technology and social media and reconnecting with others old school (e.g., phone calls, writing letters and sending cards, reinstating family meals) or simply turning off the technology and putting phones away and enjoying ways to reconnect with friends, nature, or a lost hobby.    
    3. Close your Eyes: Meditation and reflection (e.g., daily meditation, visualization, deep breathing).    

    How to qualify: Send an email to Laurie Ward (ward.676@osu.edu) between November 1 and November 6 with the type of challenge you chose and what your approach to the challenge was. We will choose four winners from each category with the most inspiring, fun, creative, or consistent refocus approach. We will share your strategies and successes with our Extension colleagues (unless you ask us not to) to inspire ongoing reset and refocus moments. 

  2. Save the Date – Next Interim Director’s Video Update

    Mark your calendar for my next video update to be held on Nov. 6 at 10am. Registration information will be shared in the near future. We will record the update for those who cannot attend the live presentation that day.  

  3. Infographics Templates Now Available

    We now have a variety of branded, Extension-focused infographic templates to use as you prepare to report local impacts to county commissioners, as well as other stakeholders, clientele, and the general public. The new files are posted at here. There are several options for each program area, SNAP-Ed, and EFNEP, as well as general options with layouts that combine variations of the program areas. The files are available in PowerPoint and InDesign; instructions for adjusting items within the templates are also posted. See Cheryl Buck’s complete message sent to all-Extension on Sept. 30. For more information, contact Cheryl (buck.19@osu.edu).  

  4. In-Person Programming Process – Essential information, Exception Instructions, and Important Reminders

    All CFAES educational outreach activities and events using in-person programming and hosted by anyone in CFAES, regardless of the location, must be approved through this process before proceeding.   

    Approval Processes  

    1. In-Person Programming by CFAES Professionals (Statewide, Columbus, Wooster): For in-person programming by Ohio State professionals from our statewide, Columbus, and Wooster campuses, individuals will submit their request via a Qualtrics Survey for weekly review by the committee and, upon approval, receive their approval letter (via email) which can be attached to eRequests. For in-person programming, please use go.osu.edu/CFAESf2fEventRequest.   

    2. Events organized at one of our 27 CFAES facilities or event centers by EXTERNAL customers: For programming hosted by external clients who want to use our CFAES facilities (Wooster Campus conference center, Nationwide & Farm Bureau 4-H Center, any of the agricultural research stations, including Chadwick Arboretum and Secrest Arboretum), event space managers (those responsible for scheduling/renting the space) will complete the necessary template for committee consideration. External clients will also be expected to follow all of the university, state, and CDC guidelines, including that masks and social distancing will be required. More information about this specific process will be shared in the near future.  

    Submissions are reviewed once per week, and items must be submitted by Wednesday at noon. To date, we have approved over 200 in-person programming exemptions. We are looking at additional blanket approval opportunities for meetings and programs to continue to streamline the process and make sure we balance process efficiency and reimbursement success, with ongoing safety for our employees and clientele. Stay tuned!  

  5. Knowledge Exchange Launched Oct. 1

    Knowledge Exchange Logo

    The Knowledge Exchange (KX) launched a data and communications platform on Oct. 1: kx.osu.edu. The site offers research translations in four topic “buckets” focused on data and tools, environment and natural resources, food and agriculture, and people and communities. The new centralized resource is designed to help a broader audience engage with the world-class research from CFAES. The goal? To get people actively connecting with research, asking questions, and sharing in the process.  

    The KX site will be continuously updated with new tools and projects around food supply systems, water quality, farm stress, and more. The KX team is developing new ways to connect with data and research findings, and they want to hear from you! Anyone who needs help creating tools or communication products for a research project or has translational materials to share can email kx@osu.edu for assistance.

  6. Ohio 4-H Foundation Facebook Page

    We look forward to connecting with 4-H friends, alumni, and supporters. Now we need you to join in and “like” our page. Please share it with your circles! This is National 4-H Week and tomorrow is 4-H spirit day.  A great day to share our new page with others!  If you have Facebook, please invite others to join at facebook.com/OH4HFoundation/.  

      

  7. Farm Science Review Virtual Results

    Thank you to everyone who helped make this year’s virtual Farm Science Review a success – you should be extremely proud of your efforts. Over 190 scheduled educational events, with more than 450 educational features were shared through Map Your Show and will be available through next summer. Map Your Show has been visited over 66,000 times. In addition, there were 107,514 FSR Facebook views; 1,004 Ask the Expert views; 1,839 views on the Ag Crops YouTube and 779 views on the Forage videos. The 2020 Land-Grant Cornerstone Conversation featuring Governor Mike DeWine, our new Ohio State President Kristine Johnson, and elected officials has been viewed over 900 times already.   

  8. Election Day Poll Workers Needed

    To help address the anticipated shortage of poll workers on Election Day due to COVID-19, Ohio State employees who serve as poll workers for the Nov. 3 general election can now take a paid day off without using vacation time. Student employees and graduate associates are encouraged to work with their supervisors to arrange for time off to serve as a poll worker if their department can accommodate the absence. Learn more.

  9. Professional Extension Awards – Time to Submit

    Nominate a deserving colleague or community partner:   

    Apply for Awards:   

  10. Interim Area Leader Update

    I am pleased to announce that Nate Arnett has agreed to be the interim area leader for area 21, Hamilton and Butler counties, effective immediately. Many thanks to Pat Holmes for her recent role as interim area leader; she has decided to return to full-time programming. 

  11. Recruitment and Hiring Date Changes

    Ohio State is adjusting employee recruiting and hiring practices for November through January to implement Workday on time and create a smooth new employee experience during this time. Recruiting practices are planned to proceed as usual through Nov. 19, while still following the guidelines of the temporary campus hiring pause due to the COVID-19 state of emergency. After Nov. 19, Human Resources will not approve requests for new positions in the current HR system until Workday goes live Jan. 4. Read more. 

  12. OSU Extension Mentoring Task Force

    I am happy to announce that our LOD Unit, together with some of our senior Extension professionals are working over the next 12 months to help us reimagine, restructure, and relaunch the OSU Extension mentoring program. Within the next week, you are going to receive a survey from the Task Force asking you about your interest in mentoring and coaching. We need to establish a solid baseline of who has a mentor and those who are interested in becoming a mentor. The survey is short and will only take you about one minute to complete. Please be sure to watch for the email from Teresa McCoy and the task force members. Thank you to the following task force members:   

    • Jacki Baca  

    • Pat Bebo  

    • Kirk Bloir  

    • Bruce Clevenger  

    • Hannah Epley  

    • Melinda Hill  

    • T McCoy  

    • Jeff McCutcheon  

    • Jared Morrison  

    • Becky Nesbitt  

    • Brian Raison  

    • Amanda Rysz  

    • Treva Williams  

  13. eFields Compaction Trial Results

    eFields compaction trial results can inform your work. From 39 trials in 2016 to 150 trials in progress today, the eFields program is growing while digging into everything from high-speed planting to questions about compaction. Congrats to Elizabeth Hawkins, Extension field specialist in agronomic sytsems, for the latest article about the program published in Farm Journal’s AgWeb online.  

  14. OSU Extension Annual Conference – RFP Due Oct. 9

    As previously announced, mark your calendars for the OSU Extension Virtual Annual Conference on Dec. 7-9, 2020. I encourage you to save some time on each of those three days to join your colleagues to compare notes, learn from and with each other, reconnect (at least virtually) as we round out the end of 2020.   

    The request for proposals for conference – with the theme of Embrace Change Together – is open until Friday! See the links below for more info and consider submitting. The deadline is Oct. 9 at 11:59pm (will not be extended).

  15. Reduced-rate Relationship Therapy

    The Couple and Family Therapy Clinic, College of Education and Human Ecology, is offering virtual sessions at reduced rates through December. Solution-focused therapy gives you a professional perspective on your current situation and next steps. Sessions are first-come, first-served, last 45 to 90 minutes, and are for adults in any type of relationship. You may sign up for two additional sessions as space permits. Contact us by email or calling 614-292-3671. Read more.  

  16. Weekly Meditation Group for University Community

    Join a Zoom meeting on Friday mornings at 8:45 a.m. for a short introduction to types of meditation and suggestions for related Ohio State wellness resources. The weekly meditation session is part of an effort to fully implement Ohio State's Strategic Wellness Plan, which brings Buckeye Wellness Innovators from different units together to provide employees with a dedicated time for mindfulness/meditation practice. No registration needed. Read more.