February, 2005

"To individuals, families, businesses and communities of Pennsylvania, Penn State Cooperative Extension is the engaged educational system that helps maximize student potential with research-proven knowledge.”

In this Newsletter:

Message from the Director

We know that Penn State Cooperative Extension is in a position of respect and leadership today. But what will distinguish our organization in the future, and what action must we take now to remain strong and viable in the 21st century?

One measure of Penn State Cooperative Extension's position among our peers is reflected in the results of a recent USDA-CSREES report -- Survey of Extension Funding for FY 2003. The report, compiled for the Policy, Oversight and Funds Management Branch, provides some insights into Penn State Cooperative Extension's position compared with the funding of extension programs at other universities. While direct comparisons cannot be made, since states may vary in how they report their funding, we can make some useful observations. In the survey, we are ranked fourth in grants, sixth in gifts, ninth in federal formula funds, and 10th in state funding. However, we ranked 18th in county funding and 24th in user fees. The ranking for user fees represents only one half of a reporting year, which will improve with the next full year of reporting. We can be proud of our good work and strengths in some areas, but there are areas that require our continuing efforts to improve our position of leadership.

What are the implications for the role of extension educators in developing the extension system of the future? If we want to maintain a position of leadership, we must also accept responsibility, continuing to function as "futurists." Do we want our image restrained by the tired 90-year-old programs of the past or will we be part of the exciting future -- creating new, innovative programs and partnerships to meet the needs of Pennsylvanians? As educational leaders in extension, we need to focus our efforts on expanding partnerships in communities, states and nationally beyond agriculture, and we need to build linkages before they are needed. Our partnerships should not be limited to external entities. We must continue to expand our circle of influence within the University, as well.

As you reflect on your role as an extension educator, accept the leadership challenges of tomorrow. You are part of an organization of change, and you can help create the future.

Best wishes,
Daney Jackson
Director of Cooperative Extension

News to Know

Policy on Raffles
University financial policy FN10 strictly prohibits both the purchase of raffle tickets and conducting raffles if any University-administered funds or accounts are involved. Funds and accounts administered and supervised by local county extension personnel, including 4-H club funds, fall within the scope of this policy.

A few University-affiliated groups such as student groups have been granted exception to this policy, as they generate and maintain funds separately from the University and as such are not considered University funds. Cooperative Extension leadership does not support and will not allow any modification to existing accounting practices in an effort to seek exception to this policy. Further, leadership does not support fund raising through any gaming activity such as raffles, as they are not consistent with the values and beliefs of Cooperative Extension.

Spring Regional Meetings
The director and associate directors-Daney Jackson, Marilyn Corbin and Jack Watson-will visit each of the six administrative regions this spring. Discussion topics will include the strategic plans for the College of Agricultural Sciences and Outreach and how extension fits into those plans. Other topics will include organizational directions, goals and programmatic updates. Meeting dates are: March 22, Capital Region; March 30, Central Region; April 4, Southeast Region; May 17, Northwest Region; May 18, Southwest Region; May 24, Northeast Region.

Fall Meetings
A planning team has been named to coordinate a fall conference to include the association meetings, an annual meeting for Cooperative Extension, and the Outreach Professional Development Conference. The fall conference is scheduled for October 18-20, 2005, with a welcome by President Spanier on the 18th.

Professional Development Specialist Search
A search is underway for the new professional development specialist. The individual in this position will provide leadership and management for organizational change through professional development opportunities; identify needs; and develop, implement and evaluate the impact of professional development programs for Cooperative Extension and Outreach.

Program Updates and New Directions
CASPAR
CASPAR NEWS has been created to keep users of the College's planning and reporting system informed of the latest updates, new system features and other news of interest. The first issue was distributed in January and is available through a link on the main page of the CASPAR Web site (https://caspar.cas.psu.edu/).

The development of the Teaching and Learning, Publications, Professional Recognition/Service, Creative Accomplishments and Scholarly/Professional Activities sections of CASPAR is nearing completion and pilot testing will begin soon.

Peer Review Process for Educational Materials
Each year extension educators, faculty, program leaders and information technology specialists develop a wealth of educational and training resources for use by extension. Often, however, there is significant duplication of effort, inconsistent quality and a haphazard method of placing these tools/resources at the disposal of educators and the public. To address these issues and to increase recognition for these creative and scholarly endeavors, a proposal for a statewide peer review process is under development.

The intent of a peer review process is to increase the breadth and quality of resources while using human and financial resources more efficiently. The initial focus of the proposal is on curricular materials and resources that support the 2005 Cooperative Extension Plans of Work (POW). The proposal, researched and prepared by Shirley Bixby, coordinator of special program initiatives, will be reviewed by a committee of extension educators and faculty representatives. The proposal will be presented to the POW Issue Team co-chairs this spring.

Did you know that…

• 62 campus-based and field-based educators reported more than 3,000 days spent on Goal 3 in fiscal year 2004, to enable people to make health-promoting choices through research and education on nutrition and development of more nutritious foods.
• 46,361 contacts were reported statewide on Goal 3 in fiscal year 2004.
  

Well Done

Two educational projects of the Pennsylvania IPM Program were awarded grants from the Environmental Protection Agency for project initiatives in Philadelphia. The Pennsylvania IPM Program is a collaboration of the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture and Penn State. The program is dedicated to partnering with community groups, schools, businesses, agencies and non-profit organizations to overcome obstacles and promote IPM (integrated pest management) education and implementation in schools and urban communities.

The Philadelphia School and Community IPM Partnership (PSCIP) received a grant from the Urban Initiative Program. The PSCIP is engaged in a dual mission of school IPM (K-16 education), and community IPM (public education). The goal of the program is to promote IPM as a means to reducing the risks associated with pests and pesticides. This service-learning project provides students with the skills and confidence needed for involvement in outreach efforts with community members. A grant also was awarded to fund an IPM demonstration house project in Philadelphia. This house will be used to empower neighborhoods and communities to manage and control their own pest problems. Many community organizations will be volunteering their time to help with this project.

Congratulations to all of the faculty, extension educators and staff involved in these initiatives!

We Are Penn State Extension Proud

Northeast Extension Directors' Award
Penn State Cooperative Extension educators received a 2004 Award of Excellence, Honorable Mention for the Extension Food Safety in Pennsylvania. The award was presented to Nancy Wiker, Lancaster County, and Margaret Malehorn, Cumberland County, and the following team members:

Debra Boyd, Dauphin County
Catherine Cutter, Department of Food Science
Sandra Hall, Lebanon County
Stacey Hutchison, Dauphin County
Stephen Knabel, Department of Food Science
Jane Landis, Dauphin County
Mary Ann Oyler, Franklin County
Nina Redding, Cumberland County
Marcia Weber, York County

Congratulations team!

2005 Carbon County Friend of Education Award
Congratulations to the Carbon County Cooperative Extension staff, recipients of the 2005 Carbon County Friend of Education Award! This award is given collectively by all five public school districts in the county to an individual, group or organization that has significantly contributed to the education of youth in the county.

The Extension Spirit

Building Strong and Successful Partnerships
by Karen Thomas, extension educator, Lackawanna County

Cooperative Extension has a long history of forming partnerships to work together to achieve a common purpose. However, in recent years there has been increasing emphasis on partnership development. This is partly due to the need for outside funding, and the fact that funding sources often require collaboration as one criterion for the grant. If a partnership or collaboration is not a requirement, funders may view applications more favorably if they involve cooperation between two or more groups or organizations.

What is a Partnership?
A partnership is a collaboration in which all participants agree to work together for a common goal or to undertake a specific task and to share risks, responsibilities, resources, competencies and benefits.

Why Should Extension Partner with Others?
Partnerships enable extension staff and faculty to share resources, including knowledge, time and money, with others for a better outcome. Partnerships also allow members to share risks associated with a common goal and the responsibilities required to achieve that goal.

Some benefits to partnering include:

• Sharing expertise and skills. Partners can play on one another's strengths to develop strong teams.
• Pooling funds to implement programs. Extension often needs external funding that other partners may provide to support research and educational programs.
• Credibility. Having a university or other key community organization tied to a cause may lend the partnership recognition and credibility.
• Opening doors to other projects. Working with others often creates new opportunities for extension outreach.
• Sharing different perspectives. Partnerships with multiple members often bring to the table a variety of perspectives, which can assist in achieving their goals.
• Creating new opportunities to market Cooperative Extension. Through partnering, opportunities arise to introduce others to extension's mission, and extension staff can learn of other organizations' work, goals and concerns.

All of us who have developed and participated in partnerships know that the road to a successful collaboration is not always smooth or easy. When different entities come to the table, they also bring their own ways of doing business, their own policies and procedures, and self-identified turf. Issues such as power and conflicting goals of the players involved can also present barriers to a smooth and fruitful relationship.

How Can Extension Form Successful Partnerships?

• Create a shared vision. The team should agree upon a common goal. Having members with separate agendas will hinder success.
• Mutual trust and a commitment to the partnership. People need to build trust, which often takes time to establish. Partners also must have a commitment to the group and its goals. If neither exist, the relationship is poor and positive outcomes are unlikely.
• Communicate, communicate, communicate. Effective communication is the key to strong and successful partnerships. Each member should have input into the group's goals and decisions, as well as discussions. In addition, members should be informed about the work of the partnership. For example, meeting minutes and meeting notices should be prepared and distributed to everyone.
• Share responsibility. Getting members involved in the work of the partnership will distribute the work load and keep people interested and engaged. By sharing tasks, the team can capitalize on individual member's strengths, producing a better outcome. Involving members in the partnership also helps build ownership in the group. Typically, if members do not engage in the work of the collaboration, they lose interest and stop participating.
• Realize that strong partnerships do not happen overnight. They take patience and lots of hard work.

Forming and developing partnerships is commonplace in Cooperative Extension. Effective partnerships expand our resources and create lasting relationships, resulting in successful programs that demonstrate impact. Partnerships also increase extension's visibility and extend the outreach of the university.

Karen Thomas works with collaboration in mind as she partners with other organizations to reach a common goal. To illustrate these efforts, Karen represents Cooperative Extension as a member of the United Way's Success By Six project. The goal of the project is to help all children receive the type of education, health care, and social and emotional development they need for a successful future. "As a result of serving on the Success By Six project, human service agencies and child care organizations are more familiar with Cooperative Extension and our resources. Due to extension's continuing participation, relationships with these organizations have strengthened. Karen has worked with the Success By Six coordinator and committee members to develop a Success By Six quarterly newsletter in which she contributed nutrition articles. Karen also serves as chair of one of three subcommittees of the Success By Six project."

Marilyn Corbin, associate director and state program leader

Leadership Thoughts

"…Branding is more important than ever. There are 'brilliant' product or service offerings in almost any category you can name. But while being brilliant … is incredibly important -- it's now a starting point, not the end game.

What's the point?
What's the purpose?
What…at heart…are you made of?
That - and that alone - is what Branding is all about."

Reference: Peters, T. (2003). Re-imagine! Business Excellence in a Disruptive Age. London: Dorling Kindersley Limited.

How is our brand perceived in the broad marketplace?

________________________________________
The Well Done section highlights a particular noteworthy extension education effort by an individual or team.

The We Are Penn State Extension Proud section recognizes an extension employee's outstanding accomplishments.

The Extension Spirit section enables Penn State Cooperative Extension employees to share meaningful work experiences, articulate the values and goals behind their efforts, and present inspirational ideas.

Send your suggestions for the Well Done, We Are Penn State Extension Proud, and The Extension Spirit sections to Margaret Koble, mak10@psu.edu. Nominations will be reviewed and selected by the director. The deadline for receiving nominations for the next issue of the newsletter is March 18.

NOTE:
After being distributed, issues of Extension Directions will be archived at: http://www.extension.psu.edu/Newsletters/archives.htm

Please sent submissions to Margaret Koble, mak10@psu.edu