June, 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 have completed our visits to each of the six administrative regions this spring to share our vision for the future of Penn State Cooperative Extension. It is now time to begin the important work of implementing the strategic priorities of our organization.

To guide your efforts, keep in mind our strategic organizational objectives.

• Programs that are innovative and dynamic with impact
• Leadership infused as a component of all our program efforts
• Financial diversity and sustainability
• Expanded University influence

As your programming efforts progress, think about how your activities connect to the strategic directions in the following areas:

Agriculture and Natural Resources

• New audiences, new approaches to programs
• Entrepreneurship
  
• Natural resources management
  
• Business focus

Children Youth and Families

• A consumer-driven food and fiber system
• Working families and financial issues they face
• Youth development

Economic and Community Development

• Expanding local leadership
• Place-based local economic development
• Enhancing community decision making
• Community-based agricultural and food system development

As you look toward and plan for the future, ask yourself, "How does my work aggregate with that of my colleagues to help move the college forward?" and, "How do my efforts align with our strategic plans?"

Our spring visits to the regions were very rewarding. We returned from each visit with renewed appreciation for your dedication and your efforts to make life better for the individuals, families, businesses, and communities you serve. The work you do is essential in helping extension and our clients "GROW" into the future!

Best wishes,
Daney Jackson
Director of Cooperative Extension

News to Know

Public Issues Leadership Development Conference
A team of extension staff and volunteers attended the Public Issues Leadership Development Conference, April 17-20, 2005 in Arlington, Virginia. Sponsored by the Joint Council of Extension Professionals, this annual conference keeps participants abreast of changing public policies that impact our communities and the extension system. The conference provides an opportunity to learn first hand how to interact with legislators about issues critical to extension. The highlight of the conference was a day spent on Capitol Hill visiting with representatives of Pennsylvania's Congressional delegation, discussing the value of extension programs and encouraging continued support.

The following Penn State Cooperative Extension staff members attended the conference: Daney Jackson, director; Cindy Kunes, assistant to the dean; Robert Leiby, Lehigh County; Elizabeth Matthiesen, staff assistant; G. Michael McDavid; regional director; Pam Paletta, Washington County; Gary Sheppard, Westmoreland County; and Brenda Williams, Chester County. This year's delegation included the following volunteers: John Dunkle, Blair County; Antoinette Gomez, Chester County; Murray Laite, Mifflin County; Harry Stokes, Adams County; Cynthia Williams, Bradford County; and Don Woodring, Clinton County.

4-H Cost Recovery Update
To date, the first year of the 4-H educational materials fees for 4-H members and school classrooms has resulted in $214,462. These funds were submitted on or around September 15, 2004. The funds will be expended in support of 4-H educational materials after the beginning of the new fiscal year on July 1, 2005.

Over the last four years, expenditures on 4-H publications have ranged from $204,506 per year to $274,001 per year. Since print and purchase costs are dependent on 4-H member and classroom usage of materials, the expenditures from this budget may vary widely from year to year. In low-expenditure years, some carryover funds will be maintained to cover expenses in high-use years.

Extension educators, volunteers, and youth have an opportunity to determine recommendations for curricula by serving on one of nine curriculum committees. These committees submit proposals for new curricula and elimination of outdated curricula. The committees are also responsible for reviewing materials to be reprinted to ensure they are accurate and up-to-date.

Beginning in July 2005, funds formerly expended on publications and materials will be invested in new program development for 4-H Youth Development.

Each year a report will be prepared for the Youth Program Coordinating Council (YPCC), the YPCC Advisory Committee, and the Curriculum Management team on expenditure of funds from the account. The first expenditure report for this account will occur at the close of the upcoming fiscal year on June 30, 2006. Extension administrators, educators, and faculty/staff serving on these committees will be asked to share information with their constituents. The minutes for these meetings are also posted on the Pennsylvania 4-H Web site at http://pa4h.psu.edu. For those educators needing to answer questions, refer to the 4-H Educational Materials Fee document at http://www.extension.psu.edu/CEDhandbook/pdfs/EduMaterialsFees.pdf.

This is a reprint of an article written by Christy Bartley, 4-H program leader, which appeared in the April 2005 edition of Around the State in 4-H.

Collecting Baseline Data
Evaluation is essential in determining the impact of extension programs. When considering an evaluation strategy for statewide programs, one of the first steps you should consider is how to collect baseline data for the program. Baseline data

• provides a basis for comparing what was happening before the program with what happened after the program.
• establishes the basis for extension to claim credit for what happened as a result of the program i.e., the impact.

Nancy Ellen Kiernan, program evaluator, Penn State Cooperative Extension, has prepared a tipsheet with information on baseline data, extension program models and relevant sampling plans. Visit the Web site at: http://www.extension.psu.edu/evaluation/pdf/TS75.pdf.

Professional Development Manager
We are pleased to welcome Lori A. Johnson-Vegas, manager of Outreach Professional Development, to the Outreach and Cooperative Extension family! Lori, who joined the Outreach staff in May, will provide leadership and management for human resource development programs and initiatives. She will be responsible for design, needs assessment, development, implementation, and evaluation of organizational and professional development programs, diversity awareness and training initiatives, and educational program evaluation studies.

Welcome New Staff
It was exciting to see the energy and enthusiasm of the staff who just completed the New Staff Orientation held earlier this month. Congratulations and welcome to the new staff involved in Phase I of the orientation: Jacqueline Amor-Zitzelberger, Clearfield County; Kim Carlen, Lackawanna County; Jennifer Fetter, Erie County; Carole Frost, York County; Jeffrey Graybill, Lancaster County; Rose Marie Kendall, Indiana County; Amber Lemin, Huntingdon County; and Briana Shealer, Schuylkill County.

Staff who completed Phase II of the orientation include Allan Bassler, Cambria County; Aubrey Carrington, Bradford County; April Foster, Allegheny County; Robert Goodling, Lebanon County; Wendy Griest, Cumberland County; Brian Kelly, Blair County; Kim McManus, Cambria County; Melanie Owens, Greene County; L. Richard Sayles, Dauphin County; and Tia Steinfelt, Bradford County. Welcome to the Extension and Outreach family!

Director's Awards
The nomination process for the Penn State Cooperative Extension Director's Awards is now open. Nominations will be accepted until August 12, 2005. The awards include the Leadership Award, the Team Award, and a series of Spirit Awards (Outstanding Volunteer, Outstanding Youth, Outstanding 4-H Club/Program, Outstanding Extension Office, Outstanding Staff, Outstanding County Educator, Outstanding Faculty, Outstanding Research Partner, Outstanding International). The criteria for the awards can be found at http://www.extension.psu.edu/awards/. The 2005 Director's Awards will be presented at the Extension Annual Conference on October 18.

Program Updates and New Directions
Solution Source
The Solution Source, a new electronic information system, is now available to Pennsylvania residents 24 hours a day, seven days a week. A service of Penn State Cooperative Extension, the system offers a convenient way for people to access extension's research-based information by telephone. The pre-recorded voice messages covering a variety of topics are accessible through a toll-free number: 800-617-2950. Topics range from agriculture and parenting to nutrition and gardening. To learn about the topics available through this service and how to access the information, visit the Web at http://www.extension.psu.edu/seregion/.

Homeland Security
Excessive rainfall in early April caused flooding in many parts of Pennsylvania. The Delaware River drainage received rainfall causing flooding that resulted in several counties being declared federal disaster areas. FEMA established Disaster Resource Centers in Bradford, Bucks, Columbia, Luzerne, Monroe, Northampton, Pike, Wayne, and Wyoming counties. Extension educators and staff in these counties worked directly with PEMA and FEMA officials and their local Emergency Management office to provide direct assistance to individuals who experienced flood damage. In several counties, educators and staff worked shifts in the Disaster Resource Centers to ensure coverage at all hours when the centers were open. Mike McDavid, regional director in the Northeast Region, took a shift to help at the Monroe County site.

PEMA officials commented on the value of the educational material shared by Penn State Cooperative Extension, as did the residents who received assistance. This clear demonstration of the value we add in such situations further enhances the recognition of cooperative extension by PEMA and other potential programming partners. Thank you to all of those who stepped in with valuable assistance, once again demonstrating that cooperative extension is engaged in issues important to our communities!

Did you know that…

• 38,101 contacts were reported for Strengthening and Supporting Family Well-Being plans-of-work objectives in fiscal year 2004.
• 7.45% of the total were Black or African American and 3.27% were Hispanic.

Well Done

Congratulations to the Pennsylvania residents recognized as this year's outstanding volunteers by Penn State Cooperative Extension's 4-H youth service. The 2005 Salute to Excellence Lifetime Volunteer Award is presented to the following individuals who have spent more than 10 years as volunteers: Ethel Coleman, Indiana County; Gary Dean, Lancaster County; Debra Deeter, Venango County; Emma Dunmire, Westmoreland County; Frances Shoop, Dauphin County; Jeannie Snover, Northumberland County; and Connie Tenney, Warren County.

The 2005 Salute to Excellence Volunteer of the Year is awarded to individuals who have served 4-H for fewer than 10 years. This year's recipients include Deborah Beisel, Indiana County; Anne Lail, Westmoreland County; Sherry Moore, Warren County; Rick Perry, Venango County; Carol Weaver, Butler County; and Lori Whitehaus, Dauphin County. The 4-H Salute to Excellence Awards were created in 2002 by Gene and Sharon Swackhamer to emphasize the important work of 4-H volunteers across the nation. The awards honor individuals who serve as the best examples of 4-H volunteers.

We Are Penn State Extension Proud

Congratulations to Norman Conrad, senior extension educator in Union County. Norm is serving as a director representing Penn State on the Pennsylvania State Animal Response Team. This statewide steering group provides leadership to volunteer groups that deal with animal-related issues in disasters.

David Swartz, extension director in Perry County, recently received the Extension Award from the Pennsylvania Dairy Producers' Association. He was recognized for exemplary educational work on behalf of the dairy industry. The award was presented at the Pennsylvania Dairy Summit held in Harrisburg. Congratulations, Dave!

Congratulations to Sue Giachero, extension educator in Berks County, and Deno DeCiantis, extension director in Allegheny County, winners of this year's Ruth and Robert O'Connor Scholarship! Sue will use the scholarship to support her work toward the completion of a master's degree in adult education through Penn State's World Campus. Deno plans to use the funds to support his work in a doctoral program for educational leaders at Duquesne University.

The Extension Spirit

Learning Today, Leading Tomorrow
by Joann Kowalski, economic and community development extension educator, Susquehanna County, and co-chair of POW Issue 17, Leadership and Volunteer Development

The Extension Spirit is alive and active for a group of extension educators, faculty, and administrators who have led the Learning Today, Leading Tomorrow (LTLT) initiative. The roots of the project began nearly five years ago, as a core program for the economic and community development (E&CD) educators. The group's efforts culminated in the premiere of a leadership development curriculum, a train-the-trainer program, which was offered to extension educators statewide in early March of this year.

How It Began
At the outset of the project, team members were seeing rapid changes occurring in communities across the state. With cooperative extension also at a crossroads, the group was aware that developing the leadership capacity of extension educators and communities was imperative to enable them to meet to the new challenges they faced. A small group of interested individuals from the E&CD program area began working on a leadership program. The curriculum was based on a framework of delivering individual components of the program in shorter time periods or combining components for a more comprehensive program, depending on audience needs. As the group's work progressed and others heard about the effort, it became clear that the leadership curriculum being developed had many supporters, especially among administrators. It was apparent that educators in other program areas within extension were also struggling with leadership issues, and we realized it was beneficial to expand our working group to include other program areas and departments within the college. In January of 2002, the first meeting of the 'enlarged group' was held at University Park, and as planned, the project was expanded so the curriculum would appeal to various audiences and departments. We also quickly realized that although many resources existed, the fact remained that we needed one common source of curriculum that would be available throughout the state to support extension's leadership development efforts.

The Process
Throughout a series of thoughtful and deliberative meetings, the curriculum team -- now composed of educators from all of the major program areas, as well as state program leaders, regional directors, faculty, and associates -- decided to adapt and expand an existing leadership development program from Kansas State University, called LEADS, for use within Penn State Cooperative Extension. Curriculum teams then began the work of developing a curriculum based on the developmental phases of leadership skills: personal, interpersonal, group, and community/public policy. Writing teams were created, as well as a review committee, and finally training teams to deliver the program.

In April 2004, the training team, with the support of Mike McDavid, Northeast Regional Director, delivered a pilot program of the Learning Today, Leading Tomorrow curriculum to an audience of 30 4-H leaders, Master Gardeners, and extension board and advisory committee members. The program received favorable feedback, which confirmed that the group was on the right track. During the year, the curriculum team also formally became members of the POW Issues Team #17: Leadership and Volunteer Development. The teams' efforts took a slightly different direction for awhile as we prepared the information necessary to develop the Plan of Work for adult leadership development. This included reviewing needs assessment data, problems to be addressed, current research information, and determining outcomes and methods for delivering programs. This brief detour did not deter the teams' focus on the Learning Today, Leading Tomorrow curriculum and the pursuit to develop it as a complete educational package for extension to deliver.

A Facilitator's Manual was created for educators, complete with learning objectives, handouts, learning activities, and PowerPoint presentations for each of the 13 modules that are part of the LTLT curriculum. The team's efforts continued with Outreach Marketing and the AgICT group to develop a Web site, displays for use at large events, promotional brochures, curriculum brochures for program participants, as well as marketing materials to assist with the development and launch of a community leadership program. Along with the continued development of support materials, team members will offer training for extension staff through program development opportunities at the Fall and Spring In-Service.

The Progress
The LTLT project was realized through the perseverance and dedication of a team of individuals who came together, recognized a need that existed for a formalized statewide leadership development program for extension, and acted. There were no directives handed down by administrators, no budget for travel or incidentals, no deadlines except those self-imposed. Despite obstacles encountered along the way, the team persisted and through their collective leadership, Learning Today, Leading Tomorrow became a reality.

Thanks to the following individuals for their spirit and dedication:

Janet Allis, county extension director, Montour and Northumberland counties
Patty Anderson, county extension director, Clarion County
Marilyn Corbin, associate director and state program leader for children, youth and families
Nancy Crago, family living extension educator, Allegheny County
Mary Jo Depp-Nestlerode, regional director, Central Region
Amy Gregor, training and development coordinator, Director's Office
Debra Gregory, family living extension educator, Huntingdon County
Tim Kelsey, professor, Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology
Darlene Jury Kim, staff assistant, Director's Office
Bill Kleiner, county extension director, Adams County
Joann Kowalski, economic and community development extension educator, Susquehanna County
Mike McDavid, regional director, Northeast Region
Winifred McGee, county extension director, Lebanon County
Beth McLaughlin, former staff member in the College of Agricultural Sciences
Don Tanner, youth development extension educator, McKean County
Ann Ward, senior research assistant, Food Science, Appalachian Leadership Network/Cancer Initiative
Jack Watson, associate director and state program leader for agricultural and natural resources

For more information, you can join a listserv on extension leadership which covers topics pertaining to leadership theory, experience, and stories (L-EXT-Leadership) or log onto http://ict.cas.psu.edu/test/learning/.

Leadership Thoughts

"We're at an exciting moment in the history of nonprofits and business, the confluence of for-profit and nonprofit ideologies. People no longer want companies to squeeze profit out of everything they do. They want purpose and meaning. They recognize the social responsibility everyone -- even corporations -- has in today's global environment.

As a result, profit and purpose have become a unified formula for running any organization. The formula is simple:

PURPOSE = PROFIT"

Reference: Egger, R. (2004). Begging for Change: The Dollars and Sense of Making Nonprofits Responsive, Efficient, and Rewarding for All. New York, NY: HarperCollins.