Sunday, October 25, 2009

“Image is Everything”

As you all know, I have had the opportunity to wear a tie a lot more in my new role. It is amazing how people treat a person just on how they dress.

The same can be said for you as an agent and how your clientele see you in your county and in your leadership role. You are looked upon as a role model to many individuals in your county. Your Image is everything, especially as a first impression.

Your professional dress : typical day in the Extension Office: 4-H project, Home and farm visit: less formal educational events; 4-H club meetings, etc.

Females- Less dressy ensembles including jean jackets, denim dresses and skirts, khaki slacks, capri sets, slacks. Scarves and shawls, vests with long or short sleeve shirt or top. Flats, sandals.
Males- No tie; dockers/slacks/creased jeans and nice short or long sleeved shirt( no t-shirts) Cleaned and polished shoes or boots. If you are not growing a beard or mustache-please shave daily.

What not to Wear:
Females- Short tight revealing tops, jeans with holes, clothing that is too tight, no shorts, short skirts or mini skirts, t-shirts, No flip flops or house slippers.
Males- jeans with holes, t-shirts, sleeveless shirts, jogging suits, biker jackets, tennis shoes, sandals, flip flops, and muddy boots. If you are going to wear a hat please have it cleaned and caps with sweat stains need to be replaced.


South Region 4-H University, Holiday Inn Emerald Beach – Corpus Christi, Texas, November 4-5, 2009

The South Region 4-H University has been organized to provide professional development
for county Extension agents who provide significant leadership and support for the 4-H and
youth development programs at the county level. South Region 4-H U courses were
identified through various sources including the agents, supervisors, specialists, and
TAE4-HA representatives from across the region. Topics are centered on two main areas:
Program Development and Program Enhancement. Each is important and valuable to the
4-H professional as you work to improve the educational opportunities for youth and
volunteers at the local level.

It is our expectation that all CEAs-4-H, CEAs-Urban Youth Development, EAs-4-H CEP, and
County 4-H Coordinators attend. All other CEA’s and program assistants who may find
these courses beneficial, are also invited to attend. These courses are intended to create or
extend the competencies of Extension 4-H and youth professionals through interactive and
in-depth instruction.

Registration via Extension Conference Services ( http://agrilifeevents.tamu.edu, keyword
“4-H”) must be completed by October 26th.


Texas Plant Protection Conference

Dr. Dromgoole has agreed once again to pay the registration fee for agents in District 11 that want to attend the Texas Plant Protection Conference in College Station on December 2 and 3. I will need to know if you will be attending along and your registration form by October 28th of this week. The state office will submit the registration for all of our agents, do not submit your registrations individually.

End of the year Deadlines

November and December can be very stressful months for county Extension agents, due to the many deadlines involved by the end of the year. Please be aware of these deadlines and make a special effort to meet all these deadlines.

Major Show entries, must be done accurately and timely make your exhibitors and leaders aware of the many deadlines and be prepared to have all entries and summaries on the web by the shows deadline. Fort Worth is November 15th, all others are December 1st. This is an extremely challenging task for many agents due to exhibitors procrastinating till the deadline.
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Planning Group Membership Database Update

With the new program year approaching, we need to have your Planning Group (EPC) Database updated. The deadline for County Coordinators to ensure that all changes to their Program Area Committees, Task Forces, Coalitions, Youth Boards and Leadership Advisory Boards for their respected counties is complete is January 4th, 2010.

Annual Agricultural Increment Report

Discuss estimates for the increment report with your committee, visit with Dr. Falconer for assistance , the deadline for Ag increment report is due December 15th,2009. The Ag increment report may be the most important report that a ag agent completes each year.

Competing and evaluation of out-come plans as well as completing your out-come summaries.

D11 Personnel NewsBold
Last Monday, the Washington County commissioners approved the appointment of
Mr. Rodney Finch as 4-H and Youth Agent. Mr. Finch comes to District 11 form Grimes County where he is the current ANR agent. Mr. Finch has also served as and ag agent in McClendon County. Rodney is a great addition to our faculty in District 11. He will provide the much needed stability in the 4-H position in Washington County. Washington County has one of our most active 4-H programs in the State. We are very fortunate to have Rodney join the District 11 Staff.

Join me in congratulating Jerry and Jennifer Gray as they start their new partnership in marriage. It was an honor for Thelma and I to attend their wedding on Saturday. They had a wonderful wedding and a great start to their life together.