One of the critical components to this process is program planning workshops. The District 11 Program Development Workshop will be conducted on September 14 and 15 in Edna, Texas. This training will be devoted to program development and will set the stage for effective and quality program planning for the upcoming year.
In preparation for these workshops Associate Department Heads or Program Leaders will provide one page briefs on new projects and initiatives. Regional Program Directors will share these one-pagers with agents in the region.
All agents should have program area committee meeting(s) and/or youth board meeting(s) prior to these workshops. Agents will e-mail the minutes of those meeting(s) along with a prioritized set of issues that have been identified to be addressed during the coming program year to the appropriate Regional Program Directors and District Extension Administrator prior to the workshop.
The following are elements of this workshop that are critical for effective planning and effective allocation of resources;
Overview of Program Planning Expectations- The District Extension Administrator will provide general expectations related to Organizational Support Plans, Individual Development Plans, and other interdisciplinary and team efforts. Professional development offerings for agents will be distributed when the District Extension Administrator discuss individual development plans.
Community Resource and Economic Development- Regional Program Directors will provide expectations and suggested strategies for addressing emergency management and other CRED program needs
4-H and Youth Development Expectations and Discussion- The District Extension Administrator and Regional Program Directors will provide general expectations related to 4-H management and leadership plans. Regional Program Directors will provide expectations related to support of 4-H subject matter projects and youth outcome plans. District 4-H Specialist will provide training related to youth trends and goals for improving 4-H participation. County staffs should be provided time to meet together to discuss 4-H program planning for the coming year, CRED, and other team efforts. They should complete a “Proposed Program Plans worksheet” to indicate what outcome/output plans they plan to submit, as well as strategies for increasing 4-H involvement in the coming year (a copy of the worksheet will be provided in the agent document “Planning for Excellence”).
Program Planning Subject Matter Break-Out Groups – Regional Program Director-FCS will work with FCS agents, Regional Program Director – Agriculture and Natural Resources will work with Ag/Nr Agents, District 4-H Specialist and District Extension Administrator will work with 4-H and Youth Development Agents
The Topics for these Subject Matter Break-Out Sessions will include:
1. Overview of regional program priorities
2. Specific information or reminders per discipline
3. Issue planning groups
4. Cluster planning groups
5. Specialist engagement and scheduling
6. Submission of plan worksheet – Regional Program Directors will provide a worksheet for all agents to submit (Agents will have already received this worksheet in the Planning for Excellence document). Agents will indicate what subject matter plans they will submit in preparation for the October Program Planning Conferences. This will provide an opportunity for Regional Program Director to review the agent’s initial plans and initiate conversations with those that may be under or over planning prior to plan submissions. District 11 PPC's will be scheduled for October 12th Corpus Christi, 13th, Victoria and the 14th, in Victoria or La Grange TBA
Program planning must be about ensuring that Extension is efficiently allocating resources that results in program excellence not just focused on approving a plan on the TeXas System, committed to developing better programs that result in measurable outcomes, and devoted to assisting agents to better allocate their time which leads to efficiency at a time when Texas AgriLife Extension Service is experiencing County Program Realignment.
2nd Annual Prestige Leadership Conference PLC
PLC is a Multi-County Council Officer Training. It was held at J Bar J Ranch in Sealy on July 27-28. There were 28 Council Officers in attendance from Austin, Colorado, Fayette, Washington and Wharton Counties. There were four session that covered: Qualities of a Leader/Communication and Teamwork; Basic Parliamentary Procedures; Duties and Responsibilities of Officers; and Organizing and Conducting a Meeting. Through the various sessions participants were equipped with leadership skills that they can use in their counties to help conduct local officer trainings, have successful council meetings and become better leaders at the club and county level. Youth also participated in a Mock Leaders 4 Life Contest. Aaron, Shamaine, Rodney, Kara and Kayla lead the sessions. The success of this program and the responses received from the participants were excellent.
