2nd Quarter Reports Due March 7th

Effective Extension educational work requires that reports be timely, accurate, concise, and complete. Reporting is an element of Extension work that you may be the most favorite part of your job. Our County Extension Agents do an excellent job of programming, but some fail to capture their accomplishments in monthly reports. John Campbell (1995) in his book Reclaiming a Lost Heritage emphasized the public accountability importance of reporting by stating, “taxpayers deserve to know that their money is being prudently extended in society’s best interest” (p.140). The Legislative Budget Board (LLB) receives your TEXAS reports. If you did not report it did not happen. If you don't get your reports in prior to end of the quarter those reports are useless.


It is extremely important  that Texas AgriLife Extension Service account for all educational activities and contacts. Failure to report these performance measures can severely impact appropriated funding. Reporting is fundamental to comprehensive Extension programs and should be treated as a significant part of Agents professional obligations. Reporting should be thought of as tool to modify and improve educational programs, as well as to communicate program progress and results to faculty, staff, planning committees, elected officials, clientele, and Extension Administrators.

As your District Extension Administrator I monitor Agent reports monthly to ensure that all Agents develop a system for maintaining records and documentation for my reporting purposes. All reports should contain the following:

•Who are targeted audiences for program/activity and the number attending?

•What issue is being addressed and subject matter covered?

•When did the program/activity take place?

•The impact of the program/activity. Adoption of practices, knowledge gained or behavioral changes should be reported.

The 2nd quarter ended in February (December, January and February). District 11 agents should have completed their reports on the TEXAS system before March 7th.

Reference: Campbell, J.R. (1995). Reclaiming a Lost Heritage. Ames, Iowa: Iowa State University Press.

Legislative Contacts Quarterly Email One Pagers

I have been extremely pleased with the quality of the Legislative Quarterly One Pagers  (December, January and February) that have been sent out recently. The information is more important than ever as state legislators work in Austin to balance our state budget. Your one pagers are being read, today an agent called me to tell me that he had contact with a Legislative aid about their county one pager and the aid requested the email sent  in another format. This tells me that they want our  information.  Your Legislative Contact Quarterly Email One Pager is due to your Legislative contacts, county commissioners, selected stakeholders, and cc both Barbara Moretich and I by March 7th the end of the 2nd quarter. 


Distance Educational  Survey:
For those agents that have not completed the survey I asked you to complete last week, the deadline has been extended till today March 4th, you can go to the survey at the link below:

http://tamuag.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_6eSUKOo9Mv29sJ6


Partial Cost Recovery

There has been much discussion and questions on starting our new partial cost recovery initiative this week.  Remember, try to find ways to implement cost recovery not look for ways to exempt your programs for the new process. We need to recover cost now and as quickly as possible.  The Regional Program Directors and my self welcome your questions, keep them coming.  Ag/NR agents your questions on Pesticide CEU's are being answered, you point of contact will be Dr. Dozier, and I will visit with Monty on trying to make our CEU cost recovery as consistent as possible in the District. Dr. Dozier is working with the state office in getting the answers to your questions.

2010 Performance Reviews

I have completed all of our performance reviews, and you should be getting an email from greatjobs, indicating your PAS is ready to certify. In completing my second year in evaluation your successes, I am certainly amazed of all your high quality outcomes.  At times it may seem that I may ask more and more from you, but good agents can only get better if their supervisor challenges them; my job is to challenge agents in exceeding expectations. I am very fortunate to have agents in our district that that understand our mission and our capacity to provide quality service and leadership to those we work with.

Please certifiy your PAS and send back to me so I can forward to our unit head. The system sends me an email to let me know I have a pending evaluations for action when you complete the process in Greatjobs. If you have any questions contact me or our district office manager Barbara Moretich.

Distance Educational Tools

As Extension begins to develop educational program delivery strategies that include distance education, one of the most challenging aspects is to establish a culture among County Extension Agents to integrate this educational program delivery strategy into their ongoing programming.

As Extension faces challenges, distance education becomes of up most importance to the effectiveness and the accessibility to Extension programs.

As we launch the Texas AgriLife Extension Service Distance Education Initiative individuals want to talk about what needs to be developed, when in reality agents already have a number of strategies/tools  available that are not being adequately utilized now.  During the course of the next couple of weeks we will be featuring some excellent examples of Distance Educational strategies that agents can utilize now in the delivery of programs to clientele.

Some examples are:  Family and Consumer Science agents have embraced distance learning by providing the leadership in developing Distance Educational Tools to add value to their traditional program delivery.  The Dinner Tonight program provides clientele with a tasty, healthy, and cost effective recipes that can be quickly prepared.

The web site to see one of the East Region’s County Extension Agents demonstrate a recipe click on the following link:
http://healthyliving.tamu.edu
Also, a blog will be utilized to provide clientele with information regarding preparing nutritious meals. The blog can be reviewed by clicking on the following link:
http://nutritionalrecipes.blogspot.com/

Another one of the strategies that is easy to accomplish is for County Extension Agents to utilize web sites that can be effectively utilized to add value to traditional program delivery methods.  One of these innovative examples is a websites designed to address issues facing the beef cattle industry entitled  Cow Sense U.  The following is a link to view this site: http://www.cowsenseu.org/.

Yet another, of these innovative examples is a websites designed to address issues facing the beef cattle industry entitled  Ranch TV.  The following is a link to view this site: http://ranchtv.org/.

An innovative example of utilizing technology in District 11 as part of  this District’s Distance Education Initiative includes the following presentation by Victoria County Agent Sam Womble .
http://coastalbend.tamu.edu/Edvideos/Victoria.htm

Another is the Texas 4-H Livestock website.. Through your promotion and support, it has the potential to be one of the most utilized online resources Texas AgriLife Extension Service has to offer.   The following is a link to view this site:
http://agrilife.tamu.edu/livestock101/

Numerous agents and specialists have utilized weblogs or blogs to interact with clientele. Listed below are just a few examples of how Extension educators with Texas AgriLife Extension Service is utilizing weblogs or blogs;
http://wild-wonderings.blogspot.com/2011/02/feral-hog-questions-and-answers.html
http://cbagbriefs.blogspot.com/2010/11/cotton-variety-test-results-posted.html
http://agrilife.org/etg/2011/02/18/mid-february-marks-rose-pruning-season/
http://cbagbriefs.blogspot.com/

Soon we will migrate to new county web pages that can be better utilized by you in providing distance education. 

Distance Education Survey:Your participation in this survey is crucial in implementing our Distance educational initiative. This is your reminder that it is an expectation that every District 11  agent complete this survey before Monday, February 28, 2011.

You  may complete  this survey by clicking on the link below;

http://tamuag.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_6eSUKOo9Mv29sJ6

Partial Cost Recovery:

By the end of the week District 11 will have had, three trainings and most of our agents will have been provided information on implementing our new initiative on March 1st.  I appreciate the attitudes that you all have had in being as positive toward embracing our new way of doing business.  Please remember to go to our web site: http://ExtensionCostRecovery.tamu.edu for all the necessary materials and guild lines. The website has recently been updated with more power points in assisting to inform your committees and support staff on cash management procedures. Those agents that have not made the trainings due to conflicts will have an opportunity to participate in a teleconference soon, more details to come. 

4-H News:

All district Roundup contest information has been posted on the District 11 4-H website.

http://d114-h.tamu.edu/events-and-contests/roundup/

Our highly successful Coastal Bend Classic needs to be evaluated by our agents, a meeting on Monday February 28th, starting at 1:00 pm in the Jackson County Demonstration kitchen has been scheduled.  For those of you that can not make the face to face meeting, you can call into a  conference call. I will send out the phone number and code Monday Morning. 

Changing how we do business!

During the course of the last couple of weeks, two initiatives were announced related to Distance Education and Partial Cost Recovery.  These new initiatives will change the way we do business, for all Texas AgriLife Extension Service faculty and staff.   As county Extension agents, it is imperative to provide a positive attitude for the change which will enable these important initiatives to be successful.

If you really think about it, is it that much different from what we have been doing for years any way. Extension agents for a very long time ,  have used innovative ways to allocate material resources in order to support their program. Program area committees have been used as the support base for fund-raising and effective programing. For example, when a agent needs a new sprayer for demonstration work,  or a refrigerator to store ingredients for nutrition programs, they have allocated funds associated with their committees to acquire these necessary materials that the county or state Extension does not provide.  Now your committees will be even  more important than ever, by supporting our state Extension network, not only on the local level.

I don't know about you all, but when I go to church I put money in the basket hoping that the funds get used at my local church, but I know some of that money goes to administration to assist in funding the infrastructure and employees providing the mission of our church. Once a year I also get an opportunity to pledge funds that help other areas of our churches mission.  I am not implying that we are becoming a church, but such a concept works and if embraced  the mission of an organization such as ours can be stronger and be supported by all who benefit. I am very pleased that our state administration is not just sitting back and waiting to see what happens with our state budget, our new initiatives are effective ways to recover the cost and provide new  ways to deliver our programs. We need you to help to load the wagon! and continue to help pull it along, just like we have many times before, now we must all pull harder than we ever have.  

Financial Creativity
Some examples that should be implemented regarding the development of creative funding strategies are as follows;

• Partial Cost Recovery that is utilized to increase the capacity of the agency.
• Partnerships with municipalities.
• Grants to fund specialized programs.
• Partnerships with school districts to deliver specialized youth programming.
• Partnerships with community colleges to deliver specialized program in communities.

The bottom-line is that it is imperative that county Extension agents implement new and non-traditional funding models.  If our county Extension agent's do not embrace concepts that will generate non-traditional funding sources,  Extension has limited strategies to utilize to address any additional budget cuts beyond  the reduction in faculty and staff positions.  

What are your programs worth to those that could pay for the information?

Innovative Program Delivery
County Extension Agents-must establish goals in adopting innovative program delivery that adds value to our traditional program delivery.  Some of these  might include;

• Engagement and utilization of eXtension
• Podcasts
•  Production alerts to growers, or consultants through smart phones
• Blogs
• On-line learning modules

These type of efforts take deliberate planning and action and talking does not get it done.  Its time for D11 agents to step up and be the leaders that you are in technology delivered program delivery.

Some Extension professionals are concerned that these type of strategies are abandoning our traditional educational methods and clientele.  These approaches should actually strengthen our relationship with our traditional clientele while providing avenues to reach new clientele and enhancing our program delivery efficiency.

Extension represents the heartbeat of the land-grant university system. Texas AgriLife Extension will only continue to be as relevant in the future as it is today if we continually evolve from the "ground up" through our local committees, and county support.

The basic concept of Extension using objective, research-based information to help the public is of greater importance now than ever!  I encourage you to “control what you can control” , which is the quality of your programs and how you can interpret the value of your programs to your stakeholders.

District 11 Partial Cost Recovery Trainings Scheduled

In order to facilitate many of your questions in relation to the new guidelines, new priorities, and expectations, I am holding three agent trainings/workshops in the District in February. These trainings will allow me to provide you direction and guidance in developing our game plan to implement these guidelines on March 1st, 2011.  We hope that our Regional Program Directors can participate if they are available however due to the short time frame Dr. Dozier and/or Dr. Fries may not be personally available.

• February 18th, Fayette County Extension Office in LaGrange, 1 pm to 3 pm

• February 23rd, District Office, Corpus Christi, 1 pm to 3 pm

• February 25th, Jackson County Services Bldg. in Edna , 9 am to 11am

You are welcome to visit with me prior to the training, however it is extremely important that each agent make one of these short but important trainings.  I know this is a busy time of year and it may be impossible to be at one of these trainings. If you have a conflict please let me know so other arrangements can be made to provide you with the tools you need to be successful in implementing the partial cost recovery guidelines. More information will follow, I just wanted to get on your calendars as quickly as possible. 

Major Livestock Shows a busy time of the year

We are in the middle of the San Antonio Stock show and will be moving very quickly into the heart of the major livestock show season in Texas. We have a great opportunity each year to support our young people as they represent our local county programs in the big city. 

Our livestock feeders come in two types in my opinion,those that participate and those that compete! There is absolutely nothing wrong with either type of individual.  Those that participate will travel to the city to learn more about their feeding experience, animal agriculture and build life long relationships. Those that go to compete are usually those that have more experience and expect to place.  As advisers to 4-H members and leaders you must provide support to both of these type of individuals. Some feeders need more help then others, but be mindful about how you can best support all of your exhibitors in making their major livestock show experience the best possible. Remember to continually check in with your feeders when appropriate, during there time at the shows.

You must also remember that you are on official business and need to be professional in your capacity to lead your junior livestock show programs.  In most cases you are an adjunct faculty member of your members school district. Remember that your appearance "even if you slept in a truck all night" must be appropriate for a Extension educator.  Look for and take advantage of teachable moments with your young people and leaders. The relationships that your build with feeders and their parents will last a lifetime from your work at major livestock. DM

4-H Day at the Capitol

Thank you to the large delegation of 52 youth and adults from District 11 that braved the weather to attend the 4-H Day at the Capitol.  Texas 4-H was recognized by legislators in both the Senate and House Chambers.  Our very own Kelley Ullrich of Fayette County was selected to represent Texas 4-H on the Senate floor during the recognition.  Kelley serves as the District 11 4-H Council Chairman and is a member of the Texas 4-H Council.  After the morning recognitions, attendees enjoyed lunch and guest speaker Senator Glenn Hegar.  In the afternoon, participants visited the offices of their local senators and representatives.  There has already been positive feedback from legislators about how impressive it was to see the gallery filled with "4-H green".

4-H REMINDERS:

Texas 4-H Opportunity Scholarships and SALE Rural Youth Award Applications are due to the District Office on Friday, February 11, 2011.  If you have applications that you have not mailed yet, please notify Sharon Thompson ASAP so she knows to be watching the mail for them. If you have NO APPLICATIONS from your county, please email Sharon to let her know so she can complete her county checklist.

Engaging the Leadership Advisory Board in Identifying Critical Issues

WHY DO WE FOCUS ON ISSUE IDENTIFICATION?
Developing educational programs based on community needs is the foundation of Texas AgriLife Extension’s success. The Leadership Advisory Board’s Issue Identification process provides an avenue to hear from all types of clientele and people within a county. Providing solutions to county problems and issues will allow AgriLife Extension to remain viable to constituents. What could be more important to AgriLife Extension than listening to its “customers” – the people of Texas?
Our ability to meet educational needs depends on knowing what local residents see as their issues that impact their lives. There is no way to know the answers to these questions unless they are asked. Therefore, AgriLife Extension will involve the Leadership Advisory Boards in a process to ask residents what is important to them.

This activity is just one part of the needs assessment process. Other processes to collect information include, but are not limited to:

•  State and National Trends

•  Commodity/Industry Groups

• State and Federal Mandates

•  Emerging Issues

•  County Committees/Planning Groups

The issues that surface should be discussed with county committees, task forces, and subject matter specialists to determine the appropriate action for educational programming.
Texas AgriLife Extension is unique because it has faculty in every area of the state who is dedicated to educating Texans in many areas of need. This uniqueness provides an opportunity to bring together the people of Texas, other service agencies, and educational groups to help provide solutions to the problems and issues facing Texans.
Remember the mission of AgriLife Extension: “Improving the lives of people, businesses, and communities across Texas and beyond through high-quality, relevant education.”

For more information, call the Organizational Development Unit at 979-845-7280, visit the website dedicated to this process at http://extensionissues.tamu.edu, or go to the Organizational Development Unit’s website at http://od.tamu.edu.

In visiting with you and your coworkers during our recent Performance Appraisal Confreres, I have asked each one of you how and when you would be implementing your identification of issues. I want to remind you that the process must be completed by May 15th. With the busy spring of the year just upon us please know that each staff must complete this very important task. Thanks to many of you that have already entered your information on to the web site.

Engaging the Leadership Advisory Board in Identifying Critical Issues---Time Line

Sept-Oct., 2010 – Discuss with DEA/RPD the process for your county
Oct.-Dec., 2010 – Meet with LAB (or Chair) to begin plans.
Dec.-Apr. – Implement Process
May 15 – Enter issues online

Degree Information

In Extension, degrees are central to career ladder advancement and are a recognized means of professional development and learning. please go to the organizational site for proper forms that need to be submitted as you enroll in classes. Many of you have already done so, but if you have not you can get many of your questions answered on this site.

http://od.tamu.edu/employee-development/degree-information/

4-H & Youth News

Take A Stand website! 

A new section called "In The News" has been added which showcases news articles and other resources that you may find of interest.  There may be information in the articles or materials you wish to replicate in your county as you market and conduct the Take A Stand program with youth.  Please take some time to go to the website and check out the information!  I think you will find some great ideas there, including a "Keep Your Cool Rap", a Rumors Activity, and some great news articles!   http://texas4-h.tamu.edu/agents/take_a_stand/index_take_a_stand.php

If you have had a news article about the program in your local paper, please scan and send it to me!  If you have developed an activity to supplement Take A Stand, please send them to Cheryl Newberry, the instructions for the activity and if you have pictures to go with it, that is a bonus!  I will format it and post it on the web! 

Program Update:  We have completed the first year of the program and I am pleased to report that there were a total of 377 educational sessions conducted reaching over 20,000 youth and adults!  That is GREAT!   

MOST of those contacts were not supported with evaluations being submitted to Paul Pope for scanning (only about 1100 were sent in).   Whether or not you do an outcome with Take A Stand, if you complete the program with a group, PLEASE USE THE EVALUATION AND SEND IT IN FOR SCANNING so that we can have the data for state-wide impact!  If you hand tabulate the data, we still need you to send it in for scanning -- especially if you are doing an outcome!!!  This is very important!!!  Time restraints on due dates for outcome summaries may require you to hand tabulate, but I can still use the data if you will send it on in for scanning!!!

District 11 Reminders:

• We have many Take a Stand Outcomes in District 11 please help to report your successes.

• REMINDER:  4-H OPPORTUNITY SCHOLARSHIPS due to the District Office by February 11, 2011.
•  Agent Monthly reports due by February 7th, Commissioners Court Activity Report, Travel and Texas Reports. Accountability is more important than ever. If need to ask why you have been in a cave, please leave your cave and take care of business, thanks for what you do everyday,  DM

District 11 Legislative Quarterly Reports

Interpretation of our great programs in our District, County, and communities is more important than ever. You certainly know how important it is in a difficult time in our states history, and you also are aware that I have reinforced this during our performance reviews this year. 


In 2011, I will implement and expect for each District 11 county to provide a one page quarterly email report to your State senator and state representative and their staffers. It is not appropriate to have formal interpretation with our state legislators during the session. We must let them get to business in Austin. However we can keep them updated and most importantly update their district staff. I want you to get to know your legislative district staff especially they new staff members of newly elected state leadership. It is appropriate to invite your state legislators and their staff to your show case events in your counties.  Several of you have invited your state leaders to your stock shows during this stock show season. This is a great way for them to interact with our volunteers, and youth in action. If they come to your events involve them in an opportunity such as a presentation, opening ceremony and or award presentation.  As representatives of state government and funding partners, our programs are theirs as well. I want to remind our agents and specialists that we must stay positive in our interpretation efforts. We may start to see some negative publicity from other areas especially the media, it is imperative that we stay positive! in providing information of our successful programs great programs are our best interpretation. 


The quarterly reports can be creative with limited amount of pictures, and video, including much of the same information that you provide in your county commissioner reports, highlight timely events during the year. Keep it short to the point and include public value and or economic effectiveness of our programs each time. 


I am not asking for you to do much more than you are doing already as you complete your reports each month.  I know that you can clearly understand that completion of this and other special reports is a critical professional obligation associated with professional educators with Texas AgriLife Extension Service. If you want more ideas on completing this report , I would suggest you contact Nueces, Victoria and or Karnes County. These counties already do a great job in providing a quarterly email update to their state senator, representative and their staff.Give me a call if you have any questions, DM

Cost Recovery

Recently we have received several notices of some significant changes in how we will do business in our counties concerning cost recovery and others ares, and will be receiving even more direction soon. I want to also make it clear that we should be open minded in looking to the future. County Extension agents are extremely resourceful individuals, for example  just look back at your human and material resource allocations for this past year in your PAS materials.  I am always amazed of how we allocate resources to acquire what we need to be productive.

I believe this will make our agency stronger, and make our programs better. Giving the choice of paying more taxes or paying for information clientele need, I believe our customers will choose to pay for relevant, research based knowledge from trained reputable educators such as yourselves. We must all (Agents, Specialists, and Volunteers) buy into our new changes and be unified as a team across the district. If you have any questions or concerns on cost recovery or other areas please give me a call. 

District 11 4-H News from Jodi

District 11 Consumer Decision Making Contest

The district CDM Contest will be held on MONDAY, MAY 9, 2011 at the KC Hall in Hallettsville, TX.  Registration will be after lunch with a contest start time around 2 p.m.   More details will be emailed soon!

District 11 Photography Contest

Thank you to everyone that participated in the photography poll.  For the 2011 District 11 Contest (junior & intermediates only), we will continue to submit printed/mounted photos.  However, the 2011 contest will use the NEW STATE CATEGORIES!  Complete photo contest rules and guidelines will be emailed soon and posted on the District 11 4-H website.  NOTE:  The 2012 D11 Contest will be moving to electronic submission and judging.  Please make your clientele aware of this change now!

REMINDER:  4-H OPPORTUNITY SCHOLARSHIPS due to the District Office by February 11, 2011.

County Extension Agent- Generalists or Specialists

I am almost done with my tour of  District 11 Performance Reviews I had good visits with agents last week in Fayette, Wharton, Lavaca, Jackson, and San Patricio Counties. Each personal discussion concludes with professional development, and goals for the future. I am asking the same question of all agents in relation to their professional expectations and how they believe their clientele see them in their county. Most of our D11 agents respond to being either a professional educator or resource person in the county.  Our District 11 resident philosopher and Austin County Extension agent, Mr. Phillip Shackelford explained the duties of a county Extension agent are not of an occupation or a job it is a way of life. I believe that Phillip explained it well as we continue to meet the mission of AgriLife Extension.

Most of you if not all are more generalists rather than specialists in your occupation, depending on your staffing pattern and the size of your county.  We all try to know everything and to be everything to everyone, but we must also remember that in developing oneself professionally it is important to nurture each ones passion. I have asked each agent what is their specialty and challenged them to foster their specialty with this years professional development opportunities.  Our more tenure agent"s each have a special talents and a passion in which they learned over the years, and are resource persons to other agents in our Distinct and in the state.  New agents and mid career agents, with the help of our RPD's I want to challenge your to find your area of expertise and continue to grow as professional educators and ultimately become revered as our experts of the future.

Key leaders in your County

Another question that I am asking of each agent during PAS reviews is if Dr. Smith called one day and asked you if you could give him a few names of advocates and or ambassadors of your county program who would they be.  In the mist of our challenging times we must stay mindful of how are programs are making a difference in our communities.  Take time to think of these individuals and how we can use our volunteers to continue to tell our story.

County Committee Documentation

As I review your committee and program building structure in your county I often ask to see your documentation on your committees. Most of our agents have a procedure that they follow to document their meetings. A good protocol is first a letter must go out to the committee, secondly a sign in sheet must be provided and kept, and a designated recorder must take minuets , some times this is the agent. After the meeting the minutes are then sent out to the committee especially those that were not in attendance.

I know that documentation is also supported through the Texas system, however it is nice to see the protocol that is followed by our agents. I want to highlight a few counties and agents in this process. Brian Yanta in Goliad County scans every document associated with committee work he then saves the information each year and provides me with what I need electronically. He has every year in his career, documented on his computer . Another excellent effort is out of San Patricio County, Kathy Farrrow, county coordinator keeps all of this documentation and provides a matrix and or snapshot of the county committee structure. They includes, LAB, Youth board, Program Area committees and tasks forces that meet each year. This is a great way to see the entire county program building structure in a county.

Texas 4-H Livestock Ambassadors in District 11

The Texas 4-H Livestock Ambassador Program equips youth with the knowledge and skills to become an ambassador for Texas AgriLife Extension Service, the Texas 4-H Program and animal sciences as it relates to livestock projects.  After attending the Ambassador training, students are required to log at least 20 hours of service annually, helping novice 4-H’ers with their livestock projects and educating fellow 4-H’ers.  Hats off to the following youth from District 11 that have attended the Livestock Ambassador training:

·         Ty Batchelor, Matagorda County

·         Emily Kelley, DeWitt County

·         Rachel Kaplan, Nueces County

·         Cuatro Schauer, Bee County

·         McKenna Schulte, Washington County

·         Chelsey Rudasill, Washington County

We encourage counties to invite these young people to serve in leadership and teaching roles at livestock clinics and workshops, quality counts trainings, local projects visits, or other areas where you see fit.  Several of these members assisted with the Coastal Bend Classic to work toward their annual 20 hours of service.  Please give them other opportunities to assist and log service hours.  

Personnel News in District 11

District 11 agents help me welcome Mr. Charles Seely to District 11. Charles is now the new Calhoun County 4-H Agent. He is completing his first step training in Matagorda County prior to assuming his duties in Calhoun County on February 1st. Charles comes highly recommended from Tarleton State University.  I know the Calhoun County 4-H members and leaders have plenty for him to do as he starts his Extension career.

Happy New Year!

I hope you had a good Holiday Break and are ready for the new year. I wish each an every District 11 staff member a prosperous and productive 2011. It is clear as I continue my tour of District 11 during our performance appraisal evaluations, how effective and productive each one of you were last year.  You certainly made a difference in the lives of your clientele in 2010. I truly appreciate all that you do to make District 11 one of the best Extension Districts in the state.

I would like to remind you to please have your staff job responsibilities assignments for the year ready for review. This is the time we evaluate your specific area of work and tasks associated with these job responsibilities.  I also want to commend those of you that have completed your civil rights reviews, the process goes much smoother if you have your observation record completed prior to my visit. If you are to have a CR review please pay attention to this detail.

Utilizing Volunteers in Interpreting Extension Programs

The utilization of volunteers who serve on various committees and task forces is an excellent strategy to implement in both formal and informal interpretation efforts. The involvement of volunteers in the interpretation process is ingrained in many county’s interpretation culture. In counties where volunteers are utilized in interpretation agents have spent quality time arming committee and task force members with the type of information needed for them to effectively interpret Extension educational programs. However, there are many counties across District 11  where volunteers could be more effectively utilized in formal or informal interpretation efforts. Elected officials place tremendous creditability on information related to Extension educational programs when it is provided by constituents. However, volunteers don’t provide interpretation by chance– it happens as a result of planning, training, and design.

In order for volunteers to be effective in interpreting programs they must:

• Be an individual whose opinion is valued and respected by your elected officials.

• Have an active role along with agent to plan,implement, evaluate and interpret effective county programs that results in measurable outcomes.

• Have an understanding of the Texas AgriLife Extension Service as an organization.

• Your volunteers should be armed with appropriate data related to Texas AgriLife Extension’s roles in providing educational programming efforts your county.

• They should Embrace the philosophy that an investment in Texas AgriLife Extension Service programs is an investment that provides a return in your county in terms of economic, environmental, and/or social outcomes.

• Be equipped with information related to specific program(s) outcomes in your county.

Making a Difference Interpretation Templates/ County One Pagers

These templates have been posted for County Annual Report and Outcome Summary reports. It is imperative that these be consistently utilized when developing interpretation pieces. The link to download these documents is as follows: http://agrilife.org/communications/resources/extension/documents/

Your outcome summaries should be uploaded to Texas. I am also asking for you to update your county one pagers. Some of you already have, this was an extremely useful tool for me in my first full year. please make the necessary adjustments and send them in to me by  January 15th, thanks, DM

Annual Agricultural Income Increment Report

Due Date:January 14th, 2011 my office, please send thorough email and cc Barbara Moretich

Agricultural Agents, I appreciate your leadership and cooperation in providing the annual estimate of Ag Production Value from your county. These are the only current annual income data available to represent Texas Agriculture to county, state, and federal agencies, news media, new commercial industrial prospects and agribusiness.