CM Regional Council Meeting
January 23, 2006
Boone County Extension Center
County Representatives Present:
Karen Heitmeyer - Audrain
Jayne Wehmeyer – Audrain
Art Gelder – Boone
H.C. Russell – Boone
Belinda Flick – Carroll
Dick Crader – Cole
Sherri Kempf – Cooper
Larry and Linn Lackey – Morgan
Jo Warnke – Morgan
Marge Vanevercooren – Morgan
Dana Binder – Pettis
Wayne McReynolds – Saline
Frances Hart – Carroll
Rose McMullin – Pettis
Larry Twenter – Pettis
UMC Staff and Guests Present
Parman Green – Carroll
Darlene Beaman – CM Region
Mark Stillwell – CM Region
Chris Thompson – Cole
Mary Anne Patten – Morgan
Cynthia Crawford – Saline
Don Day – Boone
Connie Mefford - Pettis
Welcome and Introductions: Regional Council Chair Sherri Kempf called the meeting to order at 7:10 p.m.
Approval of September 12, 2005 Minutes: Sherri asked everyone to look over the September 12, 2005 meeting minutes. Wayne McReynolds made a motion to accept the minutes as written. Jayne Wehmeyer seconded motion. Motion carried.
Mark presented a slide show regarding Developing County Program Plans. Part of the statewide Plan of Work cycle, is developing County Program Plans. For each county, it will involve council, faculty and staff to:
Ø Review the county needs assessment conducted last fall:
Ø Look at the summaries of the regional needs assessment, Extension web and telephone surveys, community conversations on economic development and diversity:
Ø Consider the statewide major program areas, which have been identified by faculty and program directors:
Ø Review current programming; and
Ø Determine future program directions in the county.
Mark reported they are trying to develop a communication plan to keep everyone informed to the extent possible of the process, time lines, and outcomes.
There will be a training session for CPD’s, facilitators and other interested faculty conducted by ITV at the February 21st faculty/staff conference. The purpose of the training will be to prepare the facilitators to guide the March council discussions and provide detailed processes for conducting each step.
Information for each county council review and discussion will be available on the Plan of Work Web site. County Program Directors may download it after the February 21st training and provide the information, together with the county annual report to council members for their review before the March council discussion.
Important Dates
February 21st Regional Faculty/Staff Conference – Training on facilitation process
Late February/March Council Meetings – Councils receive county information packets
March/April Council Mtg Facilitated discussion to guide the county program planning
March 21st Regional Faculty/Staff Conference – Training on planning section
April 30th Counties have submitted final needs identification for regional faculty review
May-June Regional faculty will work with RD’s and PD’s to develop performance expectations, matching county needs with state named programs
June CPD’s and regional faculty develop county plans
July Councils review and respond to county plans
July Communication tools will be available to inform stakeholders about Extension programs.
Mark reported the Plan of Work process was like “Building a bicycle while you are
riding it down the road.”
Regional Staffing Update – Mark Stillwell
Mark reported that fiscal resources support 240 MU Extension specialists statewide. There are 27 regional specialists in the Central Missouri region.
When positions become vacant, campus is using the incremental fill process – positions that become vacant are reviewed in context of regional and statewide programs priorities and current regional staffing numbers.
Mark has received approval to move forward and fill two positions in our region.
The council will review high priority needs in August/September after the Plan of Work process is complete.
Mark showed a Power Point presentation of FTE’s in various positions throughout our region. Four positions were filled in 2004-2005.
In Early January 2006 University of Missouri Extension released an Ag position to be filled in the Central Missouri region.
It was discussed that the Central Missouri Region has came together and looked at needs above their own county needs. Everyone deserves the credit for looking at areas where a higher need is at the moment. Sherri stressed to all council members that every need is important.
Mark reported on the Regional Council Laws – the purpose of regional council is to be a forum through which the member county councils cooperate in providing effective educational programs for the region.
There are positions opening to our region. After discussion, it was felt that the following areas need to be filled as current priority positions.
Pettis County Ag Business
Cole County Horticulture
There are four full-time specialists in Boone County.
Legislative Day – March 15th – Sherri Kempf
Sherri reported that the University of Missouri Alumni Alliance Legislative Day would be March 15, 2006 at the Capitol Rotunda in Jefferson City. This is a time to thank legislators for their support and share stories of Extension impact in communities and county. A box lunch will be provided free of charge to participants and legislators.
If you were unable to attend, testimonial letters would be appreciated. Registration deadline is March 8, 2006.
Counties that were represented at the Regional Council meeting gave funding updates from their respective county:
Cooper County Fully funded
Pettis County Received proposed 4% increase in budget
Audrain County Funds remained same as last year
Saline County Received $2800 increase – office is moving
Carroll County Have not met yet
Boone County Funds remained same as last year
Cole County Funds remained same as last year
Morgan County Fully funded with $1,000 increase
Callaway County Slight decrease in funds
Mark reported that University funding is “flatline” budget in State. Should expect a 2% increase – first increase in about four years.
Each county council member present shared information from their respective county.
It was noted that on February 9-10-11 there will be an Ag Show Expo at the Sedalia State Fairgrounds.
Nomination Committee for Regional Council Officers and State Council Member Elections in March – Sherri Kempf
Jayne Wehmeyer and Wayne McReynolds volunteered to be on a nominating committee selecting candidates for Regional Council Officers and State Council Member.
The next meeting of the Regional Council will be held on Monday, March 6th tentatively at the Boone County Extension Office at 7:00 p.m.
Belinda Flick made a motion to adjourn. Jayne Wehmeyer seconded the motion.
Meeting adjourned at 9:05 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Karen Heitmeyer, Secretary