Epsilon Sigma Phi Newsletter
Fall 2002

President's Message
by Georgia Stuart-Simmons, ESP President

The cancellation of our Annual Extension Conference has indeed made our organization re-think the way we do business.  Under the current circumstances, the Epsilon Sigma Phi Board decided at their August 27 meeting to conduct business through e-mail and regular mail this year. 

What does that mean to our members?  In early October a mailing will go out (e-mail when possible, regular mail for all others) that will include a ballot for the election of officers as well as the proposed dues increase.  Members will have until October 18 to cast their ballots.  Decisions made through this process will take effect November 1.

Information on memorials will be included in the mailing to honor our members who have passed away this year.  Award recipients will be recognized at various events, including regional staff conferences or campus faculty meetings.  In the case of Friend of Extension we will go to the recipient to present the award and take photos for publicity.

We realize this is an unusual way of doing business, but under the circumstances the board felt this approach would allow the greatest participation of our membership.  I hope you will continue to support the efforts of Epsilon Sigma Phi through these challenging times.

The National Conference for Epsilon Sigma Phi will be held October 17 to 19 in Lexington Kentucky.  You may recall that last year’s conference, which had been scheduled to begin on September 18 in Albany, New York, was cancelled after the events of September 11.  The national board made it through those challenges and has planned an excellent conference for this October, just as I’m sure our state organization will meet the challenges we currently face.

In fact, the board is already looking ahead to what we can do for our membership.  Professional Improvement chair Karla Spencer is exploring ideas for professional development opportunities to offer in the near future.  If you have suggestions, I’m sure the board would welcome your input.

Message map info & UO/E map resources
now on ESP National web site
by Roxanne Miller

Just wanted to let you know that Tripp's and UO/E's message map resources are now up on the National Epsilon Sigma Phi (ESP) website at http://espnational.org/.  Go to bottom of home page to "Communication Tools and Resources" page. I revised that page to incorporate message mapping into top intro, then added "message maps" section with links to Tripp's map handout, his web site, UO/E annual conference message map, and UO/E web page containing Missouri state program message maps and training materials.

Thanks again to Eileen for making some changes on a couple of the UO/E PDF files. I think the way Eileen developed the UO/E page provides a quick grasp of the map concept, plus makes available many resources used in UO/E's regional training in Jan/Feb 02. As you can see on the ESP web page, our Missouri message map materials are the only samples given. When I introduced the concept to the national ESP Public Issues Committee, they were very interested and had never heard about this type of approach.

More national publicity is coming: I will be writing an article for the national ESP newsletter (coming out in October) to publicize the new message map materials and the revised web site.

Thanks again, Tripp, for allowing us to use your handout on the site. I've already heard from the chairman of the Public Issues Committee, Gretchen Ferenz, of Cornell Extension in New York City, that she plans to begin using the message map with their environmental programming. If I receive any future feedback, I'll pass it on.

National ESP Public Issues Update
by Roxanne T. Miller, ESP Secretary
Member, 2001 & 2002 National ESP Public Issues Committee

It has been my pleasure to serve for the past two years on the National ESP Public Issues (PI) Committee as representative for the North Central Region. My term will end when the new PI committee meets October 19 at the 2002 National ESP Conference in Lexington, KY.

This has been my first involvement at the national level. It has been a rewarding, energizing experience I would recommend to anyone! My duties began in October 2000, when I attended the national ESP conference in Salt Lake City. That conference was awesome! The national committees always meet on the last day of the conference. Through the year, we conducted business quarterly by teleconference.

I volunteered to work on a subcommittee to compile examples of impact statements from Extension nationwide. Our intent was to collect effective examples to post on the national ESP web site as an ongoing resource, especially targeted to professionals attending the Public Issues Leadership Development (PILD) Conference in Washington, D.C. each year.

The impact statement documents were first posted on the national ESP web site (http://espnational.org/) in March 2001.

This year, we have added information to the web site on how to develop a message map, including a link to our own University Outreach and Extension web site containing the state program message maps and other resources. We are excited about being able to provide this information to Extension professionals across the country.

The 2002 PI Committee also provided leadership in proposing and writing a “National Commitment to Diversity,” approved by the National ESP Board in April 2002. The diversity statement defines ESP’s commitment and a framework for implementation. The PI Committee will provide leadership for its implementation. The document, including intercultural competencies, can be found at http://espnational.org/.

The National Commitment to Diversity was written by Ann C. Schauber, diversity leader for Oregon State University Extension Service. If you’re interested in developing your professional intercultural competencies, you can learn more from a recently published book written by Ann. It’s called Working with Differences in Communities: A handbook for those who care about creating inclusive communities. Check it out at http://eesc.oregonstate.edu/. It’s intended for Extension faculty and staff, volunteers and community organization professionals.

The PI Committee also led an effort to request more information for ESP members about Federal proposed legislation to terminate Federal Schedule A appointments. When the PI Committee became aware of the legislation in March 2002, the committee informed ESP membership via email of concern related to the proposed legislation. Subsequently, clarification about the legislation was sent to ESP membership in May 2002 from the National ESP President Fay Strickler and PI Committee Chair Gretchen Ferenz.

Thanks for the opportunity to serve ESP at the national level! As you know, the mission of Epsilon Sigma Phi is to foster the standards of excellence in the Extension System and to develop the Extension Profession and Professional. I’ve been able to experience first-hand one of the tremendous benefits of ESP membership: meeting and networking with Extension professionals from across the country. Sharing ideas and resources has helped me do my job more effectively, and I hope it’s helped others as well.

Epsilon Sigma PHI-Alpha Tau Chapter Memorial Service
October 2002

Since its beginning, Epsilon Sigma Phi, the National Extension Honorary Fraternity, has set aside time at annual meetings to celebrate the lives of those colleagues who through their service enriched us and others.  Their strengths will long be remembered because of the contributions each has made to our organization and to University of Missouri Outreach and Extension programs.  Their accomplishments will stand long after this - the year of their departure.  The tradition is continued – all be it in a new format.  It is the era of technology and electronic media. 

The co-workers we are honoring experienced many changes in their professional life while others were permitted to serve shorter times.  Each one had a unique role, which was performed with dedication, expertise and enthusiasm.

Each one of our departed colleagues added a bounty of knowledge and skills to our lives.  We must cherish our past and be mindful of our future as we live with joy in tribute to their memory.  The inspiration from those we honor will forever be with us.  Please read the names, reflect on their many competencies and give thanks for their lasting gifts – worthy examples of our profession.

Professional Staff Honored by Epsilon Sigma PHI-Alpha Chapter Missouri 2002

Courtesy and Memorials

Please remember to share pertinent information about your current and former colleagues with the Courtesy and Memorial committee. Information can be sent submitted to:

Wilma Jean Lower
471 Highway 32
Fair Play, MO 65649-9546
(417) 654-2496

Upcoming Dates

October 16-19, 2003             ESP National Conference, Lexington, KY or Espnational.org

September 21-25, 2003       Galaxy II Conference, Salt Lake City, UT

September 14-19, 2004       ESP National Conference, Quad Cities, IL

November 8-13, 2005           ESP National Conference, Colorado Springs, CO        

Epsilon Sigma Phi
Alpha Tau Chapter
Board Members
2001-2002 

For More Information

For newsletter items or information, contact:
Ina Lynn Metzger
University of Missouri - Columbia
212 Whitten Hall
Columbia, MO 65211
Phone:  573-882-4319
Fax:  573-882-4225
Email:  metzgeril@missouri.edu

| Home Page | Officers | Committees | Members | Benefits | Loan & Fellowship | Awards |
| Minutes | Newsletters | Photo Gallery | Bylaws| Handbook | Associations | Archives |

Web Manager:  Bob Schultheis Webster County Extension Center Email comments to: schultheisr@missouri.edu Last revised: 11/05/09