Winter 2002 ESP Newsletter

2001 was unique for Epsilon Sigma Phi. In the aftermath of the attacks on September 11, the Board chose to cancel the National Conference scheduled for September 19-22 in Albany, New York. As a result of the cancellation, the board faced the challenge of conducting a business meeting for the national association without benefit of having voting delegates in one location. Voting delegates were certified, agenda items were presented via email, and votes were cast electronically through these challenges and carrying out business on our behalf under difficult circumstances.

As we look forward to the coming year in our association, we face other challenges and opportunities. One challenge is to maintain and increase membership in our chapter. One way we can all help do that is by communicating with our colleagues about the unique benefits of ESP membership. In order to do that, we must first understand those benefits ourselves!

One unique aspect of Epsilon Sigma Phi is that it is our only professional association that encompasses staff from all levels of extension employment, includes all of the various subject matter areas, and also has a national affiliation. Other associations either focus on one subject mater or lack the connection that a national affiliation provides. All extension employees with at least three years of service are welcome to join.

Our organization has worked hard to provide professional development opportunities, not only to members, but also to all interested extension staff. During this past year ESP provided an interactive television session on using Power Point software. In previous years we have provided downlinks of nationally recognized keynote speakers from the national conference. As we look to providing opportunities in the future the state board is considering a reduced fee for members.

Epsilon Sigma Phi has also worked throughout the years to support unique professional development opportunities that staff may desire. Loan and fellowship funds are available to assist staff in attending conferences and learning experiences not covered by other funds.

Please join with me in communicating these benefits to the non-members with whom you work. Together we can continue to enjoy participation in a vital, thriving organization.

I’ll bet you intended to send in the $41 to renew your membership, but misplaced the email from me nagging you to renew. Or, perhaps you can’t remember where to send your dues and don’t know whom to ask. It could be you just don’t think we need your membership. Well just in case all of these reasons are true, or none of them, here’s the scoop. We do need and want you. Please send a check for $41 to the Honorable Thomas Henderson, ESP Treasurer—we only elect honorable folks to offices in ESP—108 Whitten Hall, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri 65211. Need I say more?

It’s early in the ESP year and plans are still being developed. We plan to continue the focus on one life member to be part of each newsletter issue-(See the focus on CW Browning elsewhere in this letter). Let me know of Life Members you would like to see featured in coming issues. I would also appreciate receiving brief news bits which might be appropriate to include in this column or which need dissemination via some other channel.

Another objective is to develop an e-mail address list, which can be used for communication within the Life Member Group and might also be a vehicle for more effective ESP communication. For example, we need a fast way to communicate about legislative issues and to send data and position papers, which may be helpful in discussing issues with decision makers.

We have not yet decided on a “best way” to get this done. As a start, I would appreciate each one of you sending me a brief note at the address below or to my e-mail address, which is djhagerman@earthlink.net. In this message I would appreciate you typing your own e-mail address along with your suggestions for making ESP more effective in meeting needs of Life Members. Obviously, we are limited in the scope of what can be done, but some suggestions may very well be do-able and practical. Some suggestions may be more appropriate for action by someone else and we will forward some of those suggestions. Where practical for ESP we can see what might be done.

Would you like to serve as a member of this committee? We need the counsel and input of others. Most work will likely be done through mail, e-mail, calls, whatever, rather than face-to-face meetings. Let me know if you are interested. Phone 660-429-1345 or e-mail above or at 1401 E. Hale Lake Rd., Warrensburg, MO 64093

What are the requirements to be a life member of ESP? Currently, the national life member fee is a one-time dues payment of $150 for an active member who has retired from extension and is current is ESP dues at time of retirement. I don’t think our Missouri Chapter has collected any fee in the past from members who are paying this national one-time fee. Our Missouri ESP Board is currently wrestling with the problem of tight finances and how to justify the cost of mailing newsletters, etc. to life members (along with other operating expense items for all members). Our list of life members now numbers at 118. I have noticed that many retirees are not on the list. It is my understanding this newsletter is being mailed to those who at some time paid their life member dues to the national organization but not to those who didn’t. Therefore, if you received the newsletter you are probably considered a Missouri ESP Life member.

All this comes down to the statement that questions are being asked about how ESP can do as much as possible with limited resources. We need to consider all the parts of the issue and decide how to do the most important things in as cost effective a way as possible. Your ideas or suggestions are needed.

Life Member Profile

CW and his wife Betty, live near Warrensburg. He reports he is busy all the time and some days are just too short to get everything done that was planned. CW retired first in 1986 following 27 years with Extension and nearly 3 years of U.S. Navy duty. Retirement was followed by continued involvement with extension on a part time basis doing jobs concerning endowments, consulting, two way radio, and Liaison with extension retirees. January 1, 2001 he retired completely.

CW says, “I enjoyed my years with University Extension and feel I helped many people to a better way of life. I miss meeting with the retirees over the state and visiting with our extension friends.” He continues, “I miss working with staff and extension clientele, and being around people but I don’t really miss keeping extension records.”

He feels that retirement is a time to set your own schedule and do what you want to, when you want to do it. This has involved emphasis on family and finding time for fun things. Regarding being “busy”, CW says “Maybe I want to get too much done for an old man. We have an acre yard and I keep it fertilized, so this brings on work to keep it mowed and we also have a small garden to keep busy.”

Three kinds of other retirement activities, so far, have been of major importance. They are church, family history and health related issues. Three 3-year terms were served as a church trustee and he has also been quite active in his church in other ways. Also, “Betty and I have been doing a lot of family history works. This past spring we went to Virginia to find information about her family roots.” (Betty is a member of DAR).

“Four years ago, a family cemetery was found near Boonville. It was in bad shape with lots of brush and stones on the ground or covered up. Along with two other family members we cleaned it up, restored and reset the stones and reseeded it. This turned out be a lot of work but we enjoyed seeing the results and are helping to keep it up. We even put up a new family sign at the cemetery.” At times health problems have consumed lots of time and energy. “We find ourselves visiting too many doctors offices but are thankful they have kept us going.” About three years ago, “I was under the weather for about six months but finally got back on my feet. Betty has had her problems with heart and has a dual pace maker. Her heart depends 100% on batteries.”

CW’s advice to current staff is to “work hard at helping others to have a good life-but, also schedule some time for you and your family to enjoy life together.”

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:

ESP members can apply for mini-grants for projects that build professionalism. Applications are available on-line at the national ESP website at espnational.org under the Members Services Section pages 4 through 7. Applications are accepted anytime of the year. Recipients must file a report by the February 1 following the grant award.

Roxanne Miller, East Central Regional Information Specialist, is a member of the Public Issues Committee and is engaged in the work to produce the Public Issues Leadership Development Conference -- Cooperative Extension Leading the Way, April 28 - May 1, 2002 in Arlington, VA. This dynamic forum is open to all interested Extension professionals. More information will be forthcoming in future newsletters.

Soneeta Grogan UOE Northeast Regional Director, is on the new ESP Mentor Task Force. This task force is exploring the role that ESP can play in developing support tools for chapters to use mentoring as a strategy for professional development. We look forward to hearing more from Soneeta in our next ESP newsletter.

Dates

Public Issues Leadership Development Conference (PILD)
Cooperative Extension Leading the Way
April 28 – May 1, 2002
Doubletree Hotel
Arlington, VA

Galaxy II Conference
September 21 – 25, 2003
Salt Palace Convention Center
Salt Lake City, Utah

National ESP Headquarters

The location of our national office / contact is:

Linda D. Cook, Executive Director

Epsilon Sigma Phi, Inc.
Espnational.org

PO Box 357340
Gainesville, FL 32635-7340
Phone: 352-378-6665
Fax: 352-375-0722
E-mail: ldcook@mail.ifas.ufl.edu

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

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

Officers
Georgia Stuart-Simmons	President
Ina Lynn Metzger	President-Elect
Gail Carlson	Past President
Roxanne Miller	Secretary
Thomas A. Henderson	Treasurer
Robert Schultheis	Annalist

Committee Chairs
Rex Ricketts	Membership
Karen Funkenbusch	Awards
Karla Deaver	Professional Improvement
Pat Snodgrass	Loan and Fellowship
Wilma Jean Lower	Courtesy / Memorials
Dale Hagerman	Retirement
Gail Carlson	Nominations