Winter 2003 ESP Newsletter

2002 provided unique opportunities for our association. Epsilon Sigma Phi activities have traditionally been intertwined in the annual conference of extension. Just some of activities we contributed to or sponsored were:

Update and reception for retirees
Ice Cream Social for all our colleagues
Annual business breakfast meeting

The absence of an annual conference provided a challenge to our organization as it did to other organizations. This challenge also provides us an avenue to be creative. We did find it possible to conduct business and elect officers electronically with the majority of active members participating.

As we look forward to the coming year in our association, we face other challenges and opportunities. First of all, we need renew and recharge our membership. That ESP booth at annual conference was the reminder to pay my dues. See Bob’s note on how to renew your membership.

We need to provide the opportunity to belong to ESP to new eligible members. Why should extension staff be encouraged to belong to ESP? Epsilon Sigma Phi offers unique benefits to the membership. One unique aspect of Epsilon Sigma Phi is that it is our only professional association that encompasses staff from all levels of Extension employment. Field faculty, state specialists and administrators from the various subject matter areas can belong to ESP on the state and nationals level. Other associations either focus on one subject matter 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 historically worked hard to provide professional development opportunities, not only to members, but also to all interested Extension Staff. We are considering several ideas for this year. If you have ideas for topics, please feel free to forward ideas to me at LinvilleI@missouri.edu. As we look to providing opportunities in the future the state board is considering a reduced fee for members.

In times of lean budgets, ESP offers support via loan and fellowship funds to assist staff in attending conferences and learning experiences not covered by other funds. In addition, grants are available via the national organization. ESP members can apply for mini-grants for projects that build professionalism. Information on how to access mini-grants can be found in later information in this newsletter.

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.

In case you failed to renew your ESP membership, which quite a few people probably did because of the lack of Annual Conference last fall, we still need and want you. Send your $50 dues to Bob Schultheis, ESP Treasurer, Webster County Extension Center, P.O. Box 7, Marshfield, MO 65706. The chapter must submit dues to the national office by March 1, so please renew as soon as possible using the application/renewal form on the ESP website at http://outreach.missouri.edu/esp/archive/members/application.html

The March 1 date establishes the number of voting delegates at the national meeting and also chapter eligibility for awards voting.

Extension finds itself in a world that is globalizing at an increasingly rapid pace. Demographic shifts, expanding economic choices and technological advances affect both the environment in which we work and the clients we serve. As such, Extension is presented with remarkable opportunities to assist our clientele and ourselves in understanding and finding constructive ways to participate in the global community.

Strategies for such opportunities will be highlighted at an upcoming national conference to be held from March 25-27, 2003 at Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI. The national conference title invites individuals and teams of representatives from the land grant system (1862, 1890, 1994) to participate in this timely event to draw strength from our experiences and to explore new initiatives, partnerships and commitments. Participants should expect to arrive on the evening of March 24 and leave on the afternoon of March 27th.

A variety of peer-review paper and poster sessions will be offered to facilitate scholarly inputs. Additionally, key note speakers, panels, roundtable discussions and learning labs with international experts from various disciplines will make this a learning, as well as a sharing experience for all. Mark your calendars and go to the National Initiative to Internationalize Extension webpage at http://www.msue.msu.edu/intext/natinit.htm for more information about the initiative and about the conference, or you can contact:

Mary Andrews, Director International Extension &
Coordinator, Professional Development
Michigan State University Extension
71 Agriculture Hall
East Lansing, MI 48824-1039

Old dogs really cannot learn new tricks especially when it comes to saying "No" to committee work. So here I am again pounding the keys for the Alpha Tau chapter. This was a natural transition for me as one of the newest Life Members as I am once again following in Dale Hagerman’s footsteps. Dale has mentored me in other ESP roles.

Also following Dale’s lead I am casting about for colleague Lifers willing to serve on the Life Member committee. It would be great to have representatives from several regions around the state. Let me know if interested at jimollar@socket.net or 573-442-3023 or 1251 W. Covered Bridge Rd., Columbia, MO 65203-9408.

This committee’s roles are to just generally encourage communication about and among Life Members and to represent Lifers with the Board. Plans are to continue Dale’s gathering of e-mail addresses so send me a message if you have not previously contacted Dale.

Future newsletters will include Life Member profiles and other work of Lifers of interest to colleagues, retired and active alike. Please do not hesitate to pass along any interesting information about past, current or anticipated activities and/or suggestions for ESP Board consideration.

Do remember to share pertinent information about your current and former colleagues with the Courtesy and Memorial committee. The Epsilon Sigma Phi Memorials Committee will appreciate your assistance in our endeavor to properly recognize our colleagues. Please provide information regarding the death of active, retired and former University Outreach and Extension professionals. Information can be submitted to:

Wilma Jean Lower
471 Highway 32
Fair Play, MO 65649-9546
Phone: (417) 654-2496
E-mail: fwjlower@alltel.net

Epsilon Sigma Phi, on the national level, is conducting an Endowment Campaign; the goal is to raise $500,000 by the Galaxy meeting this September. The interest from the endowment will be used to enhance the professional excellence the organization is able to provide through

This is the ____th Anniversary of Epsilon Sigma Phi. The board will be discussing what we will do to celebrate in Missouri and share that information with you! Here are a few questions to test your “Extension-ese”!!

This year's Joint Council of Extension Professionals was held in Kansas City. Bob Schultheis and I attended representing the Alpha Tau chapter. We received a lot of excellent information. Here are some of the highlights I learned at the meeting:

The National ESP has a mission statement, goals and objectives that relate to every extension professional:

Mission: Dedicated to fostering standards of excellence in the Extension System and developing the Extension profession and professional.

Goal 1: ESP will enthusiastically support the viability of the Extension System as it faces the future.

Goal 2: ESP will support a variety of collaborative program initiatives with Extension and related organizations.

Goal 3: ESP will provide resources and programs which will support and enhance professional competence.

Dates

Public Issues Leadership Development Conference (PILD)
Cooperative Extension Leading the Way, May 3-7, 2003
Doubletree Hotel, Arlington, VA

ESP National Conference at 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
ldcook@mail.ifas.ufl.edu

Epsilon Sigma Phi, Inc.
espnational.org

PO Box 357340
Gainesville, FL 32635-7340
Phone: 352-378-6665
Fax: 352-375-0722

For More Information
For newsletter items or information, contact:
Beverly Coberly
University Outreach and Extension
3003 E. Chestnut Expressway
Springfield, MO 65802
Phone: 417-865-0707
Fax: 417-865-0186
Email: CoberlyB@missouri.edu

Ina Metzger Linville	President
Beverly Coberly	President-Elect
Georgia Stuart-Simmons	Past President
Nancy Flood	Secretary
Robert Schultheis	Treasurer
Barbara Casady	Annalist

Eileen Yager	Membership
Rebecca Travnichek	Awards
TBA	Professional Improvement
Pat Snodgrass	Loan and Fellowship
Wilma Jean Lower	Courtesy / Memorials
Jim Ollar	Retirement
Georgia Stuart-Simmons	Nominations


Committee Chairs