Our Mission
Michigan State University Extension helps people improve their lives through an educational process that applies knowledge to critical issues, needs, and opportunities.
In
This Issue
Director’s
update
Lovejoy named Associate Director of Programs
Klepinger earned the National Outstanding Coastal Development Award
Nugent Named Cherry Industry Person of the Year
2006 Statewide Ballot Proposals
Educational Programming for New Commissioners and Legislators
Nutrient Management Headlines Expo
$100,000 Secured for Public Education and Eco-tourism Project
Ag Expo Attendance Up
New
Director of International Extension Programs on Board
Harsh to Serve as Point Person for MSUE Energy Programs
Professional Development Portal
CANR Traveling Seminar
Updates and Reminder
Staff Updates
Upcoming Events
Director's update
I
have had the great fortune of visiting with many people about how
MSU Extension
staff
members are bringing knowledge to life for Michigan residents.
At every turn I’ve been so pleased about the stories I’ve
heard about how MSUE educators, specialists, program leaders and program
associates
engage with communities to meet critical needs. A few examples include:
MSUE specialists and educators have played a critical role in informing growers of their options with regards to treatment and prevention of downy mildew, a disease that affects Michigan’s cucumber crop. It was first detected in Michigan fields by MSUE staff late in the 2005 growing season, and again much earlier in 2006. It is not yet clear what long-term impact this disease will have on Michigan’s cucumber crop or pickle industry, but MSUE staff members are addressing growers’ immediate needs and developing options for long-term solutions.
Project FRESH, a nutrition education program that promotes the purchase and use of farmers’ market produce, now includes Senior Project FRESH, an initiative aimed at seniors who have an interest and need for fresh fruits and vegetables. Project FRESH was recently featured in the Agriculture Building at the Michigan State Fair in Detroit.
A new biodiesel plant in Bangor and new ethanol plants in Litchfield and Albion celebrated grand openings this summer, and in all three cases MSUE educators and specialists and the MSU Product Center played critical roles in facilitating these start-ups. These and other proposed and operating plants reflect the growing potential of bio-based industries for our state.
It is difficult to imagine summer in Michigan without county fairs. Though MSUE does not sponsor these fairs, our youth programs are strengthened by the fact that they focus on activities that promote positive youth development and learning. There is a great deal of diversity among Michigan’s county fairs, and this reflects the diverse interests and needs of young people. Ingham County followed Kent County’s lead in establishing an urban youth fair this year. Kent County holds an urban youth fair in May as a grand finale to the after-school programs that MSUE co-sponsors. Ingham applied that format to create the “Greater Lansing Youth Festival” and had a tremendous turnout. It’s great to see MSUE staff members developing new twists on traditionally strong models to help ensure that we serve all youth in Michigan.
This spring
the Fisheries and Wildlife Area of Expertise team and the Michigan
Natural Features
Inventory, piloted the Conservation Stewards
program. Aimed at developing capacity of volunteers to work with conservation
and natural resource organizations and agencies, the pilot ran in Oakland
and Livingston counties, with help from Michigan Department of Natural
Resources a development grant. Initial evaluations indicate that participants
found the program to be very helpful in preparing them to be effective
volunteers on behalf of Michigan’s natural resources.
These are a few of the many activities that are being developed and improved by staff in every MSUE program area. As we complete the issue identification process and incorporate the findings into our program planning, I am confident that we will continue to have many innovations and impacts to report to our partners and the public we serve. It is great to have such an innovative and motivated team at every level across MSUE.
Stephen B. Lovejoy named new Associate Director for Programs at MSUE
Stephen B. Lovejoy joined the Michigan State University Extension (MSUE) team, as Associate Director for Programs, effective Aug. 1.
Lovejoy will provide overall leadership for MSUE programs and will work with other unit administrators to foster the programming and research efforts that connect departments and counties on behalf of MSUE programming.
He will work to build and maintain partnerships that will enable MSUE to draw upon the university’s resources to further develop and enhance programming in rural, suburban and metropolitan Michigan.
He will be a key member of the MSUE administrative team and will have overall responsibility for program development, management and evaluation and will serve as the supervisor for state leaders in 4-H youth development, agriculture, family consumer sciences, natural resources and community economic development. He will provide leadership on program development, management and evaluation in consultation with the area of expertise (AoE) team co-chairs, county and regional Extension directors; department chairs; school, center and institute directors; partner deans; the director and associate directors of the Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station (MAES); and the assistant provost for university outreach.
The associate director of Extension is a tenured, senior administrative leadership position that is a critically needed addition to the MSUE Extension staff. As associate director, Lovejoy will ensure that the organization optimizes its resource investments and that it remains on track in implementing programmatic plans.
He will foster relationships and communicate with groups internal and external to MSU including commodity groups, profit and non-profit organizations, government agencies and opinion leaders for whom Extension programs serve.
Lovejoy will be responsible for designing, implementing and evaluating educational programs for a variety of learners.
Lovejoy comes to MSU from Purdue University’s Department of Agricultural Economics, where he has had extensive experience in public policy, rural sociology, natural resources and environmental policy throughout his 26 years with the university. Some of his experiences while at Purdue include serving on Purdue’s University Senate, chairing a collective bargaining committee, serving as a member of the Water Resources Center Council, chairing an Educational Policy and Faculty Affairs Committee in the school of Agriculture, chairing Purdue’s Athletic Affairs Committee, serving on the Faculty Compensation and Benefits Committee, being a representative to the Agriculture Curriculum and Student Relations Committee and co-organizing the Resource Policy Consortium which included scientists from more than a dozen countries interested in natural resources policy issues.
He previously worked as a Senior Policy Analyst at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (on leave from Purdue); served as director/coordinator for the Center for Alternative Agricultural Systems; as associate director for Natural Resources and Environmental Science Program, and a founding member of the Center for the Environment, all at Purdue.
Lovejoy has a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Purdue University, a Master of Arts in Sociology from Mankato State University and a doctorate in Political Economy of Natural Resources and Rural Sociology from Utah State University.
Klepinger earned the National Outstanding Coastal Community Development Award
Michigan Sea Grant Extension specialist Mike Klepinger’s work gained national recognition when he received an Outstanding Coastal Community Development Award from Ron Baird (Emeritus Director of the National Sea Grant College Program) and Geoffrey Anderson (Environmental Protection Agency's Division Director for Development, Community and Environment). Hawaii Sea Grant Director E. Gordon Grau presented the award at the biennial meeting of Sea Grant Extension Program leaders.
The award was bestowed “in recognition of his leadership and tireless efforts to promote the principles of Smart Growth and sustainable community development, and for his outstanding and continuing contributions to the work of Sea Grant's Coastal Communities and Economies Theme Team."
Klepinger helped develop the strategy for the national Sea Grant Coastal Communities and Economies Theme Team and contributed significantly to a Smart Growth training session for local land use decision-makers being produced by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Coastal Services Center. The new training session will be rolled-out nationwide this fall.
In addition to his contributions to national Sea Grant community development efforts, Klepinger recently guided Marquette, Michigan’s, successful application for USEPA/Sea Grant funding and technical assistance. Sea Grant and a team of national planning experts will help the Lake Superior city gather public input and create an innovative “form-based” zoning ordinance. The new land use law will help assure physical and visual linkage between Marquette’s historic central business district with its revitalized working waterfront.
Nugent Named Cherry Industry Person of the Year
James Nugent, coordinator of the Northwest Michigan Horticultural Research Station and Michigan State University (MSU) Extension district horticulturist, was recognized as 2006 Cherry Industry Person of the Year by the Cherry Marketing Institute.
The award is given annually by the cherry industry to honor a person's "strength, innovation, growth and ways in which they have contributed to the industry."
"This is very humbling," Nugent said. "I couldn't have achieved this without the help of the station and the great growers who work so closely with us. With the help of everyone, we are making the cherry industry stronger today than it was yesterday."
"He has spent his career on a mission to advance the cherry industry," said Philip Korson, president of the Cherry Marketing Institute. "Jim's friends in the cherry industry packed the Northwest Station to support and honor him at the 2006 Cherry Industry Day program. When the award was presented, there was a standing ovation for him -- he's done so much."
“I’m new to the state, and I had only been here for a few days before I’d heard about Jim Nugent and his ability to connect with the cherry industry," said Steven Pueppke, director of the Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station (MAES). "He exemplifies the land-grant model of long-term dedication to the MAES, Michigan State and one of our most important agricultural groups.”
The Northwest Michigan Horticultural Research Station is one
of 14 MAES field research stations located around the state.
"This award is not just for him, it is also for MSU," said J. Ian Gray, MSU vice president for research and graduate studies and former MAES director. "This is a very momentous occasion for him, and MSU has been fortunate to hire someone who is so dedicated to what they do."
"It is about cherries, people and partnerships," said Jeff Armstrong, dean of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources. "Jim exemplifies that mission. He always gets done what needs to be done."
2006 Statewide Ballot Proposals
As Michigan voters face decisions on five or six important policy issues, MSU Extension will once again provide objective information about all of the statewide ballot questions. An initial overview of the issues has been posted on the State and Local Government AoE webpage (http://web1.msue.msu.edu/slg/). This piece provides background information and a brief description of each ballot question. A more comprehensive bulletin will be available for general distribution in September.
Here are the five issues that will appear on the statewide ballot:
• Natural Resource Funds
•
“Michigan Civil Rights Initiative”
• Dove Hunting Referendum
• Use of Eminent Domain
• K-16 Funding
The signatures for a sixth issue are currently being reviewed by
the Elections Division:
•
“Stop Over Spending” Tax Limitation
In addition to the ballot issue bulletin, the State and Local Government
team will be sending a packet of materials to county offices to support
educational programming on these issues. For more information, please
contact Beth Moore (mooreeee@msu.edu).
AllEducational programming for new commissioners and legislators
MSU Extension and the Michigan Association of Counties will once again be co-sponsoring, a set of regional workshops for newly elected county commissioners. When you are talking with potential new commissioners, let them know about this important educational offering. These sessions provide an opportunity for new commissioners to learn about their roles and responsibilities and to gain a greater understanding of the issues facing county boards. Registration information will be available later in September. The listing of dates and locations is available at http://web1.msue.msu.edu/slg/
Potential new state legislators are receiving a "save-the-date" flier concerning the MSU Legislative Leadership Program, sponsored by MSU Extension and the MSU Institute for Public Policy and Social Research. This policy orientation will be held on campus Dec. 4-6.
Nutrient Management Headlines Expo
More than 1,300 people from 14 states and Canada visited a crop field in Fowler, Mich., July 27 to learn about the newest advances in nutrient management at the 2006 Great Lakes Manure Handling Expo.
The event, with an educational focus on practices and research efforts to “keep it in the root zone,” featured eight manure management presentations given by experts on topics such as the nutrient value of manure, handling costs of manure, odor control opportunities, low-cost GPS manure mapping and soil macropores.
Visitors also saw demonstrations of manure handling equipment and viewed exhibits by more than 60 vendors on the 30-acre show site.
Farmers in attendance learned about managing manure nutrients to keep them in the root zone, where crops can use them most, and about how proper, efficient nutrient recycling can enhance environmental sustainability and add to farm profitability.
“I wanted to do something that would benefit agriculture, and hosting the expo was a good way to do it,” said Bernard Thelen, Berlyn Acres event site host. “I also wanted the Department of Environmental Quality and environmental groups to see how we manage manure to be good stewards of the land.”
The expo, a project of the MSU Extension nutrient management team, had
never been held in Michigan. Previous shows took place in Wisconsin and
Minnesota.
$100,000
Secured for Public Education and Eco-tourism Project focused on
Birds
The International Wildlife Refuge Alliance and Michigan Sea Grant are
pleased to announce that a $100,000 grant has been awarded from the “Wild
Birds Unlimited, Inc. Pathways to Nature® Program”, a special
program of the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation created in partnership
with Wild Birds Unlimited, Inc. The program is designed to bring people
and nature together through the creation and maintenance of trails, boardwalks,
wildlife-viewing platforms and nature center exhibits.
Funds from the grant will be used to promote eco-tourism through the construction of a wildlife observation deck and educational signage at Humbug Marsh in the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge. Funds will also be used to develop a bird watching driving tour map and educational brochure for Southeast Michigan and Southwest Ontario.
“This will truly be a unique project to showcase outstanding birding opportunities in both Southeast Michigan and Southwest Ontario as part of North America’s only International Wildlife Refuge,” notes Congressman John D. Dingell. “This is significant because it not only improves our quality of life, but enhances tourism – our No. 2 economy – and helps attract and retain employees for our businesses.”
Mary Bohling of Michigan Sea Grant and Janae Reneaud, Eastern Michigan University graduate student and recipient of a Metropolitan Affairs Coalition Fellowship will lead the effort. Michigan Sea Grant is working in partnership with the International Wildlife Refuge Alliance (IWRA) on this eco-tourism project.
The mission of the IWRA is to support the first International Wildlife Refuge in North America by working through partnerships to protect, conserve and manage the refuge’s wildlife and habitats, and to create exceptional conservation, recreational and educational experiences to develop the next generation of conservation stewards. Major IWRA funding partners in 2006 include DTE Energy Foundation, BASF Corp., DaimlerChrysler, Ford Motor Company/AutoAlliance, General Motors Corp., ITC Transmission, Hamilton Anderson Associates, Praxair, and Wade Trim.
It’s All About the Numbers: Ag Expo Attendance Up Again in 2006
The recently concluded Ag Expo at Michigan State University (MSU) saw multiple increases -- increased attendance, increased contributions to charities and increased exhibitor numbers during the show, which ran July 18-20 on the south side of the campus.
The number of visitors during the show increased 23 percent from 2005 totals, with more than 15,600 people traveling to East Lansing to see commercial exhibits by about 260 vendors and view demonstrations of such activities as small farm composting, pond maintenance, electronic animal tagging and cooking with dairy products.
“I am extremely pleased with the great turnout and the very positive responses that we have received from our visitors, our vendors and our sponsors,” says Jeffrey Armstrong, dean of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, the official Ag Expo sponsor. “Over the past few years, we have been seeing increasing interest in the show from many folks who have not been with us for years and from others who are new to Ag Expo.”
More than 12,300 visitors spent time in the MSU College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (CANR) tent, which featured displays, activities, demonstrations and presentations from 40 educational programs. Participants included the MSU Land Policy Institute, the Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station, MSU Extension, the MSU Product Center and Project GREEEN (Generating Research and Extension to Meet Economic and Environmental Needs) and the Institute for Water Research. The MSU departments of Crop and Soil Sciences, Horticulture, Packaging, Animal Science, and Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering were also represented.
Ag Expo visitors didn’t have to pay to park or attend the show, but they opened their wallets to support charitable causes. The MSU Dairy Store gave away almost 6,000 cups of ice cream in exchange for donations to support CANR Alumni Association scholarships and collected $1,500.
The Michigan 4-H Youth Development Program’s Operation: Military Kids program also received donations of about $275, which will be used to support the children of servicemen and women who are deployed overseas.
“We’re planning to continue to build on the show’s successes in the past couple of years, such as the CANR tent, the on-site ride-and-drive equipment demonstrations, and the antique and garden tractor pull,” says Kirk Heinze, Ag Expo director. “Our primary goal has always been to provide visitors with opportunities to see the latest agricultural equipment and to learn about recent research and education that supports Michigan’s communities, agriculture and natural resources.”
Ag Expo 2007 is set for July 17-19 on the show grounds at the corner of Mt. Hope Road and Farm Lane.
New Director of International Extension Programs on-board
Michelle Owens has been named associate director of Institute of International Agriculture. Her responsibilities include coordinating MSU Extension’s international programs.
Owens has
a doctorate in agricultural and Extension education from Pennsylvania
State University;
a master’s degree in animal science/ruminant
nutrition from the University of Arizona; and a bachelor’s degree
in agricultural science and management with a minor in animal science
from the University of California-Davis.
She has 12 years of experience working in international agriculture
development starting as an agriculture Extension agent for the
Peace Corps in Zaire.
Owens was recently employed with the Food and Agriculture Organization
of the United Nations as the Extension, education and communications
officer for the FAO Africa Regional Office. While working for FAO,
she was responsible for national and regional agricultural educational
policy
and programming efforts using participatory approaches to develop formal
and non-formal training projects. Education projects ranged from assisting
with the development of two colleges of agriculture and natural Resources
(Namibia and the Gambia) to ICT training for rural extension agents
utilizing experiential learning and other participatory methodologies.
Owens is also very involved with the Association of International
Agricultural and Extension Education (AIAEE) and has worked as
a 4-H leader in her
home town of Lakeport, Calif. Owens will be attending Fall Extension
Conference, so try to meet her, or drop into her office when you are
on campus—she is in Room 319 Agriculture Hall, IIA. Her e-mail
is owens@msu.edu and her phone number is 517-355-0179.
Harsh
to serve as point person for MSUE Energy Programs
Steve Harsh, professor in agricultural economics, has agreed to serve
as the coordinator of an ad hoc team charged with developing MSUE programming
on energy. The team’s efforts will focus on near-term energy challenges
including energy efficiency, energy conservation and alternative sources
of energy for families, agriculture and natural resource enterprises
and communities.
“We asked Steve to take on this role because he was very engaged with energy programming and the energy crisis in the 80’s and has a terrific background in engineering and economics that lends itself to working on these issues. More recently, he has done a wonderful job of implementing MSUE’s wind energy initiative over the last few years,” said Scott Loveridge, state program leader for community and economic development for MSUE.
As energy becomes a bigger issue in Michigan and across the United States,
Harsh will be working to develop a team of specialists, educators and
program leaders to identify program needs and priorities, update and
develop new energy related program materials, and facilitate delivery
of programming that meets the needs of Michigan. The team will work closely
with partner organizations both within Michigan and from other state
extension programs.
Professional
Development Portal
We’re
proud to unveil the new MSU Extension professional development portal.
You’ll find a wealth of resources on our ten core competencies,
area of expertise teams, professional associations, upcoming conferences,
scholarships and training opportunities and lots more there. Check it
out by going to the MSU Extension portal www.msue.msu.edu, then select ‘offices/staff’,
then scroll down to “campus and unit portal listings” to “professional
development.” Check back often! Like our learning community, it
is a work in progress. Direct questions to Kathy
Foerster.
CANR Traveling Seminar
The CANR traveling seminar in late August found Dean Armstrong, MAES Director Pueppke, and me, along with 42 new faculty and staff members peeking out bus windows at unique sights throughout north and west Michigan. This first-ever mobile class was designed to acquaint new faculty and staff with the people and programs of Michigan, as well as each other. The two-day stint took us up through the heart of Michigan with stops that helped new members of the CANR, MSUE and MAES faculty and staff understand how our programs reach out through 4-H, Experiment Stations and numerous agribusinesses and tourism partnerships.
Portal
Update
Who to Call?
Starting Sept. 1 and continuing until March 1, Cindy Straus will
be on study leave. For questions related to the portal please contact
Luke Reese at reesel@msu.edu or 517-353-3258; or Joe Murray at
murray@msu.edu or 517-355-3776 x 191.
Training offered once a month on Fridays (note new day).
User and manager portal training will again be offered this fall on
campus:
Friday, September 15, 106 Farrall Hall
Friday, October 20, 106 Farrall Hall
Friday, November 17, 106 Farrall Hall
Please use the MSU Extension in-service registration program to sign up.
AoE pages are being backed up for a full text copy. The knowledge repository is being loaded with online materials created by AoE teams, MSU Extension-associated institutes and materials from related units like MSU diagnostic services. To make sure we have a constant copy of the materials, the library is making a copy of those online files and archiving them on the library computers. We will continue to search the system looking for documents and sending them to the library for addition into the knowledge repository. If you update files that are currently there, please send a message to Joe Murray at murray@msu.edu so that it can be updated in the library archive.
Weather module Update. The weather module has been updated to a newer version. A new graphic and more reliable system allows the module to have a much faster response on retrieving the weather data. If you had the weather module on a page, it should be fixed automatically. If you add the weather module to a page, you will need to edit the module to add the appropriate zip code.
Local module menus are now sorted. When creating new local modules or go to the Select modules section, you will notice that instead of seeing long lists of modules, you see categories with plus (+) signs next to them. If you click on the plus sign you will expand the list and see all the modules related to that category. This helps with viewing the module listing. If a category is expanded it will have a (-) sign next to it. If you click on the minus sign you will collapse the list.
Reminder of the support materials available. Remember that as you work on the portal you can find reference information by going to the Support Center and looking at the Index of Public Training materials. Included on that site are documents related to updating your Profile, uploading a file and linking it into a module, adding new users (MSUE and non MSUE) and managing your Workspace. www.msue.msu.edu/support
Profile picture not showing for guests? By default, the profile pictures are set to only display for the profile owner (you) and “Registered Users” (i.e., anyone with a portal login, who is logged in while viewing your profile). If you would like your profile picture to be viewable by anyone including a guest browser (the general public), please follow these instructions. Login to the Portal. From My Portal, use the Personal Menu to go to My Workspace. Once in My Workspace, select the folder called My Files, then select the folder called My Photos. Once in the My Photos folder you should see a file called My Picture (yes, that is your profile picture) and then click to select the My Picture file. Select the security tab for My Picture and using the Direct Permissions tab select add. From the pop up permissions window, search for the user "guest", then select it, click add, click Ok. By default the permissions given to Guest will be Read only. Now guests will see your profile picture.
Non MSUE Portal users or Adjunct users. It is possible to add non MSUE staff into the portal to participate in a workspace or portal on a specific topic. The handout titled “How to add a new user (both MSUE and non-MSUE)” walks through adding the new person, setting up their permissions and the limitations for permissions on non-MSUE users. Please follow this procedure. We recently found a couple of logins set up not using the format in the handout for non MSUE staff. If you set up their accounts improperly you give a non MSUE person more permission to develop their own workspaces and add other users in the portal. This is not appropriate, so please be sure to follow the directions listed in the handout.
New Office modules. To help in finding offices and campus/portal units the county/regional offices have been separated from the campus/AoE portals. You will find two new Global Modules listed under the MSU Extension category. Campus and Unit Portal Listing has all of the on campus or AoE portal pages listed. County & Regional Portals has county, regional offices, experiment stations and special regional units such as Kettunen Center. Go to your Select Modules tab choose the MSU Extension category and then choose either or both by checking the box in front of the title, and clicking on the Update button.
Strategic Communications—Are you and your colleagues dealing with budget challenges, potential new policy makers, media inquiries about MSU Extension, or other external communication issues? Remember that there are many helpful resources and references available on the Strategic Communications Web site.
MSU Extension Historical Publications -- If you are looking for historical reference information on various topics, take a look at the Reference tab at the top of the main MSUE portal screen. The page has links to full text of original documents now out of print. These documents are clearly marked to be used for historical or reference purposes only, not for current recommendations. Some topics of current interest include a series regarding the last energy crisis. The listing is in E number order, but can be searched by using the find function in your web browser. The archive documents will be added to the Knowledge Repository after current bulletins have been loaded.
MSU Extension Everyone Messages Guidelines
In an effort to more effectively target the e-mail messages that all
staff members receive, we are implementing a new set of guidelines
for approving messages sent to the MSU Extension everyone listserv.
Instead of automatically approving every message that goes out, we
are establishing a set of guidelines to help e-mail users direct
their messages to the audiences that will be most receptive to them.
When composing a message, please consider:
• For e-mails directed to a specific program area, county or region there
are listservs for these individual groups available. To access these
lists login to the portal and go to http://www.msue.msu.edu/portal/default.cfm?pageset_id=101745.
• Please do not use the forward function on e-mails to the everyone list.
• Please don’t include color in your text and avoid all caps and excessive punctuation marks.
• Avoid
religious messages or other messages that violate the MSU Extension
indicia.
Staffing
Updates
Huron County Extension Director Appointed
B Francis (Frank) Gublo begins his responsibilities as MSU County
Extension director for Huron County, effective Aug. 1.
Gublo serves as the MSU Extension department head within Huron County's government structure, while providing administrative leadership to the Extension staff and programmatic leadership with a rural community and economic development focus.
Charlevoix County Extension Director Appointed
Dean Solomon has been appointed Charlevoix County MSU Extension director,
effective Sept. 1.
Solomon has been the MSU Extension program coordinator for the Land and Water Program at the MSU W.K. Kellogg Biological Station since 1996.
As the county MSU Extension director, Solomon will oversee staff members, manage budgets and provide direct oversight for the Charlevoix County MSU Extension Council, building relationships with county commissioners and other elected officials. He will also provide community and economic development education based in agriculture and natural resources.
Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Program Leader Appointed
Marvin Cato, recently appointed program leader in health promotion
and chronic disease has extensive experience in administration, planning,
coordination, policy analysis and development, marketing, public
relations, teaching and training as well as materials development.
He will be responsible for Senior Project FRESH and our diabetes
projects, in addition to working with county Extension offices to
develop new program areas to address unmet needs identified by the
counties and their regional administration within this focus area.
Cato can be reached at 517-432-7686.
Sullivan Transitioning to Maternal and Child Wellbeing Program Leader
Tammy Sullivan has had a change in duties. Effective Aug. 1, Sullivan
is transitioning from the Immunization Project to the position of Maternal
and Child Wellbeing Program Leader. Building Strong Families and Project
Fresh for WIC mothers of young children will be part of this shift.
She will also be charged with working with county Extension offices
to develop new program areas to address unmet needs identified by the
counties and their regional administration within this focus area.
Sullivan can be reached at 517-432-8204.
Pape and Knight Join Citizen Planner Team
Two new members have joined the Citizen Planner team, Glenn Pape, program
coordinator for online programs and continuing education, and Michelle
Knight, Secretary II, supporting online programs and continuing education.
Call 517-432-7600 for more information regarding Citizen Planner. If
you are interested in hosting a program in your county please contact
Pape directly.
Upcoming Events:
Fall Conference
Hits the Road in October
Fall Extension Conference is right around the corner, Oct. 10-12, which
means that it is time to register for concurrent sessions, tours, award
banquets, poster displays, AoE meetings and association dinners. This
year’s conference will be in Grand Rapids at the Amway Grand Plaza
and Hotel and the DeVos Center.
The complete agenda and listing of concurrent sessions and tours can be found on the portal along with a link to the conference registration. To access the agenda and registration link login to the portal and click on the following link: http://www.msue.msu.edu/portal/default.cfm?page_id=183177&pageset_id=108416. If you have trouble when clicking on the link, please try logging into the portal and going to staff resources then fall conference.
The registration is also online at http://web2.msue.msu.edu/fallconference/registration.cfm.
Below you will find information on lodging, parking, conference costs and conference scholarships.
Lodging at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel -- 616-774-2000 --
Participants must call the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel to make overnight
lodging reservations. Mention that you will be attending the MSU
Extension Fall Conference to receive the conference rate. Single/double
rates are $110.
The overnight lodging reservation deadline is September 9, 2006.
Parking at Amway Grand Plaza Hotel
Individuals will be responsible for paying their own parking fees and
then seek reimbursement through individual offices. Staff members
are encouraged to carpool to reduce costs for the organization. Please
remember to save your receipts to ensure reimbursement. Parking rates
are as follows:
Parking Ramp
• Per hour: $3
• Day rate: $13
• Evening rate: $10
• Maximum daily charge: $20
• Overnight registered guest, per night: $14
• Lost ticket charge: $20
Conference Costs
Only online registration will be accepted for this year’s conference.
A credit card payment option has been added for your convenience. The
three-day conference early registration fee is $160, which includes
meals and breaks beginning with lunch on Tuesday and ending with lunch
on Thursday. Single-day registration will be $80 for Tuesday and $50
for Wednesday and Thursday. Early registration will conclude at 5 p.m.
Sep. 27. On September 28, a $50 late fee will be added to each registration.
No refunds will be given for cancellations after Sept. 30.
Conference Scholarships for Staff Members
Counties with staffs of more than 12 members are eligible for up to
two $160 scholarships; counties with 12 or fewer staff members are
eligible for one. Staff members whose grant budgets include funds for
this conference are ineligible. PAs who do not have grant funding to
attend should be given first consideration.
Each CED should poll staff members and determine to whom scholarships
should be awarded. Please submit names and counties of scholarship
recipients to Sandi Bauer at bauer@msu.edu by Sept. 27.
Special Conference Information
Business casual attire is appropriate throughout the conference, except
for the Tuesday night Key Partner Reception and Awards Banquet, where
business attire is appropriate. Jeans are not appropriate at any conference
event. The Key Partner Reception and Awards Banquet is an opportunity
for all staff members to thank our supporters. Attendance by all conference
participants is expected.
If you have questions contact Sandi Bauer at (517) 353-3175 ext. 217
or e-mail bauer@msu.edu.
Homecoming
The College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (CANR) and Dean Jeffrey
Armstrong will again host a homecoming tailgate tent, Sept. 30 two
hours before the MSU vs. Illinois football game. The cost is $15 per
person and children under 5 eat free.
AutumnFest
The 31st annual AutumnFest will be held Nov. 11 at the MSU Pavilion.
This year’s celebration will include a centennial celebration
of the Departments of Animal Science and Biosystems & Agricultural
Engineering.
Join Us on a Road Trip to Penn State Nov. 16-19
Our friends from Penn State enjoyed such great hospitality when they
joined us for AutumnFest last year that they want to reciprocate
the invitation. The Pennsylvania State University College of Agricultural
Sciences has invited MSU College of Agriculture and Natural Resources
alumni and friends to their campus for Ag Alumni Weekend, when MSU
takes on Penn State for the Land-Grant Trophy Nov. 18.
The MSU College of Agriculture and Natural Resources Alumni Association
has a fun-filled, four-day trip planned for Nov. 16-19, to State College,
Pa. The trip includes tickets to the MSU vs. Penn State Land-Grant
Trophy game, meals, lodging and several fun side trips and tours.
Included in the package:
• Deluxe motor coach travel from East Lansing, with a stop to pick up
additional passengers in Ann Arbor en route to State College.
•
Three nights’ lodging in State College, Pa.
• Breakfast on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
• Lunch on Friday and Saturday.
• Reception and dinner hosted by Dean Jeffrey Armstrong and Dean Robert
Steele on Friday night.
• Tickets to the Ag Alumni Weekend Tailgate at the Penn State Pavilion
(indoors).
• Tickets to the MSU vs. Penn State football game and transportation
to and from event venues.
• Tours of the Penn State campus, including ANR-related and general campus
tours.
• Commemorative sweater.
Motor coaches will depart from East Lansing at 8:30 a.m. Nov. 16 (Thursday)
and pick up additional passengers in Ann Arbor at 9:30 a.m. The buses
will return to Ann Arbor at approximately 6 p.m. Nov. 19 (Sunday) and
East Lansing at 7 p.m.
Cost
Single occupancy, $711
Double occupancy, $998
Triple occupancy, $1,285
Quad occupancy, $1,572
Cancellations will be assessed a $50 fee per person.
Reservation deadline: Sept. 28. Register early – the number of
packages available is limited.
MSU cancellation policy: The university may cancel or postpone any
course or activity because of insufficient enrollment or other unforeseen
circumstances. If a program is canceled or postponed, MSU will refund
registration fees but cannot be held responsible for other costs.
For more information, including special accommodations, call Kathryn
Reed at 517 355-0284 or e-mail anralum@msu.edu.
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