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Dear
MSU Extension faculty and staff, The
holiday season is a great time to pause and reflect on the year that is
ending and the new year
of
promise before us. As we stop and ask ourselves what difference have we made
this year in the lives of those
around us and in the communities, families and industries that we serve, we can
find a sense of accomplishment and a renewed commitment to our professional
endeavors. This
has been an eventful year, and many images come to mind as I think about the
people who are a part of our organization and those who benefit from our
programs. Perhaps the most
broad-sweeping event of the year has been the celebration of Michigan State
University’s 150th
anniversary. President Simon has
been tireless in her efforts to promote MSU’s unique legacy and to connect that
legacy with what it could become in the future. In preparation for the sesquicentennial
and the capital campaign that is underway, MSU adopted the slogan “Advancing
Knowledge, Transforming Lives.” I find it encouraging that the theme of this
motto is at the heart of MSUE’s mission – helping people to improve their lives
through education. We are fortunate
to be involved in extension work at a university that not only embraces its
land-grant heritage, but also challenges itself to define what it will take to
extend this heritage to address the future needs of
Michigan. MSUE
continues to be a unique and valuable network of people and partnerships that
help MSU meet its commitment to disseminate educational resources to benefit
every Michigan citizen. It is heartening to take stock of what we have
accomplished and invigorating to realize the challenge of extending our work
more broadly and deeply into the fabric of Michigan’s communities. This is our
organization’s calling.
During
the past year, we have learned that as decision makers learn more about what we
do and how our work affects Michigan, they become more supportive of our
existence and funding. We have a solid foundation that we can build upon in
sustaining our current partnerships and forming the new ones that will help us
to continue to make a difference for Michigan and its people.
Thanks
to all of you for your contributions toward this goal in the past year. I look
forward to working with you and our many partners in the coming year as we seek
to advance our efforts further. I
am confident that Michigan will be more prosperous in the future because this
land-grant university has a sound and innovative extension
system. Best
wishes for the new year, Thomas
G. Coon Director MSU
Extension |
