Apply to Join the Task Force to Assist with Reviewing the ESP Equal Opportunity Statement

Submitted by Daphne Richards, National Past President

The ESP national board is creating a task force to review the equal opportunity statement in our national constitution. The focus of the task force will be to discuss, review, and potentially make a recommendation to the ESP national board to update the equal opportunity statement listed in the national constitution of Epsilon Sigma Phi. The task force will be led by Daphne Richards, ESP National Past President, and Lisa Ingram, ESP National 2nd VP. The group will meet virtually, at dates and times to be decided by group consensus (Doodle Poll!), once members have been selected. Task force members will be asked to conduct research into the equal opportunity/access statements for other extension professional associations, land-grant institutions, state and federal government institutions, etc. and to provide this information, with references, to the task force for discussion. 

If you are interested in serving, please fill out this online form. APPLICATION DEADLINE: MONDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2023.

The work of the task force is to be completed no later than May 15, 2024, so this is a very short-term commitment (and would look great on your vitae)! Please contact Daphne Richards, drichards@ag.tamu.edu, with any questions. Our current equal opportunity statement may be found on the national website here, under Article IV - Membership (you must be logged in to view the linked web page).

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National Epsilon Sigma Phi Conference:  The Side Effects of Attending!

With Extension being inundated with changing times in organizational management it is a hard but an important job to judge the value of a conference before allowing the approval to attend.

Downsides of attending a professional conference are always there lingering around for example, the hustle and bustle of scheduling work around leaving your work stagnant, if there will be a benefit not only to you, the employee but to the organization and, the employee must gauge the stress that might occur to their family, for example, “who is going to pick up the kids?”

All involved have to consider potential benefits and downsides.  Extension has to consider the benefits and the cost – the organization has to focus on the side effects.

I was excited and a bit anxious of flying to Billings from Birmingham. I was so nervous about it that I flew into Bozeman instead. Without second-guessing my hiccup, I relied on the professionals that attend the ESP conference. I contacted the ESP family that were hosting the conference. I reached out to Dr Marsha A. Goetting, only because she lived in Billings and was one of the host committee members that was collecting the auction items.

First Side Effect - I was so enthralled when she said, “yes, I would be happy to pick you up from the airport!” Dr. Goetting picked me up from the airport, let me pick apples from her backyard, gave me a tour of Montana State University and, I got to meet her husband. All the time I had no clue that Dr. Goetting was this year’s RUBY AWARD RECIPIENT!

Second Side Effect – I got to see one of my dearest friends Melinda, we would not have met if not for ESP. Past ESP Presidents (Mike, Peggy, Karen, and Daphne) that I had not seen in a year or more greeted me. The past presidents remembered my name and where I was from and was genuinely happy to see their ESP family!

Third Side Effect - The first official day of the concurrent sessions was so interesting and informative. The speakers were GREAT! I learned of programs and resources that could elevate not only my professional life but also my personal life. I also got a chance to judge posters! FYI: Judging posters was hard! ALL of the posters were awesome!

Fourth Side Effect - National ESP conference allowed me the privilege to hear:

1. Courtney Clark.  Courtney Clark has two successful businesses and more importantly, has survived four rounds of cancer!  Everyone in the room was moved by the blend of humor, stories, research, and interaction from Courtney Clark.  
2. Stephen Schreibeis, Superintendent of Glendive Public Schools in Glendive, MT. Stephen Schreibeis started "The CLEAR Leadership Academy", a student leadership development experience designed to equip students with skills in the following areas: Communication, Leadership, Equipping, Attitude, and Relationships.
3. Dr. Waded Cruzado who is the 12th President of Montana State University. President Barack Obama appointed President Cruzado to the Board for International Food and Agricultural Development, a seven-member advisory council that advises USAID on agriculture, rural development and nutrition issues related to global food insecurity.
4. Everybody knows that the mission of Epsilon Sigma Phi is to foster standards of excellence in the Extension System and to develop Extension colleagues to strengthen its members to have on-going community impact.  Dr. Marsha Goetting (2023 Ruby Award Winner) speech made us all reminisce on the mission and vision of Extension.  Dr. Goetting’s speech was professionally adorable and beautified with personal pictures of wild flowers from Montana. 

Fifth Side Effect - Attending this conference was important to me as I gained personal and professional development tools and it provided me the opportunity to learn, network, and gain insights into the latest trends and innovations in Extension. The National Epsilon Sigma Phi Conference was held in Billings, Montana. Billings, Montana is just two hours away from where ESP was established in 1927 in Bozeman, Montana. In my evaluation, the conference was 10 out of 10.

Sixth Side Effect - The Double Tree by Hilton Hotel had plenty of fresh cookies!

Fostering standards of excellence was the goal that was reached. I look forward to the 2024 conference!

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Extension Award Winner Spotlight

Who: Tina Cowger, 4-H Youth Development

West Virginia University Extension

Chapter: Phi - West Virginia

Scholarship: Professional Development Programming Grant

Award: $1000

Project proposal: 

The planning committee with the WVAE4-HA 2023 spring Extension conference would like to feature Dr. Jim Rutledge as the keynote speaker. Extension faculty/staff from throughout West Virginia would be invited and could learn about the stages of development of an Extension Professional.

Results: 

We had 52 Extension employees attend his presentation in person. We also recorded Dr. Rutledge’s presentation to share out with our ESP membership. The biggest takeaway that I heard from attendees after his presentation was about how our developmental stage as an Extension professional changes when we change jobs within Extension or change occurs around our job.

Another impactful statement, “Since the guest speaker at our Spring Conference, I have been reflecting on the various activities that I perform in my county. Thanks to the guest speaker, I’m moving some activities and events to the committee work of the county 4-H Leaders Association. As the guest speaker explained, moving out of the “service leadership” style, I will be able to expand the offerings of the WVU Extension office in Ohio County.  Having the speaker has inspired self-reflection for me as well as valuable conversation amongst my Extension colleagues at WVU. In addition, I’ve shared information about the stages of an Extension career with others. I referenced it in conversation last week.”

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“A Word from the Resource Development and Management Committee”

By:  Joanne S. Cavis, CFCS, RDM Affiliate Committee member

Head's Up!!! WHY DONATE NOW?

Do you itemize your deductions when filing your annual federal tax return?  Do you want to maximize your deductions in order to reduce your tax bill?

If your answers are YES then make a tax deductible contribution to the ESP National Development Fund before December 31, 2023. It's easy to do either by check (mail to the ESP National Office, PO Box 1440, Owasso, OK 74055) or through the DONATE button on the website.

The cumulative giving to the endowed Development Fund since its inception in 1985, is over $500,000 and today it is valued at over one million dollars!  Only 5% of the 12 quarter average earnings are tapped for the annual development fund budget which supports scholarships, grants and awards for professional development activities.  

Did you know that stipends for national committee members, voting delegates, life members, poster and conference presenters . . . chapter participation at Extension Leadership Conference. . . professional development scholarships for PILD and First Timers. . . grants and awards. . . are funded through Development funds?  Have you applied for or received any of these funds?  In 2023, $44,000 was available to members.

SAY YES! To making a contribution to the 2024 Development Fund and give back to the organization that makes professional development of Extension professionals paramount.

Remember, your contribution --- whatever the amount --- counts toward your cumulative Key Level Giving recognition.  Your gift helps support the professional development activities of ESP.  . . will be giving back $47,000 in 2024 to our members. 

Thank YOU!

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