Volume 21, Number 23 – Nov. 13, 2006
Hardesty Gives Farewell Speech at Annual Meeting
Epsilon Sigma Phi Honors Hardesty, Cote,
Others
WVU Extension Recognizes 5 Partners
HorseQuest—First eXtension ‘Community’—Now
Online
WVU Jackson's Mill Accredited by
American Camp Association
‘Tubby’ Boggs Inducted into National 4-H
Hall of Fame
Extended Learning to Provide Federal Prison Programs
How You Help Organization Grow Is Up to You
Professional Development Proposals Needed
People and Places
Important Program Planning and Reporting Dates for 2006-2007
“I love you guys.”
Those words ended the last talk David C. Hardesty will give as WVU president to a WVU Extension annual meeting. He will retire from the presidency before next year’s gathering of WVU Extension faculty and staff.
President Hardesty presented the kickoff speech Nov. 8 during the organization’s annual meeting at WVU Jackson’s Mill, near Weston.
Calling the nation’s land-grant institutions “the pillars upon which the country was built,” he said that concerns have changed at WVU, including priorities, competition, and safety.
Hardesty reflected on what he and the WVU community have learned during his dozen years as president. He said that, with the current global economy, WVU needs to produce students who can compete anywhere in the world.
“We need to see the big picture” as we look for strategies to follow, he said, mentioning the University’s focus on collaborating with other institutions, developing “student-centeredness,” instituting new majors, involving faculty in dorms, and building new facilities.
He said that the institution should welcome accountability. “Are we going to use it to improve the University?” he asked, adding that education is everybody’s business. According to Hardesty, WVU’s successes in this regard include delivering health care throughout the state and enrolling 15,000 families in Mountaineer Parents Club’s 62 chapters.
The president also said that we have learned that human beings are the basis of an organization and that we must praise and thank them for their work.
Later this week, planners of the annual meeting will send an evaluation form via e-mail to the entire organization.
The West Virginia Phi Chapter of Epsilon Sigma Phi, national Extension honorary, recognized two West Virginia University administrators during the WVU Extension Annual Meeting last week at WVU Jackson’s Mill.
WVU President David C. Hardesty received the chapter’s State Friend of Extension Award. WVU Associate Provost Larry Cote was awarded a plaque recognizing his “significant and sustained administrative leadership success.” The president will retire next fall, and Larry will become the founding director of the University’s Leadership Studies Program at the end of June.
Epsilon Sigma Phi honored the following members during its annual meeting Nov. 9:
President Dave Workman conducted the business meeting, which included a memorial service for members who had died during the year. Allison Nichols accepted the organization’s invitation to become a member.
Officers elected for next year were Martha Garton, president; Linda Waybright, vice president; Carl Marcum, secretary; Jeffrey Orndorff, treasurer; and Shirley Eagan, historian.
Five outstanding fundraising partners were honored at the Appreciation and Accolades Luncheon during the 2006 WVU Extension Service Annual Meeting at WVU Jackson’s Mill, Weston.
Elaine Bowen received the Outstanding Resource Development Award for securing nearly $100,000 in cash and in-kind gifts for Extension’s health promotion programs. She persuaded one company to donate 25 pounds of cheese to be served at meetings and events.
Honored with the Outstanding Partner Award was Barbara Copenhaver Bailey, a Brooke County native who has worked tirelessly to promote and advocate for WVU Extension and 4-H. A member of the 4-H Funds Advisory Committee, she has been a 4-H All Star since 1980.
Verizon was named the Outstanding Organization. After being the first featured sponsor of the Community Development Institute East, the company has committed to a second year of sponsorship. Verizon Foundation also will be the first corporate sponsor for the renovation of Kanawha Cottage at WVU Jackson’s Mill.
Stan Cavendish and Pete White, co-chairs of the campaign to renovate the Mill’s Kanawha Cottage, were named Outstanding Volunteer Fundraisers. Just three weeks into the campaign, they have already secured Verizon as a major corporate sponsor and several individual gifts. Stan is president of Verizon West Virginia. Pete owns The White Planning Group.
People who love horses are going to love eXtension’s HorseQuest, an Internet “community of practice” devoted to the best university research-based information on horses.
The interactive Web site (www.extension.org/horses) provides news, events, frequently asked questions, online chats, and an “Ask the Expert” feature. Also, learning modules cover the serious business of horse ownership, including evaluating and selecting horses.
HorseQuest is the first eXtension “community of practice” to come online. eXtension is a new project of the U.S. land-grant university system. The project will bring the resources of the Cooperative Extension Service, the nation’s largest nontraditional education system, to a broader audience via the Internet.
In the next few months, eXtension expects to add 20 more communities of practice to its offerings. Through these communities of interest, subject matter experts in the nation’s land-grant universities will provide information on such topics as finances, disasters, parenting, rural entrepreneurship, wildlife, and horticulture.
Persons accessing the eXtension Web site will be able to contact local Extension offices through links on the site. Extension has nearly 3,000 offices across the nation.
WVU Jackson’s Mill State 4-H Camp has received accredited camp status from the American Camp Association (ACA).
The ACA examines more than 300 practices during its accreditation process and works with experts from the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Red Cross, and other youth-serving agencies to ensure that a camp’s practices reflect the most up-to-date standards in camp operation.
“This designation is important because it shows that we meet the industry standard, set by the only independent accrediting organization that reviews camp operations in the country,” said Terry Patterson, Mill director.
“ACA accreditation means that Jackson’s Mill submitted to a thorough review of its operation by the American Camp Association—from staff qualifications and training to emergency management—and complied with the highest standards in the industry,” said Cindy Moore of the National Standards Commission.
WVU Jackson’s Mill, near Weston, is celebrating its 85th anniversary as a camp this year. The facility—the boyhood home of General Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson—is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The 525-acre retreat facility welcomes more than 76,000 guests each year at camps, conferences, and heritage education programs.
I.B. “Tubby” Boggs was inducted posthumously into the National 4-H Hall of Fame during ceremonies at the National 4-H Youth Conference Center in Chevy Chase, Md., last month. He and 19 others were inducted for the extraordinary impact they made on 4-H and the lives of 4-H members.
Tubby was nominated by the West Virginia 4-H program. For many of the 22 years
that he was state 4-H boys agent, he also was state 4-H boys camp leader. He
was instrumental in bringing back the boys camp after the end of World War
II. Tubby started Treasures of the Trail, a publication for 4-H leaders,
which continues today. In 1937, he organized the state 4-H boys band to provide
new opportunities for youth.
Tubby inspired the development of campfire programs and candle-lighting ceremonies,
which became part of 4-H programs throughout the country and at the National
4-H Camp in Washington, D.C. Hailed as an ornithologist and a true conservationist,
Tubby directed the West Virginia Conservation Camp for many years. He was one
of the 100 members of the inaugural class of the West Virginia 4-H Hall of
Fame.
The National 4-H Hall of Fame was established in 2002 by the National Association
of Extension 4-H Agents in partnership with the National 4-H Council and the
Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service of the U.S. Department
of Agriculture. Inductees’ biographies may be read on the Web (www.nae4ha.org/hof).
WVU’s Office of Extended Learning has a contract with the federal prisons in West Virginia to provide educational programs, which may offer opportunities to WVU Extension.
According to Sue Day-Perroots, dean of Extended Learning, Extension faculty may have expertise to help with specific programs on high-need topics that her office may identify, including parenting skills, diabetes awareness, and other health issues.
If you are currently providing programming in federal prisons, Sue’s office may be able to provide funding support and to coordinate security clearances. Given the potential for funding, you may want to initiate such programming.Choosing to help WVU Extension or 4-H grow can be a satisfying decision. How your support helps is up to you.
The choices include a number of good options. One is a current gift of cash, stocks, mutual funds, bonds, personal property, or even real estate.
Another is to include a gift provision in your will or revocable trust “to the West Virginia University Foundation Inc. for the benefit of the WVU Extension Service/West Virginia 4-H” along with additional wording that describes the purpose of your gift.
Creating a gift that provides income to you for life or for up to 20 years can be an attractive option. Doing that also allows you to specify how the remaining funds would be used after the income payout ends.
Other ways to help are designating retirement funds to support Extension or 4-H after you die, transferring a life insurance policy, or donating real estate while retaining a lifetime interest in the property.
There are many choices—all good ones! Each can help Extension do more. Julie Cryser (304-293-5691) can give you more ideas about how you can help Extension or 4-H grow—wisely and well!
… Faculty and Staff Changes
Vicki Ginn began her WVU Extension career Friday, Nov. 10, as the development services coordinator with the offices of Development and Organizational Advancement. Vicki will coordinate and manage logistics for major campus and state events such as the State Fair of West Virginia. Since 1992, she has worked for the Burlington United Methodist Family Services Inc. in Keyser as resource development manager, public and volunteer relations manager, and director of church relations and development. In the last position, Vicki was responsible for managing such events as the Burlington Old-fashioned Apple Harvest Festival. She also coordinated fundraising activities, including the solicitation of more than $100,000 in private gifts. Vicki received a bachelor’s degree in journalism from WVU in 1991. Her major was public relations and her minor was marketing. Vicki is also a graduate of the National Planned Giving Institute at the College of William and Mary. She has held leadership positions with the United Methodist Association of Health and Welfare Ministries, the National Federation of Nonprofits, and the Mountain Highland Travel Council.
… Have You Heard?
Jeffrey Orndorff was honored at the WVU-Cincinnati football game Nov. 11 as a Most Loyal Faculty Mountaineer. The ceremony was part of the University’s Mountaineer Days celebration. Jeff has been a WVU Extension employee for 33 years, beginning as an agent in McDowell County. After serving as an agent in Grant County, he became an Extension 4-H specialist in 1987. Jeff has served in the WVU Faculty Senate and on many other WVU committees, but he considers his work with the state’s youth as his life’s work. Others were recognized as Most Loyal West Virginians, Most Loyal Alumni Mountaineers, and Most Loyal Staff Mountaineer.
Tim Sayre is happy to be back at work as 4-H program assistant in Jackson County. He thanks everyone for their support and prayers during his recent surgery and recuperation.
This will be the only issue of Focus in November. The final issue of 2006 will appear Dec. 11. Send information for that issue to Joyce Bower (Joyce.Bower@mail.wvu.edu) by noon Friday, Dec. 8.
Paul Becker reminds employees that funds available from the Associate Provost’s
Office to defray costs of Extension meetings at
WVU Jackson’s Mill are limited to one day per
meeting. The money covers expenses for one meal, the meeting room,
and one or two snacks. Eligible meetings are those in which more than half
of the participants are WVU Extension employees or those hosted by WVU Extension
that involve 20 or fewer participants.
The National Association of University Forest Resource Programs and the National
Woodland Owners Association awarded the 2006 Family Forests Education
Award to WVU’s Appalachian Hardwood Center (AHC) at the organization’s
annual meeting last month. The award recognizes university programs that benefit
non-industrial private forest landowners. Among the faculty and staff involved
in the AHC are Shawn Grushecky, Dave McGill, Bill Grafton, Ben Spong, Robin
Maille, Dan Magill, Steve Harouff, Kathryn Arano, Chad Pierskalla, and Dave
Smaldone. Six graduate students also collaborated on research projects benefiting
forest landowners. Recently, staff members have been involved in a mapping
project to monitor the impact of forest stewardship in West Virginia.
… In the News
WVU Jackson’s Mill is mentioned and illustrated on the West Virginia page in the new book Our 50 States by Lynne Cheney. The description says, “Jackson’s Mill, in Weston, was built and operated by the family of Confederate General Stonewall Jackson.”
Nov. 16, 2006* Data due. Counties submit FY 2005-2006 County Program on the Web (county report) (http://intranet.ext.wvu.edu/db/indicator.htm ) *Due date extended from Nov. 3.
Nov. 17, 2006 Program Team Goals and Objectives (Team Assignment Document) due to program leaders and Paul Becker.
Dec. 15, 2006 Faculty Program Accomplishment reports due (individual). By e-mail, send each report as a separate MS Word file to Paul Becker.
Dec. 15, 2006 Faculty files close.
Jan. 19, 2007 Team Program Accomplishment/Impact Statements due.
Jan. 26, 2007 Draft Faculty Assignment Document (individual) in MS Word due.
Feb. 15, 2007 Requests for Proposals due: For Seed Grants for Research Projects, submit to Dave Cormier; for Competitive Funds for Team Activities, submit to Paul Becker. (Awards will be announced March 15, 2007.)
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Our Continuing Mission . . .
The mission of the West Virginia University Extension Service is to form learning partnerships with the people of West Virginia to enable them to improve their lives and communities. To these partnerships, we bring useful research- and experience-based knowledge that facilitates critical thinking and skill development.
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Extension Focus is a publication of the Office of the Associate Provost for Extension and Public Service. News items should be sent to the Office of Communications, 506 Knapp Hall, P.O. Box 6031, Morgantown, WV 26506-6031.
Issues of Focus are archived on Extension's Intranet
http://intranet.ext.wvu.edu/intouch/orgnews/focus/focus.htm
Programs and activities offered by the West Virginia University
Extension Service are available to all persons without regard to race, color,
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origin, and marital or family status.
Submitted by Joyce Bower.
