CD Weekly Wire - July 22, 2013

AD Update:

Getting Better for your Professional Growth and Development

Item 13 on the Assistant Director position description reads, “Provide direction and leadership for the professional development of all Extension personnel assigned Community Development duties.” One of my favorite competencies outlined in The Speed of Trust (Covey, 2006) focuses on getting better. This time of year is filled with Performance ‘Reviewing and Planning’ – I know the folks that I formally supervise were provided their written documentation last week. So, how are these three things related? I take the responsibility for providing direction and leadership for your professional development very seriously, and I want us to work together to make the process work better. Just as you work with individuals, businesses, committees, agencies, organizations, and communities to help them achieve their goals and potential, my role is to work with you to help you do the same. Yet unlike the relationships we might have with those with whom we partner (in many cases they are one-time or intermittent at best), the relationship between us is (or should be) ongoing. With every one of you, I am to serve as a coach. For those whose positions directly report to the AD (lucky you), of course you get a bit more…  : )

So what can we do to get better?  For one, we can invest in more communication. I’d like us to work together to do a better job of identifying goals, understanding expectations, and communicating progress more frequently. This will require more of our time (as busy as we are already), but I believe this is one key way of getting better in this area. To make it happen, we will need to work together. Second, it is critical that we understand the official OSUE ‘system’ or framework within which our professional development and performance management takes place. A great deal has gone into creating the current performance management system. I would like for us to make the most of it that we can. Getting better in this area will be the focus of the next several AD Updates. I am excited about how working together we can more effectively address your professional growth and development needs. In the meantime, I encourage you to learn more about the system currently in place, described in detail on the Extension HR website.

Reminder: OSUE Webinar this Thursday

Please plan to listen to the OSUE Webinar this Thursday morning, July 25, at 10:00 a.m. Discussion will include the OSUE strategic plan, signature programs, and upcoming regional structure adjustments. You will be able to submit questions online after the presentation. Log-in instructions will be provided later this week.

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PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT:

Upcoming Administrative Research Council Discussions - July 25 & August 6:

The Administrative Research Council will be hosting the following two discussions:

  • MS Outlook - Powerful Tips to Boost Productivity, Thursday, July 25 from noon to 1:00 p.m. in 385 Bricker Hall. Register here.
  • Mentoring Early Career Investigators, Tuesday, August 6 from noon to1:00 p.m. in 200 Bricker Hall. Register here.

OSU Records Retention Workshop - July 31:

A workshop titled "Paper and Bytes: Policies, Best Practices, and Resources for Managing Ohio State Records" will be held Wednesday, July 31 from 9 to 11 a.m. in South Campus Gateway, 1590 N. High St, Suite 430. As a public institution, Ohio State must comply with laws governing public records. Effective compliance can only be achieved in an environment of proper records retention and management. Participants in this workshop will become more knowledgeable about university policies, legal requirements, and best practices concerning the retention, management and disposition of records in their care. To register, visit: hr.osu.edu/ (scroll down to find this workshop).

EPN Breakfast to feature Olentangy River Restoration Project - August 13:

The next Environmental Professionals Network Breakfast will be held Tuesday, August 13, from 7:15 to 9:30 a.m. at the Schiermeier Olentangy River Wetlands Research Park. Following a panel discussion on the efforts to restore this Central Ohio and OSU gem, the group will tour the Olentangy River Fifth Avenue dam removal site. Arrive early and go birding with Jim McCormac, a top Ohio naturalist and author. For complete information, visit: epn.osu.edu. Contact is: David Hanselmann (hanselmann.3@osu.edu).

Learn Local Foods In-service - August 20:

The Learn Local Foods in-service will be held on Tuesday, August 20, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Nationwide and Ohio Farm Bureau 4-H Center in the International Room. A variety of topics will be covered for all program areas of OSU Extension and for everyone from county office staff to educators. Industry partners and local partners are also welcome to attend this training. Questions about inviting partners should be sent to Eric Barrett. The topics covered will include materials to help you plan for county or area based programming. Participants will get an overview of each of the topics to help answer questions at the local level. You will also return to your county/area with a toolbox to enhance your local foods programming for farmers, cottage food producers, farmers markets, community leaders, schools, fair boards, festival organizers, and more.

Topics for the day include:

  • Produce Safety (Good Agricultural Practices - GAPs): Sanja Ilic, Doug Doohan & Lindsey Hoover - Develop a basic understanding of produce safety and the federal rules. Learn to assist farms AND sponsor a program for area farmers and market gardeners.
  • Direct Marketing Team Programs: Julie Fox & Mike Hogan - Learn how to do a local foods directory for your area with connections to Ohio Market Maker and get an update on programs available for you to use.
  • Farm to School: Carol Smathers - Obtain materials to hold a farm to school workshop for your county and get the latest updates.
  • Agritourism Emergency Preparedness: Dee Jepsen, Eric Barrett & Rob Leeds - Gain insight into how farms can prepare for emergencies. Materials will be distributed to share with clientele. These apply to pick-your-own, farmers markets, county fairs, local festivals, etc.

To view an informational flyer and to register, visit: go.osu.edu/learnlocalfoods. Please contact Eric Barrett (barrett.90@osu.edu) if you have any questions.

MORPC Summit on Sustainability and the Environment - October 8:

The Summit on Sustainability and the Environment is the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission's (MORPC) signature environmental conference, bringing hundreds of community leaders together to explore and share sustainable solutions. Join the conversation and learn how to create more sustainable, economically vibrant and resilient communities. The conference theme is Building Resiliency for a Climate of Change and will be held on Tuesday, October 8 at COSI. Visit www.greenregion.org for registration information.

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REMINDERS / UPDATES / NEWS:

New Brand Standards - Training starts this Week (July 23 & 26):

The university and college are in the process of releasing new brand standards. The CFAES Brand Guidelines and Brand Release Calendar are available at: cfaes.osu.edu/commtech/toolboxes (top of page). Frequently asked questions as well as templates are also available at the site. Training and information sessions will be held (two this week!), so download the calendar and be sure to attend the session(s) that will help you comply with all the changes. If you have questions, please contact Suzanne Steel in Communications and Technology (steel.7@osu.edu)

Volunteers needed to Welcome International Students at Port Columbus - July 29 & 30:

The Office of International Affairs is seeking faculty, staff, and students to volunteer at the Welcome Center at Port Columbus International Airport to help welcome new international students to Columbus. Volunteers are needed for Monday, July 29 and Tuesday, July 30 from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. at the airport to answer questions from incoming students and provide directions to local transportation. Available shifts are: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.,  3 to 7 p.m., or 7 to 11 p.m. Register with Renée Bishai (bishai.1@osu.edu).

Your Input is needed to assess the USDA Agriculture and Food Research Initiative:

The National Research Council is performing an independent assessment of the USDA Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI), including the quality and value of research funded by the program and the prospects for its success in meeting established goals and outcomes. The study also will examine AFRI's role in advancing science in relation to other research and grant programs inside of USDA as well as how complementary it is to other federal R&D programs. Broad input from researchers, academic and extension leaders, reviewers, and users and beneficiaries of AFRI is requested. You can provide your input by August 15, 2013 via a 10-20 minute questionnaire at: www.surveygizmo.com/.

Ag Admin Suite 25 Room Change:

Sandy is now working in 25B of Ag Admin, just across the hall from where she used to be. Her phone number remains the same.

Articles of Interest:

Ohio State’s College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences Names New Assistant Director, Agriculture and Natural Resources (CFAES News)

Ohio State Farm Policy Expert Offers Farm Bill Update (CFAES News)

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OSU Extension CD Mission Statement:

Ohio State University Extension Community Development helps communities enhance their well-being.


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