Sandy Kanupp
State ESP Meritorious Support Award

Professional Achievements: Sandy and her District Extension Director meet with the Southwest District Administrative Team (SWAT) quarterly and she provides an Administrative Update at each meeting (CED's and Administrative Secretaries). She strives to make the updates interesting as well as informative with eye-catching handouts and topics. Some of the topics are:

· training/updates on personnel issues;
· review of timely policy/procedure issues or policy/procedure changes;
· reminders of upcoming deadlines;
· Southwest County Administrative Secretary Manual update - packets prepared with updated sections (notebook has approximately 40 sections) - updates distributed quarterly at SWAT meetings

By attending these meetings, she builds rapport, provides professional development topics and promotes a sense of belonging to a team.

In 2002, Sandy served on the "Writing Team" for the Southwest District Strategic Plan. This session was the first that included the Southwest District County Administrative Secretaries in this process. Sandy also prepared and designed the draft and final copy of the Strategic Plan, including the cover and appropriate clip art. She is currently serving on the committee for the Marketing Goal for the Strategic Plan.

The County Operations Team has benefited from Sandy's involvement and input into procedural and processes enhancements. Her practical approach facilitates systems that work. Sandy actively participates in the monthly Administrative Assistants/Personnel Meetings as a facilitator and team member. She provides important input to assist in personnel and payroll decisions.

Sandy has served the NC Cooperative Extension Service through different committees. She was nominated to serve on the NCSU Staff Senate and served twice on the committee to plan the NCCES Statewide Secretaries Training. She served on the West District Director Search Committee as well as the Southwest District Director Search Committee. She served on Registration and Communication Committee for the Southern Region Directors/Administrators Conference. Also, she serves on the Secretarial Functions Committee, Social Committee (planned the Annual Chili Cooking Contest and the Annual Ice Cream Social), and the Landscaping Committee at the Mountain Horticultural Crops Research and Extension Center, Fletcher.

As a 24-year member of the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Secretaries Association (NCCESA), Sandy has held the following leadership positions:

· State President, 1st Vice-President, 2nd Vice-President, Secretary, Advisor
· State Committee Chair for Rules and Bylaws, Professional Improvement and Public Relations
· West District President, 1st Vice-President, 2nd Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, Advisor
· In 2004, she will serve as the Secretary for the NCCESA - Southwest District Association

Significance: Sandy has exceptional linkages with the District Extension Director (Southwest), 14 County Extension Directors, and 14 Administrative Secretaries through proactive training providing quarterly updates that are informative and crucial administrative procedures and issues. Recognized by her leadership ability and foresight to "look outside the box", she has served on search committees to secure 2 District Extension Directors and also held important positions in the NC Cooperative Extension Secretaries Association. Sandy's positive attitude toward her work, her ability to prioritize and complete tasks in a timely manner, and her interpersonal skills, make her a real asset to the North Carolina Cooperative Extension. Her unselfish commitment to serve at all levels of our organization make her an outstanding recipient of this award.