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The day began with refreshments and networking. The call to order and welcome was given by Aggie Rogers, 2005 NCFCEA President.
Roll call and attendance was conducted by Susan Condlin, President Elect. The following were in attendance: NCEAFCS - 11 members; NCAE4H - 10 members; NCACAA - 9 members; NCCESA - 9 members; NCAEPAT - 6 members; NCACES - 2 members; and Federation Executive Board members - 5. In addition, Dr. Jon Ort, Dr. Joe Zublena, Dr. Tom Melton, Sheilda Sutton, Dr. Karen DeBord were in attendance. The sign in sheet is attached to the officials minutes.
Administrative Update and Discussion: James Corchran, Past President for Federation distributed note cards on tables for any question or concern the members wanted to ask of the Administration. These were collected and presented to the Administrators for discussion after their opening updates.
Dr. Jon Ort - expressed his thanks for the support of the Extension family while recuperating from his kidney transplant.
Status of NC State Vice Chancellor for Extension, Engagement, and Economic Development
The Chancellor will be filling the position. Dr. James Zuiches from Washington State University has accepted the position. This appointment gives Extension a seat at chancellor's table.
Hosted Senator Saxby Chambliss (R-Georgia) who serves on the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition & Forestry. This committee represents all of agriculture and will put together the 2007 Farm Bill. Dr. Ort talked with him about CES impacts and the federal Extension budget. Senator Chambliss also spoke to NC Farm Bureau.
ECOP
What is ECOP? Extension Committee on Organization and Policy. Dr. Ort has been on the Governing Board of Directors and represents all of Extension. Dr. Ort's term on ECOP has expired but he has been asked to serve on the Board Agriculture Assembly which has three representatives from each region: one representative in Extension, one in Research, one in Teaching. This board is a "think-tank", and will be discussing how we do business, reviewing the Smith-Lever Act funding formula for Extension; competitive grant funding which is not always supportive of base programming; and how to get increase in funding like the National Science Foundation has received in recent years. How can we grow funding? Looking at a different approach on how we are funded. An effort has begun to combine some USDA branches like APHIS, etc., to create a "National Institute of Agriculture" similar to NIH (National Institutes of Health which will include Extension. ECOP is putting together a document called CREATE 21 (Create teaching, research, extension in 21st century) which will look at the way we do business. Will seek feedback form Extension personnel to take to the national level.
Lottery Funds
How the state deals with the lottery will determine how we will fare. It is projected higher education will benefit from the lottery.
Chancellor's/Dean's Tour scheduled for January 31, 2006.
Four main stops are planned: Kinston Cunningham Research Center, Global Transpark, niche marketing, value added products; Craven County Cherry Point-College of Engineering IES at Lees Manufacturing; CMAST - Carteret County Seafood Lab, College of Vet Med, Marine environment and fisheries biology, showcasing Colleges working together; and Duplin County - showcasing Extension's programs. The day will end with a reception/dinner provided by the State Advisory Committee. Additional goal is to get Erskine Bowles into each Extension district in the coming year.The Dole Initiative
David Murdock. President of Dole, Inc. is committed to investing over $1 billion in NC. Plans are to create a laboratory facility in Kannapolis, Cabarrus County at Cannon Mills with access to top notch equipment providing 100 offices or incubators that will reach out to private sector. On January 19, 2006, representatives from the NC General Assembly will meet with Extension, NCDA, and others, in Kannapolis to be briefed on research involvement. Colleges to be involved: NC State, Duke, UNC. Part of the plan includes a School for Science for females. Second initiative of Mr. Murdock is to build a bagged salad plant in Bessemer City, Gaston County. Producers will be needed to produce head leaf lettuce for the facility. Agricultural agents may be involved in certifying growers with Dole protocol. The third initiative of Mr. Murdock is to build a facility for processing frozen fruit to be sited possibly in Edgecombe/Wilson County. A variety of fruit (peaches, apples, brambles) are being considered. Farmers will be encouraged to supply the plant. This project will reach across the nation. Good economic development opportunity as we transition from tobacco. Bagged salad plant project is moving forward first. We will help growers to get involved.
Salary Equity Increases
This was a $4 million initiative on salary equities for field and on-campus faculty. Extension Administration has been working on this for seven-eight years. Volunteers were an essential part through their support and contacts with the legislature, University System President Molly Broad and the University Board of Governors to finally achieve the goal of funding salary equity. Volunteers were there to support our efforts. $3.7 was the allocation for the salary equity and it was distributed in this manner: $2.5 to Extension with $1.8 of that to Extension field faculty. It would have taken about $4.5 million to have achieved complete and total equity; Administration is looking at other options to keep pace. One option is Campus-based funds, when there is a tuition increase we would get a percentage of those funds.
Sheilda Sutton, representing Dr. Ray McKinnie from NC A&T, brought updates: There have been changes in NC AT&T's organization: Dr. Celvia E. Stovall, Associate Administration in Extension was recruited from NC State; hired two program Leaders ; combined Ag and Natural Resources and CRD under one program leader; Claudette Smith is the program leader for FCS and Youth. These changes will allow for better collaboration with NC State. The Administration is involved with obtaining state appropriations to match federal appropriations. These funds will mean increased outreach and staffing in additional counties. Innovative grants will be available and awarded on an annual basis. NC A&T hosted with NC State 3 national conferences this past year: CSREES conference in April, National Diversity Conference, and the 4th National Small Farms Conference in October.
Dr. Joe Zublena - expressed thanks to the counties and volunteers for assisting with the equity funding campaign. He reported most counties will match equity increases this year. A few employees achieved a 50% salary increase with equity. Dr. Zublena developed a detailed spreadsheet using years of service, title, emaps score, and educational degree as factors to determine equity increase. If an individual made over $5,000 in equity they were given less merit.
The MOU study has gone full circle in 2.5 years and is somewhat back to the original document with a few minor changes He is currently working with County Managers and Commissions and hopes the MOU issue will be resolved in 2006.
The organization need to develop a succession plan who are the leaders of our future organization? Lanny Hass is working on new faculty orientation. The training has been redesigned with an identified curriculum of items to learn and be completed within the first six months of employment, one year, etc.,. Program areas have specific training. In the past training was put aside due to budget cuts. Programming, Evaluation tools, impacts, success stories, and environmental scan will be included in training. Agents will receive first priority with specialists second. PA may be included.
New and aspiring CED training conducted in 2005 will be repeated in 2006. This type of training is needed due to the tenure of current CEDs.
Fees for Service-at the national level a USDA Committee is looking at fee for service and some think it could conflict with Smith Lever funding. Look to funding through foundations. Currently programs are being funded by fees in some program areas. Soil Science is probably the best in-house example. Iowa is the first in the nation to promote fee for service and has generated over $32 million in fees. You can recover material charges. If you collect money, it is state money. You must follow money handling policies. Funds can not pay for salaries. We must have good quality materials that make it worthy. Consider scholarship funding for people who are unable to pay. People are willing to pay for good product.
Dr. Karen DeBord & Sheilda Sutton-Co-Chairs for the Change Management & Marketing Initiative - a PowerPoint presentation on the change management process was presented. Change Management Initiative is dynamic, living process/action. The Core Team and Carolina PR have presented to Drs. Ort and McKinnie recommendations and the next step is to prioritize items on the list. These will be shared in January with District Extension Directors and Department Extension Leaders. The will be the focus of the District meetings. With the study done, now is the time to implement the recommendations.
Tyrone Fisher, South Central District President, NCACAA gave directions for lunch and the thought for the day.
Before reconvening for the business meeting, Dean Johnny Wynn joined us for a special presentation. Ray Harris, President Elect for NCACAA recognized Dr. Wynn, Dr. Ort, Dr. Zublena and Dr. Ray McKinnie for their efforts in securing equity salary funds for Extension employees.
Dr. Wynne and Dr. Jon Ort, Dr. Zoe Zublena and Dr. Ray McKinnie were recognized by Federation for their support in securing salary equity funding for field faculty and campus specialist in the 2005-2006 state budget. Each received a proclamation signed by the 2005 Board of Directors. Chancellor Oblinger was unable to attend the Forum and will receive his proclamation at a later date.
Following the presentation Aggie Rogers called the business meeting to order. A quorum was determined. Minutes of the 2004 were accepted as posted to the web. Treasurer's report was given by Janet Mabry, accepted and filed with the official secretary's minutes.
Associations' reports were given by: NCACAA - Lenny Rogers; NCEAFCS - Nancy Abasiekong and Dee Furlough; NCAE4HA - Peggie Lewis; NCCESA - Regina O'Pharrow-Gardner; NCAEPAT - Kay Bridges; and NCACES - No Report. Written reports submitted are filed with the official minutes.
Aggie Rogers recognized the outgoing 2005 officers and presented each with a certificate of appreciation. Those receiving certificates were: President Elect - Susan Condlin, NCEAFCS; Secretary - Dennis Osborne, NCACES; Treasurer - Janet Marby, NCCESA; Webmaster - Robbie Furr, NCAE4HA; and Past President - James Cochran.
James Cochran, Past President installed the 2006 Federation Officers. These officers will be
President - Susan Condlin, NCEAFCS
President Elect - vacant, NCACES
Secretary - Pamela Brylowe, NCCESA
Treasurer - Natalie Rountree, NCAE4HA
Webmaster - John Dorner, NCACAA
Past President - Aggie Rogers, NCAEPAAT
James kept the Federation gavel to have it engraved and then will turn it over to Susan Condlin.
Associations were reminded to pay their 2005 dues if they had not done so. 2006 dues were to be paid with the registration for the 2005 Federation Forum.
Following the meeting the 2006 Board of Directors were asked to meet briefly to decide on a Winter/Spring Board meeting.
Meeting was adjourned at 3 pm.
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