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2006 Forum Addendum

North Carolina Federation of Cooperative Extension Associations (NCFCEA)
February 2, 2007

Here are a couple of issues that we did not have time for at Federation in December that Dr. Zublena and Dr. Tom Melton responded to.

Susan C. Condlin
2006 Federation President

1. When will the new evaluation tool be introduced?

The committee is still finalizing some of the tool and process. Current thinking is to introduce the tool at Extension Conference and have more in depth training right after conference for County Directors and agents.

2. Can you give an update on the Dole initiative?

The Kannapolis project changes frequently, so it has been difficult to give any accurate update. We are in the process of getting four extension associate positions approved... one for small business, one for salad crops, one for berry crops, and one for food safety. I hope two will be able to be advertised shortly and the other two about a month after that. They will probably have state-wide responsibilities and answer to the center director. Our facility should be ready for occupation January 08. An office assistant type will also be hired. Dr. Steve Leath will be serving as the facility director for the next 6 months. All of these people will be housed in a temporary facility until permanent building is ready. We have approved design of the temporary facility and are in the process of selecting furniture. We are in final stages of interior design of the permanent building. Other faculty will ultimately be hired, but the full funding for all faculty requested was not approved by the state. Dole has a person, Peter Gilmore, stationed in NC now who is contacting growers. He is also interested in healthier school lunch programs so I have put him in touch with Carolyn Dunn. More Universities are involved in Kannapolis now, Duke, UNC, Davidson, UNCC, NCAT, UNCG? and a couple others. If you have specific questions, I'd be glad to answer them if I can.

Tom Melton, Ph.D.
Associate State Program Leader
Agriculture, Natural Resources, & Community Development
NC State University
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Cooperative Extension

3. One issue I would like some feed back on is the planning process that counties go through each year. At the Extension Conferences last spring it was inferred that specialists should take their lead from the county planning process. We tried to get clarification of this from Joe and Jon when they visited with us, but I am not convinced that the process has formalized or even thoroughly thought through. Please explain the county planning process and how specialist fit in to this process.

From our latest meeting on Change the Management Initiative, a needs assessment will be implemented this year (2007). Training on how to conduct the needs assessment will be shortly after conference and presented by districts. Specialists will be asked to develop topical trend analysis data and information. This information will then be available, as a resource, to counties as they begin their local needs assessment.

Information from each county needs assessment will be compiled and reviewed for prioritized similar needs. This information will be used to create the state long range plan which will serve as the programmatic driver for the majority of our efforts.

County Plans of work will be developed using the long range plan as the principle document. Non state goals that are unique to a county can also be added, as in the past.

Plans are to present the new program process with it's components, tools for implementation and time lines at extension Conference. Greater in depth training will be shortly there after.

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