Extension Council

Extension Council

Extension Council members serve in an advisory capacity to the DuPage County Extension program. They assist with community needs assessment to determine county programs, promote public awareness of DuPage County Extension, and actively seek support for resources to assure adequate funding exists and continues. Council meets at the Extension office on the fourth Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. in January, March, May, July, September, and November. The 2007-08 meetings will be Sept. 26, Nov. 28, Jan. 23, Mar. 26, and May 28.Council meetings are open to the public. Community members interested in joining Council should contact the County Director.

Extension Board consists of four members of Extension Council and three members of the DuPage County Board appointed by the Chairman to serve DuPage County Extension. The board meets quarterly to discuss Extension programming and resource development.

MINUTES

DUPAGE COUNTY EXTENSIONCOUNCIL MEETING

Minutes of September 26, 2007

Extension Staff Present: Barb Linek, County Director

Council Members Present: Pat Kosmach, Clip Kniffin, Doris Schertz, Steve Wolfe, Fred Hurst, Jack King, Lou Horton, Victor Moore, Pat Luster, Jim Barton, Patricia Cassady

Absent: Susanna Davison, Chuck Wartman, David Chang, Tiana Kieso, Kiki DeLuna, Erin Hartman, Nadia Persun

Pat Kosmach welcomed everyone and called the meeting to order at 6:45 PM.

Minutes of the August meeting were approved.

Extension Update

• Fiscal Update

Fiscal handouts were distributed and discussed. Every dollar is matched dollar for dollar from the State. Barb discussed a pie chart that displayed the funding sources.

In 2006 Extension received 10.6 cents per resident from the County Board. The amount for 2007 is anticipated to be reduced to under 7 cents per resident. Extension decided not to apply for CDBG grant funds but is exploring other avenues.

Barb also discussed the Trust Financial Report. The Governor used his line item veto power to eliminate 29 Youth Educator positions across the State, including DuPage's. The positions would be eliminated in the fall of 2008. A budget hearing was held September 19, 2007 in Aurora. The 4-H members who spoke were commended for their presentation. The Governor was not present at the hearing. It was video taped. Council members were urged to write 3 postcards to Senators and the Governor urging them to bring the issue of 4-H educators funding to a vote in the veto session. Emails and calls are also encouraged.

The County budget is expected to be revealed October 15. It is expected that Extension funding will be cut again this year. Barb will contact Bill Kling, who advises Extension on public policy, for assistance.

• Program Updates

Horticulture:

There is no Horticulture Educator in place. We will be hosting the State Master Gardener convention in 2008 at the Westin Hotel in Lombard.

Youth Development:

Youth Educator Christina Foster wrote an article for Extension in Action on the summer jumping program which addressed childhood obesity and developmental needs. The youth staff was invited to present the program at a national 4H conference in Georgia and will also be receiving an award.

Nutrition and Wellness: The Nutrition program staff is teaching hand washing in approximately 12 DuPage schools. The program has been proven to reduce absenteeism. Extension is partnering with Marianjoy to present wellness programs. Approximately 50 people have registered for the first class, Building a Better Memory.

Community and Economic Development: No report this month.

Consumer and Family Education: Healthy Marriage Initiative- Willowbrook High School has just agreed to be a part of the program. The program is growing. Fifteen people have completed the September "Avoid Marrying a Jerk" class.

• Personnel

The Horticulture Educator position is vacant. Barb suggested forming a committee to review the position job description. Pat Kosmach, Steve Wolfe, Fred Hurst and Barb will serve on the committee.

Council members were asked to complete 4H forms.

New Business:

Auditing 4-H Club Treasuries: Suggestion for a member to annually review the treasurer's records for the 4-H Clubs. Clip suggested devising an evaluation form. Pat K suggested finding out if other counties have procedures in place for this kind of review. The goal is to set policy now and the first review would take place in 2008. It was suggested that the training for treasurers be completed by tele-conferencing.

Open House October 26, 2-6 PM

The open house is to celebrate the new office and is an opportunity for publicity. It was suggested that Council members post the invitation and bring friends.

Election of Officers: The following officers were unanimously elected for a one-year term:

Secretary: Patricia Luster

Vice Chair: Ogden (Clip) Kniffen

Chair: Pat Kosmach

Unfinished Business:

Steve Wolfe suggested the Extension staff look into grants from the government based Corporation for National Community Service (Americorps.) They offer learn and serve grants.

It was also suggested that the Exchange Clubs (Naperville and the West DuPage chapters) may be a resource for funds.

Patricia Luster distributed the DuPage County Senior Services directories and the DuPage County Helper directory of services for DuPage county residents.

Barb gave a presentation from the book From Good to Great. The book explains the "hedgehog" concept where these three ideas intersect.

What are you passionate about?

What are you the best at?

What is your resource engine- (profit, fees, time, money, brand (what are you known for))

Extension is an extension of services from the University of Illinois College of Agriculture, Consumer and Environmental Services.

Extension's three main program areas are:

1. 4-H and youth development
2. Food stamp nutrition program (aka Family Nutrition Program)
3. Horticulture

A fourth area would be the Community and Economic Development.

Education services are delivered for a good value and have accountability and expertise. What drives our resource engine? In the business world this would be profit, for us it could be fees. A discussion followed regarding fees charged by us and other Extension offices in the area.

Meeting adjourned at 8:55 PM.

Minutes recorded by Patricia Luster.

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