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 2009 meetings will be Sept. 23 and Nov. 18. 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: May 27, 2009

DUPAGE COUNTY EXTENSION COUNCIL MEETING

Program Updates:

· Horticulture: Schools will pay a $25 fee for Master Gardener classroom presentations on worms Libraries and Garden Clubs generally donate $75-$100 for MG presentations. (Approximately 16 a month are scheduled currently).

· Horticulture: Ball Seed Co. asked UI Extension to test a new plastic degradable seed pot with free plants of trays worth $250. They need Master Gardeners to complete a survey to validate their testing and Gardeners get free plants in return. We Grow Dreams Greenhouses are not going well, despite the need for jobs for special needs young adults, but the Convalescent Center and Youth Detention Center projects are going well; garden plots food production tripled to 120 lbs for the Food Pantry. UIE will seek Daily Herald press to encourage County Board to fund such programs. In the fall MGs will help with a hort job skills class for the disabled at COD.

· Youth Development: Applications are being written to The DuPage Community Foundation in support of hort summer camps, and to the Kellogg Foundation for technology programs.

· Nutrition and Wellness: Staff will be at COD for Welcoming Day Sat. May 30 for immigrants and refugees. 1,500 attended in 2008; 3,000 are expected in 2009. Due to late publicity by the state, the steering committee made a Save the Date flyer to distribute and will do a survey about the Welcome Center.

· Community and Economic Development: The Green Extension Network meets July 8 to discuss its next topic, composting. Local government workshops on tele-institutes no longer are offered here. Barb is bringing in Bill Kling, a lawyer, to offer training for the 5 new County Board members, only one of whom is a lawyer. Some of the new CB members lack legal expertise and are concerned about a lack of competition in the county bidding processes.

· Consumer and Family Education: Money Smart Week went well in April, DuPage's 1^st year and Cook County's 8^th year –1,000 people reached through 40 programs & 20 partner organizations. The DuPage Community Foundation funded the Money Bus at COD for folks with $$ questions.

· Consumer and Family Education: Barb has received permission to hire a bilingual consultant to coordinate the Healthy Marriage Initiative classes; Barb will continue to do outreach and schedule the classes. But only one high school will participate next year, as it's too hard to comply with the state's Institutional Review Board (IRB) regulations. High schools will probably continue to teach healthy marriage strategies, knowing the great need.

Fiscal Updates:

· State funding is in jeopardy still. Extension Partners asked us to contact legislators to fully fund the County Board Match, the 4-H Youth Development Educators, and the Cook County Initiative. Detail was in a handout, noting all these initiatives are in the Department of Agriculture Budget.

· The FY10 Draft Budget was reviewed, along with the FY09 Trust Financial Report. Revenue and expense items were covered, and line items that have changed were explained.

Personnel Update:

· Extension hired Kathy Westburg (President of 4-H Foundation ) for 6-8 weeks to help with the County Fair and summer programs and is recruiting volunteers for the July 22-26, 2009 Fair.

Unfinished Business:

· Recruitment of volunteers for DEECA: Membership is at six; two more members are needed. DEECA initiatives raise funds for general support (not a building). Members should consider asking executives, family with special needs kids, and Extension families to join their efforts.

New Business:

· Formation of a Nominating Committee for Extension Council: Three offered to make contacts to replace the four whose terms are up in July: Pat Kosmach to contact Master Gardeners; Andrea Swanson to contact youth; and Joe Sable to contact adults. Names and applications needed by June 15^th. Terms are for 2 years beginning September 2009 through July 2011; meetings 6 times per year.

Announcements and Attachments:

· A series of workshops on Immigration Law are being held in Westchester.

· Extension Partners lobbies for us: Take a flyer and consider joining for $20 a year.

· 4-H Foundation Annual Luncheon and Silent Auction is Friday, June 26. RSVP/pay by June 5.

· Planter's Palette Garden Walk to benefit UI Extension is Sat. Sun. June 27-28, 10 am-4 pm.

· DuPage County Fair is July 22-26. Volunteers are needed to help work the booth or office. $2 discount coupons were distributed. Free daily tickets will also be distributed to members.

Adjournment: Andrea Swanson moved and Joe Sable seconded that we adjourn at 7:45 pm.

Next Meeting: 6:30 pm is July 29, 2009 (5^th Wed), due to County Fair being the 4^th week, July 22-26.

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