Council Reports
January 22, 2007 Minutes
Minutes for January 22, 2007 Meeting
Macon County Extension Council
2535 Millikin Parkway
Decatur, IL 62526
Members Present: Kirk Meyers, Kathleen Anderson, Karen Halicki, Mike Brokaw, David Reeves, Julie Owens,
Evan Hall and Fern Stinson
Unit Staff Members Present: Doug Harlan, Phyllis Herring, Rex Nicole, Amy Leman, Sherry Rocha, Karyn Traum
Meeting called to order at 6.04 P.M. by Chairman, Mike Brokaw.
Welcome: By Doug Harlan, Unit Director
November 20 minutes: Requested one correction of wording by Rex Nicole.
Kirk Myers recommended approval of minutes, second by Rex Nicole. Minutes approved.
Fiscal Report: Doug Harlan reviewed fiscal report and noted reimbursement of University postage. Office rent paid. Stated budget activity is doing well. (Review the actual print outs for further information.)
Personnel Update: Doug Harlan
Farm Manager Position posted by U of I on January 10, 2007 will be posted for three (3) weeks. Applications will be reviewed and interviews will then be held. Some council members will be asked to assist in the interview effort. Anticipating a hire date by May, 2007.
Advertising in a Movie Theater:
As recommended, 4-H advertising was shown during the showing of Charlotte's Web, fifty four (54) times, at the cost of $2000.00. Council did not have any feedback.
4-H Pork Chop Dinner:
Amy Leman reported is being planned for Friday July 20th.
There are activities for the 4-H and younger, Clover Leaf 4-H, children in the afternoon on Friday, and the dinner will be after this is over. Older 4-H children will be involved in teaching them how projects are judged etc. Tickets will be sold to the public and council members will assist in cooking, serving etc. Time of the event discussed and agreed upon to be 6:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. Doug Harlan, Kirk Myers, Karen Halicki, Phyllis Herring volunteered to be on the committee. The committee will after 4-H Foundation identified members to also serve on the committee. A movie night is planned after the dinner, outside the building.
4-H Show:
Amy Leman stated all rules for the Rabbit and Poultry Show have been E-mailed out. Doug stated three (3) 4-H youth from Macon County attended a meeting, providing significant input and knowledgeable to rules and regulations.
Program Revue:
Doug Harlan stated members of a review committee will be in the facility, reviewing the required documentation and affirmative action. Some council members will be asked to talk to the reviewing committee. The review committee will then write a report with opportunities for improvement and strengths of the Unit's programs. The Program Review will be held on May 23, 2007.
Individuals will be asked in early April to participate in the program review.
Program Updates-County Extension Director: Doug Harlan
New Extension building: Doug met with Richland personnel and the architect on January 11, 2007. Discussed building requirements, space, meeting room, and possible 4-H Center. Architect will meet next month with rough plans. Estimated cost of the 4-H Center is $360,000.00. If 4-H building is connected to the Unit office, the meeting room would seat 200 people. If the 4-H building plans do not come to be, the Unit plans to build a meeting room to seat 100 people. Richland is using non-taxable bonds and would need space in the building. The Extension Unit would control the meeting rooms. Possibly Richland office space could be located at the end. Richland might own the building and Extension would lease the space. Project is moving ahead with the space we need. Cost will be between $100 and $130 sq. foot. Looking at Geothermal heating, which could be installed and paid for through grants.
Julie Owens asked if 4-H Center went to Richland, what happens to present fair ground building?
Doug: Would be sold back to the fair ground. Possibly 4-H may stay as is.
4-H Youth Development-Amy Leman
January-February staff has met with 4-H club meetings, discussing records.
4-H Frenzy of Fun will be held February 10 - this is a day of project workshops for 4-H members.
Unit received a $1200 grant from the Decatur School Foundation to fund the School Superintendent's Youth Council program. Aramark has agreed to fund food for these events.
Macon County Youth Summit 02-16-07. The theme is "Who wants to be a Leader?" This will include a volunteer fair, which displays for the youth to see how they can volunteer in their community. It includes youth-led workshops and a college-aged speaker. Facilitator training begins on Sunday.
March 17 - The East Central Region Ultimate Project Challenge will be held. Rex and her engineering group will be helping with the Engineering challenge. This is an event planned by a committee of youth in the East Central Region.
Community and Economic Development-Rex Nicole
Involved with the Macon County Planning Consortium
Engineer in the Classroom program will hold its Rube Goldberg Competition 02-24-07
Refer to the orange reporting sheet for detailed information.
EFNEP/FNP-Phyllis Herring
65 hours were spent in Decatur Public Schools concerning nutrition.
"Loose to Win" requested their involvement.
Refer to the robin egg blue report for detailed information.
Horticulture/Master Gardener-Kayrn Traum
Master Gardener's held a luncheon for ten (10) students that began their training on January 25 with Springfield class.
Master Gardener worked with the United Way to assist in limb pick-up and yard clean up. It received very favorable publicity.
A committee of seven (7) Master gardeners will be doing tree identification at Fairview Park. Trees will be labeled and a map developed.
Bus Trip: March 14 to the Flower show in Indianapolis. Cost $40.00. Includes Master Gardeners and the public.
Refer to blue reporting sheet for Jennifer Nelson's report.
Family Life-Sherry Rocha
A DVD was recommended by the Latino families as the best way for the group to provide successful transition to the area. It presently is in draft form and is ten (10) minutes long. Funding came from various sources. Hopefully, it will be available for viewing by the next meeting date.
Refer to the yellow reporting sheet for in-depth activities.
Other-Doug Harlan
Holiday bowling staff party was fun and enjoyable.
The Unit Newsletter is going to press next week.
4-H Camp in Monticello has begun a capital improvement project on the kitchen and dining facility. Both need to be brought up to code. Approximate cost for total repairs and upgrades will be $1,000,000. A type of fund raising must be implemented to accomplish these repairs. Fund raising dinner a possibility.
Mike Brokaw: Mike is involved with Extension Partners. It is a volunteer organization that is the lobbying arm for Extension with the General Assembly. It has been fairly successful in securing additional funding for Unit Youth Development Educators and other projects. Organization will meet with the General Assembly in the future, attempting to instill the need for monies for each county to have a state funded Youth Development Educator.
Doug Harlan: Amy is funded by the Macon County Extension Unit as the Youth Educator.
Meeting adjourned 6.58P.M.
Next meeting: March 19 -6.00P.M. (Meal @5.30P.M.)
Fern Stinson, Secretary
