In this report...

Balance is something we all strive for in a variety of situations. I recently asked the Extension staff what came to mind when they heard the word, "balance." Their responses included:

• balancing time between work and family
• balancing personal budgets
• balancing farm expenses with revenues
• balancing environmental impact of pesticide uses on the farm or in the landscape
• balancing community growth and rural preservation
• balancing diet and nutrition

As we evaluated our Extension programs for last year, we found that regardless of the subject or the age group involved, these educational efforts provided valuable information to McLean County residents as they worked to "keep their balance" while juggling lives, careers, and resources. We also recognized just how many other people, including campus specialists and Extension educators from across the state, helped us achieve our goals!

This report provides a snapshot of the past year's activities and accomplishments, and serves to illustrate the many ways University of Illinois Extension - McLean County helps people put knowledge to work all year round.

Donald E. Meyer, Unit Leader University of Illinois Extension - McLean County

• Life Skills Programs enabled 25 non-traditional students in Heartland Community College's Business Essentials Program to increase their skills in time management, selfesteem, overcoming obstacles and barriers, conflict management, setting goals, and workforce preparation.
  
  
• Consumers often need answers to food safety questions, and during the past year, Extension staff answered 400 such questions, in addition to more than 350 inquiries about food preparation and nutrition information.|
  
  
• In cooperation with McLean County Home Community Education Association, 16 community volunteers attended an Extension workshop to prepare them to teach others about "Building a Better Memory" and "Meal Planning for 1 or 2." The volunteers then "extended" the information to an additional 300 McLean County residents.
  
  
• 60 caregivers of older adults participated in our second annual "Caregiver's Day Out". As they spent time relaxing and "refueling" in the company of others in similar situations, they also learned techniques for keeping healthy and strong as they continue to care for others.
  
  
• Extension collaborated with several other McLean County organizations to provide 135 Spanish-speaking residents with ongoing, interactive Family Nutrition programs with an interpreter at each event. Monthly bilingual newsletters were also distributed to organizations serving Spanish-speaking families.
  
  
• Crop and livestock educators led 64 participants on pasture tours to explain improvements in pasture management.
  
  
• Extension collaborated with Bloomington Parks & Recreation to host a 5-week summer art camp to allow young people to discover new media and enhance their artistic skills.
  
  
• In cooperation with the National Center on Poverty Law, Extension Educators hosted and taught a fourday training on "Financial Links for Low Income People" for 21 agency/organizational staff to enable them to effectively share financial education with individuals and groups struggling to manage very limited resources.
  
  
• Master Gardeners shared their expertise at numerous community events and fairs, and researched answers to more than 1,000 Horticulture Hotline questions.
  
  
• The Camp Clover traveling summer program reached 110 youth in 8 communities. The camp offered kids the chance to learn about food and nutrition and have some fun with science.
  
  
• Extension programs and newsletters provided useful information that allowed 9,207 McLean County families to demonstrate their ability to safely serve nutritious meals on a budget.
  
  
• Teaming up with Township Officials of Illinois, our Unit provided Risk Management education for township officials across McLean County. The program, titled "Which Way Is Right?" was designed to reduce the potential for claims or lawsuits as officials go about their work to serve local citizens.
  
  
• Master Gardeners shared horticulture information and encouragement with residents of Mayor's Manor (affordable housing unit for single adults) to help them learn to care for the landscaping and garden areas at the facility.
  
  
• A local drive-through Household Hazardous Waste Collection diverted 13,585 gallons of hazardous materials from McLean County's waste stream. 2,217 households delivered household hazardous waste materials during the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency event sponsored by the Ecology Action Center and Extension.
  
  
• By partnering with the Town of Normal and Heartland Community College, Extension offered 14 programs to 160 youth residing in low- to moderateincome housing.
  
  
• In collaboration with local school districts, businesses and other organizations, Extension hosted a Back to School Party for more than 500 homeless and low-income families in McLean County. The event helped ensure that students had immunizations and physicals as well as documentation to enable them to attend their first day of school. Families also received backpacks with school supplies with support from local businesses.
  
  
• A group of 21 McLean County women attended a two-day workshop led by U of I economists to learn the basics and successful strategies for grain marketing.
  
  
• More than 2,600 sixth grade students in McLean County were offered the opportunity to work side-by-side with employees in area businesses of all types in partnership activities emphasizing creativity and teamwork.
  
  
• Through 13 University of Illinois Extension Workshops, 260 residents explored goals to help them "Identify Later Life Financial Security".
  
  
• Pesticide application safety education was provided to 276 farmers through local workshops.
  
  
• Extension offered four area college students a chance to learn and to teach through internships and volunteer experiences.
  
  
• Extension collaborated with Heartland Community College and the Town of Normal to host a 7-week summer camp for 25 youngsters at UNITY Community Center. (Participants learned about healthy snacks as well as some science and basic life skills.)
  
  
• More than 1,100 4-H members displayed nearly 11,000 project entries at the McLean County 4-H Fair. The five-day show and exhibition allows 4-Hers to demonstrate skills and creativity in a competitive setting. This process also spotlights our young people as good citizens and leaders.
  
  
• The Job Shadowing program allowed more than 500 students from 5 area high schools to get a first-hand look at various careers and learn about the world of work.
  
  
• More than 500 volunteer 4-H leaders with 58 clubs around the county provided hands-on educational experiences in a positive environment so 1,200 young people could have fun while learning important life skills.
  
  
• 11 McLean County 4-H members who excelled in leadership, project knowledge and community service during their years in the program were honored as delegates to the National 4-H Congress.

The McLean County Unit experienced substantial increases in almost all of the following areas for this program year.

• The monthly Extension Newsletter reaches 5,800 McLean County households 10 times per year.
  
  
• Weekly Extension radio news programs and features are aired on WJBC.
  
  
• "Ag in the Schoolroom" column appears each month in area weekly papers.
  
  
• "In the Kitchen" column is featured each week in the Twin City Community News.
  
  
• Extension staff and Master Gardeners respond to individual inquiries from more than 7,000 county residents annually.
  
  
• Legislative Connection News sent to local legislators and County Board Members highlights Youth Development Programs provided through Extension.
  
  
• We collaborate on programming with more than 130 businesses, social service agencies and schools.
  
  
• Our staff relies on more than 1,500 trained volunteers and facilitates numerous special interest programs for area residents of all ages.
  
  
• Nearly 20,000 visitors view our educational website for information and online program registration.
  
  
• Our staff routinely answers questions and provides commentary on a wide variety of issues affecting our region, state and nation when called upon by area media.

• Donald E. Meyer, Unit Leader
• Susan Bandy, Unit Educator, Community Economic Development
• Tina Veal, Unit Educator, Youth Development
• Robin Bagwell, Nutrition/Family Life
• Sharon Becker, Compact Programs
• Juleene Hrasch, Family Nutrition Program
• Emily Intveld, Compact Programs
• Kathy Johnson, Life Skills Teacher
• Randy Lloyd, School Programs
• Sandy McGhee Yanzy, Special Programs
• Steve Schwoerer, Agriculture/Horticulture
• Rosemarie Christensen, Secretary
• Barbara Ely, Secretary

• Dan Brady
  
• Rich Buchanan
  
• Jon Clary
  
• Larry Finck
  
• Fred Gent
  
• Mariellen Griffith
  
• Becky Hines
  
• Tammy Kimmel
  
• Randy Mattoon
  
• Kathryn McNeely
  
• Robert Miller
  
• Jorge Ovalle
  
• Jim Rafferty
  
• Brian Schaumburg
  
• Jill Scholl
• Faye Freeman-Smith
  
• Charlotte Talkington
  
• Pat Turner
  
• Brad Vissering
  
• Jean Wager
  
• Katie Walters
  
• Vicki Waterson
  
• Pam Womack