Wednesday, November 7, 2012

The NACAA e-County Agent - November, 2012







PILD Abstract Submission –

Deadline - Nov. 16

Just a friendly reminder that abstract presentation submissions 
for PILD (April 21-24, 2013) are due no later than November 16, 2012. 
General information for PILD, along with a link to submit your
 abstracts can be found at http://www.jcep.org/pild-conference
Opportunities Available include:
● Oral Presentations – 45-minute sessions including time for 
questions and answers.
● JCEP-sponsored Presentations – 60-minute sessions
 including time for questions and answers.
Up to three partial scholarships (i.e., waived registration fee) 
are available for abstracts selected
for the JCEP-sponsored presentations.*
There are a total of up to 13 oral presentations.

 

Your Membership in NACAA Is Important

From: NACAA President - Paul Craig

In the age of social media such as Facebook and LinkIn many 
professionals often question why belonging to a professional 
association is important. I take great issue with that thinking but
 to many individuals of a younger generation I may seem like a 
dinosaur. Nevertheless, professionally I cannot think of a better 
career and personal experience than belonging to my state and
 national associations of County Agricultural Agents. Let me list a 
few of the advantages of belonging to NACAA.

First, associations are synergistic groups. By that I mean that the effect
 of a collection of people is greater than one person.
Second, belonging to NACAA allows members to associate with individuals 
who do what you, understand your joys and frustrations and have 
weathered the same storms.
Third, by becoming active in an association you develop leadership skills 
that will be used throughout your career.
Fourth, by belonging you gain the opportunity to have a career mentor or
 to become a mentor to another member. This can be a very rewarding 
career experience.
Fifth is scholarship. NACAA offers financial opportunities for continuing
 education, travel and in-service training.
Sixth – Awards and recognition for your outstanding work and to 
enhance your promotional package.
Seventh is providing the opportunity to stay abreast of the latest developments 
in your field through the NACAA Journal, The County Agent magazine, Annual 
Meetings and webinars.
Finally, eighth is actually my number one reason and my greatest benefit for
 belonging to NACAA. This is the people that I have met and the friends I have 
made throughout my career in PA and across the US!

I encourage all NACAA members to renew your membership today.
 I would also encourage everyone to seek out other Extension employees
 in your states and invite them to join. As I stated in reason number one, 
we are all greater as agents because of the synergy that your association 
provides. Please join us today. I will be a better county agent because 
of your membership.

Pesticide Stewardship Brochures 

Available to Extension Agents - FREE

NACAA has partnered with Syngenta on the production of five Pesticide 
Stewardship brochures which are highly informative on methods for 
proper safety. Hard copies of these publications are available for free by 
completing the following order form 
and submitting directly to Syngenta (carol.somody@syngenta.com).

Listings and Electronic Versions of the stewardship brochures can be 
found on the NACAA website 
at http://www.nacaa.com/countyagent/PesticideStewardship.php

Whether you are or are not an advocate of pesticide use is NOT the issue - 
the issue is when someone chooses to use a pesticide, it is critical that 
they know what they are doing. This is where you as an Extension Agent can help! 
Please do your part to promote Pesticide Safety.


DAIReXNET (national eXtension)

 Webinars- Free to the Public

All of our currently planned webinars have been approved for one credit of 
CEU from ARPAS. To obtain the credit, you will need to apply for it 
on www.arpas.org after attending the session.

Diagnosing Problems in Nutrition Programs Through Records
November 19, 2012
12:00-1:00 PM Central Time
Dr. Greg Bethard, North Carolina State University
There are numerous points in a nutrition program where problems may arise, 
especially when you're dealing with transition cows. In this webinar, you can
 learn how to use records to track performance of transition and early lactation 
cows to diagnose problems in your nutrition program.

Other Upcoming Webinars
Feeding Systems for Group-Housed Dairy Calves
Dr. Mark Thomas, Countryside Veterinary Clinic
December 7, 2012
12:00-1:00 PM Central Time

Potential and Pitfalls for Genomic Selection
Dr. Chad Dechow, Pennsylvania State University
January 14, 2013
12:00-1:00 PM Central Time

Better Milk Quality from Better Mastitis Therapy Decisions
Dr. Ron Erskine, Michigan State University
February 12, 2013
12:00-1:00 PM Central Time

Far Off to Fresh Cow - Opportunities to Improve Transition Performance
Dr. Mike Overton, Elanco
March 18, 2013
12:00-1:00 PM Central Time

Economic Analysis Tools for Dairy Reproduction Programs
Dr. Victor Cabrera, University of Wisconsin-Madison
April 8, 2013
12:00-1:00 PM Central Time

New Tools for Dairy Reproduction Programs
Dr. Paul Fricke, University of Wisconsin-Madison
April 22, 2013
12:00-1:00 PM Central Time

You can also view our past webinars 

Feel free to email or call us with any questions you may have:
Nancy McGill
859-257-7541
Donna Amaral-Phillips
859-257-7542

 









 


Tuesday, October 16, 2012

October "County Agent" Magazine Now On-Line

The October 2012 edition of "The County Agent" magazine has been mailed and is now also available on-line for viewing.  The magazine can be found at:  http://www.nacaa.com/countyagent/2012-10.pdf

Tuesday, October 2, 2012

PILD Request for Proposals - November 9 Deadline



Public Issues Leadership
Development Conference
Sponsored by Joint Council of Extension Professionals
April 21-24, 2013
Alexandria Westin
Alexandria, Virginia

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS for Oral Presentations
Theme:           Public Issues Leadership Development: What you CAN do...

The Joint Council of Extension Professionals’ (JCEP) Annual Public Issues Leadership Development Conference (PILD) is a unique professional development opportunity that brings together leaders from all levels and subject matter areas of Extension and key volunteers and elected officials to gain insight into the “big picture” of how the Extension system and our government work at the federal level. This year the PILD Conference will once again provide capacity building for extension advocacy and Extension programs in the context of relevant public issues affecting the future of Extension Professionals and the populations they serve.

Call for Abstracts
This year's Planning Committee invites you to highlight your own contributions to Cooperative Extension that give insights into issues that are currently affecting our Extension programming, clientele and volunteers.  Our concurrent sessions will tackle the theme 'Public Issues Leadership Development: What you CAN do...'  These sessions will be for professional development rather than program reports and should offer some education on issues including how to inform others and how to react when they occur.  Presentations should highlight productive models of extension advocacy; and how Extension programs successfully address relevant and emerging public issues. They should also illustrate how these models can be readily replicated in other states. We will continue to focus on efforts where Extension fills an essential niche or provides vital leadership for addressing these issues.

All attendees including presenters must register for the conference.

Presentation format:
      Oral Presentations – 45-minute sessions including time for questions and answers.
      JCEP-sponsored Presentations – 60-minute sessions including time for questions and answers.  Up to three partial scholarships (i.e., waived registration fee) are available for abstracts selected for the JCEP-sponsored presentations.* 

We have a combined total of up to 13 oral presentations to fill.

Abstracts will be reviewed based on one or more of the following:
1.       Uniqueness and relevance of the extension or advocacy program
2.       Demonstrates how program can be replicated at other locations
3.       Addresses an emerging need and addresses the mission of the PILD conference



Additional Guidelines and Information:
      Proposals must be submitted by November 9, 2012.
      All proposals must be received electronically via the online submission process by 5:00 p.m., November 9, 2012. The link to submit a proposal is available at the JCEP website at: www.jcep.org under “PILD Conference.”
      Applicants must be a current member of one of the JCEP Professional Organizations.
      Failure to adhere to the guidelines may result in non-evaluation of the proposal by the JCEP Review Committee.
      The proposals will be reviewed by the JCEP PILD Review Committee which is comprised of the representatives from each of the Extension Professional Organizations: ANREP, ESP, NAE4-HA, NACAA, NEAFCS, and NACDEP.
      Proposals will be evaluated upon the following weighted criteria:  addressing topic as outlined above --15%; adherence to format --10%; value of information to participants -- 50%; and interest of topic to participants -- 25%.
      Applicants will be informed of selection by December 21, 2012.
      Selected presenters will have their presentation information posted on the JCEP Web site.

* All abstracts will be peer-reviewed by an all-association review committee. The three highest ranking abstracts will selected for the JCEP-sponsored concurrent extended presentation session. For each JCEP-sponsored presentation, one registration fee will be waived (a total of $350). The JCEP-sponsored presentations will be 60 minutes long, including time for questions and answers. 

PILD Mission: To provide leadership and advocacy skills to effect public issues.

Objectives:
      Broaden understanding of public policy issues that impact Extension and Extension clientele.
      Enhance advocacy and public policy education skills.
      Learn how the changing political environment affects support for Extension.
      Build political and public support for Extension through consistent and targeted communication with decision makers.
      Strengthen existing partnerships and explore new linkages with local, state and federal agencies.
      Visit with federal legislators and decision makers to observe the political process in action.

Sponsored by:
JCEP – Joint Council of Extension Professionals
For conference details, visit www.jcep.org