Thursday, April 30, 2009

March Issue of the County Agent Magazine is Posted

The March 2009 issue of The County Agent magazine is posted and available at: http://www.nacaa.com/countyagent/2009-03.pdf

You can get this an issues by clicking on "The County Agent Magazine" on the left navigation bar on the NACAA website.

Monday, March 9, 2009

Please update your contact information

Members (and Life Members) PLEASE take a few minutes to log into the NACAA Database and make sure all of your contact information is correct.

Updating your information is especially critical for members who are applying for awards, presentations, posters or submitting journal articles. All of these online application forms are pulling your contact information from the database. If it isn't there or isn't correct, your application may be incomplete.

If you don't know your login and password, click on the red text on the login page where it says:
Don't know your login or password?
Click here to have it emailed to you.

You will be prompted to enter the email address that is in the database for you. If you don't know which email address (or if there is no email address) is in the database, ask another member to look your information up or contact the person in your state responsible for maintaining the state's information (See: Administrative Access Privileges) or contact John Dorner, Electronic Communications Coordinator.

Once you have logged in, you can change both your login and your password to be something you like and can remember. From the "Member Database" page, click on "Change Your Login and/or Password".

If you have any comments or suggestions for improvement to the database or the website in general, please send them to John Dorner.

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

NACAA Group on Facebook

If you have a Facebook account, join the "NACAA - National Association of County Agricultural Agents" group. This will make it easier for us to find each other, share pictures, links, and more.

Also, if you ever brought your kids to the AM/PICs, they might be interested in joining the "NACAA Sons & Daughters" common interest - travel group. Sam Ferree created this group. The description he wrote for the group says it all, "We see/saw each other for one week in the summer almost every year."

Facebook can be a great communications tool, but be warned... it can become habit-forming.

Friday, February 6, 2009

Three Webinar Opportunities for NACAA Members

Listed below, please note three different online learning and participation opportunities that may be of interest to you in your quest for professional improvement. Details and enrollment information follows the event descriptions.

Rick Gibson, NACAA President

THREE WEBINAR OPPORTUNITIES
1. Ethics in Today’s Extension World
Tuesday, February 10, 2009, 2 – 3 pm Eastern Time

2. ANREP and NACDEP Association meetings – South and East Region
Wednesday, February 11, 2009, 1:20 pm – 5:00 pm Eastern Time
  • Change Brings Opportunity: What’s Up at CSRESS and What It Means to Our University Partners
  • Estate Planning or Do I Need a Will?
  • ANREP – NACDEP Open Discussion

3. ANREP and NACDEP Association meetings – Central and West Region
Thursday, February 19, 2009, 1:20 – 5:00 pm Western Time
  • Change Brings Opportunity: What’s Up at CSRESS and What It Means to Our University Partners
  • Beyond Just Talking about the Weather: Climate Science Extension in Arizona
  • ANREP – NACDEP Open Discussion

Webinar details

Ethics in Today’s Extension World
February 10, 2009 , 2 – 3 PM Eastern Time
$25 Registration fee – Participants will receive the url and connection information via email.
Print the registration form found at: http://www.jcep.org/images/JCEP09Registration.pdf and fax it to 704-333-6927 or register online at: http://www.jcep.org/workshops.htm

Dr. Albert C. Pierce, Professor of Ethics and National Security at National Defense University
Dr Pierce has conducted highly regarded seminars on ethics for senior leaders as part of the National Defense University’s Capstone program for New Flag and General Officers. This presentation is a part of the Joint Council of Extension Professionals Regional meetings. The webcast may be cancelled if participation is not sufficient to cover costs.

ANREP and NACDEP Association meetings – South and East Region
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Times listed are Eastern Time zone
URL: _http://connect.extension.iastate.edu/jcep/
1:20 pm Log-on, Welcome and Introductions
1:30 pm Change Brings Opportunity: What’s Up at CSRESS and What It Means to Our University Partners
Eric R. Norland, Ph.D., CF National Program Leader, Forest Resource Management
USDA Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service

The 2008 Farm Bill requires CSREES to transition into the National Institute for Food and Agriculture. Hear an update on the progress toward the National Institute, new programs that will result, and expanded opportunities for the Cooperative Extension System to participate in new competitive grants programs. Additionally, the new science organization in USDA will be discussed as well as the Department’s new Research, Education and Extension Office.

2:15 pm Estate Planning or Do I Need a Will?
Robert A. Tufts, PhD., J.D. Attorney and Associate Professor, Auburn University
School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences

Many states offer extension programs that include estate planning. Robert A. Tufts is both a forester and attorney. Robert’s teaching and research includes the areas of estate planning for landowners, business entities and property law issues for landowners. Learn why you should have an estate plan and what three documents constitute the estate plan. Discuss with Robert
questions you have about teaching these classes in an extension setting.

3:45 pm Opportunities for Collaboration – An Open discussion
ANREP President Mike Reichenbach and NACDEP President Ed Jones

Discussion will focus on current and potential areas of collaboration between JCEP associations. One example is the JCEP sustainability initiative. This is your chance to interact with ANREP and NACDEP members.

ANREP and NACDEP Association meetings – Central and West Region
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Times listed are western time zone
URL: _http://connect.extension.iastate.edu/jcep/

1:20 pm Log-on, Welcome and Introductions
1:30 pm Change Brings Opportunity: What’s Up at CSRESS and What It Means to Our University Partners
Eric R. Norland, Ph.D., CF, National Program Leader, Forest Resource Management
USDA Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service

The 2008 Farm Bill requires CSREES to transition into the National Institute for Food and Agriculture. Hear an update on the progress toward the National Institute, new programs that will result, and expanded opportunities for the Cooperative Extension System to participate in new competitive grants programs. Additionally, the new science organization in USDA will be discussed as well as the Department’s new Research, Education and Extension Office.

2:15 pm Beyond Just Talking about the Weather: Climate Science Extension in Arizona
Michael A. Crimmins, Ph.D.
3:45 PM Opportunities for Collaboration – An Open discussion
ANREP President Mike Reichenbach and NACDEP President Ed Jones

Discussion will focus on current and potential areas of collaboration between JCEP associations. One example is the JCEP sustainability initiative.

This is your chance to interact with ANREP and NACDEP members.

Webinar instructions:
1. Test your computer for compatibility a day or so ahead of the meeting. Go to the url listed for the seminar you wish to attend. Click on the troubleshooting link to make sure that your computer has all that is needed to participate in an Adobe Connect meeting.

2. For the meeting, you will need speakers connected to your computer to hear the audio.

3. You will be able to send questions during the meeting via the chat function. Type your questions and comments and click on the button to send.

4. When entering the meeting, enter as a guest. Type you name as you would like others to see it. You may add your association abbreviation following your name. For example, Mike Reichenbach ANREP

Questions call Mike Reichenbach 218-726-6470
Mike Reichenbach
University of Minnesota Extension
Regional Office Cloquet
179 University Rd
Cloquet, MN 55720

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

County Agent Magazine Available Online

If you've misplaced your hard copy of the County Agent Magazine or want to look at back issues (starting with the December, 2008 issue) they are now available online. There is a link in the green navigation bar on the NACAA web site or directly at: http://www.nacaa.com/countyagent/

Monday, November 24, 2008

Dues Renewal Time

It's that time of year again where your membership dues will once again be due to NACAA. Membership dues are due to NACAA (via your state association) by January 1, 2009. All membership dues not received by March 15, 2009 will unfortunately deactivate your membership. Annual dues to NACAA are $50. NACAA is YOUR Professional Improvement Association... make the most of it and Renew Today. While you're renewing... ask the new agent in your office... or an agent whom you know isn't a part of NACAA... to Join NACAA and be a part of your association. Please contact your state Secretary/Treasurer to make arrangements for 2009.

Schedule for Upcoming County Agent Magazine

Due to this years' conference schedule being held in September, 2009... the NACAA service year is actually a 14 month period. This will cause a slight change in the normal distribution of The County Agent. Here's a schedule of when the publication will be distributed:

December, 2008 Issue
Committee Awards Directory
Deadline for articles: November 17, 2008
Mail Date: December 5, 2005

March, 2009 Issue
Deadline for articles: February 8, 2009
Mail Date: March 1, 2009

May, 2009 Issue
AM/PIC Issue
Deadline for articles: April 20, 2009
Mail Date: May 20, 2009