eNEAFCS-August 2018 Print
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August 2018

2018 NEAFCS Annual Session Advanced Registration Deadline Sept. 7th!

Table of Contents

President's Message

President's Charity

Feeling The Excitement

Training to Win

PILD Reflections

Southern Region Highlights

National Nominating Committee Report

A Virtual Tour of the 2018 Annual Session

More on NEAFCS Turning 85

10 Tips for a Great Annual Session

Proposed Bylaw Changes

Meet the Board: Western Region Director


Important Dates

NEAFCS 2018 Annual Session Registration
Advanced Deadline 9/7/18

NEAFCS 2018 Annual Session
September, 24-27
San Antonio, TX

NEAFCS 2019 Annual Session
Sept. 30 - Oct. 3, 2019
Hershey, PA


IMPORTANT UPDATE FROM THE NATIONAL OFFICE

The Marriott Rivercenter, host hotel for the 2018 NEAFCS Annual Session, has notified us that we have sold out of our group block on a few of our peak meeting nights. We recommend you make a hotel reservation at the higher prevailing rate during these nights as we expect rooms to open up in our block as we get closer to Annual Session. At this time, you will be able to move those nights into our discounted block rate if you have a reservation already made.  

Looking for a roommate? Do you have a hotel room and looking for a roommate? Please visit the website here to notify us so we can assist you, as well as possibly open up a room for other attendees. This is a great way to save money and meet new colleagues. 

If you try and make a reservation and the hotel is offering certain nights at a higher rate than the discounted rate, please email the National Office so we can offer assistance when additional rooms open up. 


Please add the following two emails to your "safe sender" or "white lists" to ensure you continue to receive emails from NEAFCS as we move to a new system. 

[email protected]

[email protected]

For those of you accessing your email through a work email server, you may wish to share this information with your IT person and ask for their help in ensuring the email addresses are added to your safe sender lists.

 

 

 

 

National Extension Association of Family & Consumer Science
325 John Knox Rd. Suite L103
Tallahassee, FL 32303
(850) 205-5638
[email protected]

 

 

President's Message
Lora Lee Frazier Howard (KY) 

My, how quickly a year has passed.  It is difficult to believe that this will be my last NEAFCS Network article as your president.  Thank you for giving me the opportunity to serve this great association as your President.  It has been a wonderful experience.  I have been able to meet and talk with so many of you this year at JCEP, PILD, over the phone and through e-mail.  It was a pleasure representing you on the JCEP Board.

At this time, we have over 800 attendees registered for Annual Session.  It will be here before we know it.  We will be voting on by-laws changes at the business meeting. You should find additional information about those changes in this newsletter from Jovita Lewis, By-Laws Chair. Also, your Regional Meeting will be a luncheon this year taking place on Tuesday. 

What do you need to bring to Texas with you? Packing can include your backpack or small case for the service project, silent auction items and don’t forget the Texas Marketplace and the President’s Charity (i.e., the San Antonio Food Bank).  I’m looking forward to seeing each of you in San Antonio.

I would encourage you to become involved in the association at the state and national level.  You will be making an investment in your own professional growth.  I believe it will be a decision you won’t regret. 

You have one more opportunity to find the Texas star in this newsletter.  We will send out a notice to let you know who won the free registration for finding the icon.  Last month’s winners were Wanda Carpenter (AL), Sandra McKinnon (IA), and Barbara Wollan (IA).

Blessings for a wonderful year and thank you for the opportunity to serve you.

Sincerely, 
Lora Lee

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President’s Charity
Lora Lee Frazier Howard (KY) 

I am pleased to announce that I have chosen the San Antonio Food Bank as my President’s Charity.  We have posted a short video on the website and some additional information for your viewing.  The San Antonio Food Bank helps by growing food for the Farmers Market, food assistance and distribution, benefits assistance, job assistance, mobile food truck and programs for the elderly and children. 

A donation of $25 will provide 175 meals or will provide meals and snacks for a family for 1 week.  As a family and consumer science professional, I know you are as concerned as I am for families to have adequate food.  You will have the opportunity to donate at the end of the first General Session.  Be looking for the ladies with the baskets at the doors as you exit.  If you are interested in additional information, check their website, https://safoodbank.org/.

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Feeling The Excitement! 
Edda Z. Cotto-Rivera, Vice-President Member Resources   

Every year, the members of our organization have the opportunity to come together as a group to learn and participate in diverse professional development activities. This year, we will be visiting one of my favorite cities: San Antonio! More than 30 years ago, I lived in the Texas border city of Laredo, located a few hours away. I treasured the memory of strolling down the River Walk with my family and my 15-day newborn baby when I was traveling to catch a flight to go visit Puerto Rico to introduce her to the rest of the family. I also remember that every year my mother used to say, “If you are coming to visit, please don’t surprise me. Let me know that you are coming as soon as possible so I can enjoy the anticipation of seeing you”.

That expression came to mind when I was writing this article. Are you enjoying the anticipation of coming to San Antonio and seeing a great group of people? We have more than 100 first timers, we have registered to attend interesting in-depth sessions, we have downloaded the conference app, we are sharing our excitement on Facebook, and we are making plans to connect or reconnect with new and old friends. Let us all plan to make great memories in San Antonio! I look forward to creating new and meaningful ones!  

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Training to Win
Eugenia Wilson (KY), Awards Committee, Training Subcommittee Member 

Don’t assume that great performance automatically leads to recognition. Learn to TOOT your own horn when writing awards. Great programming has to start with a great program! If you think you have all the right stuff and still are not winning awards, then the Awards Concurrent Session in Texas is one you MUST attend.

Awards are the most conventionally accepted method for proving to others that your work is necessary, complete, and effective. The key to winning awards is demonstrating the clients' needs, program objectives, and impact from utilizing researched-based materials. These topics are all directly linked. How many times at the end of a program have you realized it was great and made long-term impact, but you did not have award winning documentation?  Most awards require documented impact assessed during the evaluation stage of programming, which is often challenging to generate. 

Attend this session to help you learn more about making this a programming priority. Awards should not be the last thought after your program is complete, but one of your first thoughts during the planning phase of every program. During this concurrent session you will learn what is needed up front, so you will have the necessary documentation for an award winning application submission.  Attend and make this awards session an opportunity for you to network, creating multistate partners for your next award winning program.  Wednesday, September 26th at 8:45 am-- Hope to see you there!!  First Timers welcome!! 

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PILD Reflections
Edited By: Julie Garden Robinson (ND), Vice President Public Affairs

The PILD conference exceeded my expectations.  The two conference days were packed with inspiring stories and ideas that can be applied to managing our programs at home and feeling connected to the national discussion. As a result of the conference I have signed my “commitment to civility” to help facilitate more productive and positive conversations, I started to explore the images and statements that are part of John Noltner's “A Peace of My Mind” project, and I added to my list of books to read on leadership topics such as “Humble Inquiry” by Edgar Schein and “Turn Your Ship Around” by David Marquet. I was reminded that some questions are more powerful than others and those that start with “why,” “what” and “how,” are better at getting answers than those that start with “did,” “which” or “will.” After hearing about the opioid crisis at the conference yet again, I began exploring what my role should be in addressing this dilemma. Finally, we received lots of advice on how to share our program impacts with legislators, and after visiting with them, it seems that telling one story about how our program(s) make a difference had the biggest impact. This conference let me think about how my programming fits into the broader role of Extension in the U.S. and I appreciated the opportunity to learn about the important issues that other FCS agents are addressing in their work. 

Robin Maille, Oregon

My attending the Public Issues Leadership Development Conference for the first time was nothing short of amazing. Although I had never met any of the attendees before, it seemed as if we were all family. It was an excellent opportunity to network and be amongst such a diverse group sharing a common goal. I left the conference with a much better understanding and appreciation for Extension. Honestly, I was a little anxious about our Hill visits, but the “Communicating on the Hill” session and the House and Senate Staffers' presentations really help shed light on what was expected and gave me the confidence I needed to share my story and be an advocate for Extension. It was not only my first national conference but also my first time in D.C., and I am grateful for the opportunity.

Malikah Jones, Mississippi

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, right?  Knowing how to listen with understanding to solve a problem can be a little challenging. Participating in the PILD conference with the theme “Civil Dialogue in the Public Arena” gave the answers on how to handle critical issues in the Extension environment, the skits of the “how to” and “how not to” handle discussions with elected officials gave the visual needed for a first- timer like myself. Learning the difference between advocating versus educating about Extension prepared me for the Hill visits. Meeting other Extension Agents and discussing their successes and challenges of how they solved their local issues was invaluable. This experience motivated me to continue educating my community by providing quality programs that lead to behavior change and share with stakeholders what Extension does.

Natasha Parks, Florida

Everything about the Public Issues Leadership Development conference was informative and enjoyable!  I attended as part of my state's Family and Consumer Sciences President-Elect duties. This conference was packed full of beautiful sites, amazing Extension colleagues, useful information, and great discussions. First of all, learning about the “structure of Extension” and its connection to USDA impacted me the most. Having the time to chat and listen to fellow Extension professionals also was part of my experience at PILD. Attending the FCS session and Associations' Night Out provided me with the opportunity to catch up with individuals I have met at the annual sessions and make new connections as well. When the day came for visits on Capitol Hill I was concerned that I would not be the “advocate” that was needed. However, the conference sessions and presentations had prepared me more than I expected. At each visit, I found my voice and confidently shared Extension's outreach and impact in my state. The PILD conference experience has made me a better advocate and leader. Because of this, I encourage everyone to attend. I feel now, more than ever, a greater connection to the Cooperative Extension community and its commitment to extending knowledge and changing lives. 

Candace Heer, Ohio 

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Southern Region Highlights
Dianne Gertson (TX), Southern Region Director 

The North Carolina Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences will hold their Annual Business Meeting and Professional Development on August 14-16 at Great Wolf Lodge in Concord, NC.  The theme “All Paws Come Together” recognizes North Carolina Cooperative Extension and the two universities working together, North Carolina A&T and North Carolina State University.  The mascots for each school respectively are the bulldog and the wolf…hence “All Paws Come Together”, and all hands working together!   The keynote address will be provided by Dr. Claudette Smith, Associate Administrator from NC A&T and the cap note send-off provided by Dr. Sarah Kirby, FCS Program Leader for NC State.

Professional Development Highlights of the meeting include:

  • A Healthy Office Starts with Us
  • Meal Prep Boot Camp
  • Speed Networking
  • Food Business Panel
  • Showcase of Excellence Poster Session

During the Annual Business Meeting, the membership will vote on a revised leadership structure to streamline the number of officers.  An Awards Banquet will celebrate the successes of our amazing agents!

Submitted by Jayne McBurney (NC)

Texas is offering a great souvenir t-shirt for the San Antonio Annual Session.  The t-shirt is white with the Annual Session logo.  The t-shirt will be a cool option for the September Texas heat!  Texas will be taking pre-orders with a limited number of shirts available at the Texas sales table.  Checks and credit cards will be accepted.  A flyer will be sent to Affiliate Presidents to share with their members.  We hope everyone will want to remember a Rootin’ Tootin’ Texas time with a t-shirt. 

Submitted by Denita Young (TX)

Greetings from sunny Florida! We are all preparing for our state joint meeting of professionals for state recognition and program sharing. We had budget cuts in 2017 which appeared to be reinstated until the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. Money was diverted to increasing security in Florida schools. As a result, the administration offered incentive packages to those with 30 or more years in the system and some highly experienced, excellent educators have chosen to retire. It has been announced that those positions are scheduled to be filled. We have a good - sized group planning to attend Annual Session and are looking forward to it!  

Submitted by LuAnn Duncan (FL)

Kentucky invites you to attend the President’s Reception at the NEAFCS Annual Session on Thursday, September 27, 6:00 to 7:00 p.m., as we honor Lora Lee Howard.  Lora is the first member from Kentucky to serve in the role of President and we are very proud of her.  Come celebrate with us!

We also welcome Dr. Jennifer Hunter to the position of Assistant Extension Director of Family and Consumer Sciences.  Dr. Hunter has worked in Extension at several levels and most recently served as Interim Assistant Director.  We are excited to see where she leads the Kentucky Extension Family and Consumer Sciences program. 

Submitted by Jill Harris (KY)

Oklahoma is excited about bringing a large delegation to the National meeting. Some of our delegation will be receiving some awards, some are working with the silent auction and some will be attending for their first time. Oklahoma will be selling the NEAFCS bracelets at our sales table. Don’t miss the bling!!! Come see us!

Submitted by Radonna Sawatzky (OK)

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National Nominating Committee Report
Theresa Mayhew (NY), Immediate Past President 

First of all, I would like to thank the members of the 2017-18 National Nominating Committee for their hard work, perseverance and passion for our organization. They started working on their task in late January and met monthly via conference calls with lots of emails in between. We met even more frequently during April and May. Please join me in acknowledging them for serving NEAFCS and carrying out this critically important task. Those committee members are:

Eastern Region: David Roberts (WV) and Karen Ensle (NJ)
Central Region: Carol Chandler (OH) and Kathleen Olson (MN)   
Southern Region: Amanda Hardy (KY) and Sally Garret (TX)
Western Region: Glenda Hyde (OR) and Gisele Jefferson (CO)

Secondly, it has been my pleasure to serve as chairman of this committee which is one of the duties of the Immediate Past President. It is with much pride that I can now introduce the candidates for office for 2018-2019. This slate has been approved by the Board. Please remember that we have a no campaigning for office policy!

President-ElectRoxie Price (GA)
Secretary – Jessica Trussell (MO)
Vice President Member Resources – Lorrie Coop (TX) and Cindy Davies (NM)
Vice President Professional Development – Jayne McBurney (NC)
Eastern Region Director - Sharon McDonald (PA)
Western Region Director - Lisa Terry (MT)

If you are attending Annual Session in San Antonio, please look for the candidates’ display which will feature their nomination documentation in the Exhibit Hall. This article includes each candidate’s position statement on why they are a candidate for office. Additional information on each candidate can also be found on the website by clicking this link - https://neafcs.memberclicks.net/2018-board-candidates-new. If you are a voting delegate for your Affiliate, it is your responsibility to read through these position statements and review each candidate’s dossier. Encourage others in your affiliate to do the same, so you can decide as an Affiliate which candidates you support for these offices.  

Business Meeting and Election Procedures
The Eastern and Western Region Director candidates will give their three-minute speeches and be elected by voting delegates during their respective Regional Meetings and Awards Luncheons on Tuesday, September 25 which take place from 11:15 am to 1:15 pm. All other candidates will give their speeches during Opening Session on Monday, September 24 (1:30 – 4:30 pm). They will be elected by voting delegates during the NEAFCS Annual Business Meeting on Wednesday, September 26 from 2:15-4:15 pm.

Candidate Position Statements:
Roxie Price (President-Elect):  I want to serve this association in the way it has served me for the past 14 years. NEAFCS has provided me with wonderful resources including, but not limited to, awesome mentors, research-based ideas for programming, recognition for a job well done, opportunities for professional development that have allowed me to grow as a leader, and a heart full of friends and memories that will last me a lifetime.

Jessica Trussell (Secretary):  I would like to be a candidate for the position of Secretary because I would like to gain a greater understanding of the organization and increase my leadership skills while simultaneously giving back to our organization. When most people think of a secretary role, they think of taking minutes and sending them out. This is true, it is a responsibility of the secretary, but there are other duties as well. Some of those include working with board members for reports and newsletter articles, chairing the By-Laws Committee, working on registration with National Office, and managing organizational business, such as motions. These duties and responsibilities allow the person in the secretary position to gain a unique, overarching perspective and understanding of NEAFCS and the prominent role it plays in support of Extension faculty and staff across the country. I look forward to gaining experiences in the next two years to help me grow as a leader and to consider future endeavors within the national organization and our profession.

Lorrie Coop (Vice President Member Resources):  I feel it’s time to step forward and give back to an organization that has given me so much. Throughout my Extension career, being a member of NEAFCS has provided me with outstanding professional development opportunities. I have participated in numerous Annual Sessions, met and collaborated with colleagues across the nation while serving on various committees, and gained valuable experience and resources to help me better meet the needs of the families I serve as a Family and Community Health agent in Texas. I have served in numerous leadership roles within the Member Resources Diversity Sub-committee and believe whole-heartedly that our members are this organization’s greatest asset. Developing, engaging, and retaining our membership, from First Timers to Life Members, is the key to our success. As Vice President for Member Resources I would further promote the resources we have available to us, while encouraging members at all levels to actively participate in all of the professional development opportunities NEAFCS has to offer.

Cindy Davies (Vice President Member Resources):  NEAFCS has been a huge blessing to my life professionally and personally.  I am passionate about what NEAFCS has to offer FCS staff around the country and I’d like to help members learn more of what NEAFCS can do for them. In 2011 the Annual Session was held in Albuquerque and being the only NEAFCS member who actually lived in Albuquerque I was very involved in the New Mexico chapter hosting the annual session.

From 2012-2014 I served as the Western Region director.  It was my privilege to serve on the national board and, I learned a lot and was able to contribute much. I would like another opportunity to serve on the NEAFCS national board and feel VP of Member Resources is a job I’d like to do.

I am familiar with all the committees of Member Resources and have served on most of those committees nationally. This past annul session (2017) I was the chair of the first time member and life time member event committee. I have been the VP of Member Resources with the New Mexico state affiliate.  I have chaired the National Committee for Exhibits and New Member/Life Member which are both committees of Member Resources.

Jayne McBurney (Vice President Professional Development):  Striving for continuous professional development and growth has been my goal since becoming a professional in the field of home economics in 1985.  Perhaps the 4-H motto, “Making the Best Better” is so ingrained in me that I cannot avoid the desire to improve upon the best.

Serving in a leadership role in our national organization is a way for me to help others achieve their best.  A well-organized Executive Committee serves as the foundation for an organization that runs smoothly, intentionally, and with purpose.  The Vice President for Professional Development assures that opportunities for members are available to learn and grow professionally, learn from others to avoid ‘re-creating the wheel’, and bring value to attendance at the National Meeting.

I have attended five national meetings, participating fully in pre-conferences, concurrent sessions, and in-depth sessions.  I have presented a concurrent session and been in the Showcase of Excellence twice and served on the Exhibits Committee for two years.   I have a sense of what these opportunities offer our membership and look to strengthen the quality and value of these opportunities for the next two years.  With upcoming meetings in Hershey, PA and a ‘yet to be determined’ location in 2020, creating interesting and unique opportunities will be necessary to encourage members to attend and invest in themselves. I have served my State Association of NEAFCS well since joining in 2007.  I now look forward to serving at the National level. 

Sharon McDonald (Eastern Region Director):  I have been a member of NEAFCS and my Pennsylvania affiliate since I joined Extension in 2000. The organization has afforded me the opportunity to travel, meet new people, receive awards (both monetary and achievement) and most importantly learn from some of the best educators in the country. One of the characteristics of this organization that I have found most compelling is the networking among fellow Extension professionals. The comradery and respect for one another and a willingness to share information and knowledge, is something not always seen among professionals. At this point in my career, I feel the position of Eastern Regional Director will provide me the chance to give back to an organization that has been such an important part of my success as an Extension educator. 

Lisa Terry (Western Region Director):  Being a member of the National Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences has been the highlight of my career. Through its many professional development opportunities, networking events and family-like atmosphere, I have grown not only professionally but personally as well.  Through the organization, I have developed relationships with educators all over the nation. The most important and most cherished relationships are the mentorships I was privileged to form within the NEAFCS leadership circles. These individuals helped me understand how important the network of NEAFCS professionals is in the development of comradery and team spirit across the nation.

Through this comradery and team spirit, we as extension educators are able to support one another when creating and disseminating FCS programming. This support comes in the form of multi-state program sharing, development of curriculum, providing research and peer reviews, creating program evaluation tools and giving recognition to our members for a job well done. This is a family of professionals that I am honored to be a member of.

Additionally, it would be an honor to serve as a mentor for Western Region Affiliate Presidents and encourage them as I have been encouraged to give back to an organization that has given so much to me. I believe that what I have gleaned from my mentors will also encourage and strengthen NEAFCS in the Western Region to join in this NEAFCS “team spirit” and I’m prepared to be the “cheer-leader” to lead them there!

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A Virtual Tour of the 2018 Annual Session
Karen DeZarn (TX), Vice-President Professional Development 

San Antonio is one of the most popular cities to visit in the United States.  Top sights include the Alamo, historic missions, SeaWorld, Six Flags Fiesta Texas and the San Antonio Zoo to name a few.  There are over 50 golf courses, historic neighborhoods and stunning architecture.  There is also diverse culture and cuisine, vibrant arts communities and friendly people.  This year’s Annual Session is set right in the middle of the world-famous urban waterway, the River Walk, which is just a few steps away from the Alamo where the Leadership Event will take place. 

In addition to the setting for this Annual Session you will also be inspired by the wealth of presentations and showcases of excellence, pre-conference sessions, nationally-recognized speakers and in-depth sessions that await you. The Showcase of Excellence has expanded this year to include a World Café format and Ignite Sessions. We invite you to peruse the Annual Session offerings in advance of the conference.  The descriptions of the workshops and sessions can be found on our NEAFCS website. There is still time to register for conference and for pre-conference and in-depth sessions. There are five onsite and five offsite in-depth sessions still available.  Advanced registration is until September 7th.

We are excited that our new NEAFCS Annual Session app will help us to stay up-to-date on events and the latest news while in San Antonio.  Gamification is also being added which will be a fun way to participate at conference. Search “2018 NEAFCS Annual Session” in the App store.

Be prepared to enjoy the conference, make new friends and reconnect with existing ones, participate in committee and regional meetings and most of all…enjoy our traditions, seek knowledge and learn how to innovate from the outstanding educational opportunities the 2018 NEAFCS Annual Session: Building Capacity through People, Programs and Partnerships will bring you!

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More on NEAFCS Turning 85
Theresa Mayhew (NY), Immediate Past President 

Last month President Lora Lee shared that NEAFCS turns 85 next year when we are in Hershey, PA for Annual Session 2019.  We will kick off a year-long celebration starting with our Annual Session in San Antonio this September. Our 85th Anniversary committee starts meeting this month to fine tune our plans for the coming year. We will use social media, our website and the NEAFCS Network to publicize what will take place along the way. We will most likely be looking for testimonials and input from you -- our members -- so be on the lookout!

For those of you attending Annual Session in San Antonio, we’ll have a small pre-85th anniversary party/reception in the Exhibit Hall so stay tuned for further details. An 85 things to do list will be available soon, as well as information on our special 85th anniversary pin. Our goal is to make this coming year one of participatory fun and pride that takes a look back at our organization’s beginnings as well as what our future holds.  To paraphrase Prince, get ready “to party like its 1934 (and then some!).”  If you have any ideas for our 85th commemorative year, please share them with committee chair Debby Mathews at [email protected]. Thanks!

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10 Tips for a Great Annual Session
Lorrie Coop (TX) and Linda Wells (TX), Co-Liaisons 

Attending conferences can be one of the most important things you can do for your career. However, they can be an overwhelming rush of presentations, conversations, and potential meet-ups, and it can be tough to know where to focus your time. Make the most of it by following these simple tips:  

  1. Be Strategic:  Check out the agenda ahead of time and plot your schedule. Set a goal for what you’d like to learn at the conference, and use the agenda to devise a plan specifically tailored to that goal. If you’re attending with other co-workers, divide and conquer to maximize your attendance. Also, don’t forget to download the conference app to keep you on track and up-to-date on conference details!
  2. Bring the Right Gear:  Electronics, chargers, extra business cards, and cool clothes are all a must.
  3. See and Be Seen:  A great way to maximize your conference experience is to participate in some way—like being a presenter, session facilitator, or committee volunteer.
  4. Connect With the Speakers:  The speakers are likely key experts in your field but they worry about making the most of their session, too. Don’t be afraid to ask questions at a session or to tell them you loved the presentation, and grab their business card. And if you don’t get a chance to ask your question in person, you can always follow up with an email.
  5. Attend the Social Events:  Definitely make time to attend the conference’s social events—they’re a great opportunity to connect with new people in a more relaxed setting.
  6. Put Away the Smartphone:   Make the most of the experience. You’re at a conference to have in-person interaction, and you don’t want your electronic devices to be a barrier to making those connections. So, while you don’t have to disconnect completely, try to be “present” at the sessions.
  7. Make time for yourself:  Conferences are exhausting, and can be especially so if you’re not an extrovert. Give yourself time to rest and rejuvenate during the conference by doing something restful and restorative.
  8. File it All Away:  With days full of speakers and sessions, you’re probably not going to remember everything you heard. So, collect your notes and information in a way that makes it easy to access, and make sure to go through it when you get back to the office. Write on the back of people’s business cards to remind yourself of the salient points of your conversation, or digitally capture the cards and take notes in an app such as CamCard. Include details about what session or happy hour you met them at -- anything that will jog your memory a day or a week after the fact.
  9. Follow-up:  At the conference, you were collecting business cards, new Facebook friends, and Twitter followers. Afterward, it’s time to do something with them. Within a week of returning from the event, send a personal follow-up to everyone you met to let them know you enjoyed meeting them.
  10. Share your Knowledge:   You gained a lot of new information and resources at the conference, and one of the best things you can do with those resources is to share them with your fellow co-workers, colleagues, and friends at your next staff meeting.

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Proposed Bylaw Changes
Jovita Lewis (AL), Secretary 

The Bylaws Committee is composed of one representative from each region, a member at large, the Immediate Past President, and the NEAFCS Secretary who serves as chair. Current members are Jovita Lewis (AL), Terri Mayhew (NY), Tracy Trautner (MI), Katherine Farrow (TX), Becky Travnichek (MO), Linda Law-Saunders (NY), and Cathy Martinez (AZ).  A special thanks to each for their service, knowledge, and expertise. The Bylaws Committee was tasked with reviewing bylaws and developing proposed revisions for consideration by the membership.

The NEAFCS Bylaws Committee and NEAFCS Board recommends the following proposed changes to the NEAFCS membership regarding the NEAFCS Bylaws. These proposed changes will be presented for a vote during the Annual Session business meeting.

Proposed Changes to the Bylaws
The proposed change to Article 1, Section 2 currently reads: “The articles of incorporation are registered in the State of Florida.”

Background: This is a technical change to the registered state of Florida and home state of the current management company. Paperwork was completed and this changed was officially made in 2018. It previously read Greensburg, Pennsylvania.

The proposed change to Article IX, section 10 currently reads: “Voting delegates who are unable to attend the Business Meeting may vote for the election of officers by paper or electronic absentee ballot according to the policies established by the Association.”

Background: Article IX, Section 10 is recommended for deletion as recommended from the 2017 Parliamentarian who served during the Annual Business Meeting.  The parliamentarian recommended the removal of electronic voting for candidates as an option from NEAFCS governing documents. Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised, p. 423, lines 25-28 warns against the use of more than one method of voting for the same election. Having both electronic voting and floor nominations causes the membership to not be on the same page and does not offer equal opportunity for members to make their selection.

We ask all voting delegates as well as the NEAFCS membership to explore the pros and cons of the proposed changes.  Voting delegates will be asked to cast their votes on the proposed changes during the upcoming 2018 Annual Session Business Meeting in San Antonio, Texas. 

 

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Meet the Board: Western Region Director
Julie Cascio (AK), Western Region Director 

Helping people solve problems and meet challenges are the overview of my work in Cooperative Extension Service in the Matanuska-Susitna/Copper River Valley District in Alaska. With my background in Home Economics this means teaching food preservation skills and knowledge for home use, food safety for food workers and managers, organizing StrongWomen volunteer leaders, advising Family and Community Education Leaders (i.e., homemakers), to helping those who want to use edible mushrooms and tap birch trees for sap, and more!  

Growing up on a dairy farm in Wisconsin introduced me to Extension from early on. My mother and father had been 4-H members and were 4-H leaders during my youth. Mom and both Grandmas were in Homemakers. Working the garden, showing Holsteins, making bread and lots of healthy food, being careful with money, were instilled in me from early on.

Living in Alaska has given me fabulous views of mountains and animals. Behind our house are moose walking by, eagles flying above, loons on the lake, and Hatcher Pass mountains. Seeing Denali when driving along the Parks Highway to Fairbanks is breathtaking. Hiking, skiing, driving long distances, meeting with people of a variety of heritages, finding others who enjoy similar crafts, and even learning new ways to garden are more opportunities. I am blessed to experience this in Palmer, Alaska. 

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