We are now entering day 83 of the COVID-19 Modified Operating Procedure for Extension, and we are starting to reopen offices to our employees. I realize that this has been a slow process and will continue to be. I remember a saying from my father, “slow is fast.” I never understood this until he made me redo something I had done in a rush. It took me three times longer to redo it and do it right. If I had taken the time to do it correctly the first time, I would have saved time. This is how we will reopen the county offices and start in-person programs and activities. We cannot afford to jump back in and do this the wrong way. We must be patient with the process to make sure we do it right so that it is safe for everyone.
For those of you who are waiting for your office to open back up, please be patient. We will get there with your help, and all of us will be able to return safely. Continue to make the most of your time evaluating, improving, and being creative with your programs. You may never again have this type of opportunity for program creation and improvement, and it will result in significant outcomes down the road.
I know that 4-H Agents are among our most frustrated agents. We are working on a solution that will allow the use of Google Classroom for your programming, and we will have more information to share this week. You have had to measure impact based on numbers for a long time, and the pandemic has changed the ways we are able to measure programs. I know you want to get back to in-person activities with your 4-H’ers, but how can you “make the best better” during these uncertain times? The virtual programming efforts can reach even more youth these days. You must realize that you are making a difference in communities and perhaps in those where there may be unrest during these uncertain times. Your involvement will support these youth in becoming responsible and caring citizens who can positively contribute to their communities.
We have seen spikes in COVID-19 over the last week throughout our state and the Southeast. This causes me concern but reinforces the fact that Extension’s reentry plan will work. It was designed to be fluid and based on 14-day trends, and this is why we cannot conduct in-person activities until the END of Phase 3. We cannot afford to open offices up and then close them down because an employee or a person who attended an event tested positive. Going slow instead of going too fast will allow us to return to a new normal quicker.
I want to give a shout-out to the Agricultural Education team, especially Ms. Jillian Lash, for transitioning this week’s SC State FFA Convention into a virtual format. This was no easy task and took extensive planning and coordination. The SC State FFA Officers will go down in history as the first team of officers to conduct a state convention virtually. I want to thank the entire Agricultural Education team for making this happen and also Jonathan Veit and his team for working with Ms. Lash.
In closing, if you have not already done so, please read the summary of the Clemson Extension Return to Work Framework Plan (https://www.clemson.edu/extension/employees/downloads/clemson-ext-rtw-framework-summary-final0522.pdf). You can also view the map of county reentry statuses. As always, please take good care of yourselves and your families, and thank you for what you do for Clemson Extension.
