Dear Extension Family,
I am excited to announce that the application process for the 3rd cohort of the Extension Emerging Leadership Initiative (EELI) is now open. The EELI is a professional development opportunity for Extension professionals who desire to enhance their knowledge and skills, have vision and impact, and are willing to assist in moving the organization forward in a positive manner. The EELI has expanded to include faculty and staff in the College of Agriculture, Forestry, and Life Sciences (CAFLS) and SC State 1890 Research and Extension. Class sessions start in January 2023.
- Three full years of Cooperative Extension employment, three full evaluation ratings of Successful or higher, and no written or progressive discipline actions from Human Resources in the last two years are requirements for applicants.
- If accepted, you will be responsible for completing all your current job duties while enrolled in this program.
- EELI will be added to your evaluation as an objective, and the Program Coordinator will evaluate your class performance.
- Class attendance is required at each session (unless for approved extenuating circumstances), and work completion is expected.
- Failure to comply will result in you not completing the class and not graduating from the program.
- There is no monetary supplement or leadership role advancement associated with completing EELI. It is a self-improvement and professional development opportunity.
Electronic applications will be accepted from September 26 through October 21, 2022. Eligibility criteria and application information can be found on the website. I hope those who qualify will take advantage of this opportunity to develop their leadership skills. If you have questions, email Mrs. Deon Legette, EELI Program Coordinator, at dlgtt@clemson.edu.
We still have shifts we must fill for the South Carolina State Fair! The fair dates are Wednesday, October 12, through Sunday, October 24. If you have not yet signed up to participate and are available, please access the spreadsheet link as soon as possible. Coming together as a team at the fair is a wonderful experience and a great way to interact with the general public, as our exhibit attracts significant foot traffic. Contact Ms. Becca Hedden at rthomp7@clemson.edu with any questions.
The Coffee Chats sessions I have been holding with each team have been most productive from my point of view. I started these chats to connect with the agents, extension associates and specialists. The chats have two objectives: (1) to let me hear from the field and (2) to allow you to ask questions regarding Cooperative Extension, PSA and CAFLS. It is very important to me that we keep the communication highway open and traveling in both directions. I realize that being stationed in different parts across the state, one sometimes feels isolated and out of the loop. Believe me, at times, the situations and issues are overwhelming for even me, and it’s easier to work with the ELT to share solutions and not the challenges that initiated them.
We must communicate to ensure that we all work as a team and move our educational programs forward. I have enjoyed these chats because of the attitudes of those participating. It has renewed my faith in how dedicated all of you are to delivering high-quality programs. It has allowed our folks to ask questions and use the chats to hear each other’s thoughts. I have taken many points from these chats to help me make better-informed decisions. I share the information gained with ELT, so we openly discuss issues, concerns, and highlights from the chats. I plan to continue these chats into the future if our program teams feel this is a valuable use of time.
We are moving towards the last quarter of the year, but our impacts are not slowing down.
- The National 4-H Council received a $5 million grant from Google.org that will help us connect youth in rural and underserved South Carolina communities to computer science skills and education.
- This week brings the Agronomic Vegetable Field Day at Edisto REC South Carolina Botanical Gardens Fall Plant Sale in Clemson, and the Agricultural Safety team is promoting Farm Safety Week by featuring new educational topics daily through their e-letter.
- Registration is open for the inaugural SC Women in Agriculture Conference on November 4–5, which will be held here in Clemson. Registration information is available on the SC WAgN website. Please share this event with your stakeholders and consider attending as well.
- Extension Rural Health WalkSC sessions and Water Resources Adopt-a-Stream workshops teaching citizens waterway protection are all running on all cylinders.
- The SC Certified Landscape Professional program will host an IPM School, and the Forestry and Wildlife Resources team will be loading up buses to take stakeholders to visit best forestry practices sites on a day-long tour.
- There is a new Master Food Preserver certification pilot program, and a resource guide is being developed to help entrepreneurs navigate the newly revised South Carolina Cottage Food Law.
- A few weeks ago, I attended an event announcing the establishment of CU-CAT—the Clemson University Center for Ag Technology. You can read more about the announcement in the Clemson News story and visit the new website.
- You can read more about the above and the newest Cooperative Extension stories from Clemson News on their website.
We are adding more new members to our Extension family who are ready to hit the ground running. Please welcome our new hires added to the Blog post and share our other position openings through your networks. All positions are posted on Clemson’s Human Relations website, and you can quickly access the complete list on the Journal of Extension (JoE) job board.
As always, please take good care of yourselves and your families, and thank you for what you do for Clemson Cooperative Extension. I hope to see many of you at the State Fair!
Clemson University Cooperative Extension Service offers its programs to people of all ages, regardless of race, color, gender, religion, national origin, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital or family status and is an equal opportunity employer.
