January 2024: Monthly Director’s Letter

Dear Extension Family,

As I reflect on last year, I realize how evident it is that our talented team of Agents, Associates, Specialists, and staff deliver significant levels of service to improve South Carolina’s economy and environment and the well-being of its citizens. The creativity and enthusiasm put into preparing and presenting programs are simply amazing. We should celebrate every day, knowing we impart our knowledge and create impact.

As we settle into the new year, let’s remember our ‘Why’ for Cooperative Extension. We should routinely ponder how to enhance our programmatic activities and evolve in response to our stakeholders’ fluid and diverse needs. Properly evaluating outcomes and implementing new approaches as necessary ensures we are on track for another outstanding year of achievements.

Extension Senate

I recently had the opportunity to meet with Extension Senate, and we delved into questions such as how do we better prepare and support Extension Agents to develop and deliver educational programs? Extension Senate exudes energy and focuses on developing a vision and strategies for your professional growth and success. I encourage everyone to take the time to understand the purpose of Extension Senate and the effects of their work. They help to assure you have a voice and a bright future in Cooperative Extension.

Ms. Deon Legette contributed an informational summary of Extension Senate’s recent activities:
Extension Senate also had a great meeting with President Clements, Dr. George Askew, Interim Dean Greg Yarrow, and Mr. Julio Hernandez on January 16. We had about twenty-four Senators and Alternates at the meetings. This meeting is always an exciting time for Extension Senate, and we appreciate the opportunity to meet with President Clements and his staff in Sikes Hall. There are many things that this new incoming Extension Senate body will take from this meeting, and we will continue to work with President Clements’ staff over the next year to accomplish some of these goals. Land-grant universities are special, and it is great to have a President who supports Clemson Cooperative Extension and recognizes our efforts across the state. In addition, it was great to see our fellow Agents and Specialists from the Agriculture and Natural Recourses Division (Agribusiness, Agronomy, Natural Resources, and Horticulture Program Teams), who were in Clemson for their Division retreat. Extension Senate will schedule an Onboarding Session for the forty-two incoming and returning Senators and Alternates to provide them with a brief history of Extension Senate and our accomplishments over the years and to work on creating goals for 2024. If you need to contact your Extension Senate Representative, please check our website to identify your Senator/Alternate. The next Extension Senate Business Meeting will be held on February 27.

FY 2024-25 Budget

Clemson Public Service and Agriculture (PSA) requests state investments that support Cooperative Extension. The FY 2024-25 budget request has been finalized. Recurring requests include funding for poultry science research, statewide operational and programmatic support, problematic wildlife management, and small fruit research. Non-recurring requests include funding for a multi-year preventative maintenance schedule for statewide facilities to address aging infrastructure, technology, and workplace safety and the construction of a research support facility for the Baruch Institute of Coastal Ecology and Forest Science located in Georgetown. I will share any budget updates as they are announced. Additionally, you can follow updates on the Clemson Legislative Updates website, and sign up to receive email updates from the Clemson University Advocates Program by selecting the ‘Join Now’ link on the Advocates website.

Salesforce Update

In step with the new year, we are beginning a new age in reporting and customer service with Salesforce, a new customer relationship management system. We have a great team in place (Ms. Becca Hedden, Ms. Cindy Todd, Mr. Bryan Smith, Ms. Amber Starnes, Ms. Vickey Bertagnolli, and Ms. Tammy Morton) to help provide additional training and resources in addition to what is featured on the Salesforce Training website and aid in your use and adoption of this powerful tool. You can also get assistance from CCIT through their support website if you have general login or navigation issues. Below are several updates resulting from feedback provided during the recent Agriculture and Natural Resources Division retreat.

• As of January 1, 2024, programmatic data should be reported into Salesforce. All programmatic data conducted from July 1, 2023, through December 31, 2023, should be entered into CUMIS by Wednesday, January 31, 2024. CUMIS will be permanently closed for data entry on Thursday, February 1, 2024.
• What are we looking to capture with Salesforce? Extension impact. On behalf of Extension, you interact with clientele daily, and Salesforce allows us to capture the individual touches more accurately. The Eventbrite plug-in provides the ability to better manage workshops and participants by pulling data in automatically, based upon proper initial set-up.
• Before creating a new contact, please complete a search to identify if they are already in the system. The team has been working behind the scenes to eliminate duplicates. To assist with duplicates, a Preferred Name/Nickname category has been added on the contact tab for those contacts who choose a different name than their legal name.
• Please contact Ms. Becca Hedden at rthomp7@clemson.edu if you have any questions about importing or would like assistance importing your contact list.

Extension County Employees Holiday Schedule

An email about the Holiday Schedule for Extension County employees was sent out earlier this month. Please note that the Extension County employee and University Holiday Schedules are different for 2024. Extension County employees will follow the County Holiday Schedule in 2024 due to local requirements from county governments.

Additionally, the Holiday Schedule for Extension County employees includes an optional holiday, which is not included in the 2024 University Holiday Schedule. As such, the request and approval process for optional holiday use in 2024 for Extension County employees will differ from previous years. Extension County employees should review and understand the optional holiday request and approval process provided in the Blog post, along with the Holiday Schedules.

Recognition

I would like to recognize the dedication and expertise of Charles Davis. After 45 years of service to Clemson Cooperative Extension, Mr. Davis retired in December. He was humble, trusted, dedicated, and passionate about his Extension work. He earned the respect of our farmers and his team members. He was an unselfish professional who never watched the clock or his title. He embodied the ideal County Agent and is a role model for us to look up to. I, along with many others, have great memories of his work and character, and there are no words to accurately describe how much he will be missed. Even in retirement, I have no doubt he won’t slow down and will channel his boundless energy into a new lifestyle.

In Closing

We will provide updates about the CAFLS Dean search as they become available. The search committee members were announced and are listed on the Office of the Provost website. Our next ‘Drop-in with the Director’ Zoom session will be held on Wednesday, February 7 at 8:00 a.m. Please be aware we have updated the time. Previously these began at 7:30 a.m. An email with the Zoom link will be sent out the day before. Everyone is invited to join and bring questions and feedback to our forum or just listen in.

As always, please take good care of yourselves and your families, and thank you for what you do for Clemson Cooperative Extension.

Upcoming Events and Reminders

• January 31: CAFLS/PSA award nominations are due for deserving CAFLS faculty, staff or graduate/undergraduate students who make the College such a success. Visit the website for more information. 
• February 1:, Rowland P. Alston, Sr., ’42 Award for Excellence in Public Relations nominations are due. The award was established to recognize outstanding Clemson University faculty or staff who, through programs and activities related to agriculture and/or natural resources, have provided Clemson University with positive visibility. Visit the website for more information.
• February 7: Drop-in with the Director Zoom session, 7:30 a.m. via the Zoom link.