PLC Nominations

• 1862 Rep. -- Tony Windham (3 year term)
  
• 1890 Rep. -- Gae Broadwater (2 year term replacing Ernie Hughes)
  
• CECP Rep. -- Alan Barefield (3 year term)
  
• CRD Secretary -- Louis Whitesides

Trip to Washington D.C.

Discussed the possibility of selecting a time for all CRD Leaders to travel to Washington D.C. This will be coordinated with Sally Maggard. A trip in spring 2006 was discussed. The group expressed interest in the trip and indicated a proactive agenda should be developed. Steve Isaacs will work with Bo Beaulieu on this project.

Community Development Certification

Deborah Tootle led the discussion on a possible certification process. Certification efforts and training efforts in LA and TX were discussed, and the following documents were presented for discussion:

• Southern Region Community Development Educator Certification Program
  
• CRD Certification Course Content Review Summary
  
• LSU Community Economic Development Specialization
  
• Penn State Graduate Certificate in Community and Economic Development

A committee was formed including Deborah Tootle, Alan Barfield, Sandra Harris, Greg Taylor and Bo Beaulieu. They will work on a draft plan and document.

Cooperative Extension Curriculum Project (CECP)

Alan Barefield gave an update.

The CECP subcommittees and chairs are:

• Economic Diversity - Mike Woods
  
• Natural Resources - George Smith
  
• Leadership and Civic Engagement - Brian Calhoun
  
• Decision Making - Deborah Tootle
  
• Community Services - Ed Jones

CECP Review
1. Subject Matter Review
2. Learning Criteria (Communications, instructional design)

Current Efforts with CECP:

• Watershed Management - George Smith
  
• CARE - Mike Woods
  
• E-Commerce - Rae Montgomery
  
• Asset Mapping - Deborah Tootle/Bo Beaulieu
  
• HBB-Cashing In On Business - Alan Barefield
  
• Strategic Planning/Balanced Score Card - James Barnes
  
• EDEN - Ed Jones

To access the CECP campus or courses, visit http://cecp-online.org.

To access the competencies, guidebook, review process document and rubric, or the steering committee membership list, visit http://cecp-online.org/info.

Needed Training in CECP:
Growth Management

Action Items for PLC
1. Instructional Design and Instructional technology assistance for (4) CECP Curriculum developed.

Information Items:
2. The SRDC, in cooperation with regional Extension faculty, is planning to hold another CDI Regional Training in 2006.
3. The CD Program Committee is in the process of developing a long-term strategy for county, area, and state-based Extension faculty.

Advisors' Reports

1890 Administrator Update

Lawrence Carter gave the report for Alfred Wade. A new rural business program was described. Efforts to establish CDC's was also emphasized.

1862 Administrators Update

Joe Zublena reported on items being discussed by Southern Directors. The Directors are interested in common programs across the system. This is an opportunity for the Southern Region Community Development Educator Certification Program. Some method of benchmarking for Extension also holds great interest. Paul Warner, KY, and Ed Smith, TX, are working on this. A regional team, Economic Impact Workgroup led by Dean McCorkle in TX, is looking at common methods of measuring economic impact and protocols that can be shared among states. eXtension Communities of Practice were also emphasized.

SRDC Update

Entrepreneurship Listening Sessions

Bo Beaulieu reported on the Entrepreneurship Listening Sessions, which are being held:

• Texas-San Marcos September 27
  
• Texas-Grandbury September 29
  
• South Carolina-Clemson October 14
  
• Oklahoma-Norman October 19
  
• Arkansas-Pine Bluff October 24
  
• Florida-Quincy October 26
  
• Kentucky-Pikeville November 8
  
• Mississippi-Meridian November 16

An Extension proposal on entrepreneurship was submitted by the regional centers. Bo Beaulieu gave an overview of the proposal focus.

SRDC Website

Emily and Bo asked for any input or suggestions for website modification.

E-Commerce

Mike Woods gave a report on the currently funded projects related to the national initiative and the planned "round two" RFP.

Strategic Planning Initiative

The SRDC will launch a new strategic planning phase. The SRDC is considering asking each state to consider holding a listening session related to rural development. Greg Taylor noted USDA-RD may be holding listening sessions in each state.

EDEN - DHS

Ed Jones reported on the Extension Disaster Education Network. The DHS has developed a guide, Ready Business, to help small business with disaster preparedness. http://eden.lsu.edu/

RCCI
Alan Barefield gave an update on the project. There are several success stories within the project.