Program Leaders Participating in the Teleconference:

Bonnie Tanner, Kentucky; Beverly Howell, Mississippi; Thelma Feaster, North Carolina; Lynda Harriman, Oklahoma; Nancy Porter, South Carolina; Kathy Volanty, Texas. Also Participating: Margaret Hale, Advisor.

In the absence of Chair Mildred Holland, Secretary Beverly Howell called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m. CST with six Program Leaders and one Advisor participating. Kathy Volanty moved, Thelma Feaster seconded, that the minutes of the April 11, 2003, teleconference be accepted as written. Motion passed.

Advisor's Report
Margaret Hale, Advisor to the Southern Region FCS Program Leaders, provided the following information:

• Anna Mae Kobbe and Helen Chipman requested a session with Extension Directors during their annual meeting in August to provide an update of the Food Stamp Nutrition Education Program (FSNEP). The session would also include Barbara Hallman, Food and Nutrition Service, USDA. The purpose of the meeting would be to (1) create a shared understanding among partners, (2) strengthen partnerships at the federal, regional, and state levels, and (3) provide an opportunity for direct networking/communication among administrators of Extension and Food Stamp Nutrition Education. The session is tentatively scheduled for Wednesday, August 27 from 11:00 a.m. until 12:00 noon. A luncheon session is also tentatively planned for Wednesday, August 27 to showcase FSNEP exemplary programs.
  
• Kobbe and Chipman are also requesting a session with FCS Program Leaders to discuss the Food Stamp Nutrition Education Program.

Discussion of August PLN Meeting
Following discussion, the Program Leaders agreed to the following items regarding the agenda of the August Program Leaders Network (PLN) meeting:

• Jackie McCray and Lynn Russell will be asked to provide the FSNEP presentation at the luncheon session on Wednesday, August 27.
  
• Anna Mae Kobbe and Helen Chipman will be invited to provide an update of the Food Stamp Nutrition Education Program to FCS Program Leaders on Tuesday, August 26 from 8:00 until 10:00 a.m.
  
• Anna Mae Kobbe will be invited to provide an update from CSREES on Tuesday, August 26 from 10:15 a.m. until 12:00 noon. Key questions, issues, and concerns for discussion will be provided to Anna Mae prior to the meeting. Beverly Howell will collect these to forward to Anna Mae.
  
• Other agenda items to be included are: Competency/Module Development Discussion, FCS Annual Work Plan, State Updates (to be dispersed throughout the meeting instead of deferred to the end), Report of the EFNEP ECOP Task Force (Lynda Harriman), Multi-State Programming Reports, and Discussion of State Reports Preparation (electronically vs. printed).
  
• Beverly Howell will follow-up will Mildred Holland as to whether Program Leaders need to bring written reports and/or other materials to the meeting.

Other Items

• Beverly Howell will poll FCS Program Leaders as to areas of greatest need for the development of FCS modules to be used for staff development across the region.
  
• Bonnie Tanner suggested that the group consider scheduling a conference for the development of FCS modules.
  
• The group inquired on the status of gifts for FCS Program Leaders who have retired. Beverly Howell will follow-up with Mildred Holland. The group suggested that, in the future, the gifts be presented to retirees at the last FCS regional meeting that they attend.
  
• The 2004 National Food Stamp Education Program meeting will be in Columbus, Ohio, the week of March 15, 2004. The meeting is scheduled to last approximately 2 to 2 ½ days.

The meeting adjourned at 10:10 a.m.

Summary of Action Items

• Kathy Volanty moved, Thelma Feaster seconded, that the minutes of the April 11, 2003, teleconference be accepted as written. Motion passed.