Officers:
Ronnie White (MS), Chair
Michael Newman (MS), Vice Chair
Roger Rennekamp, (KY) Secretary
Jerry Whiteside (GA) 1862 Representative to PLC
Margaret Johnson (SC) 1890 Representative to PLC
Paul Warner (KY) Administrative Advisor
Attendance:
| Ronnie White (MS) | Mary Marshall (TX) |
| Michael Newman (MS) | Roger Rennekamp (KY) |
| Jerry Whiteside (GA) | Rosa Albino (PR) |
| Joe Waldrum (AR) | Laverne Blount (AL) |
| Glenn Israel (FL) | Henry Findlay (Tuskeegee) |
| Satish Verma (LA) | Gaines Smith (AL) |
| Dennis Nielson (SC) | Carolyn Reedus (AL) |
| Richard Liles (NC) | Margaret Johnson (SC) |
| Judy Groff (NC) | Leodrey Williams (LA) |
| Paul Warner (KY) | Ulises Toledo (WV) |
| Roy Lessly (TN) | Nick Jefferson (WV) |
| Mike Lambur (VA) |
Ronnie White (Chair) opened the meeting reviewed the agenda items.
Paul Warner (Administrative Advisor) reported on relevant items discussed at the Southern Region Directors meeting.
- The action item on "Strengthening Extension Advisory Leadership" was approved by the directors.
- Directors agreed to use uniform Southern region template for recording multi-state program activities. Each program group at this meeting should complete agreements for all relevant efforts.
- Paul served on director's work group to look at the issue of hiring regional office staff to represent interests of the Southern region. Directors approved hiring of a full-time director and support staff.
- Mid-management group raised concern for lack of a leadership program for Extension professionals in the Southern Region. Paul explained that SELD was originally developed to meet that need but is currently inactive because many states are conducting their own.
Judy Groff reported on the Strengthening Extension Advisory Leadership proposal.
- Representatives from ten states met to revise proposal submitted by North Carolina to PSD group in 1999. Revised proposal was submitted to approved by Directors.
- Conference will be held May 3-5, 2001 in Charlotte, NC.
- Objectives include state sharing, exploring common issues, and curriculum development.
- Program and Staff Development Committee appointed Michael Lambur (VA), Robert Richard (LA), and Rick Rudd (FL) to planning committee for conference. They will be joined by two Extension Advisory Council Members from North Carolina and one member from each program committee of PLC.
- First committee meeting will be in Fall 2000 with promotional materials distributed around the first of the year.
Jerry Whiteside and Margaret Johnson presented the PLC Representative Report.
- Puerto Rico meeting is best attended yet with 217 pre-registered.
- Next year's meeting will be August 26-29 in Savannah or Atlanta.
- All proposals to Directors must be submitted by September 30 in standard format.
- Directors approved grammar training developed by Tennessee to be offered region-wide.
- Jerry and Margaret stressed that all participants should complete the yellow evaluation for in the registration packet.
Michael Newman and Roger Rennekamp reported on the Southern Region Accountability Workshop held in Dallas, TX in April 2000.
- Roger and Michael served as members of the committee to plan and conduct a Southern Region Accountability Workshop focusing on Health and Family Resource Management.
- This is the second year for such a workshop. The one held in 1999 focused on nutrition and parenting. Howard Ladewig and Rich Poling represented the Program and Staff Development Committee on the planning group for that conference.
- Michael and Roger both commented that there is need for clearer definition of the outcomes from such a meeting.
- Michael and Roger will meet with FCS committee to determine if they intend to hold such a meeting in 2001 and if they expect similar assistance from the PSD group.
Daney Jackson of The Ohio State University presented a program about a video-based training package they have developed for administrators supervising employees working in a county-based setting. The package addresses the lack of managerial and leadership skills of new county chairs. The package include a series of video vignettes, background information about the concepts introduced, and discussion guides.
Election of a 2000-2001 Secretary of the PSD committee. (Michael Newman will move up to Chair and Roger Rennekamp will move up to Vice-Chair at the conclusion of the meeting.)
- Nominating committee presented Michael Lambur (VA) as the sole candidate to become new Secretary.
- Jerry Whiteside moved to elect Michael Lambur by acclamation. Seconded by Joe Waldrum. Motion passed.
Election of an 1890 Representative to PLC
- Nominating committee presented Nick Jefferson (WV) as the sole candidate to become new 1890 Representative.
- Paul Warner moved to elect Nick Jefferson by acclamation. Seconded by Michael Newman. Motion passed.
Update on SELD/MAP
- Many states have begun conducting their own versions of the SELD/MAP program. Question is whether or not to continue conducting one on a regional basis.
- Middle Management group would like to see another one held.
- Howard Ladewig will do another regional SELD/MAP of regional demand warrants.
- Group suggests that Program and Staff Development work in partnership with Middle Management group to jointly propose a date and co-sponsor a regional SELD workshop.
- NELD is also seeking a new host institution.
State Reports on Efforts to Assess Customer Satisfaction
- Texas reports that they use a sample of users who have attended programs.
- Kentucky sponsored "listening sessions" in 14 Kentucky counties.
- Florida has been reporting customer satisfaction data to the Florida legislature for the past several years. This is the first year that expected levels of performance have been attached to the budget. Performance standard is for 98% satisfaction.
Multi-State Programming Discussion
- Concern for the audit mentality of multi-state programming, resulting through the dissemination of information at business officer's meeting.
- Focus seems to be on documenting expenditures of funds rather than effective and efficient programs.
- Intent was to encourage efficient use of resources across state boundaries and to become a better steward of resources.
- States reported FY97 baselines for multi-state programming ranging from
1% to 25%
- Judy will develop multi-state agreement for advisory council effort using the approved template.
Richard Liles and Judy Groff reported on North Carolina's Competency-Based Training and Development System
- Will identify competencies for all types of positions in the organization
- Assessment tools will be developed to determine strengths and weaknesses
- Training will be conducted in major competency areas.
Discussion on Web-Based Training
- Many states have developed or are developing web-based training modules for new and experienced staff.
- Group felt there was a need to find out what already exists.
- Michael Newman agreed to develop a page on the SRDC web site which includes links to existing web-based staff development and orientation resources. Send URLs to Michael.
State Sharing
- Virginia has developed a comprehensive faculty/staff training and development system
- Louisiana is continuing to expand specialty training for credit through LSU and has developed a reporting system linked to its strategic plan.
- Florida is continuing to work on a new accountability/information management system and is revising its orientation program for new Extension faculty.
- Texas is moving to a career ladder system for agents, unveiling a new outcome-directed planning and reporting system, and revising their orientation and training program.
- Kentucky is in the process of moving to a web-based planning and reporting system.
Meeting Adjourned