Epsilon Sigma Phi (ESP) is dedicated to fostering standards of excellence in the Extension System and developing the Extension profession and professional.
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In this Issue
President’s Message
– Upcoming Chapter Events
– 2018 Membership Annual Meeting Official Notification – Life Member Spotlight: Marian Anderson & Nancy Lenhart – Silent Auction Update
–
Award Application Process – Professional Development Updates Membership Blitz – Member News
–
Member Spotlight: LuAnn Hiniker – From the Archives – Calendar of Events
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President's Message
By Suzanne Driessen
Wow! Where did the year go? I can’t believe I am writing my last President’s Message for the Slice of Pi newsletter. It’s been truly an honor leading this vibrant organization of Extension professionals. As I think about what we accomplished this year, I just smile and feel proud. My job was the easy part; anyone can write a newsletter. But it was the behind the scenes work of committees that makes the newsletter news worthy! I want to thank the executive committee and committees for your work and accomplishments.
Thank you to:
- Jenifer Garbow, past President, for your guidance and words of wisdom. Your shoes were hard to fill.
- Nathan Winter, Vice-President, for coordinating and working with our 9 standing committees, serving on the by-laws ad hoc committee, professional development committee, north central award selection committee and for planning our presence at the Extension Program Conference Resource Fair.
- Sara Croymans, Treasurer, for your thoughtful questions, chairing the by-laws ad hoc committee, creating a financial section on our website and work with the audit committee.
- Judith Conway, Secretary, for continuing as the keeper of our minutes.
- Members-at-large, LuAnn Hiniker (annual members) and Roselyn Biermaier (life members) for connecting with current and prospective members.
- Kathy Brandt, Membership Chair and committee members Tim Arlt, LuAnn Hiniker, Roselyn Biermaier for updating the membership brochure, clarifying membership categories, welcoming new professionals to Extension, updating the membership webpage and creating a fun membership recruitment drive.
- Marcia Woeste, Awards and Recognition Chair and committee member Kia Harries for coordinating the Pi chapter award program and selecting north central award recipients.
- David Werner, Scholarship Chair and committee members Rosi Heins, Andrea Lorek Strauss, Robin Trott, Jennifer Garbow for reviewing and awarding 10 scholarship applications, plus adding a new member incentive program.
- Becky Hagen Jokela, Fundraising Chair and committee members Kelly Kunkel and Jane Johnson for reinstating the silent auction.
- Jody Hornvedt, Professional Improvement Chair and committee members Antonio Alba Meraz, Nathan Winter, Toni Smith for focusing on employee and retiree benefits and sponsoring professional development opportunities.
- Jane Johnson, History and Archive Chair and committee members Kent Gustafson and Dave Pace for keeping our historical records.
- Gwen Gmeinder, Legislative Chair and Life Member Chair for keeping membership informed of pertinent legislative matters and maintaining communication with life members.
- To our annual and life members for sending messages, stepping up to help out when asked, and for your support this year.
Thanks for a great year everyone! Contact me at any time with questions, ideas, or to volunteer for a committee,
driessen@umn.edu
or
320.302.6057
.
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Don’t miss these Upcoming Pi Chapter Events
Mark your calendars for these events:
- Pi Chapter ESP Awards and Membership Celebration Event and Silent Auction, October 1, 2018, 5-7 p.m. Minneapolis Marriott Northwest. Prizes, hor d'oeuvres, shopping!
- Extension Program Conference Poster, Networking & Resource Fair, October 2, 2018, 4-5:30 p.m. Stop by or send colleagues to learn more about how ESP involvement provide service and engagement.
- Official Notification for ESP Pi Chapter Annual Business meeting: 9-13-18. This is the official notification of the 2018 ESP Pi Chapter Membership Annual Business Meeting & Professional Development. Mark your calendar for our virtual meeting on October 15, 2018, 1-3 p.m. via WebEx. A phone-in option is available. All annual, life, and new members are invited. Agenda includes updates from National officers, by-law changes and What it means to be an Extension Professional Ignite Talks and much more. Watch your email for details.
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Life Member Spotlight:
Marian Anderson
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Marian Anderson worked with the University of Minnesota Extension for 34 years. Her Extension career includes work in Big Stone County from 1968 -1989 with the Home Economics and 4-H programs. She then moved to Rice County and worked as an Extension Educator until retiring in 2002. Marian was primarily responsible for the Family Living Program. She also focused on Leadership Citizenship Education and worked with colleagues to develop Facilitation Resource Training materials. During the end of her Extension career, Marian became the Extension Intern with the Association of Minnesota Counties in 2001-March 2002. After retiring, she filled in as Acting Extension District Director, Southeast District in Rochester from July 2002-February 2003.
Since retiring, Marian worked for 14 seasons at Donahue’s Greenhouse in Fairbault. She worked the spring planting season and the winter holiday season. Marian is active in church activities, including the choir. She is also an active member of the local Kiwanis Organization.
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Life Member Spotlight:
Nancy Charlson Lenhart
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Nancy Lenhart's 25 year Extension career started in Beadle County, South Dakota, as a County Extension Agent in 4-H/Home Economics. After graduate school, her Extension career took her to Winona County in Minnesota. Nancy then served as an Area Extension Agent in Small Business and Community Development in Southeast Minnesota for two years. She retired from her Extension career in December of 2004, after serving in Carver County and the metro area for 17 years.
Following retirement from Extension, Nancy utilized the skills she gained in her Extension career by working part-time coordinating two different leadership programs. She also ran a small grant writing and consulting business.
For the past 11 years, Nancy works as a Purchasing Agent for a custom heat exchanger manufacturer, Super Radiator Coils in Chaska. As Purchasing Agent, Nancy works with a team of engineers buying a variety of materials that go into making various types of coils designed for commercial, institutional and industrial uses. In the photo, Nancy is with SRC-Chaska’s VP of Operations Jim DeWitt, checking over a coil before shipping.
Nancy’s family, home and community bring her real joy in life. She and her husband love to travel in the U.S. and abroad. They just returned from traveling to Scotland and Ireland with friends and are looking forward to their next trip in June 2019 to Italy. With family spread out from Brainerd (daughter & son-in-law) to DePere, WI (son, daughter-in law & one-year-old granddaughter) to extended families in Iowa, Chicago and West Virginia, travel plans and visits fill their calendar. Nancy loves music and plays in the bell choir at church. She volunteers at church, in her neighborhood and community and stays connected to former Extension and teaching colleagues.
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Bid early and often at the ESP Silent Auction
We have some amazing silent auction donations. Anyone can bid on the items. Invite your colleagues to come bid on silent auction items immediately following Center meetings from 5-7 p.m., October 1, 2018. Find us by the fireplace in the lobby.
Items donated so far include:
- One-of-a-kind wine rack, handcrafted from horseshoes with a bottle of wine and 2 wine glasses
- Thirty-one tote and gift certificate
- Hand crafted walnut step stool with a cherry finish (pictured)
- Basket of homegrown Honeycrisp apples
- Made in Mankato Goods
- Up North Basket from Lake Superior area
- Chocolate Fondue Basket
- Honey from the UMN Bee Squad
- Dual Membership to the Weisman Art Museum
- Extension basket with two extension coffee mugs, and extension branded notebook, and coffee
- Extension basket with two 4-H coffee mugs, and extension branded notebook, and coffee
Register a donation
It’s not too late to register a donation for the Silent Auction. Complete the donation form
here
or
contact Becky Hagen Jokela at
hagen022@umn.edu
.
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Apply Now for Chapter and National Awards
Add your name or a colleagues name to the Epsilon Sigma Phi Pi Chapter
Chapter Awards History
list
by applying for one of the thirteen awards:
- Distinguished Service – 20+ years
- Mid-Career – over 10 years but less than 20 years
- Early Career – 10 years or less
- Continued Excellence – prior recipient of the DSA
- Visionary Leadership
- Administrative Leadership
- Distinguished Team Award
- International Service
- Diversity/Multicultural Recognition – individual and team awards
- Meritorious Support Service
- Retiree Service – Not submitted on the national website. Contact Marcia directly
- 25 years of Service – Not submitted on the national website. Contact Marcia
- Friend of Extension
Pause to Consider
- Which contribution have I made this year as an employee or retiree that fits within the categories for ESP recognition?
- Which of my colleagues have made a contribution this year, or over their career, that I believe is deserving of recognition?
- Which of the individuals or groups with whom I work have helped to advance the overall mission and vision of Extension?
How to Apply
Applications for ESP recognition are due on Friday, September 21, 2018. To nominate yourself, your team, another deserving colleague (active or retired), or a friend of Extension for ESP recognition, review the descriptions of the member recognition categories and application process on the ESP- Pi Chapter website, awards
page
.
Submit an application via the online ESP National
website
. Click on the category heading:
- Service Awards: Distinguished Service; Continued Service; Mid-Career Service; Early Career Service and International Service
- Leadership Awards: Administrative Leadership; Visionary Leadership
- Other Recognition: Diversity Multicultural - Individual; Diversity Multicultural - Team; Distinguished Team; Friend of Extension (Chapter)
- National Recognition: Distinguished Service Ruby; Friend of Extension
Select and complete the appropriate award. Use
kharries@umn.edu
for the Chapter Recognition Chair.
Free Ice Cream?
As an incentive, all nominees & nominators will be entered into a drawing for a tasty treat at Dairy Queen!
Presentation of Awards
The presentation of the 2018 ESP-Pi Chapter awards will occur during the
ESP Awards and Member Celebration Event and Silent Auction
on October 1, 2018, 5-7 p.m., Minneapolis Marriott Northwest, Great Room Northwest. Come celebrate our members’ achievements.
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Professional Improvement
Seeking IGNITE TALKS Proposals for Virtual ESP Annual Meeting
We are seeking five 5-minute “ignite talks” from ESP members focused on
What it means to be an Extension Professional
to be presented during the online ESP Annual Meeting on Monday, October 15, 1-3 pm.
What’s an IGNITE Talk?
Presenters get 20 slides, which automatically advance every 15 seconds. The result is a fast and fun presentation, which lasts just 5 minutes. Check out these tips for IGNITE TALKS and watch some amazing talks
here
.
Need Inspiration?
Need an Incentive?
To encourage you to submit a proposal to present - all presenters will be entered into a drawing for a $50 Amazon gift card.
How to Submit a Proposal?
It's easy! Simply email a title and a short description to Jody Horntvedt,
hornt001@umn.edu
by September 28. Once selected, we will notify you and provide a PPT slide template for you to use for your presentation. Questions? Call Jody at 218-689-0281 (cell).
Resource for UMN Benefit Questions
Do you have questions on your University of Minnesota benefits? Would you like to talk to a member of ESP? ESP Professional Development Committee representatives are available if you have a question or are looking to navigate your benefits. Contact Nathan Winter at 320-583-2257 or email
wint0146@umn.edu
.
ESP EDUCATIONAL PERK for Minnesota Extension Retirees
(If you turn 65 soon this is a must!!)
Providing an opportunity for Extension employees to learn from each other and discussing critical decision making in retirement is one of the benefits of being an ESP member.
Take advantage of an upcoming educational opportunity by participating in an ESP conference call focused on retirees managing the transition with health care and Medicare. Additional call topics include the possible changes in healthcare that may affect your decisions in open enrollment. If you are on BCBS basic healthcare, do you apply every year to get money back? Have you had trouble with any health plans reimbursing you while on Medicare? Did you make changes during open enrollment season when you transitioned to Medicare? These are just some of the questions up for discussion. Let’s learn from each other.
We are inviting Kathy Murphy to participate in the call and we may also invite a representative from BCBS for a portion of the call. Our intent is to hear from retirees. We want to learn from your research on this topic. The late October/or early November conference call date will be sent soon, so please keep a “look out” for details. We need to hear your thoughts on this subject. What do you need to know? What have you found in your research. PLEASE contact Toni Smith
tonis@umn.edu
with your thoughts prior to the call to assist the committee in focusing the discussion on the right questions.
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Membership Blitz Challenge
By Kathy Brandt, Membership Chair
Are you participating in our ESP Minnesota Pi Chapter’s Membership Blitz challenge? If not, here’s how:
- During the ESP Pi Chapter Membership Blitz challenge, September 5-26, 2018, current annual and life members are invited to recruit at least one Extension professional to join ESP Pi Chapter.
- Membership is open to Extension salary-based professionals, including administrative, campus, regional and county-based personnel, retirees and those who left in good standing from the Extension System.
- Invite colleagues to join ESP and share the ESP Minnesota Pi Chapter link. Click on Membership link for the current chapter brochure.
- Why join? For just $70, you become members of both state and national organizations. The return on investment is amazing! Since joining ESP, Suzanne Driessen has received 10, $500 scholarships to attend professional development conferences and meetings. Right now, there is a new member incentive of a $100 stipend to the first 15 new members to use for professional development. Additionally, new members are also eligible for up to $500 in MEWS professional development scholarship funds, every other year.
- To join, a new member needs to contact Kathy Brandt, brand030@umn.edu.
- WIFM (What’s in it for me) you ask? A one-year paid ESP membership, gift certificate to the Guthrie Theatre or Chanhassen Dinner Theatre, gift certificate to the U of M Bookstore for Gopher gear are prizes you can win. For each person you recruit who becomes a PAID member (annual or life membership) during the Membership Blitz, you will receive a ticket for a drawing held during the ESP Awards and Membership Celebration Event, October 1, 2018, 5-7 p.m. The more people you recruit who join during the Blitz – the more tickets and chances you have to win a prize!
Grow with ESP and let’s blitz this membership drive and increase our annual and life membership numbers!
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Member News
- Condolences to Antonio Alba Meraz on the loss of his mother.
- Andrea Strauss, Fish, Wildlife & Conservation Extension Educator tells us about five urban species that may surprise you on Almanac. Watch here.
- Eli Sagor, Program Manager & Extension Specialist, lead a discussion on Minnesota’s natural environment and how things like climate change are affecting the region at UMN Sparks in Duluth. Watch video here.
- Congratulations to Kathleen Olson on her official retirement from her 45-year Extension career on July 1, 2018.
Send any news you would like to share in the
Member News
column to
driessen@umn.edu
.
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Member Spotlight:
LuAnn Hiniker
LuAnn Hiniker left a teaching position at Southern IL University to start her UMN Extension career on February 3, 2003 as a District Director in Southeast Minnesota. She then assumed a Campus Regional Director role and was a Regional Director in Mankato. LuAnn retired her Extension career on July 31st, 2018.
Retirement plans for LuAnn include spending more time with friends and family, enjoying her gardens, and entertaining her pets. You will also find LuAnn out and about with her antique vehicle collection. In August, LuAnn showcased her 1898 Case Agitator and her Father's 1930 Model A at the Le Sueur County Pioneer Power Association. Traveling is also a passion of LuAnn’s. This fall, there is a family trip to South Padre Island, Texas, with her husband, Don, and nephew and his wife.
Thank you LuAnn for your 15 years as an Extension professional and involvement in the ESP Pi Chapter. Congratulations on your retirement! Keep in touch with LuAnn at
luannh@umn.edu
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1959 photo of Minnesota Extension professionals at Program Conference
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Calendar of Events
- ESP National Conference, Manhattan, Kansas, October 1-4, 2018.
- Pi Chapter ESP Awards and Membership Celebration Event and Silent Auction, October 1, 2018, 5-7 p.m., Minneapolis Marriott Northwest.
- ESP Pi Chapter Virtual Annual Business Meeting & Professional Development Session, October 15, 2018, 1-3 p.m.
- 2019 ESP National Conference, October 14-17, 2019, Antlers Hotel, Colorado Springs, Colorado.
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Suzanne Driessen| ESP Pi Chapter President |302.203.6057 | driessen@umn.edu |
http://blog-esp.extension.umn.edu/
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