Spring Newsletter l March 2019
Epsilon Sigma Phi (ESP) is dedicated to fostering standards of excellence in the Extension System and developing the Extension profession and professional.

Meet your board, communication survey, award winners,
scholarship & membership updates and more.
President's Message

By Nathan Winter, President

The ESP-PI Chapter continues to move ahead with committees providing their goals and their priority items for 2019. ESP-PI leadership will be taking a look at the price of our dues due to some changes at the national level in the coming months. Our membership push in 2018 will continue into 2019. Membership committee members made a personal contact with each retiree eligible for ESP Life Membership. Recruitment of new members is key to the growth, diversity and vibrancy of Pi Chapter. Multiple avenues to recruit new members include a social/recognition event, personal invitation, email invitation, and calls. During September, annual and life members were challenged with a Membership Blitz. They were invited to recruit at least one Extension colleague to join ESP Pi Chapter. Seven annual members actively participated and created a lot of buzz about ESP! For their effort, the names of those individuals were entered into a drawing for these great prizes. Because of the active level of participation, we have 10 NEW MEMBERS. Another strategy implemented was sending a welcome message to new Extension employees. Continued contact with these individuals will follow over time and an invitation to join ESP will be included. Through a collaborative effort, the ESP Scholarship and Membership Committees created an incentive program for first time members. The first 15 NEW members during 2018-19 organizational year will be eligible to apply for a $100 scholarship to be used for professional development. The scholarship committee is leading this program.

Strengthening the value of the ESP-PI Chapter is vital to ensuring membership and growth of our organization. I believe that membership and participation in ESP provides additional growth in our profession and there is also great value in strengthening professional networks across the University of Minnesota Extension. The leadership of ESP will do the best they can to continue moving this organization forward and we appreciate the work of those past and present.

JCEP Report

By Sara Croymans, Vice President

I appreciate the opportunity to have served as the ESP PI Chapter representative at the Joint Council of Extension Professionals (JCEP) Leadership Conference February 13-14, 2019 in San Antonio, TX. The conference, with the theme of “Cultivating Leaders”, had the largest attendance ever with 300+ participants from 36 states and 7 organizations. Here are a few highlights from the conference:

  • Bob Whitson, Associate Director for State Operations, Texas Agri-Life Extension, emphasized that impact assessments are essential (‘impact’ is the new buzz word) and Extension’s creative staff are up for the challenge.
  • Julie Robinson, JCEP President Elect, reminded us that JCEP turns 30 years old in December 2019. (How might we celebrate?)
  • Bill Hoffman, NIFA Chief of Staff, challenged participants to tell their Extension story. We should finish each story with “… and as a result of this work … ” to describe how our Extension programs are changing lives.
  • Keynote Speaker Grace Correll, a former Extension Educator from University of Kentucky, presented on “Lead with Grace”, which included these characteristics of leadership: G - Give of time and energy; R - Relate to those you are leading; A -Accommodate needs; C -Create environments to grow; and E - Empower Others.
  • I found spending both afternoons at the ESP meetings extremely valuable as I haven’t really experienced ESP outside of our Pi Chapter. Here are some tidbits:
  • Local affiliate members are encouraged to join national committees … or folks can sign up to be an ‘adjunct committee member’ so you simply receive committee information. The application deadline for National ESP Committee & National Board is April 1, 2019.
  • National ESP has a variety of scholarships available. Check them out here.
  • The ESP National Conference is October 14-17, 2019 in Colorado Springs, CO with the theme “Going for the Gold: Achieving Peak Performance.” Check out the impressive schedule here.
  • Chapter reports will be posted on the website in the near future – check them out for best (or promising!) practices
  • The 2019 ESP Calendar (found under the resources tab) is full of useful dates & links.
  • I heard that many chapters struggle with engaging life members, as well as recruiting new and younger staff. 

Attending the JCEP Leadership Conference has truly provided me a much broader understanding of the ESP organization. As Pi Chapter VP this experience will be helpful this year as I work with President Nathan Winter, Past President Suzanne Driessen, the entire board and membership as we “ foster standards of excellence in the Extension System and develop the Extension profession and professional.”
Awards & Recognition Committee
by Marcia Woeste, Chair

We want to encourage all of our members to consider nominating themselves or the teams they are a part of for awards this coming year. Everyone is doing good work and we want to recognize you!

For a list of the awards/recognition available through our chapter, visit the member recognition description Google doc.

Nominations will be due in early September
MEWS Scholarship Update

By David Werner

Have you applied for an ESP scholarship to help fund your professional development plans for this year? Scholarships are available on an every other year basis, so if you did NOT receive a scholarship between July 1, 2017 and June 30, 2018 you are eligible.

So far this fiscal year six scholarships have been awarded with four months left in this fiscal year to request up to $500 to help with professional development opportunity costs. These scholarships are open to Life Members as well as current ESP members. Application consists of a simple two page document that can be found on the ESP website/blog here .

While you are on the blog, consider donating to the MEWs fund to grow this fabulous scholarship program here .
Fund Raising Committee

By Becky Hagen Jokela, Chair

Our committee, Suzanne, Kelly, and Becky, will connect in April, to begin planning for our fall conference Silent Auction.
Our goals: Fundraising: This committee shall raise funds according to the direction of the executive Committee for these purposes: to add to the Minnesota Extension Workers Scholarship Fund; to support the mission, vision and operations of ESP Pi Chapter, and any other purpose which contributes to the professional development and work of ESP Pi Chapter.
Global Relations Committee

By Anita Harris Hering, Chair

Seeking energized people to actively participate from the comfort of their chair (or standing desk space) for a committee that is being revitalized.

What will this team accomplish in 2018-19?

  • Provide an awareness of activities and opportunities for members to be grounded in global initiatives happening in State and throughout the world (ie: drawing attention to the global section of the Extension webpage, emails: lectures, seminars, museum features, authors, etc)

  • Submit at least 2 blogs on the ESP webpage (perhaps have a guest blogger)

  • Create a designated area within each monthly ESP newsletter to share resources, links, feature members who have done work globally, etc.

If you would like to be a part of something bigger than yourself and work in a fun, exciting atmosphere, contact Anita Harris Hering @ aharris@umn.edu . Virtual treats will be provided to keep the ideas and work flowing.
History & Archives

Here is a flash from the past. How many faces do you recognize from this 1997 SE Cluster staff photo? Over the years, several of these individuals have been ESP members. Currently, there are five individuals who are either current annual or life members -- can you name them? Find the answer to this question at the end of the newsletter. If you have an old photo you’d like featured in a future newsletter please send it to Vice President Sara Croymans @ croym001@umn.edu .
Legislative Update

By Gwen Gmeinder, Legislative Chair

State effort:
Extension Legislative Action Day Feb. 28, 2019: 70 participants from across the State including members of the Extension Citizens Advisory Committee, Regional Directors (RDs), Dean’s Leadership Council, Regional Sustainable Development Partnerships and 15 4-H youths. After hearing speakers in the morning, participants met with their State Representatives and Senators.

The University Chief Government Relations Officer, J.D. Burton, has asked Extension staff to partner with the University to reach every legislator in the State. Extension is a key player in this effort due to our connections in every county. RDs are leading this effort.

Federal effort:
March 5 annual meeting of CARET (Council for Agricultural Research Extension and Teaching). Extension’s delegates are Dean Bev Durgan, Sarah Greening, Tom Rothman, and David Benson (Extension’s CARET representative, Nobles County farmer) will be in Washington, D.C. to participate in the 2019 (CARET) meetings. CARET is a national grassroots organization created in 1982 with the mission to enhance national support and understanding of the land-grant university system’s food and agricultural research, extension and teaching programs. While in D.C. the Extension group will have individual appointments with the agricultural staff assistant for Senators Klobuchar and Smith; Congressional Offices of Representatives Angie Craig, Illhan Omar, Tom Emmer and Collin Peterson.
Membership Committee

By Kathy Brandt - Chair, Roselyn Biermaier, Jane Johnson, Becky Harrington - Members

We are delighted to WELCOME 10 New Members to Pi Chapter! Please send a message or pick up the phone to introduce yourself and welcome our colleagues:

  • Diane DeWitte
  • Lisa Dierks
  • Mary Ann Hennen
  • Lisa Hinz
  • Christy Kallevig
  • Neil Linscheid
  • Dawn Littleton
  • Regina McGoff
  • Anne Sawyer
  • Sarah Schieck

Our current membership includes 29 renewing annual members, 10 New annual members, and 121 life members.

Our committee will meet early April and invite you to consider joining us - annuals and retirees! We have great momentum going and would love to have more people with more ideas to continue to GROW ESP Pi Chapter ! If interested, contact Kathy Brandt brand030@umn.edu.  

Extension Educator, Livestock - Swine
Regional Office - Mankato

Extension Educator
Leadership & Civic Engagement
Regional Office - Andover

Extension Educator, LCE,
Alumni Engagement & Distance Learning
Regional Office - Willmar

Invasive Plants Program Coordinator
Regional Office - Rochester

Extension Educator
Food/Farm Safety, Horticultural Systems
Regional Office - Farmington

Regional Director, South
Regional Office - Rochester

Extension Educator
Leadership & Civic Engagement
Regional Office - Farmington

Extension Educator
Community Economics
Regional Office - St. Cloud

Business Development Coordinator
Ext Ctr for Ag, Food & Natural Resources

Extension Educator, Livestock - Swine
Regional Office - Willmar
Life Member Spotlight

Shirley Anderson Porisch

I retired in 2012 and wondered where 39 years had gone! Now the years are still flying by, but I’m grateful for flexibility with family, friends, and a variety of activities, many at a new level. I’d hear, now that you’re retired, maybe you’d like to and I maybe said yes more than I planned. Prior to retiring, I preferred not to be a group secretary or treasurer -- now I’m secretary of two groups and treasurer of another! My Lutheran guilt must have set in when I said yes to becoming a funeral food chair and organizer of choir music files! Karl and I also enjoy dinner club, card club, SMSU Mustang Booster Club events, and golfing as much as possible!

I recently retired after 10 years as a MN Board on Aging Medicare Part D volunteer. I networked with retired professionals, assisted older adults with challenging financial decisions, and prepared for my own Medicare decisions. I do work part-time as an Accredited Financial Counselor with Vanguard Gambling Addiction Program, Project Turnabout, Granite Falls MN. The gambling addiction continues to challenge families in all life stages.

Karl retired in 2015 and our bucket list included traveling to Norway, England, and Italy. In May 2018, we visited my great-grandmother’s home near Lillehammer, Norway from which she had left 150 years prior. (See above photo). After Norway, we visited England. We’re planning Italy in 2020. We’ve also enjoyed many family and golf trips to Palm Springs CA and wintered there a few months in 2017. Since 2012, I’ve hosted a Southern MN Family Development potluck luncheon on the third Wednesday in June where 15-20 retirees usually attend! We’d love to see you so let me know at ander308@umn.edu. This year, we’ll hopefully be in our new no mow, no snow townhouse in Marshall!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Member Spotlight

Robin Trott

Robin is a University of Minnesota Extension Local Educator in Douglas County, specializing in Consumer Horticulture, Local Foods, and answering the Farm Information Line. She has a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Goucher College in Maryland, and went back to get her Master’s in Natural Science and Environmental Education from Hamline University at the ripe old age of 48! Robin also co-owns and operates Prairie Garden Farm, one of the largest cut flower farms in MN. Growing and selling beautiful flowers and teaching people to successfully grow plants is one of her passions. She also enjoys acrylic painting, building puzzles, reading, baking and soap making. She has 6 cats that keep her warm in the winter and amused year round, 3 grown daughters who brighten her life, and a husband of 34 years who puts up with all her idiosyncrasies.
New Member Spotlight

Anne Sawyer

Anne is a University of Minnesota Extension Educator for On-Farm Food Safety in Horticultural Systems, where she helps growers implement Good Agricultural Practices to minimize microbial contamination (such as Salmonella or pathogenic E. coli ) in fresh produce. Anne earned her PhD in Soil Science from the University of Minnesota in 2017, where she studied nutrient management and microbiology in switchgrass grown for bioenergy. She also has a BA in Geology from Carleton College and an MS in Watershed Science from Colorado State University. She has previously worked as a snow scientist with the National Weather Service and as a park ranger with the National Park Service in Utah and Alaska. Anne is also a Master Gardener in Rice County, and she's been a market grower, selling produce and managing a small market in Dundas, Minnesota, where she lives on a fixer-upper hobby farm with her husband (Joey), son (Asher), dog (Drake), lots of chickens, and occasional pigs.
Professional Improvement Committee

by Jody Horntvedt, Chair

Lifelong learning seems to be a quality found in many Extension staff. Many are drawn to extension education because it provides them with the opportunity to learn new things and connect with interesting people who have something to teach them.

Lifelong learning preserves an individual’s desire to obtain new knowledge outside of the formal education system. Developing an attitude where you constantly learn is a great way to keep your work current and is a great way for those who have retired from their career to keep connected and current!

If you are finding yourself feeling a bit stagnated, you might want to focus on these Ten Simple Ways to Engage in Lifelong Learning (from TeachThought) to get re-energized.

  1. Read widely and often
  2. Keep smart company
  3. Teach others
  4. Keep a list of things you want to explore
  5. Start your own project
  6. Use a personal learning environment
  7. Experiment with new ways to learn
  8. Join a study group
  9. Find a job (or volunteer role) that encourages learning and collaboration
  10. Make it a priority!

If you are interested, read more at this TeachThought site.

And, while you are thinking about it, please take a minute to let the ESP Professional Improvement Committee know if there are areas where you are interested in growing your knowledge, competence, skill or effectiveness by sharing information on this form (or email Jody at hornt001@umn.edu ). Once we get input from members, our committee has plans to develop a schedule where those who are interested can take part in online conversations, watch videos, join a book group or get together for coffee to connect with each other.

If you’d like to join our committee, we’d love to include you in our next conversation which is scheduled for April 1 @ 10:30 am.
Retiree/Life Member Committee

by Gwen Gmeinder, Chair

The spring issue of the Extension Retiree Newsletter is in preparation with distribution on March 14. There will be information on the dates and places for the annual retiree luncheon with the Dean.

Recent retirees:
  • William Angell, professor and Extension specialist in housing, retired December 14
  • Naaz Babvani, human resource assistant, retired December 7
  • Merritt Bussiere, community economics educator, Regional Office Brainerd, retired December 4
  • Marna Butler-Fasteland, 4-H program coordinator Carlton County, retired January 4
  • Philip Glogoza, Extension crops educator, Regional Office Moorhead, retired February 1
  • Karen Shirer, associate dean, Center for Family Development, retired January 2
  • Gloria Wolf, SNAP-ED Educator, Hennepin County, retired January 4
Upcoming Events


Who from the 1997 SE Cluster staff photo are current annual or life members?
The photo in the History & Archives article included these five current annual and life members: Kay Lovett, Sara Croymans, Bruce Schwartau, Toni Smith and Kathy Olson. We welcome others to join today!
Nathan Winter ESP Pi Chapter President |320.583.2257 | wint0146@umn.edu |
http://blog-esp.extension.umn.edu/