MSUE Community Development AOE

                                                              January 20, 2006

                                                Gaylord M-Tec/University Center

 

Present: Bonnie Zoia, Phil Alexander, Michelle Walk, Steve Nelson, Ann Chastain, Jim Wiesing, Tom Emling, Elaine Bush, Caton Gauthier, Paul Mc Conaughy, Bev Terry, George Rowan, and Scott Loveridge (by phone).

 

 

I.Call to order

      A. Welcome & fun

            Bonnie Zoia called the meeting to order at 10:05 a.m.

            After introductions, people were paired off in twos for an activity. Each person

            created and recited a rhyme involving the name of a city identified as a favorite 

            by their partner.

            Steve announced that he will become the Allegan County CED as of January 30th.

            

II. Minutes

       The minutes of the October 13 meeting were accepted as written.

 

III. Budget report

       Elaine distributed and reviewed her financial report. Bonnie asked how many planned to use their professional development funds this year. She felt we had about $5,000 available for members to use by June 30th.  She will send an email reminding members about this and asking that they send her an email by March 1st estimating how much they will be using.       

 

IV. Committee Reports

A.     Building Capacity modules

Phil distributed copies of the agenda and evaluation form for the March 30-31 inservice, and a time continuum for the entire module project.

Each of modules 1-4 will have about 2 ˝ hours for their presentation at the March inservice. We set a limit of 25 participants, excluding presenters. Twenty of the twenty-five seats are being limited to Extension staff. The other five seats can be external people when accompanied by Extension staff.

Steve took us through the time continuum, fielding questions and comments.

Caton suggested we NOT do an info-mercial type session at fall conference about all the modules but do a more in-depth focus on one or two modules. Future pilot sessions need to be very hands on, not talking heads. With the 45 minutes allowed per module at AARP, some of the best parts of each could not be shared.

 

Members present decided to ask for a community development track as this year’s fall conference with time for each of first four modules to be presented in their full length format. Additionally, we will present a briefer “teaser” session for modules 5-8. Steve and Phil will complete the application on behalf of the CD AoE to present these sessions. If this can’t be done, we will explore holding another inservice later in 2006 like the one planned for March .

Bev suggested we communicate with Maggie Bethel to make sure we are connected to whatever new form the professional development system takes. We need to clarify that we are currently offering a certificate of completion not an academic certificate program as envisioned by some folks on campus.

Linda Patrick’s name was added to module 8 and Dionardo Pizano to module 7.

Phil will email out an updated time continuum to all.

 

We then broke into our module 1-4 groups. Phil had questions for each that he needs answers for today. He supplied a form for each group to complete.

Groups met for some time, then reported out.

 

We broke at noon for lunch.

             At 12:25 p.m. Scott Loveridge joined us by phone. See coach report below

             for his input.

 

We  resumed our module discussion at 1p.m. We reviewed the proposed evaluation sheet for the March inservice. Suggested changes were noted by Phil.

 

B.     Website update

The person at Eaton County MSUE who was working on our website is gone. The CD AoE website maintained by MSU is outdated. Via Diane Smith, Steve and Bonnie have learned that there is a person (Pearl) at Ionia Economic Development that is doing the ED AoE website. We looked at it and decided we should hire her to complete ours. Bonnie said that Mona would continue being the point person to collect the needed information and get it to Pearl. If anyone else is willing to help Mona, please contact her. We agreed to spend up to $2,000 for web design. Hopefully, this would also cover the first year of maintenance. Bonnie will find out about that for us.

 

C.     Nomination committee

Bonnie appointed Phil and Ann to be the nominating committee for the off-campus co-chair search. The announcement will need to be made at the June retreat and the person begins their term next fall.

 

V. Special reports

       A. Co-chairs

           1. George

              a. Campus linkages, Elder Friendly Conference, competitive grants 

                   and  focus groups

                  George asked if anyone was interested in pursuing any of the grants

                  mentioned. Jim  reminded all that funds have to go to an account on campus

                  rather than county offices for these specific MSU grants.

                  Paul reported on the Elder Friendly Conference. Attendance was excellent and

                  the conference went very well. Good connections were made.

                  George announced an Elder Friendly effort is being undertaken in Traverse 

                  City with his department, MSU Extension, AARP, Chamber of Commerce

                  and others involved. More information will be made available as known.

                  George reported on the focus group he and Lela Vandenburg held with

                  faculty. He shared some comments, report is still being compiled.

                  George will speak to Soji Adelaja about funding opportunities once Phil and

                  Bonnie prepare some materials for him.

 

           2. Bonnie

              a. Focus groups, survey results, goals of AoE and plan of work

                  Two focus groups were conducted in Ogemaw County with people from five

                  surrounding counties. Bonnie conducted one group that was very positive, the

                  other group saw things with a bit more negative twist.

                  In addition to focus groups, they handed out the survey that also was sent

                  online to Extension staff. Bonnie shared results of online survey, the 

                  information from focus groups is not ready at this time.

                  As for our AoE goals, we will be continuing work on the website and the

                  modules. Bonnie reviewed the seasonal plan of work template developed by

                  Mona Ellard and Joe Lessard. We seem right on target.

                  

              b. Listserv update  Our new listserv is aoecommdev@list.msu.edu. All

                  members need to update their portal profile to be on the list.

 

B.     Coach-When Scott called in, he asked what the AoE had done so far as part of

     the Strengthening MI Economy process. Bonnie gave an update regarding the 

     focus groups held and surveys conducted. Scott suggested getting feedback from

     AARP and MSHDA as well as the organizations and agencies involved in these

     focus groups and surveys. 

Scott announced that the search committee has met but are still open to receiving other applications for associate operations and program positions. He asked we make calls, suggest names of staff that might be a good fit for these positions.

Scott said it is quiet on the budget front. Currently, there is a small surplus this year due to estate tax resulting from the death of several wealthy residents. This is a blip that will not continue.

Bonnie asked about future funding for AoEs. Scott said to expect about the same amount as this year. We should spend our money, not sure if any carryover will be allowed.

             Phil asked about possibilities for future ECED training. Scott asked Bonnie and  

             Steve for feedback about the online training offered last fall. There was then

             some discussion about the university’s role in supporting our ECED efforts as

             clientele have identified these activities as important. Scott suggested that Bonnie 

             and George meet with Tom Coon and Scott to further discuss these concerns,

             asking Bonnie to email some tentative dates to him. Scott had a 1p.m. meeting so

             he  hung up at that time. George offered to meet with Frank Fear first

             before arranging a meeting with Tom and Scott. Those present agreed to that. It 

             was suggested that all AoE members be able to attend the meeting with Tom.

             Elaine mentioned that the evening of March 30th at Ket Center might be a good 

             opportunity for the AoE to meet with him.

        C. Other-  none     

 

VI. Unfinished business

A.     NACDEP attendance- due to time, we did not cover this during the meeting. At this time, MSUE staff that are known to be planning to attend the second annual NACDEP conference Feb. 13-16 in San Antonio,TX are as follows:

Jim Wiesing, Jan Hartough, Elaine Bush, Beth Moore, Dave Ivan, John Amrhein

       If anyone else is going or is aware of other MSUE staff that plan to attend,

       please email Elaine Bush.

 

 

VII. New business

A.     team membership forms Elaine will email the form to all members. We need to get updated versions of the team membership criteria page and membership form on the website.

B.     Spring/summer retreat – only discussion is that we will be meeting in the straits area with Tourism AoE members who are taking the lead on planning this.

 

VIII. Announcements

  1. Upcoming dates –Bonnie briefly directed those present to see the list of upcoming events on the agenda. Elaine suggested we arrange to meet jointly wit the ED AoE at fall conference if time is arranged as it was this year for AoE meetings. We had tentatively planned to meet jointly with them at this meeting but somehow that did not get arranged and members present felt that an annual joint meeting with the ED AoE has been helpful.
  2. Round table discussion, if time allows-this did not happen as time ran out.

     

IX. Adjournment

Meeting ended at 2:55 p.m.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

Elaine M. Bush,

Secretary