Message From the Director
Welcome to the 2007 CCE System Conference: The Public Value of Extension
The 2007 CCE System Conference is designed to bring the entire system together to continue and converge work begun in Executive Leadership Conferences, Regional Chairs meetings, Program Work Teams, Associations, CCE Administration, and departments and Colleges. In a time of tightening resources, it is ever more critical to be thoughtful, proactive, and strategic about positioning the entire CCE to address emerging and significant issues facing New York State residents.
In October 2007, the CCE System Conference will include a plenary session on The Public Value of Extension, during which all conference participants will learn about the concepts underlying “Public Value"? and begin working on statements of public value. We are excited to be able to hold this session at a system conference because it will allow all staff to contribute their varying perspectives and knowledge to the discussion. We are working to make sure that staff and faculty are well represented in the discussion. Articulating the public value of Extension will be critical to funding in the near and foreseeable future and to the effectiveness of CCE programming, and we need the input of the entire system to generate compelling statements.
Participants in the plenary and follow-up sessions will acquire skills related to articulating public value and to developing business plans that help guide and market our programs. In-services and concurrent sessions will bring you up to date on invasive species; local foods and agricultural development; family economics and resource management; addressing the needs of multicultural and immigrant communities; on-line teaching; renewable energy and energy conservation; fostering agriculture enterprise; youth science and technology initiatives; program development; and resource inventory sciences. Weigh in on program development during sessions of the Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation Program Work Team, the Invasive Species Program Work Team, and the 4H Program Directions session. Tim Volk, SUNY-ESF will talk about willow biomass and other agricultural sessions include grass production for energy; small farm viability, role of agriculture in preventing childhood obesity, and a local agriculture tour sponsored by NYSACAA. Following the local agriculture tour, NYSACAA is sponsoring a section banquet. Skills enhancement sessions for finance, human resource, and office professionals include ACCPAC, Brio, and Navigation for Success.
In addition to the plenary session, there will be a follow-up track to the public value discussion for a smaller group; professional development tracks that include faculty program partners; section banquets; and a system banquet. Prior to the conference, in-depth in-services will be offered and the Executive Directors will meet.
I encourage each ED to identify a core team of their staff, including themselves, who will commit to attending the plenary session.
I look forward to seeing all of you October 10 – 12 at our 2007 CCE System Conference.