JOURNEY THROUGH THE MAZE Leadership Development EL
Mary Ellen Waltemire, Regional Extension Director, Maryland Cooperative Extension.
Dr. Debra Bowman, Extension Specialist, Volunteer Development, MD

When your "cheese" moves it's time to take the Leadership Pill! This fast-paced, dynamic session will actively engage you in an assessment of your cheese, the identification of ways to help yourself and others manage the journey through life's maze while building personal leadership capacity and the leadership of your organization. Join us to eat cheese and take the pill!

CREATING HIGH PERFORMANCE PROGRAM TEAMS Admin/Org. EL
Michelle Rodgers, Regional Director, Penn State Cooperative Extension and Outreach, PA
Jeffrey Myers, York County Extension Director, Penn State Cooperative Extension, PA

Teamwork is the fuel that allows common people to produce uncommon results. This case study illustrates transformation from individual county educators to seven high performing program teams. Best practices, lesson learned, materials developed and technology employed to promote programmatic teamwork internally and externally will be highlighted.

PRACTICAL EVALUATION STRATEGIES FOR SHOWING STATEWIDE IMPACT Program Dev/Evaluation PD
Dena Wise, Associate Professor, Family & Consumer Sciences, TN

Through careful planning, UT Extension has been able to increase its capability to document impact of programs implemented statewide in family economics. The strategy includes working with a leadership team to select programs to evaluate for impact and designing consistent evaluation instruments for use and compilation statewide.

A NATIONAL WEB-BASED PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT CURRICULUM FOR STRENGTHENING
EXTENSIONS' CAPACITY FOR INTERNATIONAL ENGAGEMENT International/Multicultural EL
Mark Russell, Professor of Animal Sciences, Purdue University, IN
Kimberly Greder, Uford Madden, Pamala Morris, Harriet Paul, and Kelli Selby

A new national, web-based curriculum "Strengthening Extension's Capacity for International Engagement" (http://www.ces.purdue.edu/iec/) was designed to build the skills needed by Extension personnel to successfully engage in the international arena in the context of their professional assignments. Modules include an overview, detailed instructional plans, worksheets, activities, some presentations and related references.

Focus groups are a valuable tool for improving Extension programming. Many times we forget, in our busy schedule of meetings, by adding just one more meeting of a focus group can result in better quality programming and ensure the work we are doing is on target for the needs of our community.

THRIVING IN THE 21ST CENTURY Financial Strategies EL
Marcia Jante County Director/Professor, WI
Tedi Winnett, County Director/Professor, WI

We will describe the unique strategies employed by Kenosha and Waukesha County University of Wisconsin Extension to work with Community Development Block Grant to grow their grant support from $5000-$200,000 annually. As a result of the programming crime rates have decreased, youth grades have improved and residents feel safer in their neighborhoods.

WHO'S WATCHING EXTENSION'S FUTURE? Admin/Org EL
Bob Ary, Extension Agent, Sumner County, TN
Dena Wise, Associate Professor, Family & Consumer Sciences, TN

Trends and issues among the nation's network of land grant institutions, in educational delivery and content, and in state and federal funding foretell major changes in Extension. Learn what people and groups are monitoring the "big picture" for Extension, and their foresight into the future of the organization.

A BACKPACKER'S GUIDE TO PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT Program Dev./Evaluation PD
Cheryl Burkhart-Kriesel, Extension Specialist, University of Nebraska Extension & Rural Initiative
Connie Francis, Extension Educator, University of Nebraska Rural Initiative

Backpacking and program development have a lot in common - both are an adventure, take careful planning, require diligent execution, and when successful, create a sense of accomplishment. Discover what one Extension team saw as the process and tools needed to create a statewide program from the ground up.

EXTENSION ACADEMY FOR PROFESSIONAL EXCELLENCE Leadership Development EL
Mary Ellen Blackburn, GA

The "Extension Academy for Professional Excellence" is a professional development initiative provided by the Georgia Extension Service for a select group of early- to mid-career Extension faculty who are dedicated to fulfilling Extension's mission and have demonstrated potential as future leaders of the organization. An overview will be presented.

AN ANALYSIS OF SPLIT-DIRECTOR ADMINISTRATIVE POSITIONS WITHIN OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION Admin/Org EL
Greg Homan, Extension Educator and County Co-Director, OH
Andy Kleinschmidt, Carol Trice, & Nancy Bowen

Across the United States, County Chairs or Directors provide leadership to core administrative functions. This study analyzes the growing trend of a team-approach to the County Director Position within Ohio State University Extension and provides insight into the effectiveness of this model for consideration by Extension organizations.

EXTENSION AND A UNIVERSITY'S ENGAGEMENT MISSION - THE LESSONS LEARNED Partnerships EL
Karen Bruns, Leader, OSU CARES/OSU Extension and University, Outreach/Engagement, OH

As universities embrace the concept of engagement, Extension educators are challenged to build new partnerships with university colleagues. This session will focus on lessons learned from implementing integral relationships with university-wide engagement and fostering partnerships between Extension and colleges to achieve a university's engagement vision.

PLANNING EFFECTIVE PROGRAMS WITH SIGNIFICANT OUTCOMES AND ECONOMIC IMPACTS Program Dev/Evaluation PD
Carol A. Rice, Professor and Extension Health Specialist, TX
Dean A. McCorkle, Extension Program Specialist, Economic Accountability, TX

This session highlights the process for measuring outcomes and determining economic impact for two Texas Cooperative Extension health programs. A state health specialist and an economist, worked together to use an on-line data collection and analysis system to measure behavioral outcomes and economic impacts for these programs.

FACILITATOR EXCELLENCE Leadership Development PD
Kathryn Stuever Foerster, Interim State Leader, Family and Consumer Sciences, MI;
Jan Hartough, Barry County Extension Director, MI; and Elaine Bush, Manistee County Extension Director, MI

Because of their roles as unbiased educators with expertise in many areas related to complex community issues, Extension Educators are often called on to facilitate meetings for community organizations and coalitions. In addition, they are often the facilitative leaders of internal teams, boards, and councils. Outside of the Extension sphere there is a growing need for expert facilitators as agencies and organizations face complex challenges.

CREATING AN INTERNATIONAL DIMENSION IN YOUR EXTENSION WORK Admin/Org PD
Jeff Olsen, OSU Extension Horticulturist, OR

This workshop will provide the information, inspiration, strategies, tools and contacts for currently available opportunities in the U.S. and around the world that you can engage in to create a dynamic international dimension in your work as an Extension professional.

DETERMINING IMPACT AND CONDUCTING APPLIED RESEARCH: AN INITIATIVE TO STRENGTHEN INVESTIGATIVE SKILLS OF PROGRAMMING PERSONNEL Program Dev/Eval PD
Gregory A. Davis, Leader, Community Economics and Business Programs, OSU Extension, OH;
Tom Archer, State Leader, Program development & Evaluation, OSU Extension, OH;
Jerold Thomas, Center Director, OSU Extension Center at Lima, OH; and
Cindy Torppa, Center Specialist, Family & Consumer Sciences, OSU Extension, OH

Impact Evaluation is the "hot button" in educational and social service efforts. Elevating impact evaluation to the higher level of creating new knowledge, contributes to personal professional improvement, as well as expanding the knowledge base of a given discipline. This session outlines an agency initiative to strengthen professionals' investigative skills.

A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH: OHIO'S SUCCESS WITH ELECTED OFFICIALS Public Policy Issues EL
Gwen H. Wolford, Director, Federal and County Relations, OH

Come and learn what Extension professionals and volunteers in Ohio are doing to keep a strongly-funded Extension system. You will learn about efforts with county, state and federal officials. We will discuss volunteer development, volunteer roles, and how field-based Extension personnel are key players in delivering a clear message to elected officials.

"EXTENSION AND FINANCIAL SECURITY IN LATER LIFE: A COMMUNICATION PARTNERSHIP" New Communications Tools/Tech PD
Nancy M. Porter, Co-Chair, National Initiative Management Team-Financial Security in Later Life, SC

eXtension is the newest communication tool using the latest technology in the Cooperative Extension System. As one of three programs included in the eXtension prototype, the partnership with Financial Security in Later Life will create an Internet-based, customer-centered, virtual education environment for the financial management subject area.

RIGHTRISK: THE GENESIS OF AN AWARD WINNING EDUCATION PROGRAM Partnerships PD
Jeffrey E. Tranel, Agriculture Economist, CO

RightRisk is an innovative, fun educational program to help people understand and explore risk management decisions. As national initiatives and scarce resources force multi-state extension programming, RightRisk can serve as an excellent example of how Extension educators can share resources, conduct programs, and work together regardless of state lines.