December 2007

Good Morning, Chapter Leadership and National ESP Committee Members!  The National ESP Board joins me in wishing each of you a Happy and Safe Holiday Season and a New Year filled with Peace and Prosperity.  Please review the dates ahead carefully and pay attention to the noted deadlines.

Important Dates Ahead

o        January 1, Nominations for 2009 Regional VPs due in the National ESP Office

o        January 15, Galaxy III Proposal deadline

o        February 1, National Dues Payment cut off for voting delegates and recognition eligibility

o        February 1, PILD and McKinney Scholarship deadline

o        2008 JCEP Regional Leadership Dates and Locations

-          South and Northeast - February 5 - 7, 2008 - Orlando, FL

-          North Central and West - February 20 - 22, 2008 - San Diego, CA

o        February 29, Submission deadline for ESP Concurrent Session Proposals for Galaxy III

o        March 1, submission deadline for Recognition and Scholarship packets

o        April 28 - 30, 2008 --2008 Public Issues and Leadership Development Conference, Washington, DC

o        September 15-19, 2008, Galaxy III, Indianapolis, IN

o        2009 ESP National Conference, September 13-16, 2009, Fargo, North Dakota.

ESP Call for Concurrent Session RFP’s submitted by Ellen Burton, Professional Development Chair

The Epsilon Sigma Phi National Board has determined that all six ESP concurrent sessions will focus on LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT.  This topic may apply to youth and/or adult programming. 

All presenters who are eligible for ESP membership must be a current member of ESP.  All presenters must register for the conference and are expected to attend the entire conference. 

Please note that potential presenters may submit a maximum of two proposals; however, only one will be selected.  For information regarding "Presenter Responsibilities" please read the "Request for Proposals for Concurrent Sessions."

"Request for Proposals for Concurrent Sessions" can be found on the ESP Web site at http://www.espnational.org/2008NationalMeeting/rfp2008.htm.

Galaxy III needs Volunteers to Review Concurrent and Poster Session Proposals - Marjorie Moore, ESP representative to the Galaxy III Committee

At this time, volunteers are needed to review proposals.  See number of volunteers needed in “red” next to the topic area.  Below is a copy of the job description for reviewers.  Volunteers from the Western states are particularly needed.  You will need to respond to this request no later than December 14^th.  Send an e-mail to Marjorie Moore (mreem@ufl.edu) or Marie Blythe (mblythe@ksu.edu).

Galaxy III Proposal Review Panels

The 2008 Galaxy III Conference will feature four types of presentations:

·       Research & Evaluation (4-5)

·       Competency Building & Program Development (2)

·       Roundtables (3-5)

·       Posters (1-3)

Proposal Panel Reviewers Job Description:

1.      Coordinate schedules to allow time for the review process from January 15 – March 10, 2008

2.      Participate in conference calls as scheduled and respond to e-mail in a timely fashion

3.      Complete reviews and submit feedback in a timely manner

4.      Ensure confidentiality of the process

5.      Disclose any conflict of interest that may occur throughout the review process

6.      Must be a member of one of the Extension professional associations (ANREP, ESP, NACAA, NACDEP, NAE-4HA, NEAFCS)

Regional JCEP Leadership Meetings: 

Here is the link to the registration information: http://www.espnational.org/JCEP2008RegionalWorkshop.htm.

Public Issues Update, Gwen Wolford, Chair of Public Issues

The Senate is expected to resume work on the 2007 Farm Bill this week, after leaders broke a stalemate over amendments that had stalled the measure since before the Thanksgiving Day recess. The number of amendments will be split evenly between both parties, with each offering 20. The Senate’s goal is to complete their version of the Farm Bill prior to the holiday recess. This doesn’t mean that the Farm Bill is done, but it leaves both chambers of Congress with a product to take to conference committee in 2008. The 2007 Farm Bill, as it is written in both the House and Senate, includes significant portions of CREATE-21, the land grant system’s proposal for funding agricultural extension and research, and is being supported by our system.

The outlook for federal appropriations for extension and research is very much in question as Congress is still trying to find a way to pass the majority of the FY 22008 appropriations bills that will make them acceptable to both their own members and the executive branch. Fiscal year 2008 began October 1, 2007 and the current continuing resolution which keeps the federal government funded at 2007 levels will expire on Friday December 15. The most likely scenario is that all of the unpassed appropriations measures, including agriculture, will be placed in one large “omnibus” bill. The biggest concern is that the difference between Congressionally-approved spending levels and those that the President will support is still an issue of contention, and any compromise is likely to include across the board cuts. We would strongly prefer not to see these cuts since the land grant agriculture system was slated for some small, but helpful, increases in the bills passed by both chambers of Congress.

Both of these issues may continue on to the next Congress when it convenes in January

New Website Posting:

• ESP Handbooks: Chapter and Organizational: http://www.espnational.org/handbook/index.htm

Last Call for 2007 National Conference Reimbursements: 

If you are due a travel or speakers stipend for the 2007 National Conference, this is the final call for those expenses to be submitted. 

National ESP Office Closed:  The National ESP Office will be closed December 24 – January 2, 2007.  If you anticipate needs during that time or early in January, please send them ASAP.