BURNETT COUNTY AG/EXTENSION COMMITTEE
December 20, 2004
Minutes

I. The meeting was called to order by Chairman Maury Miller, at 9:35 a.m. in Room 165 of the Burnett County Government Center on Monday, December 20, 2004.

II. Notice was posted according to open meeting law requirements.

Present: Maury Miller, Charles Peterson, Gene Olson, Marilyn Kooiker, Douglas Stubbe, Mike Kornmann, Julie Yezek, Grace Gee, Kevin Schoessow and Otto Wiegand.

III. Motion to approve the November 15, 2004 minutes, was made by Peterson, seconded by Olson. Motion carried.

IV. General Business

A. Department Head Report - Marilyn Kooiker

With Committee approval, Doug Stubbe will assume the role Department Head beginning January 1, 2005. A vote was taken among County agents this fall and District Director, John Preissing, has supported this decision. Motion made by Peterson, seconded by Olson, to approve Doug Stubbe as UW-Extension Department Head. Motion carried.

The support staff position held by Wanda Hinrichs will be open to external recruitment. A new roster of candidates will be created through Human Resources, advertising, testing and interviews will be conducted. A temporary replacement will be hired to fill the position until it can be filled on a permanent basis (late February/early March).

An update was given on the Community Partner Advisory Group. Marilyn again asked for any additions or deletions to the list created. This list was shared with committee members prior to the meeting.

Congratulations to Maury Miller, Northern District WACEC representative to the Lay Leaders Conference in Washington, DC, April 2005. He will be the representative for 2005-2006 from our district.

2005 will be a busy year for all County Agents as they are working on 3-year reviews and mini-tenure portfolios.

Expense report for 2004 was shared. Some line items are over budget, but overall the budget is still in the black. A transfer of funds will be requested to cover the shortages after all 2004 expenses have been entered.

County Administrator, Candy Fitzgerald, has requested UW-Extension help in facilitating an in-service for all county employees on "dealing with change." Doug Stubbe and Marilyn Kooiker will be co-facilitating the curriculum "Who Moved My Cheese?" County Board members will also be invited to participate in the January 18-19 in-service. There will be 3-4 different times offered.

B. Agent Reports:

Mike Kornmann, Community Resource Development - A Leadership Program steering committee is moving forward and developing a curriculum. Recruitment is expected to begin in the spring of 2005.

BCDA board has been active and attendance at the last meeting was very good (10 of 12 board members attending). A representative of the St. Croix Tribe also attended. A "commitment letter" will be used for the first time starting with the annual meeting in February 2005. The board also recommended Ted Gerber represent BCDA on the Revolving Loan Fund Board. The board has worked through a draft of major projects for the year. The board is also looking at filing for non-profit status (501c3 or 501c6) and is dealing with insurance coverage for the board.

Kornmann attended the economic development in-service in Madison in early December. The program office funded this professional development opportunity and another is scheduled for 2005.

Tourism update: The e-newsletter, "What's Happening in Burnett County," scheduled to go out in January 2005. The visitor's center currently has 370 email addresses.

Kornmann is working to finalize end-of-year reports and 2005 plan of work. Tentatively his major 2005 projects include the Leadership Program, Lakes Association Evaluation Study, Gandy Dancer Economic Impact Study, and work with Burnett County Development Association (BCDA) and Parks-Recreation-Tourism (PRT) Committees.

Doug Stubbe, 4-H/Youth Development - Met with Kooiker and John Preissing, District Director, regarding the Department Head role.

Met with Candy Fitzgerald and Kooiker regarding the "Who Moved My Cheese" in-service to county employees on dealing with change.

Interviewed two 4-H members who expressed an interest in attending the State Youth Conference next June in Madison. Kelley Wampfler, Siren, and Rebecca Olson, Grantsburg will be representing Burnett County in Madison at this conference.
2004 statistical data and success stories have been entered into UWEX Plans and Results system. Met with Department Chairperson and Mentor and continue to work on multi-year plan of work and mini-portfolio.

Attended Northern District 4-H Youth Development Face-to-Face conference in Hurley on December 7th.

Attended Adventure Education Committee Strategic Planning meeting in Wausau on December 10th. A grant has been approved to promote a "Bike for Health" program in partnership with state WNEP through 2005-2006..

Upcoming Events:

Dec. 30 - Club Officer/Jr. Leader Training
Jan. 1 - Assume Department Head role
Jan. 5 - Superior Days Meeting
Jan. 14-16 - Northern District Winter Camp
Jan. 18-19 - "Who Moved My Cheese?"
Jan. 20 - Kornmann 3-year review
Jan. 25 - Volunteer Leader Certification

Grace Gee/Julie Yezek, Wisconsin Nutrition Education Program - Programs for November-December 2004 were discussed: WIC program displays on edible gifts for the holidays; Northwest Passage included four 6-hour visits with various lessons on nutrition and money management-related topics; Siren After-School program on edible gifts and physical activity; Webster 7th grade lesson on pop and sugar content.

Meeting was held with Sarah Miller to plan 2005 WIC programs.

The Nutrition Coalition met on December with the farmers market being discussed. Ruth Tripp, Siren School nurse, working with "Walk Around the World" to help encourage people to get more exercise.

Burnett County has applied for a grant through Milwaukee/Madison medical schools promoting health life styles (Sarah Miller has applied for this).

Communities - what is there to do? Sarah Miller is getting this into the newspapers.

(Grace Gee and Julie Yezek left at 10:15 a.m.)

Marilyn Kooiker, Family Living - Marilyn met with the United for Students Project steering committee at Grantsburg Middle School to discuss how to evaluate the project.

A First Book Family workshop was held on November 18th at St. Croix Tribal Head Start, with 1 parent and 3 Head Start employees present.

A satellite program on Bullying was held November 30 and December 7 with 8-9 participants (school principal, day care providers, UM-Duluth student, counselors). Evaluations were positive.

Participated in Department of Family Development Wisline on December 6.

The HCE program book committee met to update the 2005 program book.

Upcoming Family Living Activities:

- End of year reports and statistics due by December 31.
- Plans of work due January 15.
- Who Moved My Cheese? in-service January 18-19 for county employees.
- Grandparents Raising Grandchildren E-Conference last week of January (on-line, web-based).

Miller commented on how Agents seemed to have so many expectations by UW- Extension and suggested we limit our commitments and concentrate on fewer projects. Kevin explained how this has always been our dilemma.

Kevin Schoessow & Otto Wiegand, Agriculture Programs, Spooner Ag/Research Station

Otto reported on his activities from September-December 2004. Activities focused on new colleague orientation, meeting more clients and county officials, meetings and conferences, collaboration with Extension and other agencies, grant writing, general inquiries and follow-ups. Otto provided a written report detailing his activities: articles authored, events/meetings, farm visits and telephone contacts.

Also shared was an article from the Burnett County Sentinel highlighting Otto's report to the Burnett County Towns Association on biodigesters. He also shared a flyer on Burnett County Agriculture: Value and Economic Impact with local information on Burnett County dairy statistics and other local information.

Kevin shared a written report with the Committee. Major projects included:

- Farmer Nutrient Management Education
- General Master Gardener Training
- Master Gardener Program
- Farmers Markets
- Northwest Grazers Network

Other activities included various workshops, demonstrations and projects in the 3-county area. State responsibilities, professional development and upcoming workshops were also listed.

V. Any Other Business

Miller moved to thank Kooiker for her years of professional leadership as Department Head. Seconded by Olson. Motion carried.

VI. Set Next Meeting Date

Next meeting date will be held on Monday, January 17, 2005 at 9:30 a.m. in Room 165 of the Burnett County Government Center.

Adjournment - Motion to adjourn the December 20, 2004 meeting was made by Peterson, seconded by Olson. Motion carried. Meeting was adjourned at 11:15 a.m. by Chairman Maury Miller.

The Christmas Open House followed the meeting. Guests included John Preissing, Candace Fitzgerald, Helen Steffen, Linda Anderson, Land & Water Conservation staff and others.

Respectfully Submitted,

Marilyn Kooiker, Family Living Agent