November 20, 2018

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In this week’s issue:

Extension Messaging Workshop Recap

Extension has hundreds of great stories to tell about the impactful work we’re doing in our communities. The messaging workshop with Ologie on November 14, helps us fine-tune how we tell our stories and create captivating headlines. View a recording the Extension workshop here.

Ologie gave us some great tips:

  1. Include a brief description of Extension in everything we write (including workshop and event promotional materials), such as this 140-character description: OSU Extension provides information and expertise to help meet local challenges and help every Oregonian thrive.
  2. Create headlines using the most interesting nugget of information — rather than the program or workshop name — and add emotion to capture attention and make an impression. The Outdoor School advertisement is a good example of a good headline (see photo) according to Ologie. To help find the nugget that will make for an intriguing headline, ask yourself:
    • What is the impact?
    • What is being done that couldn’t be done before?
    • Why are you passionate about the research, event, program, etc.?
    • Why are you doing it?
  3. Focus on the benefits. It will be helpful to revisit the Extension message map on pages 6 to 9 in the Extension Style Guide, which you can find on the Employee Intranet website.

To learn more about the Extension sub-brand and messaging, sessions are being presented at Extension Annual Conference. If you have brand-related questions, please contact Ann Marie Murphy, marketing manager for Extension.

Inaugural Director’s Coin for Excellence Awarded to Beatriz Botello, Kim Tarrant

Beatriz Botello, SNAP-Ed Education program assistant in Lincoln County, and Kim Tarrant, assistant to associate provost, were awarded the first Director’s Coin for Excellence at the Outreach and Engagement Quarterly Conversation on Nov. 16.

The Director’s Coin for Excellence is presented to Extension personnel, partners, collaborators, community members, and others who have displayed excellence in support of the Outreach and Engagement and Extension missions or have distinguished themselves in an exemplary manner.

Beatriz was recognized for her innovative suggestion that Oregon State University provide a means for which visibly communicates that are employees are multilingual. Upon receiving that suggestion, University Marketing and Relations developed pins inscribed in languages found throughout Oregon. This will allow community members who don’t speak English as a first language to feel more comfortable when approaching our Extension professionals, making outreach efforts more effective and resulting in our ability to better serve all of our residents.

Kim was recognized for her leadership in coordination of the conceptualization, development and implementation of the Director’s Coin of Excellence. Through the process Kim kept the team on track and synchronized efforts to make the concept a reality. Her commitment to the successful implementation of this strategic initiative will contribute significantly to and positively impact the well-being and morale of Extension faculty and staff, as well as our partners.

Recognizing excellence significantly enhances morale and esprit de corps within organizations, acknowledges critical contributions to mission, and inspires others to serve in innovative and selfless ways.

Excellence in service and achievement can come in a variety of forms. Examples include, but aren’t limited to:

  • Extraordinary efforts, above and beyond what would normally be expected
  • Suggesting or developing innovative or creating ways to improve process, products, or operations
  • Outstanding achievement which contributes to the efficiency or economy of operations
  • Exemplary service as an acknowledgement of a job well-done, usually over an extended period of time
  • Outstanding displays of the human spirit

Any employee in the Division of Outreach and Engagement can nominate an individual for a Director’s Coin. The brief nomination statement will contain at a minimum:

  • Name and affiliation of the individual being nominated
  • Nomination statement including the action of the individual nominated and the impact of the action on the OSU or Extension mission
  • Proposed date and location of presentation

A well-worded nomination statement is critical as the nomination statement will become the wording used for the citation. Please be concise as we are using a 100-word limit.

The web form for nomination can be found at on the OSU Extension employees page under forms at: https://employee.extension.oregonstate.edu/forms/directors-coin-nomination

Virtual Park Ranger gets awards

The Virtual Park Ranger team from Oregon State University earned two awards at eXtension’s Impact Collaborative Summit in Indianapolis in October.

At the end of the three-day Summit, teams participated in a “PitchFest” where they each presented the advancements on their projects and the important next steps and investments needed to move forward. The PitchFest was judged by external partners/investors, Extension leaders, and peer co-creators.

The Virtual Park Ranger team earned two awards: most innovative – external, and crowdfunding. These awards have earned the team recognition within the Cooperative Extension System nationally, a trip to the 2019 Impact Collaborative Summit, and strategic support from Lynn Luckow of LikeMinded.org to position their project for crowdfunding on the platform in the coming months.

The team included Alan Dennis and Stephen Ward, both in Extension and Experiment Station Communications; and Siew Sun Wong, associate professor in the Family and Community Health program. Their project reconnects people with nature through an augmented reality app that stimulates improvements in personal wellness and environmental stewardship.

Extension Web Update

If you serve Oregonians interested to get involved as participants or volunteers in Extension programs, you will have additional ways to draw attention to the opportunities offered. A new look to program pages are coming soon that allow you to add background photos or shading, quick links, calls to action, and program descriptions to highlight select activities and resources. Take a look and let us know what you think.

Diversity Highlights

Please contact analu.fonseca@oregonstate.edu with any questions or comments or if you have suggestions for events or news stories to include in Diversity Highlights.

Conversation Starter- Video:

How to get serious about diversity and inclusion in the workplace

Imagine a workplace where people of all colors and races are able to climb every rung of the corporate ladder — and where the lessons we learn about diversity at work actually transform the things we do, think and say outside the office. How do we get there? In this candid talk, inclusion advocate Janet Stovall shares a three-part action plan for creating workplaces where people feel safe and expected to be their unassimilated, authentic selves.

Events & Resources

Art & Power: Centering the Voices of Native Artists: How are Native artists reclaiming space and building community in Portland? Join the Art & Power of 2018 as we listen, learn, and reflect with Portland-based artists. Nov. 21 from 6:00pm to 8:00pm in Portland, for more information visit the event page.

Native American Awareness Gathering: Join Salem-Keizer Public Schools and learn more about our Native American and indigenous populations in this free family event on Nov. 30, 2018 from 6:00pm to 9:00pm in Salem, for more information visit the event page.

Alsea Tribal Life at Cape Perpetua Prior to European Contact: Learn about the pre-European inhabitants of Cape Perpetua from one of Cape Perpetua’s exceptional volunteers, Dick Mason. November 25th from 1:00pm to 2:00 pm in Lincoln City, for more info visti the event page.

History Pub – Notable Women of Portland: The story of Portland, Oregon, like much of history, has usually been told with a focus on male leaders. This presentation offers a reframing of Portland’s history– including information on 10,000 years of Native American women, pioneer women, women of the Progressive Era, WWI, WWII, and post-war women, with additional tales of women in the arts and women in politics. November 26th from 7:00pm to 9:00pm in Portland, for more information visit the event page.

In the News

30,000 Oregon kids in first year of statewide Outdoor School

Three-quarters of Oregon’s eligible fifth- and sixth-grade students participated in the inaugural year of the statewide Outdoor School program, according to a new Oregon State University Extension Service report.

Adidas letter exposes racial tensions

Shortly after he was named president last spring, Zion Armstrong said Adidas North America was committed to building a truly diverse workforce.

The Creative Way One Family Is Diversifying Bookshelves Across The Country

Troubled by the lack of diversity in children’s books and the literacy gap involving kids around the country, a mom and her two kids have set out to send 50 diverse children’s books to each of the 50 states.

OSU celebrates Native American Heritage Month

November marks Native American Heritage Month, a celebration of American Indian and Alaskan Native tradition, history and culture, and the Native American Longhouse Eena Haws will be holding events throughout.

What are you reading?

Please share an interesting book, blog, or article you’ve read lately. What’s one insight you gleaned?

Extension in the news

Students Connect with School Nutrition Professionals
Oregon Dairy and Nutrition Council
Many of the recipes used for this workshop are from Food Hero (www.foodhero.org), an online resource with shopping hints, cooking tips and videos, to help Oregonians improve their health with affordable and healthy recipes.

Dairy Goat Day welcomes all goat farmers, enthusiasts
Creswell Chronicle
“It made sense to combine our efforts,” Melisa Fery, OSU Small Farmers Extension Program agent, said. “(The program) is all about community education and helping landowners or small acreage owners meet their goals.”

Conspiracists Blame California Fires on Airborne Laser Guns
The Daily Beast
Daniel Leavell, a forest agent and assistant professor at Oregon State University, told The Daily Beast that fires are driven by a variety of complicated factors, including wind, that can produce surprising burn patterns.

Hazelnut yields fall short of expectations
Capital Press
Nik Wiman, orchard specialist for Oregon State University, said growers with dryland hazelnut orchards should consider adding drip irrigation if they can.

How to counteract dog urine spots, when to overseed lawns? Ask an expert
The Oregonian/OregonLive
Leaves are falling fast and winter approaches, but there are always gardening questions. Get answers from Ask an Expert, an online question-and-answer tool from Oregon State University’s Extension Service.

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