Contents
- Positive Thinking Quotes to Get You Thinking
- OSUE Strategic Plan - See What your Colleagues are Saying Online
- State Extension Advisory Committee Report
- OSUE Innovative Grant Funding Announced
- Healthy Workplaces
- The Changing Face of the Organization: Millennials in the Workplace – August 1 Online Seminar
- Galaxy IV - Bridging the Centuries: A New Era for Extension September 16 - 20
- Action Leadership Retreat – November 6 - 7
Positive Thinking Quotes to Get You Thinking
-Keith Smith, associate vice president, agricultural administration and director, OSU Extension
As I continue our series on positive thinking, I would like to share with you some thoughts from the book Attitude is Everything – 10 Rules for Staying Positive by Vicki Hitzges (2010) published by Simple Truths.
Rule # 4 is the Serious Benefits of Belly Laughs
We know that laughter doesn’t just make life fun, it keeps us healthy, and releases endorphins. The Associated Press ran an article that claimed laughter may be good for the heart. A team of medical researchers at the Center for Preventative Cardiology at the University of Maryland Medical Center found that people with heart disease were 40 percent less likely to laugh in humorous situations than those with healthy hearts. It is uncertain, however, whether humor helps prevent heart problems or if people with heart problems tend to lose their sense of humor.
“A sense of humor…is needed armor. Joy in one’s heart and some laughter on one’s lips is a sign that the person down deep has a pretty good grasp of life.” - Hugh Sidney
Dr. Rose Marie Robertson, a Vanderbilt University cardiologist, said a study of 300 people, half of whom had histories of heart problems, used questionnaires to gauge how healthy people and those with heart disease differed in their responses to situations. Those with heart disease generally displayed more anger and hostility than people with healthy hearts. (Lesson: If you’re uptight - loosen up! Not only will you get more party invitations, you’ll live a long time and enjoy going!)
“Laughter is the shock absorber that eases the blows of life.” - unknown
“What soap is to the body, laughter is to the soul.” - Yiddish proverb. Need a good cleanse on the inside? Find a funny friend. Have dinner with someone who makes you laugh out loud (lol). See a movie that makes you laugh until you cry. You need a bath! On the inside.
OSUE Strategic Plan - See What your Colleagues are Saying Online
-Bev Kelbaugh, South Central regional director
Our online strategic plan conversations (via Civic Commons) continue, and we’ve now started Goal 1 discussions. The most recent questions posted this week include:
- G1S2 – “How do you stay informed about Extension outside your immediate work group? How do people find out about our programs?”
- G1S3 – “How do you spot and respond to emerging issues in your community? What can we learn from others who have addressed an issue and responded in an effective way?
Visit http://theciviccommons.com/issues/osu-extension-strategic-plan to see what’s been said about Goal 1 so far, as well as the previous conversations about goals 3 and 2. Those forums are still active, and you are welcome to add your thoughts to any of these conversations.
Thanks again to those who have contributed so far. The open dialogue and constructive feedback has been very informative and will help guide the implementation of the strategic plan. When we close the online conversations after July 3, Civic Commons will summarize the content of each conversation and provide an analytical report to OSUE about key themes, trending ideas, and other highlights.
State Extension Advisory Committee Report
- Gwen Wolford, director, Government Relations, College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences
The State Extension Advisory Committee (SEAC) met in Columbus on June 4. Discussion included a panel on local foods and urban farming-related programming, demonstration of the new invasive species application, volunteer training/youth protection policies, the Smith-Lever anniversary celebration, the tobacco-free campus policy, trends in Extension staffing and other topics.
SEAC has 35 volunteer members plus a representative from the Director’s Internal Advisory Council and the Ohio JCEP president. It is a very committed group of volunteers who serve three year-terms. More than 75% of the members are present at each meeting. They provide programmatic advice, legislative advocacy and feedback on what they are hearing in the counties.
There are members of this group who are pleased to visit your county advisory committee meetings. If you are interested in scheduling someone to attend please contact Gwen Wolford (wolford.1@osu.edu or 614-563-1307). Having a state committee member attend your county advisory committee meetings helps local members get a feel for the big picture from a volunteer’s perspective. It also increases understanding of the SEAC county dues structure as well as providing an additional link from the state to local level.
OSUE Innovative Grant Funding Announced
-Ken Martin, associate director, programming and chair, OSU Extension
OSU Extension administration has made grants available to support innovative outreach/engagement work with Ohioans; interdisciplinary work; and initiatives that once seeded through this funding, will expand Ohio State’s engagement and OSUE’s work with the community.
Grants that received funding this year are:
- Aquaponics Demonstration System at the OSU South Centers
- County Extension’s Involvement with Ohio’s Local Food Councils
- Engaging Youth Leadership with Healthy Choice & Healthy Living: 4-H for REAL
- Helping to Save the Hocking Hills Hemlock
- Innovation Station: Growing Green
- LOOK to Clermont Youth Leadership Development Program
Healthy Workplaces
-Karen Bruns, assistant director, Family and Consumer Sciences
Are you looking for ways to help promote healthy workplaces? Check out our Workplace Wellness page at http://fcs.osu.edu/workplace-wellness to find details about what programs are offered through OSU Extension. We have included programs relating to healthy people, healthy finances, healthy relationships, and how people can live healthier lives overall. Contact information is included, and you can filter the programs by format and target audience, as well as search by topics covered.
The Changing Face of the Organization: Millennials in the Workplace – August 1 Online Seminar
Who are these new employees in your workplace? How do you relate to or manage this latest generation to enter the workforce? These younger employees are technologically wired, highly educated and eager to make a difference in their workplace. This highly interactive workshop is filled with information you can apply immediately in your organization.
Millennials were born between 1980 – 2000, and this generation is almost as large as the Baby Boomer generation. An achievement-oriented group, these new employees are technologically connected 24/7 and use social networking to connect with their peers. This high-achieving generation wants to immediately make an impact in their career, and they are anxious to take on leadership roles.
- Learn about the culture and events that have shaped the Millennial Generation.
- Determine ways to improve communication and build relationships with this generation.
- Generate ideas about how to manage and coach this generation of employees.
Beth Flynn is facilitating this workshop on August 1 from 9 to 11 a.m. The registration fee is $60 per participant. https://www.regonline.com/seriesleadership. There is a $5 cancellation fee. If you are unable to attend, you may send someone else.
Galaxy IV - Bridging the Centuries: A New Era for Extension September 16 - 20
Every five years, the Joint Council of Extension Professionals (JCEP) holds a national meeting and professional improvement conference for all of its member Extension professional organizations, known as Galaxy. This year’s conference will be held in Pittsburgh. The registration website is now available here:
Action Leadership Retreat – November 6 - 7
Participants are currently being recruited for a professional development opportunity called the Action Leadership Retreat (ALR). Designed for Extension educators (or others with similar responsibilities) with 18 months to three years of experience, the Action Leadership Retreat is a professional development opportunity built around simulated on-the-job experiences. Led by a facilitator and two experienced Extension professionals who are trained as observers, ALR is designed to help you evaluate and reflect on your skills in 12 key areas (e.g., conflict management, communication, and interpersonal skills) that are important for success as an Extension professional.
This year, we will offer Action Leadership Retreat on November 6 - 7. Space is limited to seven participants. Registrations will be accepted on a first come, first-served basis!
For more information and to register, click here. For questions or additional information, contact Jessica Bowen (bowen.279@osu.edu), graduate research associate or Graham Cochran (cochran.99@osu.edu), OSU Extension Human Resources and the Department of Agricultural Communication, Education and Leadership.