Epsilon Sigma Phi - Professional Development (Mini-grant) Grants Session - 2013 Galaxy IV Conference

2013 Galaxy IV Conference - ESP National
Professional Development Mini-Grant Session
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Galaxy IV Session
ESP Chapters Bridging the Centuries:
Planning and Funding Professional Development
Wednesday, September 18, 2013
1:30 – 2:20 p.m.
Facilitators
Graham Cochran (cochran.99@osu.edu) - Chair, Scholarship, Grants and Recognition
Committee ESP National Board
Cindy Strasheim (cynthia.strasheim@unl.edu) – Member, ESP Scholarship, Grants and
Recognition Committee
Session Overview
The mission of Epsilon Sigma Phi, at the national and chapter level, is about developing the
Extension profession and Extension professionals. Professional Development in this new
Era of Extension bridges our traditional past to Next Generation Extension. As funding
continues to be a challenge, it is important for ESP chapters to step up and serve as a
source for innovative professional development. This interactive session includes
information about ESP mini-grants, a panel of State Chapters sharing examples of
professional development partially funded by ESP mini-grants, and idea sharing among
attendees. Take home ideas and skills to apply for an ESP mini-grant for your Next
Generation Extension professional development.
Resources Below
This packet includes information from the session described above taught at the 2013
Galaxy IV Conference. It includes information to support ESP chapter leaders considering
applying for grants from ESP to support professional development programming. Included
this packet:
 ESP Professional Development Grant Information and link to ESP web site with
details
 Professional development needs – idea sharing from Galaxy IV
 2012 funded projects and contact information for applicants
 Complete applications for the three projects funded in 2012

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ESP Professional Development (Mini-grant) Grant Program
The purpose of the Epsilon Sigma Phi Professional Development Grant is to stimulate
development of Extension professionals. Grants will be awarded to interdisciplinary teams
to plan and conduct a project with an appeal to a broad audience of Extension
professionals. Through the ESP Development Fund funding for at least four $1,000 grants is
available annually and will be awarded through a competitive process. For information on
this and other opportunities for funding, visit the ESP National web site at
http://espnational.org/
Galaxy IV Project Idea Sharing
The attendees developed the following list of professional development needs and ideas:
Professional Development Needs:
 New employee training
o Record keeping for reporting, promotion, tenure
o Program development for new agents
 Evaluation basics
 Program development for underserved audiences
 Multi state program development
 Publishing outside if the University
 Time management
 Technology
o Distance learning
o Social media
o Program delivery
 Digital
 Public issues
Professional development ideas
 Technology based training
 Multi state...county projects
 Working with diverse groups
 Evaluation/impact
o Public value
o Economic return on investment
 Grant writing
 Contracting with other agencies (state, local, federal)

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2012 Funded Projects
Wisconsin/Alpha Sigma Chapter
 Telling Your Extension Story - Linda Kustka - linda.kustka@ces.uwex.edu
 For more information on the 2012 Wisconsin project see the April, 2012 ESP
Connection at http://espnational.org/images/Connections/2013_04.pdf
Indiana/Alpha Lambda Chapter
 Ethics & Our Role as Leaders - Susan Plassmeier - splassme@purdue.edu
Missouri/Alpha Tau Chapter
 Marketing Extension Using Social Media – Meridith Berry - BerryM@missouri.edu
Please see the final pages of this packet for completed applications from these
projects funded in 2012.
2012 Professional Development Mini - Grants
(Funded Projects)
Professional Development Mini Grant Application
State / Chapter Submitting Professional Development Mini Grant
Missouri / Alpha Tau
Region of Submitting Chapter: North Central
Project Leader - Meridith Berry
Anticipated Beginning Date for Project Aug 2012
Anticipated Ending Date for Project Dec 2012
Has Your Chapter Received a Mini Grant Previously? No Date of Previous Grant
Project Title Marketing Extension Using Social Media

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Description of Proposal
The Alpha Tau chapter proposes to use distance education and a speaker to motivate
chapter members to become more proficient in the use of Social Media to reach their
audiences. In addition, we propose to purchase a book (either a hard copy or e-book)
about marketing with social media for each participant to use for future reference.
Justification for this Project
High touch methods are vital to build relationships with our clients; however, we need a
more fluid way to get information to the public so we are seen as a relevant and on-time
source of information. As our clients become more tech-savvy, we need to reach them
in a forum they frequent. We want to maintain contact with our mobile “snowbird” clients
and engage the younger audiences as well. Whether it is Face Book, Twitter, an RSS
feed, or a new environment, Extension should have a presence in a digital forum, and it
must be professional, productive, and germane to the needs of the clientele.
As funds for professional development become limited, connecting this professional
development opportunity and using technology to train the faculty is a good use of
scarce resources. Providing a tangible resource for future reference keeps the
information in view and in the forefront of planning strategies.
Plans to engage Extension Faculty and others in this project. Identify Members
and their Professional Organizations.
Extension faculty will be invited to participate in this development opportunity. As
professionals, most are interested in improving their skill set and engaging their clients
in various ways. All members of Missouri's ESP chapter are welcome.
Project Team Members
Julie Middleton - Program Development, ESP member
Amie Schleicher (Livestock) Univ.of MO Extension Assoc. – President
Karma Metzgar (Regional Director), ESP President
Meridith Berry (Inform. Tech.) ESP Prof. Improvement committee chair
Lynda Zimmerman (Nutrition) ESP prof. improv. committee member.
Karisha Devlin (Ag Business ) ESP member
Project Objectives
The purpose of the project is to get extension professionals who do not use social
media to use social media to engage clientele and promote extension programs; and for
those who do use social media, to use it with more impact.
Expected Results and Outcomes
Not everyone will have the confidence to present in the digital forums. The project is not

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to teach how to get on social media, but the importance of using it. Other professional
development opportunities exist to learn how to engage digitally. The expected outcome
is that in three months, 100% of the participants will have joined one of the digital
forums and become familiar with how it works. 50% will be using digital media to reach
clients.
How Will Project be Implemented
Once the speaker is secured and a time set for the program, ESP members and other
faculty will receive an invitation to attend the session. Using distance-learning media,
participants can attend via desktop computer. This type of delivery provides maximum
flexibility. A recording of the session will be made for those unable to attend the live
event. After the program and prior to the evaluation, participants will be encouraged to
share experiences and build user confidence through a blog and other dialog formats.
How Can Project be Replicated in Other States?
There are several excellent speakers on social media who will connect with Extension
staff across the United States. This project will be easy to duplicate with similar
expectations. Hopefully, the success of Missouri's example will encourage others to use
new avenues to reach clientele.
What are the Plans for Evaluation?
A survey of participants will be taken three months after the workshop to determine the
success in engaging staff in using social media to market their programs.
Budget Information
Speaker fees .....................................$500
Books for participants.........................$500
TOTAL..............................................$1000
Amount of Funds Requested $1000
Wisconsin / Alpha Sigma
Region of Submitting Chapter:
North Central
Project Leader
Linda Kustka

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Leaders Address
106 Quarterdeck Dr
Madison,WI 53705
Leader's Email
linda.kustka@ces.uwex.edu
Anticipated Beginning Date for Project 4/10/12
Anticipated Ending Date for Project 12/15/12
Has Your Chapter Received a Mini Grant Previously? Yes
Date of Previous Grant 2005
Project Title Telling Your Extension Story
Wisconsin CES celebrates its' Centennial in 2012. WI ESP worked with author Jerry
Apps to chronicle the history of WI CES, published in the 2002 book The People Came
First. Apps, retired adult education professor, will teach CES staff ad retirees how to tell
their Extension stories and that of their clientele in a 1 day experiential seminar.
Workshop participants will be expected to collect and share stories on CES Centennial
website, with media, and other audiences. We hope participants will teach others to
collect & share stories. The stories become a foundation to describe what CES is
currently doing and future directions. In times of reduced budgets, the Centennial
provides a proactive opportunity to reflect, celebrate current & future CES work.
The efforts add to the WI CES history documentation while helping younger CES staff
appreciate their organization's heritage. The grant will encourage participation by
reducing registration fees that participants will need to cover with reduced county and
state budgets.
Plans to engage Extension Faculty and others in this project. Identify Members
and their Professional Organizations.
The WI ESP Board identified the need for this project. Leadership is being given by
CES Centennial History Committee: Jim Barthel (4H retiree, ESP); Chris Kniep (Family
Living,ESP); Steve Kohlstedt (CNRED); Marv Beatty (Ag & Associate Dean retiree,
ESP); Marie Stafford & Frank Ginther (4H); Linda Kustka (4H retiree, ESP)
Project Objectives
CES Staff and Retirees will learn:
1. Techniques to remember & record their personal stories
2. Strategies for writing a good story

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3. Interview techniques to capture other Extension stories
4. Methods and opportunities to share Extension stories.
1. Participants will write & share Extension stories via media, websites, face to face
settings
2. Participants will interview clients and share their stories
3. Stories become basis for talking about current & future CES work
4. Increased appreciation for the ongoing need to collect & share CES stories
*1 day experiential seminar with Jerry Apps: 4/101/12
*Learner mix via application process to ensure all program area positions (campus,
county, administrative) and geographical areas are represented
*Promotion materials will be sent to ESP retirees & current staff that describe content &
expectations of training
There are storytelling educators across the country that could teach this content. We'll
share what we did and how it worked. This is a multi-discipline effort that other ESP
chapters could replicate.
We will provide formal on-line evaluation. We will ask participants for feedback
regarding the process of writing their stories. The focus of the evaluation will be
'outcome' questions (what did you learn, what action will you take) as well as planning
and program improvement questions (how to improve similar events in the future. We
will get post training feedback and reflects from Jerry Apps.
Budget Information
Income: $2,586.60
WI Humanities Council (Apps teaching, expenses, prog materials) $1,136.60
Participant Registration (30@$15 with ESP grant; $40 w/o grant) $450.
ESP Mini Grant $1,000.
Expenses: $2,586.60
Apps honorarium, travel lodging $936.60
Participant meals & breaks (35@ $40) $1,400.
Program materials & room rental $200.
Program PR 50.

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Amount of Funds Requested - $ 1,000.00
Indiana / Alpha Lambda
Region of Submitting Chapter:
North Central
Project Leader
Susan Plassmeier
Anticipated Beginning Date for Project 11/12
Anticipated Ending Date for Project 10/13
Has Your Chapter Received a Mini Grant Previously? Yes Date of Previous Grant
2006
Project Title Ethics & Our Role as Leaders
Ethics play a critical role in our leadership within organizations. The importance comes
as a part of our own behaviors and leaders as well as how we handle situations. This
workshop will begin with creating an understanding of the basis for strong ethical
leadership foundation, identifying behaviors that get people off track and will introduce
strategies to effectively deal with those day-to-day ethical decisions we face.
Participants will gain useful knowledge and skills they will be able to take back and
implement in their communities.
Justification for this project addresses the need to provide valuable professional
development for ESP members on ethical leadership issues. Newer staff members will
begin to lay a foundation on ethical leadership through this workshop. Future
opportunities will help new and seasoned educators continue to build on their ethical
leadership skills.
Plans to engage Extension Faculty and others in the project. Identify Members
and their Professional Organizations
The committee is made up of Extension personnel at the county, district and state levels

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and within different disciplines. The project would also be conducted with Extension
personnel at all levels within the Purdue Extension system.
Members of the project team are:
Susan Plassmeier, Extension Educator (ESP and NEAFCS)
Susie Neher, Extension Educator (ESP and NEAFCS)
Roger Sherer, Extension Educator (ESP and NEA4-HA)
Alan Miller, ANR Specialist (ESP and PUCESA)
Natalie Fowler, District Director (ESP
Project Objectives
This project will provide Extension professionals with tools and techniques to help them
understand themselves and factors that can derail ethical decision making. Participants
will become aware of the importance of valuing ethics as they are involved in the
decision making and transfer that knowledge as they work with boards in their
communities. By increasing their own knowledge and skills, they will increase their
confidence in working with local boards on ethical decision making within the Extension
organization and their respective program areas.
By helping members of their local boards understand ethics and the importance of its
role within organizations, many local boards will be more effective and efficient in
carrying out their roles as ethical leaders within their communities.
The long term outcomes of this project are: 1) increased expertise of Extension
professionals and citizen board members to carry out their responsibilities in an ethical
manner; and, 2) increased confidence and skills of board members to accomplish their
tasks.
The Extension personnel attending the workshop will take the knowledge and skills
gained back to their local communities and conduct activities learned at the workshop
with their boards/councils to help them understand the important role ethics play within
the Extension program.
The Ethics workshop will be implemented as part of the methodology training at the
Purdue Extension Professional Development Conference in November 2012. A 4-hour
workshop will be conducted with over 300 Extension Educators and State Extension
Specialists within the Purdue Extension system. There will be presentations and small
group activities to help reinforce the information presented. Participants will be expected

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to take the information back to their local community and present the information to
boards and councils they work with to help support and reinforce the importance of
ethics in Extension. A follow-up evaluation will be conducted with Extension Educators
and the boards they provide training for to determine the impact the program material
has on had the local program.
The training materials developed for use with local boards would be made available to
any Epsilon Sigma Phi Chapter who was interested. Additionally, IRB approved
evaluation materials would be developed and made available as well.
Knowledge gain and intentions to use “Ethics & Our Role as Leaders ” will be assessed
through pre and post surveys of participants in the one-day session. In addition, a follow
up survey will be used to determine how participants have been able to use the
information or skills with their local boards and councils. All survey instruments will be
submitted to the Purdue IRB for review and approval. Results from this project will be
compiled and shared with the national ESP office and at the National ESP Conference
as a presentation.
Budget Information
Alpha Lambda is requesting a $1000 mini-grant. This money will used to cover the
presenter fee of $750 for the workshop; the additional $250 will be used to pay for the
presenter per diem costs and copies. I have talked been in contact with The Director
and Assistant Director of Purdue Extension about this grant and topic; they are both
very supportive of the workshop and have pledged financial support to help pick up the
difference the grant doesn’t cover.
Amount of Funds Requested $1,000

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