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HomeMy WebLinkAboutU.W. Extension Committee - Minutes - 3/13/2024BAYFIELD COUNTY Agriculture and Extension Education Committee Meeting Wednesday, March 13, 2024 – 4:00 PM Minutes 1. Call to Order 4:00 pm Committee Members present: Jeff Silbert, Steve Sandstrom, Madelaine Rekemeyer, and Larry Fickbohm (4:07 pm). Committee members absent: Fred Strand Others present: Mary Pardee, Tracy Henegar, Theresa LaChappelle, Ian Meeker, Kellie Pederson, Heidi Ungrodt, and Kelly Westlund. Marisca Henegar, a Superior High School Senior, doing an in-depth report on identifying and addressing issues towards community change, shadowed Kelly Westlund, Housing Educator today to learn more about housing issues. 2. Approval of Minutes of January 10, 2024 Meeting (action item) (Sandstrom, Rekemeyer) Motion to approve the January 10, 2024 minutes. Motion approved. 3. Public Comment Steve Sandstrom spoke on behalf of the non-profit organization CORE, which is dedicated to elder care, providing meals, and supporting the local community. They mentioned collaboration with Kellie Pederson to explore elder care cooperatives, partnering with the Brick for a local food shelf, and working alongside Carrie Linder in Human Services ADRC. CORE is currently undergoing transitions, particularly in efforts to sustain its Encore Thrift store through volunteer support. 4. 2024 UW-Extension Budget Update The 2024 budget was looked at and discussed. 5. Out-Of-State Travel Requests (action item) Kelly Westlund is requesting approval for two trips. Trip 1: National Low Income Housing Coalition Conference in Washington DC. Potential expenses will include mileage and meals. Trip 2: North Central Regional Center for Rural Development convening -Collaborate, Scan, Develop: a Multi- State DEI Rural Housing Program in Ames, Iowa. All expenses will be covered by the NCRCRD grant and CDI. (Rekemeyer, Fickbohm) Motion to approve Westlund attending both conferences. Motion approved. 6. Bayfield County Comprehensive Plan Implementation Links for the entire plan and Implementation links are in the packet, as well as on the Extension website. Discussion on how best to report progress on reaching the goals listed. Progress reports are to be delivered once or twice a year and the implementation and progress to be included in the annual report. 7. Area Extension Director Update Northwoods Forum - Pardee encouraged the committee members to attend the Extension Northwoods Forum at Lake of the Torches in LacDuFlambeau on May 7th, 2024. Page 2 of 3 WI Partnership Program – Mary Pardee will be the featured speaker for the UW-Population Institute event in Ashland, on April 3rd. This event is to highlight the availability of the Community Impact Grants for Health and Wellbeing. LaChappelle will send out an email with the details to all of the County Board members. 8. Staff Reports a. HDR-Tracy Henegar WeCOPE – Henegar was the keynote speaker for the employee in-service held for Martin Luther King Day. She gave a sneak peek of the WeCOPE 6-week program. She also led the We COPE virtual state-wide program with 29 in attendance including 7 from the area participating. Teen Mental Health First Aid – This is the 2nd year that Henegar has presented this program in Washburn with 50 students participating. Northwood Tech Health Fair – Participating at this event allowed Henegar to make connections with staff and students. Aging Mastery Program – The Aging Mastery Program is being held in person this year. Twenty- seven local people registered with 25 taking part. There is now a waiting list which has Henegar & Ungrodt looking at holding the program in other places in the county and holding the program more often. Triple P – Fearless – This is a new 6-session program for parents of youth 0 – 16-year-old who youth have significant anxiety. Even though this is a new program, good outcomes have been seen. Henegar will be getting trained this summer, and this new program will be offered fall 2024. Rural Opioid Training Grant – Henegar is participating in a train the trainer program that supports more impactful outcomes in taking action against substance abuse in communities. Anti-racist Parenting Program- Henegar just finished a pilot of this brand-new program series. She will now discuss the program with other educators on ways to bring this to communities. b. Office Manager-Theresa LaChappelle Annual Report – As information comes in, LaChappelle continues to work on producing the design of the 2023 annual report. Office Brochure – LaChappelle continues to work on the design of this project. c. Community Development -Kelly Pederson Organizational Support – “Who’s at the Table?” Pederson was involved in organizing the program, “Who’s at the Table?” in which 50 people attended. This program focused on assisting organizations to start thinking about their future board members. Strategic Planning – Many requests for strategic planning are coming in. Most best practices for non-profits are geared toward large operations, Pederson is working on scaling some of those to work for smaller non-profits. Northern Lights – Pederson has reached out to Northern Lights to offer her assistance, but they have not gotten back to her. Board of Directors Workshops – Pederson is strategizing about holding several Board of Directors Workshops. Each workshop would run for approximately one hour with one subject discussed for approximately 15-20 minutes, with the rest of time to be used as a networking event. Housing – Pederson will continue some of her work with housing. Page 3 of 3 d. HDR – Heidi Ungrodt - Jail Literacy Link –Ungrodt noted that part of the Jail Literacy Link program is recording the incarcerated parent reading to their children. She stated that one reincarcerated dad had been involved with the program 2 years ago, he noted that his daughter still watches that video.. She also stated Essentia Health has some grant funding available for substance abuse education and will be donating funds to the literacy link program. Ungrodt noted that with the changes in the Ashland County Jail, she has not been working there. Jail Parenting Classes – Ungrodt has held three session of parenting classes for the women in the Bayfield County Jail. The women have been requesting programing, to fill this need Ungrodt needs a minimum of three participants to hold a class. Financial Education – A Bayfield school teacher has reached out for assistance in providing financial education for middle school and high school special education classes. Ungrodt will be working on this in the spring. Youth Forward – Ungrodt met with someone who runs a community foundation in Marinette & Menominee County. They had a lot of information to share. There are many different examples of how much to give at what intervals and also how to tie in financial education for youth. One of the next steps is to look at who would administer the funds. Fickbohm noted that he would like to see this program get moving forward. e. Housing Outreach – Kelly Westlund CheqBuilt – The CheqBuilt group is moving forward. A technical assistance grant has been awarded to CheqBuilt. Westlund is looking into a matching grant from WHEDA. Thrive Rural Technical Assistance Grant - This grant has been awarded to Town of Bell for the beginning steps in providing housing for independent seniors. UW Innovation Grant – The UW Innovation Grant request of $15,000 has been funded. Congressionally Directed Spending Request – The one-million-dollar request to support the development of affordable workforce housing development in Washburn has been awarded. Presentations – Westlund will be presenting on housing at both the UW-Madison Extension’s Joint Council of Extension Professionals and at the UW-Madison Extension Northwoods Forum. 9. Recognition of Jeff Silbert’s service as a Committee Member Jeff Silbert expressed his appreciation for the work that those in Extension do, stating that it is the “Work of quiet heroes”. Pardee expressed her appreciation for the tireless support of Extension that Silbert has graciously provided. His leadership will be missed. 10. Next Meeting Date – Tentatively May 08, 2024 at 4: pm – EOC and Teams 11. Adjourn - The meeting adjourned at 5:34