Leadership

JCEP Announces Dates and Locations for 2025 Conferences! The Joint Council of Extension Professionals (JCEP) provides learning opportunities for Extension professionals. Mark your calendars for the 2025 conferences. ELC (Extension Leadership Conference) will be held February 19-20, 2025 in Savannah, GA. PILD (Public Issues Leadership Development) will be held April 7-9 in Arlington, VA, with April 9 reserved for Hill visits. Details will be posted at www.jcep.org

Every year is an adventure we take one step at a time over 365 days. The adventure is up to us, we get to choose. Each January, these choices lead us to resolutions. The thought of these resolutions leads me to recommit to my version of Merlin Olsen's mission statement. Without boring you with mine, here's what he says… “The focus of my life begins at home with family, loved ones & friends. I want to use my resources to create a secure environment that fosters love, learning, laughter...

The 2025 JCEP Extension Leadership Conference proudly announces the following guest speakers! Find out more and register today at https://www.jcep.org/elc ! See you in Savannah!

There has never been another person like you on the planet...ever. And, there won't ever be another person like you again...ever. Inherently then, everything you do is unique. So why do we fill our lives like a Thanksgiving plate? Yes, we have many responsibilities that all need looking after. What we're talking about is YOUR unique contribution to this world. If your "plate" is an inch deep and a mile wide (like your Thanksgiving plate) it's hard to know where your focus should go. You're...

Are you using The Arts -- poetry, music, painting, etc. --in your extension programs. If so, please let Dave or Hiram know.

Some of the most cherished memories from my military career are centered around the privilege of visiting with Veterans. Connecting with one of the last WWI veterans, Robley Rex , was amazing. Hearing individual accounts of WWII directly from members of the greatest generation, including Pearl Harbor survivors, was a gift. Stories from Korean War veterans, Vietnam veterans, Gulf War veterans, the many who we served alongside after the attacks on September 11, our allies, and even veterans of...

Do you want to become a more effective leader, or teacher, or team member? Or how about becoming a better family member? I teach a short segment on EQ in my grad classes here at Ohio State… and if you know Goleman’s Emotional Intelligence construct… you understand that when we know ourselves better (recognizing our own emotions), we can use that knowledge to guide our thinking and behavior. That’s powerful stuff. But how do you improve your emotional intelligence? One way is to learn a new...

What are you curious about? Some folks will respond to this question with an immediate answer: “Everything!” Others may just look at you and ask what you mean. Whether at one end of the spectrum, or somewhere in the middle, watching someone respond to this question will allow you to immediately know a lot about them and their potential for long-term success. In brief, curiosity is one of the most important traits and a high predictor for success identified by researchers at Korn Ferry, an...

Can increasing gratitude improve your brain chemistry and help you feel better? Can it improve your career? The science of gratitude has expanded greatly in the past twenty years. Studies increasingly show that regularly practicing gratitude contributes to better relationships, decreased anxiety, and increased internal satisfaction. These bolster what Daniel Goleman labels emotional and social intelligence, key items for success in our careers and lives. Though once labeled soft skills—i.e.,...

Have you ever found your ability to make a choice and act upon it lacking? Choosing and acting define the broad concept of volition. Some label this as having the power to use one’s free will. But in times of stress or anxiety, we sometimes feel hindered in our ability to exercise that choice and action. We may even feel powerless, frozen in place, and unable to act at all. Can you think of a time when you felt unable to make a decision and then act? It could be something major or minor.

JCEP Extension Leadership Conference Abstracts Due October 11! The Joint Co uncil of Extension Professionals Extension Leadership Conference will be held February 19-20, 2025 in Savannah, GA. The committee invites abstract submissions, which are due Friday, October 11, 2024. Submitters will be notified by November 5 whether their abstract was selected. Conference registration opens on November 6, 2024. See www.jcep.org/elc for details.

OneOp, a leader in supporting military family service professionals, is pleased to announce the appointment of Robert "Bob" Bertsch as its new National Project Leader. With over 30 years of experience in communication, education, organizational development, and digital technology, Bertsch brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to this pivotal role. Bertsch, an Extension Specialist with NDSU Extension at North Dakota State University, has been an integral part of OneOp for 13 years. His...