CITIZENS ADVISORY NETWORK
OSU EXTENSION SERVICE, POLK COUNTY
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
5:00 p.m.
Academy Building, Room 108
Meeting Notes – Action items are highlighted
Present: Derek Godwin, Dolores May, Karen Lippsmeyer, Dean Anderson, Paul Gehlar, Joyce Wahl,
Bernie Faber, Sheri Beehner, Mike Propes, Judi Peters, Daryl Eash, Emma Miller, Kathy Hadley
Substitute Chair: Sheri Beehner
Introductions – introductions were given, including a new member welcome to Emma Miller. Derek told
the group that Norbert has resigned from the group due to personal reasons. He will continue to receive
emails and will provide input as time allows.
Bernie requested that Derek/Dolores/Jim send out more reminders about the next meeting date and
time.
Derek sent around the attached member list with descriptions for each member to adjust. He wants to
post this on the OSU website. Please review the attached list and let him know of any changes by
December 15th.
Steering committee update - Derek, Sheri, Karen and Jim met to prepare for this meeting and discuss the
various committees being formed. The next Steering Committee meeting is December 7 at 10:00am
at the Extension Office.
Sheri presented the Questionnaire Responses and asked if people wanted to join the various committees.
There are three committees: Steering, Communications and Funding. There are also five Program Focus
teams which include a few people that will work with the associated faculty member to create a larger
focus group(s) to help conduct a program needs assessment. These are 4-H and Youth Development,
Family and Community Health, Horticulture, Agriculture and Forestry and Natural Resources.
NOTE: Please review the attached Questionnaire Responses and let us know if we need to add
your name to one or more committees.
Communications/Outreach Committee – Dean will arrange meeting at Courthouse, Dolores will send
out e-mail to group with possible meeting times. They will meet during the day for about 90 minutes.
Please include Derek in meeting.
Budget/Funding Committee – This group will meet in January. Dolores will send out email to group
with possible meeting times. They will meet during the day. Derek will invite Greg Hansen to meet with
the group.
Program Focus Teams – These groups should start meeting with faculty and try to hold focus group
meetings by January 28th. The main purpose is to gather information to be used in a Strategic Plan to
be included in the budget submission at the end of April.
Derek went over Jim Clawson’s example of a Focus Group Planning Template. Attached to this email is
the template and Jim Clawson’s example.
Note: Please invite public to focus group meetings by notifying newspapers, posting on OSU website
and emailing related groups. Don’t promise too much this year. Set up short/long-term goals.
Derek/Dolores will post team meeting through list serve
o 4-H and Youth Development – Set up a meeting with Suzi Busler and Judi Peters.
Dolores will work with Suzi to arrange an initial planning meeting with the group.
o Family and Community Health – Sheri will work with Debra Driscoll to arrange an
initial planning meeting with the group.
o Horticulture (including Master Gardener) – Dolores will work with Neil Bell to set up an
initial planning meeting with the group
o Agriculture (Commercial and Small Farms) – Jim Clawson has set up an initial meeting
with Gene Pirelli. He will communicate with the group.
o Forestry and Natural Resources – Derek will work with Brad Withrow-Robinson on an
initial meeting, but it will not be until January/February.
Derek gave an overview of what could be included in the Strategic Plan. Derek will work with the
budget group to refine it.
6:00 – 7:00pm – Extension program presentations –Garry Stephenson, Extension faculty leader for
statewide Small Farm program, delivered a presentation on Polk County Small Farms: defining
issues/challenges and identifying potential education programs. Derek will get a copy of the
presentation to post on the website.
In addition to a general overview of the Small Farms Extension education program, Garry mentioned a
few items that we should consider for the Strategic Plan.
High value niches that fit small farms:
Stewardship, small farm production, alternative markets, and local food systems.
Produce food products for Salem.
Consider small farms as small business and help them create an extra income for the family.
If an Extension position were established in Polk County (Instructor), it would cost approximately
$75,000 per year (includes overhead). These costs could be shared with partners in the three county area.
Consider hiring a person in entrepreneurial agriculture, alternative meat production, a generalist that
could help in a variety of areas including agritourism, and work to establish marketing networks.