University of Illinois Extension
Serving Champaign, Vermillion, Ford, and Iroquois Counties
Unit 13 Extension Council Meeting
August 6, 2014
I. The Unit 13 Extension Council Meeting was called to order at 7:03 p.m. by Diana Herriott.
II. Members Present: Maggi Maxstadt, Diana Herriott, Barb Schumacher, Claudia DeWitt, Deb
Friutt, Charles Alt. Members Absent: Jason Johnson, Dave Hastings, Gale Cunningham, Carl
Sparenberg, Marvin Stitchnoth, Eric Rund, Larry Thorndyke, Jody Munsterman, Bill Pool.
Staff Present: Ginger Boas, Leia Kedem, Steve Ayers, Caitlin Edwards, Jamie Boas, Diane
Plewa, Kathy Sweedler. Staff Absent: Sandy Mason, Alvarez Dixon, Chelsey Byers.
III. Minutes from last meeting were approved as read. Barb Schumacher moved and Deb Fruitt
seconded the motion to approve the minutes.
IV. County Director Report
a. Budget Review: County Director Ginger Boas reviewed the budget with the council.
b. Civil Rights Compliance Review: County Director Ginger Boas shared the ‘2014 Unit 13
Compliance Review Report’ with the council. She highlighted #3 of Future
Recommendations which talks about diversity in participation.
c. Building Report: Metro 4-H will be moving to the health department building with
EFNEP and SNAPED. Rent is more cost effective and there is additional conference room
space.
V. New Business
a. Unit Programming:
i. Diane Plewa, Horticulture.
1. The accessibility project at the Idea Garden in (champ/ubana) is finally
moving forward, and will cost an estimated $127,000.
2. The Garden Walk in Champaign County was very successful and in
Vermillion County it was better than ever.
3. Diane and Chelsey Byers worked in Vermillion County on Outreach at
the VA, where they worked with veterans on projects including planting
a variety of plants. Some home-schooled kids have come to help.
4. Ford and Iroquois Counties Master Gardeners are doing well, with twice
as many participants as last year. A new program through the Master
Gardeners is “Garden Guru,” which works with groups on how to put in
or re-do a garden. One or two MG’s could help with a project for around
1-2 years maximum and the group can continue with upkeep of the
garden, always having the MG’s as a resource.
ii. Leia Kedem, Nutrition and Wellness.
1. Leia has been involved and will be involved in a variety of projects
including, but not limited to:
a. “Preserve the Taste of Summer.” An online series with Iowa
State Extension. In-person classes will be offered in
spring/summer if you finish the 8 part course.
University of Illinois Extension
Serving Champaign, Vermillion, Ford, and Iroquois Counties
b. Work Site Wellness with the University of Illinois Wellness
Center, which is about eating for energy.
c. Working with support groups at Gibson Area Hospital.
d. Filling in for EFNEP educator starting August 16.
e. As always, networking through newspaper, WCIA, and social
media.
iii. Jamie Boas, 4-H Youth Development.
1. Teens as Teachers. This program works with SNAPED from a ConAgra
grant. Teens have to do 12-15 hours of training, teach for 10 hours, do
family events, and complete 5 hours of community service. ConAgra
likes what Illinois is doing, and it may become a nationwide model.
2. The 4-H Food Challenge Club. The teens in the clubs met over a month
to strengthen their food nutrition and preparation skills. After that time,
teams of 3 to 5 youth competed in the Illinois 4-H Food Challenge,
where each team was given an assortment of secret ingredients and
were told to prepare a healthy dish.
iv. Kathy Sweedler, Consumer Economics.
1. Money Mentors has seen more involvement. There are 38 mentors and
44 mentees, with another mentor training on September 30 open to the
whole unit.
2. Kathy worked with the C-U Scholars to put together much-wanted
curriculum for youth financial literacy.
3. Kathy is also working on MOOC (Massive Online Open Course) programs
for financial literacy. The program lasts for 1.5-2 hours, and anyone in
the world can take the class because it is online. One of the programs
had 10,000-20,000 participants.
v. Steve Ayers, Local Food Systems and Small Farms.
1. A backyard chicken workshop will be held in Vermillion County, and the
one in Champaign went well.
2. There will be a fish shock at the Mahomet Sportman’s Club to count
population.
3. In June, Steve did a co-op with the Soil and Water Conservation District,
including cover crop projects.
b. Recruitment/Council Tenure: Moved to next month due to lack of attendance.
c. Election of Officers: Moved to next meeting due to lack of attendance.
VI. Other Business: none
Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 8:48 p.m.
The next meeting will be September 10, 2014 at the Linden beginning at 6 p.m.
Maggi Maxstadt, Secretary