Bienville Parish Overall Advisory Leadership Council Minutes of May 25, 2011 Meeting
By: David Saucier
We were welcomed to the Extension Office by Diane Uzzle & Elizabeth Lynn. The Extension
Office is always ready to serve the community. The purpose of the meeting is to identify and
meet the needs of Bienville Parish citizens. Input from the ALC is vital.
An icebreaker game was played “Who Am I?”
Purpose - to talk about the needs of the parish, collaborate, get stakeholders input, develop
leaders, create public awareness of extension, be ambassadors, advisors, represent peers,
identify needs of people, and be active in sharing skills and talents and resources.
Mission – Extension makes a difference by addressing needs based on sound research. We
bring the university to the people.
Liz gave an update on 4-H with 469 members, 14 clubs, and two specialty clubs. The focus this
past year was on character education. A focus group evaluation was completed with students.
All parishes in the region did this. The major theme was helping others and bullying. The
curriculum is interactive with children.
Service Learning – Tobacco awareness and prevention
Service contests
Tobacco banners – cameras – contest
Tobacco non beauty pageant
Nonjudgmental skits at Achievement Day
Youth Wetlands Program – 4 schools, 17 teachers, 22 classes, 492 students
GED Programming – Workforce Preparedness, 13% gain in workforce preparation skills
21st Century – Bullying and Respect
J.E.T. – 15 selected for upcoming year
Diane explained the Program Highlights brochure and the Parish Profile which is on the website.
She gave some of the impacts from last year using the pre and post assessments:
Saving and Investing For Life Program – Jackson and Bienville Head Start
Managing credit increased 64%
Good credit scores increased
Reducing credit card debt
Paying bills on time and paying more than the minimum amount
100% agreed on quality of curriculum
Good understanding of SMART goals
Difference between saving and investing
Short and long term goals
54% of participants from one group reported they were headed for credit problems
Home Buyers Program – low and moderate income participants receive low interest
loans for rural homes
Showed 39% increase in understanding through the Keeping a Safe Harbor unit
High School Financial Planning Program Teacher In-Service
Jurors Empowering Teens – 59 total youth
Welcome to Real World Program – exploring careers and lifestyles
Consumer Decision Making Contest
21st Century Program – Feed the Pigs for Tweens
When Bad Things Happen to Your Good Name
Family Nutrition Program – Smart Bodies and Body Walk
Let’s Read About Healthy Eating – Pre K and Kindergarten
State Fair – Ag Magic – 2000 youth
Liz – programs for next year:
Safety, Environmental Stewardship, and Leadership were top 3 choices.
Safety will be the focus for next year. This will be incorporated into club meetings,
service project, and parish events.
Diane – programs for next year:
The Financial Advisory Board identified 5 areas (see portfolio handout):
Top two youth goals – unemployment after education obtained; investments and time
value of investing. Work toward these goals through J.E.T. Program, 21 st Century, and
classroom teachers.
Family Component goals– parent to model financial behavior; parent communication
with money; cost of fees vs. investing. Work toward these goals through Families In
Need of Services (FINS), mass mailing list of library, Facebook page, churches.
Advisory members divided into groups with the objective of developing a plan to reach
goals.
Four groups reported back with the following ideas:
1. 4-H Service Learning – Utilize the three EMT’s and one nurse at Castor School to
share safety related skills with youth. Students are bused to Castor for a State Police
Program and 4-H could have involvement with this project.
2. 4-H Achievement Day – Have two 15 minute educational sessions on (1) Bicycle &
ATV and (2) Cyber Bullying. Set up an obstacle course with safety and speed using
teamwork and adding extra time for unsafe procedures. Then have two other
sessions (3) Fun event, such as, Scavenger Hunt (4) Texting Contest.
3. Families – Communication with children on budgeting

Start with pre k and kindergarten.

Incorporate budgeting into classrooms.

Encourage family groups and talk about rent, food, and clothes.

Families go to principals and pastors for money because of management
problems.

Work through civics, financial math, computer lab, FCS classes.

Use circle graphs for teaching.

Use writing skills.

Use debates (example: If you were a top athlete and made a lot of money,
what would you do with the money?).

Help them set up student accounts.

Utilize Gibsland Bank & Trust or a savings & loan company to provide piggy
banks to children and invite speakers.

Teach discipline to save 20 cents per day out of their dollar a day they have
to spend.

Check into Citizen’s Bank Johnny Appleseed Club.

Set up a business, such as a restaurant, as an activity.
4. Youth – Career Package/Investments

Utilize skills and interest assessments, possibly ASFAB (military).

7-8th graders – E Portal videos on careers from school counselors.

Train the Trainer sessions for teachers.

Utilize youth voice on rewards. Possibly consider giving some coupons.
The Overall ALC suggested meeting once a year and will meet again in May 2012 with the exact
date to be determined closer to that time.
The meeting was adjourned.