Citizens Advisory Network

Meetings - 2012                     Agendas - 2012                     Members - 2012

**Next Meeting:  June 5, 2012 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm followed by Celebrating Achievements at 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm @ Polk County Commissioners Conference Room, Courthouse, Dallas

Polk Extension Citizen Advisory Network (PECAN)

Oregon State University Extension Service, Polk County

Purpose

Structure

Committees

Program Areas

Purpose – Advise Extension, the District Board of Directors (Polk County Commissioners) and District Financial Officer on how resources are allocated and people are served in the county, and Advocate  on behalf of the OSU Extension Service in Polk County

Membership – People who support OSU Extension Service’s mission and related programs and represent the diversity of Polk County citizens, communities, and organizations.

Advisory Roles

• Provide advice on current needs, future trends, program priorities, and resource development and allocation for serving Polk County citizens, businesses, and organizations.
• Serve as liaison between Extension Service, elected officials, local communities and organizations to increase partnerships, improve relationships, and leverage efforts for current and future education programs.

Advocacy Roles

• Advocate and build support for Extension programs and related budget and fundraising with county commissioners and other elected officials, state and local organizations, businesses, and individuals. 
• Coordinate efforts with OSU Extension Service’s statewide Citizens Advisory Network. 

Organizational Structure

• Members nominate themselves, or by someone affiliated with Extension, and are jointly selected by the Extension Administrator and District Chair.  Individuals are invited to serve for two years with an option to serve an additional year.  Member terms will be staggered.  Members are expected to attend the regular scheduled meetings.
• Leadership positions are established by the Network and may include a chair, secretary, team/committee leaders and other positions, as necessary.  Leaders are elected from current members and will serve for one year.  The chair and vice chair conduct the meetings with the assistance from the County Leader.
• Meeting times, location and frequency are set by the membership in consultation with the County Leader.  They are typically two hours in the evenings, at a location in Dallas, and occur 4 times per year.  The steering committee and other work groups will meet more frequently, as needed, and report progress to the Network at regularly scheduled meetings.  These work groups may involve volunteers outside of the Network membership.
• Extension staff are invited to participate as their schedules permit.  All Network members and office staff will be informed on the group’s activities by mail or e-mail.

PECAN Structure for 2011 – 2012

All members serve as advisors and advocates for Extension to volunteers, citizens, communities, organizations, elected officials and other stakeholders. They help identify issues, challenges and driving forces facing Polk County, review current OSU efforts within Polk County, identify needed education/research efforts and help obtain other available resources and partners.

Officers

Chair                     Jim Clawson

Vice Chair             Barbara Nichols

Recorder               Roger Fletcher

Program Liaisons

Some members will be identified as Program Liaisons.  They report recommendations to PECAN based on their discussions and involvement with program faculty and their related networks.

Program Area                                    Lead Faculty                          PECAN Liaison

Agriculture/Small Farms          Gene Pirelli & Amy Garrett      Kathy Hadley, Karen Lippsmeyer

                                                                                                Jim Clawson

4-H/Youth Development          Suzi Busler & Judy Peters      Joyce Wahl,

Family & Community Health   Debra Driscol                          Donna Michaelson, Sheri Beehler

Master Gardener/ Urban Hort Neil Bell                                   Dolores May, Darrell Ward

Forestry & Nat. Resource       Brad Winthrow-Robinson        Bob Feldman

Steering Committee

Provide leadership, overall direction, communication and representation for PECAN to Extension administrator, staff, OSU administration, state advisory network, District Board of Directors and District Budget officer. This will include tracking progress and making recommendations for network actions, providing leadership for communications and outreach, attending periodic Service District update meetings with the Board of Directors, and participating in other administrative functions as necessary.

Current Members: Jim Clawson, Barbara Nichols, Sheri Beehler, Donna Michaelson,

Dolores May, Darrell Ward, Karen Lippsmeyer

Budget Committee

Work with the Extension Regional Administrator, and County Administrator to develop a proposed budget and supporting documents, explore opportunities for non-tax funding, report recommendations to the PECAN.

Current Members:  Barbara Nichols, Darrell Ward, Mike Calef

Communications Committee

Develop a communications strategy (internal and external), Identify volunteers to assist with communications processes, Explore non-traditional opportunities, networking among community groups, report recommendations to the PECAN.

Current Members: Sheri Beehler, Barbara Nichols, Jim Clawson,

Facility Task Group

Provide oversight for workspace needs and issues.  Participate in the process for acquiring a permanent facility.

Current Members: Barbara Nichols, Jim Clawson