Tag: apparel

Time for good news

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John Lawrence’s message from March 23, 2020

Because we all could use some good news in these trying times, I’m sharing some examples from our 2019 county stakeholder reports. Did you know?

  • Calhoun County’s Beginning Farmer Peer group set a goal to meet three times per year to discuss emerging issues, technology trends and farming practices. One participant stated, “Knowing that others have the same questions I have, gives me a sense of not being alone.”
  • Buchanan County staff are members of ICE-T (Independence Community Enhancement Team) and Cedar Valley Regional Food and Farm Network, and are part of the City of Independence’s visioning project.
  • In Warren County, 27 professionals maintained their licenses by achieving certification, including a childcare nutrition workshop and ServSafe courses. Twenty youth learned about food safety in BBQ School.

Take a look at the rest of the stakeholder reports and you’ll find more good news. Although I don’t know exactly what will be included in the 2020 reports, I do know this: ISU Extension and Outreach will report how we found new ways to serve Iowans through challenging times, because that’s what we do!

More good news: New Apparel Vendor and Website

ISU Extension and Outreach has contracted with a new vendor and has a new website for all our branded apparel. Effective immediately, Sigler Companies Inc. will handle and fulfill apparel orders for extension professionals and council members. Sigler will offer the same full line of extension apparel at a significant cost savings. To order extension apparel, go to the new apparel website, http://www.ISUExtApparel.com. You also can access the site through My Extension. The new site is not part of the Extension Store.

Apparel is now more affordable, but there are some trade-offs. Sigler will accept credit and debit cards, but not checks, and will offer refunds only for an order error or product defect. You can have your order shipped directly to your home or office (and pay the shipping cost). After the Extension Store’s Distribution Center resumes normal face-to-face operations, you also will have the option to avoid shipping costs and pick up your order from the store. For the time being, on-campus employees can choose to have their items delivered through campus mail via EDC for no charge.

Polo shirts will continue to be the “go to” item for most situations, such as working with partners or providing education. However, due to popular demand, we also will now offer T-shirts. T-shirts may be appropriate when working outdoors at fairs or field days, in potentially messy situations (such as 4-H craft projects), or for other uses determined by your supervisor or council. Keep in mind, T-shirts may need to be replaced more frequently due to wear.

Advancement will have a “sample closet” of extension styles and sizes in the future when normal services resume. For more information about the samples or for answers to other apparel questions, contact your advancement specialist.

Although we won’t be meeting with the public face-to-face for awhile, you still can wear your branded apparel for webinars and online events. This may be a good time for many of us to reassess our wardrobes and add some new branded apparel. I will be visiting the new apparel website soon, and I encourage you to check it out as well. No one is required to wear extension branded apparel. But no matter where you are or what you do, as an extension professional or council member, it’s easy for you to be properly branded when working with the public in an official capacity.

More notes

  • The Annual Conference website has been updated with current information about our online conference. You can still register, at https://www.regcytes.extension.iastate.edu/eac/. Remember to cancel any conference-related hotel reservations you may have made.
  • Our Professional Development team will be posting online learning opportunities and resources on the Professional Development website as available. Plan to check the site regularly for updates.
  • County staff who are considering ISU benefits programs should review the new County Extension Benefits webpage for more information. There also will be an optional benefits webcast April 1 at 1 p.m. for interested county staff. If you have specific questions you would like answered during the webcast, email those questions to Mica Redenius, redenius@iastate.edu, by March 30.
  • Be sure to check MyExtension and review EIT’s technical notes for working remotely.
  • Check my COVID-19 Information for ISU Extension and Outreach page for my daily updates, answers to questions we receive, and other information for council members, staff and faculty.

— John D. Lawrence
Iowa State University Vice President for Extension and Outreach

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We are change agents

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John Lawrence’s message from Dec. 16, 2019

2019 has been a year of change for ISU Extension and Outreach, as we’ve begun addressing our Internal Communications Task Force recommendations, adjusting to Improved Service Delivery and WorkDay, and preparing for Structured for Success (to name a few examples). You’d think we would be used to dealing with change, since extension professionals are change agents. Every day we engage Iowans in solving problems and preparing for a thriving future. We’re good at helping other people address real-life challenges, but we don’t necessarily like dealing with change ourselves.

Despite that paradox, with every action that extension professionals have ever taken for our organization, the goal has always been to better serve Iowans. From the moment our forebears invented extension, they started changing it – with Seed Corn Gospel trains and short courses, farm and home demonstrations, education for youth, and work in communities. They and we evolved how we deliver programming – from trains to cars, radio to internet, newspaper columns to digital blogs, print to Twitter, church basements to in-home online, desktop to smart phones. There’s no need for change agents in a world that stays the same, where people never grow or evolve. But that’s not the world we live in, so our organization continues to adapt to better serve Iowans.

We all can appreciate the legacy of our organization. However, as you engage with Iowans today, you are ensuring our future. Thank you for everything you do as extension change agents. Looking forward to 2020, together we will continue to adapt to change in our organization and support what Iowans value: a strong Iowa.

Goodbye … and welcome

In November, we said goodbye to the following individuals who left ISU Extension and Outreach:

  • Katie Goodell, Dickinson County ag program coordinator and office assistant.
  • Steven Hardina, Woodbury County marketing program assistant.
  • Athena Speller, Black Hawk County extension program assistant.
  • Pamela Johnson, Scott County bookkeeper.
  • Jamiee Marvin, Lucas County office assistant.
  • Deanna Colwell, Harrison County youth coordinator.
  • Carol Tierney, program assistant II, 4-H Youth Development.

We welcome the following new staff:

  • Nancy Radcliffe, Dickinson County office assistant.
  • Kelli Ireland, Clay County office assistant.
  • Alexis Seuntjens, Pocahontas County program coordinator.
  • Karrie King, Woodbury County director.
  • Leah Feltz, communications specialist II, Advancement.
  • Anne Tedore, field specialist II, 4-H Youth Development.

More notes

  • Andrea Lutter has been hired as ISU Extension and Outreach budget officer effective Dec. 16 and will begin transitioning into her new duties immediately. Current budget officer John Flickinger will retire in early February and will be mentoring Andrea as she assumes many of the administrative duties that come with the post. Andrea has worked alongside John for nearly seven years and will bring new ideas to a solid foundation.
  • The Advancement team has secured approval from University Marketing to update our ISU Extension and Outreach 4-H Youth Development staff apparel to increase visibility of the clover while maintaining the university’s co-branding guidelines. The new look for 4-H staff apparel will feature a larger green clover (compared with the clover on previous apparel) placed above a stacked and centered ISU Extension and Outreach wordmark. All other new staff apparel will use the stacked and centered wordmark (without the clover). The new designs will be available on both red and white apparel from the Extension Store. FYI: It still is acceptable to wear existing extension apparel with the flush-left wordmark, and watch for details from the Extension Store regarding discounted, in-stock items.
  • Beginning in January, Ross Wilburn will be taking a leave of absence to serve in the Iowa House of Representatives. Ross was elected to represent House District 46, which covers northern Ames, central campus and parts of western Ames, in a special election Aug. 6. He will be on leave from ISU Extension and Outreach without pay during the legislative session, roughly January through April. In Ross’ absence, if you need assistance related to diversity concerns, please contact Sean Nelson, seann1@iastate.edu. If you need assistance related to community and economic development issues, please contact Gary Taylor, gtaylor@iastate.edu. We thank Ross for his commitment to public service and look forward to his return to ISU Extension and Outreach.
  • With the Iowa legislative session beginning soon and in advance of the 2020 presidential caucuses and election, keep in mind the university’s guidance on political campaign activities.

— John D. Lawrence
Iowa State University Vice President for Extension and Outreach

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Wear the brand with pride!

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John Lawrence’s message from Aug. 14, 2017

If you’ve seen me out in the state this summer (or if you follow me on Twitter), chances are you’ve noticed the red shirt I’m wearing. It probably had the ISU Extension and Outreach wordmark on it or Iowa State University. Maybe it featured the I-State logo if I was doing something related to Athletics and the Cyclones. The point is, on any given day I wear the appropriate shirt depending on what I plan to do. I show my connection to Iowa State, which matters to our clients.

In 2010 we conducted quantitative and qualitative needs assessments. When Iowans were asked how they would describe ISU Extension and Outreach, the most common response was “unknown” – and these were people who already used our services! However, nearly all were aware of Iowa State and had a positive perception of the university. It was obvious then that we had to connect more strongly to Iowa State to better serve all Iowans.

During the past seven years, we’ve made a lot of progress in building our brand. We need to stay on task, and we are not changing our branding strategy during this interim period. Did you know?

  • Today you’ll find more than a hundred ISU Extension and Outreach branded templates on MyExtension (sign in and check the Advancement tab). If you need to make a brochure, newsletter, stakeholder report or just about anything, you’ll find a template you can use. You also can contact our Advancement team for answers to questions, training and support.
  • Sign in on the Extension Store to find all kinds of organizational marketing items you can order, including pens, pencils, mugs, podium signs, table cloths, posters and banners. There’s even an ISU Extension and Outreach rain gauge for the hopeful among us.
  • Besides branding your events, remember to brand yourself. Order a new name badge via MyExtension (sign in and search for name badge) if you need one, or update your wardrobe with ISU Extension and Outreach branded apparel from the Extension Store. (Sign in and search for apparel.)

There’s no reason for ISU Extension and Outreach to be a best kept secret any more. No matter where you are or what you do, it’s easy for you and your event to be properly branded. All our program areas, departments, units and county offices are part of Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, a 99 county campus with one well-known, credible brand. Wear it with pride.

One more note: As Interim President Ben Allen states, we must not ignore what happened in Charlottesville, Virginia, or pretend it doesn’t impact us. I support his message that hatred, racism and bigotry have no place at Iowa State University, including Extension and Outreach. Please read his message.

— John D. Lawrence
Iowa State University Interim Vice President for Extension and Outreach

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