East Baton Rouge Parish Overall Advisory Council Meeting Minutes

Transcription

1 East Baton Rouge Parish Overall Advisory Council Meeting Minutes Meeting Date: Tuesday, November 27, 2012 Time: 9:00 a.m. 11:00 a.m. Location: Burden Research Center Meeting Called to Order: Karen Stevens Facilitator: Karen Stevens Minutes Recorded: Stephanie Dozier Members in attendance are as follow: Claire Fontenot Harold Kirby Anthony Ponton Donna Montgomery Carla Courtney-Harris Ashley Rivere Edwine Johnson-Muse Hope Dawan Gaynelle Wolff Omer Wolff Sharman Charles Felecia Barnes Levyette Matthews Dr. Bobby Fletcher Jeff Keuhny Mark Williams Terrence Marshall Shawn Zeringue Eva Davis Kaci Leonard Emily Becnel Passion Mason Abby Greenbaum East Baton Rouge Parish 805 St. Louis Street Baton Rouge, Louisiana (225) (225) Visit our website: Research and Extension Programs Agriculture Economic/Community Development Environment/Natural Resources Family/Nutrition/Health 4-H Youth Programs The meeting was called to order by Karen Stevens with an introduction and welcome. Dr. Fletcher was introduced by Karen and Dr. Fletcher discussed update issues with LSU AgCenter. Staff Changes Research Food Production Productivity Needs of community take research base where it needs to go Cooperative Extension Service partnership with Southern University Challenge Issues Legislators Dr. Fletcher asked the question What would your story be about if you were stuck in an elevator for two minutes with an elected official, how did the Cooperative Extension Service touch your life, your children? Dr. Fletcher discussed the issues dealing with budget cuts. 130K local support Mayor cut the funding for 2013, this week the council will decide to keep the funding. Need 4 council members to vote (yes) there are a total of 7 council members 1

2 Dr. Fletcher showed a presentation titled What is Agriculture to LA. Facts: 26 billion in food and fiber products La food and fiber system contribution to Parish GOP Educational outreach in 64 parishes. 16 Research stations Over 250,000 La youth from all 64 parishes in 4-H programs and activities offered by LSU Agcenter that teaches life skills. Dr. Fletcher stated people are looking at how we deliver information, smart phones will surpass laptops. What we are putting out there, is it available? I have an App for that. Budget Cuts 16,807,650 July 1, ,871,870 Ext. FY 2013 Budget by Source State 14, Self 1,000,000 Federal 8,440,964 Restricted 13,238,049 Total 37,550,883 Dr. Fletcher stated A change is going to happen, be proactive on how we move forward. Visit our website at Dr. Fletcher ended his presentation by stating: How can Nutrition Agents, ANR Agents, 4-H Agents, and Master Gardeners be an advocate? How can they address these issues that the community faces? Represent I challenge you to tell the story. Dr. Jeff Keuhny, Resident Director for the Burden Research Center discussed the following: Change is hard, especially when your operating budget is cut, but changes can be good, with a plan in place. Moving the EBR Extension office to the Burden Research Center (doing fundraising for that goal). State budget has decreased. Therefore, the potential Capital Outlay funds are no longer available to assist with the new Burden Center building. We are seeking private, and/or public partnerships to move forward. Networking with the community to develop relationships and gain industry support. Master Gardener Program is a volunteer horticulture program. 2

3 Dr. Keuhny ended by enlightening the ALC Members on the Burden Research Center s Community Garden and Trees and Trail exhibit. Karen Stevens presented the presentation Why do we exist to ALC Members which included the following: LSU / SU AgCenter employee s Purpose To Disseminate Mission To help people of LA How are we organized? Start with: USDA CSREES LSU AgCenter SU AgCenter Administrative Structure What we do? Conduct educational programs in 3 major areas. a. Agriculture & Natural Resources b. Families / Nutrition/ Health c. 4-H Youth Programs Karen asked the audience to look into their packets to see the updated material for each program area. Staff members were asked to stand and introduce themselves. Each staff member provided a brief overview of their program area. Karen presented (5) questions for ALC members to address. Question 1: How could we move forward with marketing and recruitment with our extension programs? Karen asked the audience to pull out last year s recommendations from the Overall Advisory Leadership Council meeting. Topic How can we improve marketing and recruitment for the EBR Parish Extension Service? Recommendations from ALC members were as follows: Ms. Gaynelle Wolff Radio Ms. Claire Fontenot Scott Roger s television show Ms. Donna Montgomery Newspaper Ad Ms. Edwine Muse Public Service Announcement Capt. Anthony Ponton Social Media (Twitter, Facebook, etc.) & Billboard Corporate Support (Lamar, Gerry Lane, Associated Grocers) Know your audience. Who are we trying to target? Select a date to go live 3

4 Question 2: What are your perceptions of the Ag Center? a. Gardening b. Farming How do we move forward from this stigma? ALC member s response included the following suggestions: 4-H Programs in Urban Areas Help communities develop skills Nutrition Education Family and Youth Programs Karen stated We ve got to change the Perception. Then ask How many of you have seen the Body-walk, or Smart Portions, opened to the community. She then proceeded to explain the two programs. Karen also stated they are talking with a culinary school to get a chef on board to work with the nutrition programs. Question 3: Think about the communities in which you live and work, what are the needs you ve observed? How can extension assist in addressing the needs? Consider: Financial/Lower income issues a. Managing money b. Smart choices with shopping c. Consumer decision making After School Programs a. Literacy b. Nutrition c. Volunteerism After School/Summer Programs a. Healthy eating b. Food services c. Nutrition d. Safe environment e. Lifestyle choices f. Positive environment g. Youth programs h. Community garden Claire Fontenot responded Does the AgCenter have anyone teaching a money management programs? Response FFNEWS has a financial program, Kaci Ernest works with a group. 4-H has a program. Currently, no one is working with the JumpStart financial program at this time. EFNEP also has a Food Dollar Management program that help families to budget their monthly food cost. 4

5 BREC Partnership (Land, services, funding) Also note that the Sharp/Sherwood Area is in need of attention /resources. There are several latch key kids in the area. Fresh food (fruits and vegetables) Fruit stand Mobile food pantry After school programs Ms. Felicia Barnes with EBRP School System described how school menus are serving nutritional meals. She also provided ALC Members with examples reflecting the new school lunch menu changes. All wheat bread (no more white bread) Must have 2 vegetables and 1 fruit No regular milk Lowfat or Skim milk Skim chocolate or strawberry milk Captain Ponton expounded on the Gardere Sheriff Dept. increase efforts with the community residents. He shared with ALC Members some of the community summertime events, which aided kids with meals during the summer and encouraged physical activity via sports and exercise. Karen asked Capt. Ponton, did the Gardere area have any community gardens. Answer: Some apartment complex have gardens in the Gardere area. Capt. Ponton also expressed the need to show kids there is another way besides just hanging out in the street. He mentioned the Gardere EBR Sheriff Dept. and Homeowners Association Halloween Night Event, which served over 1500 kids. Captain Ponton, shared the community BREC owns some property in the Gardere area; they have 2 parks in Gardere. Ms. Edwine Muse expressed the need for educational services in the Sharp/Sherwood Forest area, due to having a targeted population in the zip code area. Donna Montgomery provided ALC members with information on the Mobile Food Pantry with the Food Bank that serves the Scotlandville area. She explained how the church provides volunteers to distribute the food. Felecia Barnes commented on how the EBR School System distributes fresh fruits and vegetables at 5 schools within the Mobile Food Pantry distribution area. Question 4: In an effort to increase output what are some ways to encourage/enhance volunteerism? Community Organizations Faith Based Organizations 5

6 Community Partnerships LSU C CELL Feed and Seed Companies for ANR Gardens Sororities/Fraternities Internships from Students Question 5: Who are the potential stakeholders for developing CA/partnerships to aid with reaching our local funding goal of 20%? Karen explained the 20% local support funding parish efforts. She explained the current support received, which encompasses local school board systems, City Parish government and foundations/organizations. Karen asked ALC members What are your ideas for recruiting local support funding to assist with extension programming efforts? ALC Members recommended the following: Big Business (consider ways to incorporate their programs with Ag Center Programs) a. Shell b. Exxon c. Turner Local Corporations YMCA/Fitness Centers (partner with them for health instruction) Medical Institutions (health interest, nutrition) Universities (think tank/mentorship) a. Master/PhD Students b. Professors/Researchers Grocery (Wal-Mart, Target) solicit donations Banks/Financial Institutions Karen stated one of her goals was to meet with Corporations, Banks, and Sheriff Departments. Ms. Edwine Muse also suggested Medical Centers. ALC Members recommended the top priorities in rank regarding most needed issues to address: 1. Newspaper & Social Media 2. After school programs 3. Summer Programs 4. Billboard Contest 5. Sorority & Fraternity Help Ms. Karen Stevens thanked everyone for coming, and stated lets establish a date going live with the plans. Meeting adjourned at 10:55 a.m. Note: Minutes will be mailed or ed. The LSU Agricultural Center, a statewide campus of the LSU System, and Southern University Agricultural Research and Extension Center, a statewide campus of the Southern University System, provide equal opportunities in programs and employment. 6 Louisiana State University and A&M College, Southern University and A&M College, Louisiana parish governing bodies, and United States Department of Agriculture cooperating.