General Information

The Early Career Development Committee develops professional improvement education programs and resources to assist NACAA members who are early in their careers.   The focus is on extension practice and methodologies that help agents develop, conduct and evaluate successful extension programs.  The Committee will also train and seeks the involvement of members in management positions or those who play a role in mentoring early career professionals.

The committee's charge also includes the securing of resources to fund these activities and the responsibility to promote these activities to members. Professional improvement program ideas should come from the total NACAA membership to this committee through the various State Chairs. As ideas for professional improvement are brought to the Early Career Development Committee, it will be the responsibility of the committee to determine if the idea for professional improvement is feasible, and if so, then determine what course should be taken to offer this opportunity to members.

Recent News 

2012 AMPIC Sessions Offer Excellent Opportunties for Education and Engagement!

Are you planning to attend the 2012 AMPIC in Charleston?  If so, please check out the educational sessions and business meetings the Early Career Development Committee will be holding.  See below listing under "Upcoming Events at the 2012 AMPIC" for details.

New "Resources" Section Added to Early Career Development Wiki!

A new "Resources" section has been added to the wiki page based on input from the membership.  Our goal is to provide infomation and links to resource materials that may be of interest.  See what's new by scrolling down to the Resources section at the bottom of this wiki page.  In addition, recent past committee activities and items of interest are archived under this section. 

State, Regional and National Chairs, 2011-2012

The current list of state chairs can be viewed by clicking on the "State Chairs" link in the table below.  The National Vice Chairs and National Chair information is also listed below.

State Committee Chair Duties

• Participate in and assist with the Early Career Development Committee activities at the NACAA AM/PIC.

• Serve as communication link between the NACAA Early Career Development Committee and the State’s membership.

• Assist the Early Career Development Committee National Chair and Regional Vice Chair by promoting activities to State committees and NACAA members within the State.

• Assist in the identification of potential sponsors for events and activities and forward that information on to the Regional Vice Chair.

• Assist Early Career Development Regional Vice Chair in preparation of reports, plan of work, and other tasks as requested.

• Assist the National Chair or Regional Vice Chair in planning and conducting professional improvement activities when called upon.

• Promote the flow of ideas for the Early Career Development Committee from State=s membership to the National level by requesting input from State NACAA members and channeling such information and ideas to the National Chair through the Regional Vice Chair.

• Keep the Regional Vice Chair informed of State activities relating to Early Career Development being conducted within the State that might have National applications or benefit NACAA members.

Regional Vice Chair Duties

• Assist with the NACAA Early Career Development Committee activities at the NACAA AM/PIC.

• Serve as communication link between NACAA Early Career Development Committee Chair and State Committee Chairs.

• Assist in the identification of potential sponsors for events and activities and forward that information on to the National Chair.

• Assist Early Career Development Committee Chair in preparation of reports, plan of work, and other tasks as requested by the Committee Chair.

• Assist the National Chair in planning and conducting professional improvement activities when called upon.

• Assist the Early Career Development Committee National Chair by promoting activities to State committees and to regional and State membership.

• Promote the flow of ideas for the Early Career Development Committee from States to the National level by requesting input from State Chairs.

• Keep the National Chair informed of regional and State activities relating to Early Career Development programs being conducted that might have National applications.

National Chair Duties

• Coordinates the activities of the Early Career Development Committee.

• Provides leadership in raising funds and preparing budgets for committee activities and handling donor contacts in cooperation with the NACAA President Elect.

• Assumes responsibility for reporting Early Career Development Committee activities to the NACAA PIC Chair.

• Works with Regional Vice Chairs in establishing communications concerning committee activities with State Early Career Development Committee Chairs.

• Assumes responsibility for conducting Early Career Development Committee meetings at the NACAA AM/PIC.

• Assumes responsibility for conducting Early Career Development Committee professional improvement workshops at the NACAA AM/PIC.

• Works with Regional Vice Chairs and State Chairs to encourage NACAA members to submit applications for participation as presenters at the NACAA AM/PIC workshops and to assist them in understanding the application process.

• Assumes responsibility for informing the membership of activities being conducted by the Early Career Development Committee by submitting articles and information to the editor of The County Agent magazine and the Electronics Communications Coordinator.

• Organizes any professional improvement activities not held during the NACAA AM/PIC such as seminars, workshops, tours, short courses, etc. 

 Goals and Objectives for 2011-2012

• Continue to develop educational programming on relevant educational topics related to how to address the needs of early career agents.

 Plan of Work for 2011-2012

          (Developed at the Committee's 2011 Business Meeting held on August 8, 2011 in Overland Park, KS)

• Provide educational and training opportunities at the AMPIC. Consider developing a theme for the year’s presentations (with input from members via state chairs); advertise this theme in The County Agent magazine "awards issue" under the Call for Presenters.
• Use and expand the information on the NACAA Committee wiki.  This information should be expanded beyond committee information to include resources that people can utilize for skills development.  The committee will investigate the feasibility of storing files that members can access (including ECD “flyer” with information about wiki and Facebook group URLs) on the wiki.  (NOTE: See the new "Resources" section below)
• Use and expand the use of the Facebook “NACAA-Early Career Development (ECD)" Group. The group allows members to share ideas, ask questions, and be engaged with their colleagues via the Discussion Board. In addition, upcoming events and opportunities are posted.
• Seek information on webinars and training opportunities being offered by state associations or land grant institutions.  Post these on the wiki and Facebook group pages if they are open to NACAA members to participate.  (Must determine if this would require Board approval to link such information from the NACAA web site.)

Resources 

"NACAA-Early Career Development (ECD)" Facebook Group

You are invited you to join our Facebook group "NACAA - Early Career Development (ECD)".  We also ask that you share this email with your NACAA and Extension colleagues and encourage them to join.

Our goal is to use Facebook to facilitate discussion and interaction of NACAA members, particularly those with 5 years or less experience in Cooperative Extension, on relevant topics related to their careers, daily work, and programming.  All are invited to join regardless of career stage.  To see more details and confirm this group invitation, follow the link:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/NACAAECD/

If you are new to Facebook, you can register at http://www.facebook.com/ or click on the “Sign Up” button when you connect to the group’s page using the URL above. We hope you will join us on Facebook!

Early Career Development Committee Flyer

This flyer provides information about and URLs to the Early Career Development wiki and Facebook group.  They can be disctributed to members by state chairs and regional vice chairs.

ECD committee flyer 011811 FINAL.doc  

This can be printed (one-sided, color or black and white) on 8.5x11" paper and cut into four 5"x4.25" cards.

(WORD document, 2736 KB) 

2012 AM/PIC First Timer Webinar and Slide Presentation

The Early Career Development Committee co-sponsored an AM/PIC First Timer Webinar in April 2012.  You can view the entire webinar at http://tinyurl.com/NACAA-2012-AMPIC-First-Timers.

The South Carolina Association of County Agricultural Agents, the First Timers Committee, and the NACAA Early Career Development Committee offered this webinar to assit "first time" attendees to an AM/PIC.  The first step you need to take is getting registered.  For someone new to AM/PIC, we know this can be somewhat of a daunting task.  There is a very comprehensive schedule to navigate through and numerous decisions that need to be made on what to attend.  This webinar will help make your decision to attend AM/PIC and the registration process much easier. 

Upcoming Events at the 2012 AMPIC

Early Career Development Committee

Check your program for room information

FOR STATE CHAIRS and REGIONAL VICE-CHAIRS

Monday, July 16, 1:30 - 2:30 PM

Committee Workshop

All Early Career Development (ECD) Committee State Chairs and NACAA general membership interested in early career issues are invited to attend our committee workshop. Here is your opportunity to share ideas and needs. Our goal is to develop professional improvement education programs and resources to assist NACAA members who are early in their careers. The focus is on extension practice and methodologies that help agents develop, conduct and evaluate successful extension programs. Early Career Development Committee Chair, Laura Griffeth (GA), Presiding.

Tuesday, July 17, 2012, 8:30-11:30 AM  

Educational Seminars

8:30 AM – 9:30 AM Planning and Formatting a Successful and Tenure Dossier, Taun Beddes, Utah

9:30 AM – 10:30 AM Five Essential Elements for Great Educational Programs, Matt Palmer, Utah 

10:30 AM – 11:30 AM Painlessly Publishing in the Journal of NACAA, Stephen C. Brown, Alaska

Wednesday, July 18, 2012, 7:00 AM - 8:30 AM

National Committee Members Breakfast

All committee members, including state chairs, are invited to attend this breakfast recognition of retiring chairs, vice chairs and special assignments.