In This Issue

WVU Benefits Open Enrollment Ends Monday
New Resource Available for WVU Classified Employees
April 28 Is National Drug Take-Back Day
It’s Time to Order Camp Postcards
WVU Extended Learning Seeks Collaboration
New Curriculum Available for Communities Supporting Military Families
People and Places
Have You Heard?
To Our Good Health

About Extension Focus

Extension Focus is a biweekly publication of the Office of the Associate Provost for Extension and Public Service. News items should be sent to the Office of Communications, 507 Knapp Hall, P.O. Box 6031, Morgantown, WV 26506-6031 or by e-mailing Marie Burleigh, editor.

Note: Hyperlinks are not maintained in archived issues.

Our Continuing Mission

The mission of the West Virginia University Extension Service is to form learning partnerships with the people of West Virginia to enable them to improve their lives and communities. To these partnerships, we bring useful research- and experience-based knowledge that facilitates critical thinking and skill development.

Open enrollment for WVU employees who are benefits-eligible ends on Monday, April 30. This is your annual opportunity to review your benefits, enroll in benefit plans, or make changes to your existing coverage. The PEIA Shopper’s Guide for Plan Year 2013, Mountaineer Flexible Benefits Reference Guide for Plan Year 2013, and other resources are available on the WVU Human Resources website (http://benefits.hr.wvu.edu/open_enrollment). All changes must be submitted by April 30 for the 2013 plan year, which runs from July 1, 2012, to June 30, 2013. If you are not making any changes, you do not need to submit anything!

A revised handbook for WVU classified employees is now available online at http://employeerelations.hr.wvu.edu/r/download/126901. The new handbook¬¬¬¬¬ covers a wide variety of topics from payroll and benefits to workplace standards and training and development. While the 51-page document can be printed, the new handbook is most useful and up-to-date when it is used as an online, interactive document. Changes and new information will be added as necessary, and hyperlinks make the handbook easy to navigate.

The new online handbook replaces any older, printed versions you might have. The_ WVU Faculty Handbook_, which was revised in January 2011, is also available online at http://wvufaculty.wvu.edu/policies/faculty_handbook.

Plan to do some spring cleaning in your medicine cabinet this weekend. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration will be collecting unneeded and expired medicines from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at locations nationwide. The DEA will then dispose of the medicines in a safe, legal, and eco-friendly way.

Prescriptions and over-the-counter tablets and caplets will be accepted. Intravenous medicines, needles, and illicit drugs such as marijuana or methamphetamines are not part of this program. It’s a good idea to black out or remove any personal information from pill bottles you plan to turn in.

The DEA has collected almost 500 tons of unneeded medication in three previous events. You can learn more about the take-back initiative and find a disposal site near you by visiting www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drug_disposal/takeback/index.html.

If you can’t make it to a collection point or would prefer to dispose of your unneeded medications yourself, there are a number of Internet resources that explain how to do it safely. You can also ask your local pharmacist for advice.

As you prepare for the summer camping season, don’t forget to order your camp postcards from WVU-ES Communications. Sue Prager (Susan.Prager@mail.wvu.edu; 304-293-4222) is gathering numbers to determine how many to have printed. Please let her know how many you think you will need by May 14.

WVU Extended Learning is contacting county WVU Extension offices to schedule a time for a brief visit. The goal is to provide additional information and look at possible collaborations for increasing the awareness of higher education accessibility in West Virginia. “I know summer is an extremely busy time for us,” said interim Extension director Steve Bonanno. “But I hope if they contact your office you will be able to accommodate them in your schedule.”

WVU Extended Learning’s mission is to serve as a gateway to improve the economic, health and well-being of the citizens of West Virginia. In an effort to promote online/off-campus educational opportunities in the state, Extended Learning will periodically provide your county office with up-to-date information on graduate, undergraduate, K-12, and continuing and professional education programs available to the citizens of West Virginia.

Only 17.5 percent of adult West Virginians have earned a bachelor’s degree or higher – the lowest college attainment rate in the nation – according to a just-released U.S. Census Bureau study. Improving statewide education credentials can result in increased development and revitalization in our communities. Citizens of every county in West Virginia have access to higher education through WVU Extended Learning, without residing on the Morgantown campus.

For more information, please contact Leslie Barrett (Leslie.Barrett@mail.wvu.edu; 304-293-0075) at Extended Learning.

The University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service has released a comprehensive yet concise program that encourages community residents and helping agencies to be good neighbors in support of military families in their midst.

Almost every community includes families with service members deployed in National Guard or Reserve units. Recent research shows that partnerships formed by caring community residents and local agencies create a force for strengthening family resilience that is more effective than any of us can do on our own.

Program objectives for Communities Support Military Families are to build knowledge of the structure and mission of the military branches, create awareness of the presence and needs of “suddenly military” families, develop understanding of the emotional cycle of deployment, and suggest practical, appropriate ways for community residents and agencies to reach out to such families and their children.

If you’re interested in the curriculum, look for Cindy Fitch’s ES-ALL post from April 21, or contact Cindy (Cindy.Fitch@mail.wvu.edu; 304-293-2796) for details.

Doug Arbogast will be coming on board as community rural tourism specialist on May 16. Doug holds a bachelor’s degree in environmental geo-science from WVU, a certificate in ecotourism planning and management from Humboldt State University in Humboldt, Calif., and a master’s degree in recreation, parks, and tourism resources from WVU. He has extensive experience in sustainable travel and tourism in Appalachia. Most recently, Doug was a principal in Travel Green Appalachia LLC, and an adjunct faculty member at Bridgemont Community and Technical College in Montgomery, W.Va., where he was lead trainer for the Riverside Sustainability Awareness Training program.

The new face in the Tyler County office isn’t completely new. Brenda Goodfellow, who began work April 18 as administrative secretary, worked in the office a number of years ago. In the interim, she has worked for the West Virginia Division of Rehabilitation Services in New Martinsville and Mountain State Centers for Independent Living in Huntington. Brenda brings a wealth of experience, motivation, and enthusiasm to her new position.

Letha Mills began work as nutrition outreach instructor in Kanawha County on April 18. The Lewis County native holds a bachelor’s degree in child development from WVU. Letha’s no stranger to WVU Extension – during her collegiate education, she did an internship in 4-H Youth Development, worked as an Extension camping instructor, and served as a student secretary.

Beth Plumley *has resigned as nutrition outreach instructor in Summers and Raleigh counties, effective April 30.

Linda Stamper* is the new secretary in Wyoming County. She previously worked in the office as a Mountaineer Temp. Although her address isn’t showing in the WVU directories, her email address, Linda.Stamper@mail.wvu.edu, is working.

There will be a ribbon cutting and open house at the new WVU Extension Service Harrison County Office on Friday, May 4, from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. The new facility is located near the Harrison County Recreation Complex and 4-H Center on Route 19 south of Clarksburg across from the Sunny Croft Country Club. For more information, contact the office at 304-624-8650.

The WVU Extension Service Ritchie County Office *also has a new home. The new location is 1608 Main Street, Harrisville, WV 26362. The phone number is 304-643-5200; fax number is 304-643-5204.

The *2012 Camping Kickoff will be held Thursday, May 31. All faculty and staff with camping responsibilities should plan to attend this educational session at WVU Jackson’s Mill.

Rich Fleisher is looking for volunteers to serve as simulated resource providers for poverty simulations he’ll be conducting in May. He’s looking for help from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 10, in Buckhannon and from 7 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, May 22, in Morgantown. Contact Rich (RLFleisher@mail.wvu.edu; 304-293-8130) for details.

Jean Woloshuk was one of three individuals receiving a distinguished alumni award from the WVU Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Design Alumni Association. The award was presented at a banquet April 21. Jean received bachelor’s and master’s degrees in agriculture in 1976 and 1977, respectively, and an Ed.D. in curriculum and instruction with a minor in agricultural education in 1988. All were earned at WVU. She has been an agent and specialist with WVU Extension’s 4-H Youth Development program since 1977. The other award winners were H. Stephen Conrad of Pendleton County and Sam Tuckwiller of Greenbrier County.

Choose and prepare foods without high fat sauces or gravies.

A Tip of the Day from www.choosemyplate.gov/