IECA had a very active year focused on serving county extension council members so they can better serve the Iowans they represent. Read on for some of the highlights of the 2023-2024 year. A print version of the Year in Review is also available for download.
Extension Council Conference on the Road
IECA hosted six Extension Council Conferences on the Road this spring in lieu of a statewide conference.
The focus of this year’s conference was connecting to your communities. Council members enjoyed an evening to think about the public value of Extension and Outreach, how to create partnerships in their communities, and strategized solutions to best develop and retain extension employees as it relates to the ISU Extension and Outreach Strategic Vision and Direction.
Vice President for Extension and Outreach Jason Henderson shared how councils can serve the needs of their communities through initiatives outlined
in the ISU Extension and Outreach Strategic Vision and Direction.
The sites were in Greenfield, Oskaloosa, Monticello, Nashua, Emmetsburg, and Sioux City. Feedback indicated that council members appreciated having onsite training near their communities.
Training Helps Councils Succeed
Serving as an extension council member is a complex role. IECA works to ensure council members are knowledgeable about the issues and where to go for information when needed by providing training and resources. In addition to our extension council conference, we provided online webinars for council members.
A Conflict of Interest webinar with Kay Oskvig from Whitfield and Eddy Law was held in August 2023. The information covered conflicts of interest law as it relates to both county staff and extension council members (note you will need the universal password to watch this webinar).
The Property Tax Impacts on Extension Districts training was held in February in partnership with Extension’s Community and Economic Development staff. They addressed changes in Iowa tax code, property tax reform, and how it affects county extension districts.
An Employer Update was provided on May 20. It was presented by IECA Executive Director Jennifer Vit and Andrea Welchans, Assistant Vice President for County Services. The update focused on new regulations for Fair Labor Standards Act, independent contractors, Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, and employees in volunteer roles.
All training recordings are available on the Council Training page of the IECA website.
Legislators Learn of Extension's Real Impact at IECA Legislative Breakfast
The second annual legislative breakfast at the Iowa State Capitol provided an opportunity for legislators to learn more about extension and how counties are funded. Twenty-five council members and staff attended the breakfast. They spoke with 45 legislators to highlight the real impacts of ISU Extension and Outreach and its outstanding public value.
Each legislator received a custom printed folder featuring some of our million dollar impacts. It also provided funding information for Extension and Outreach. Included in the folders were stakeholder reports for each county in their district as well as the overall Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Impact Report.
Key discussions took place with many legislators that morning. One discussion developed into funding for a new extension forestry position in northeast Iowa. Legislators unable to attend received folders in their mailboxes.
Any council member can share the impact of ISU Extension and Outreach with their county’s stakeholders and elected officials. Go to the IECA Government Relations webpage for tips on how you can craft your messages. You will also find links to source information and data.
New Calm Benefit Offered
Beginning April 1, extension councils could offer access to the Calm app to county employees. Calm is a subscription-based app that helps users manage stress and anxiety through guided meditation, music, sleep therapy, and more.
IECA committed to subsidize 50% of the cost of the subscription for the 2024-25 enrollment year to incentivize counties to offer this stress-reducing benefit to employees.
Currently 35 counties are enrolled, providing 132 employees access to the Calm app.
IECA Board of Directors 2024-2025
The IECA Board of Directors represents the needs and interests of the 900 extension council members in Iowa. The members of the 2024-25 Board of Directors are listed below.
Region 1 - Ryan Freese, O’Brien County
Region 2 - Roberta Hersom, Palo Alto County
Region 3 - Mary Greiman, Hancock County
Region 4 - Kirk Phelps, Mitchell County
Region 5 - Sara Kuboushek, Winneshiek County
Region 6 - VACANT
Region 7 - Mollie Scott, Sac County
Region 8 - Le Ann Lawler, Webster County
Region 9 - Ruth Wilcox, Grundy County
Region 10 - Bruce Clark, Black Hawk County
Region 11 - Megan Fagle, Linn County
Region 12 - Roger Helmrichs, Delaware County
Region 13 - Gwen Hanson, Shelby County
Region 14 - Joan Wiskus, Carroll County
Regions 15-16-17 - Kasey Peters, Polk County
Region 18 - Ann Leonard, Jasper County
Region 19 - Jenny Lichty, Johnson County
Region 20 - Tom Monroe, Scott County
Region 21 - Connie Casson, West Pottawattamie County
Region 22 - VACANT
Region 23 - Christy Sayler, Taylor County
Region 24 - Mark Davitt, Warren County
Region 25 - Phil Masters, Lucas County
Region 26 - Chrissy Westercamp, Van Buren County
Region 27 - Paul Gieselman, Louisa County
Region 28 - Bruce Clark, Black Hawk County
Region 29 - Megan Fagle, Linn County
Contact your board member with any questions or concerns you might have.