2008 FARM BILL AND ECONOMIC STIMULUS PACKAGE PUBLIC MEETINGS SCHEDULED
A series of public meetings about the 2008 Farm Bill and Economic Stimulus Package will be held to provide information about commodity programs, including livestock and crops, energy and rural development, forestry, conservation programs, and opportunities for funding that may exist in the economic stimulus program.
Meetings are from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. Cost is $10 with advance registration, or $15 at the door.
Meetings will be held in on the following dates in the locations indicated: April 1 - Stillwater Expo Center, RSVP 918-627-8101 April 8 - Pryor-Northeast Technology Center RSVP 918-456-4408 April 15 - Goodwell-Panhandle State University New Science Building, RSVP 580-735-2033, Extension 4 April 17 - McAlester-Eastern State College RSVP 918-623-4179 April 23 - El Reno-Canadian Valley Tech Center RSVP 580-234-8331 April 24 - Idabel-SE OSU-Idabel Campus RSVP 918-623-4179 May 1 - Ardmore, RSVP 405-238-6544 May 8 - Woodward-High Plains Career Tech RSVP 580-735-2033, Extension 4 May 15 - Altus-Western OK State College RSVP 580-832-3661
3/20/2009
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT A HIT
Scott Kirby, Murray County Assessor, was the star of the hour at the recent Professional Development workshop held in Stillwater and Camp Redlands at Lake Carl Blackwell. Scott was the final participant in the “ropes course” at the OSU Outdoor Adventure Challenge Course, a demanding series of cables, logs, platforms, and ropes in the treetops. His perseverance and determination became the stuff of legends among the rest of the group. But, everyone who finished the ropes course, and even those who didn’t, had an awesome experience and dealt with teamwork, cooperation, group dynamics, and self determination in a whole new dimension.
The three-day workshop focused on teamwork, communication skills, group dynamics, conflict management, and decision making. On the first afternoon, Scott Jordan of OSU Outdoor Adventure presented a session on “Leadership and Self Deception,” using the metaphor of behavior in and out of the box. He told the group that their influence and success depend on being out of the box, and he gave some guidelines for how to avoid being in the box and how that will improve relationships and interaction with others.
The OSU Outdoor Advantage was the second day. The morning was spent on getting acquainted and doing some teamwork exercises on the ground. In the afternoon, it was up in the air for the challenge course.
On the morning of day three, Dr. Mac McCrory, former director of the Wellness Center at OSU, and former Vice President for Business and Industry Relations at OSU-OKC, talked about “The Team Advantage.” Using the challenge course as an example, he discussed the three C’s, communication, cooperation and concern for others. He explained how people deal with situations with stamina, spirit, style, and skills.
Other county officers attending the workshop were Linda Coleman, Tillman County Assessor; Bill Deering, Payne County Commissioner; Donna Giddens, Greer County Assessor; Linda Hatfield, Payne County Clerk; Gloria Hesser, Payne County Commissioner; Carolyn Leck, Canadian County Deputy County Treasurer; Jacquie Rose, Payne County Assessor; Lavinda Smith, Harmon County Assessor; Letitia Stockton, Kiowa County Assessor; and Rena Wheatley, Noble County Treasurer.
6/11/2008
70 COUNTY COMMISSIONERS HAVE COMPLETED CERTIFICATION/ACCREDITATION PROGRAM
Since the County Commissioner Certification/Accreditation program was adopted by the Association of County Commissioners (ACCO) in 1999, 116 certificates have been awarded to 70 County Commissioners and 17 of their employees. 87 of those certificates have been at the basic level, and 29 at the two advanced levels.
The County Training Program, part of the Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service at Oklahoma State University, oversees the certification/accreditation program and holds the courses that are taken to achieve certification or accreditation. To receive accreditation, students complete a take-home exercise and must receive a score of 80% or higher. “Certification,” rather than Accreditation, is achieved by those who do not complete the take-home exercises.
In 2001, ACCO adopted an Advanced Level, which required additional courses beyond the Basic Certification. In 2005, an Advanced Level 2 was added, and the program was revamped. The Basic Level now includes five courses for a total of 51 hours of instruction. 39 County Commissioners and nine staff members have achieved Basic Certification; 31 County Commissioners and eight staff members have achieved Basic Accreditation.
The Advanced Level 1 requires four courses for 30 hours of instruction plus 18 hours selected from a list of discretionary courses for a total of 48 hours of instruction. Five County Commissioners and three staff members have achieved Advanced 1 Certification, and eight County Commissioners and seven staff members have achieved Advanced 1 Accreditation.
At the Advanced Level 2, County Commissioners must complete an additional 36 hours of instruction: two required classes for 12 hours and 24 discretionary hours. One County Commissioner, Randy Crone, Pittsburg County District 1, and two staff members, Susie Walker, Canadian County First Deputy, and Janna Parrish, Noble County Commissioner’s Assistant, District 1, have achieved Advanced Level 2 certification. Three County Commissioners, Mike Helm, Rogers County District 2; Mark Sharpton, Logan County District 1; and Melba Nance, Blaine County District 1, have achieved Advanced Level 2 accreditation.
As of November of 2007, 54% of the County Commissioners in Oklahoma have completed at least one County Training Program course. Half of them have taken three courses and 25% have taken six or more courses. One County Commissioner has taken 23 courses, some multiple times.
The County Training Program provides an excellent opportunity to study important aspects of county government, such as the budget process, purchasing procedures, and open meeting and open records requirements. The program also offers managerial classes, such as supervisory skills and personnel issues. Other courses include topics like communication and public speaking skills, economic development, customer service, finance, tax procedures, and computer skills.
In addition to the class instruction, an often heard remark is about the benefit of the interaction with county officers and employees from other counties - getting to know new people and learning new or different ways of doing things.
The County Training Program classes are open to all county officers and their staff. See the CTP website: http://agecon.okstate.edu/ctp for more details. You can view upcoming training dates, the class descriptions, and enroll on-line (or by fax). If you have any questions, call 405-744-6555 or email ctp@okstate.edu.
2/28/2008
COMMISSION ON COUNTY GOVERNMENT PERSONNEL EDUCATION AND TRAINING SUSPENDS REGISTRATION FEE
Effective October 1, 2006 the $20 per class registration fee is suspended. The registration form will soon be changed to reflect the “no fee” status of classes after October 1. If you have already submitted a P.O. number for a class scheduled after October 1, please cancel the P.O. If you may have paid for a class that you did not attend and have a positive balance in escrow with us, please use your escrow balance before October 1 if possible. Please call (405) 744-6555 if you have questions.
8/18/2006
COUNTY TRAINING PROGRAM MOVES TO NEW LOCATION
The County Training Program is now located in the Department of Agricultural Economics in Ag Hall on the Oklahoma State University-Stillwater campus.
Effective July 1, 2006, the County Training Program is being administered by the Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service in the Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources at OSU.
Staffing the program are the following people:
Notie Lansford, Coordinator Agricultural Economics Professor and Extension Economist
This statutorily mandated program will continue to provide quality training and technical assistance to county officers in Oklahoma and their employees to help them execute their duties more effectively, efficiently, and professionally.
