Minutes from February 5, 2009 Meeting
From Extension Collaborative Wiki
PLN IT Meeting 2/5/2009
Attendees: Jonathan Davis(Auburn), Anne Adrian(Auburn), Steve Garner(Kentucky), Rich Phelps(Kentucky), David Yates(Tennessee), Fred Piazza(LSU), Jim Segers(TAMU), Jimmy Henning(Kentucky), Jonell Hinsey(Tenn St), Karen Craig(Tuskegee), Lalit Rainey(NC A&T), Michael Bratcher(NC A&T), Ray Kimsey(NC ST), Travis Zetterower(Georgia), Rhonda Conlon(NC ST), Dewayne Hunter(OK ST), Terrance Wolfork(Fort Valley ST), Dan Brook(Miss ST)
Jonathan started the meeting at 10AM(EST)
1. PlC reps report(Nina Boston and Lalit Rainey)
--Nina reported on the December meeting in Atlanta. The group worked on planning for this year’s conference in Orlando. The conference is focusing on maintaining relevance in these changing times. There will be less of a general session and more cross committee work.
--They also began work on restructuring the PLN network
-Lalit reported on the restructuring, it will be ongoing over the course of the year. Jonathan asked if there had been any discussion about budgets prohibiting people from attending this year’s conference. Nina said this hasn’t been discussed yet, but probably will in the next conference call.
Nina showed us the new SRPLN website via Centra.
-SRDC worked on the new website, it is now online.
-Better organized, more information about conferences.
-Program Committee sites have been improved.
-To find our listserv and other committees LISTSERVs go to the link below.
http://asred.msstate.edu/directory/emaillists.html
Review Plan of Work
1. New Reps to Committee(Nina)
--Task was to make sure that we have reps from all institutions on the committee. Nina has been working to confirm reps. we need reps from several 1890 institutions.
--Jimmy Henning will follow up with Florida and Kentucky State on reps from those states/Institutions. He also spoke with Directors to make sure there are reps from states on the committee.
2. Continue development of the Moodle module on Information Security located at http://pdc.extension.org (Jonathan)
--One of Jonathans staff is working with him to complete the module, should have it ready before the next conference call. He will send out the link for review
3. Maintain the resource list of social media tools which is available on the eXtension web site at http://collaborate.extension.org/wiki/Web2 (Anne Adrian)
--People are using and contributing; Anne suggested that we take it off of our POW.
--The item can now be marked as completed.
4. Explore a common approach for collecting data and incorporating requirements for the Education and Administrative Reporting System (EARS), in coordination with the FCS Committee (Fred Piazza)
--There has been very little discussion about this topic among the group. Fred recommended that if there isn’t a lot of interest on this issue we can remove it from the POW.
5. Engage in discussions on best practices for training (Jim Segers)
--Jim is has created a wiki for this topic. Documents on the wiki include information on training at TAMU. He will email the link to the group.
--Here is the link to the site: http://collaborate.extension.org/wiki/Best_Practices_for_Training
6. Continue communicating and promoting eXtension activities to our state constituents (individual efforts)
--Jim said that TAMU is still working on promoting eXtension
--Fred said LSU is working to push eXtension into everything they do; this is just now getting started
--Rich said that Kentucky is going to start piloting the Ask an Expert widget on county websites
--Rhonda said more work needs to be done getting new employees involved with eXtension
--OpenID and its use by eXtension
7. Additional Items
--Budget cuts were discussed. Just about every state is expecting budget cuts to some extent
--Many states are denying out of state travel
--Nina is going to bring up this issue to PLC(Out of State Travel)
--Nina will be taking an early out; her last day is June 30th. The committee will need to elect a new rep to PLC
Adjourn (Next meeting: April 16, 2009)
