Extension talks about 2015, prepares for 2016

Nevada Daily Mail

The members of the Vernon County University of Missouri Extension Council prepared for the coming new year by approving a budget request for the county, looking over an endowment plan, and discussing elections for 2016.

Extension Program Director Pat Miller, told the members the budget for 2016 is set at $55,000. They will be requesting $51,000 from the county and have secured a grant from United Way for $3,600. Extension also has money from fees, interest, courses taught and resale totaling $400.

The money budgeted, Miller said, will help run Extension. The largest chunks of the budget are set aside for office expenses, with $4,474 is to be spent on supplies, and $9,000 travel. The salaries of Amanda Davis, the youth educator and Judi Swank, an employee in the Extension office are paid with the county appropriations. Before approving the budget, members unanimously voted to increase Swank's salary by one dollar an hour and give her $50 more towards her health insurance. Extension pays one-third of the salary owed to Davis and the University of Missouri System pays the other two-thirds.

Then Extension discussed it's yearly MCES Vernon County Endowment, a fund set up to help pay for ongoing operations from invested capitol. The endowment fund is funded by donations.

At the end of June, the market value of the endowment stood at $19,230.66. If needed for a specified purpose, Extension Council may withdraw up to $4,518.99, according to the document handed out at the meeting.

"The Endowment acts like a savings account," Miller said. "Its revenue incase of large cuts from the commissioners office."

The Extension council also discussed elections for 2016. Charie Clark, Kathy Kedigh and Tom Harold will run for re-election while three seats are open.

"We need some folks to run," said Leslie Carroll-Bartlett, president of the Vernon County Extension Council.

"Everybody I have asked has said no," said Miller

Bartlett said they need to know who is going to run for Extension Council by "The Christmas open house (Dec. 3) or shortly after."

There is one spot open on the council for people running who live north of Highway 54 and two positions open for people south of the highway.

Miller then said the council is supposed to have new council members turned in by the end of February. Candidates for council elections must be over the age of 18 and a registered voter, Miller said. Council members do not have to be alumni of the University of Missouri.

Saralee Jamieson, a human development and family studies specialist from University Extension, came to the meeting to share her programs, which cater mostly to adult seniors. Her programs teach about dealing with diabetes, balance and managing concerns about falling, transferring non-titled personal property left off a deceased relatives will and strengthening families.

Most of the courses have a charge, and the University of Missouri receives about $5 of the cost. Other programs are funded by a grant and are free to everyone.

Miller said after the meeting the members host different specialists to come and share their programs in hopes to bring them to Vernon County.

"It's really is a good class for care givers, people working with their parents or adults because it really relates to that environment, which is really good," Carroll-Bartlett said about the "A Matter of Balance-Managing Concerns About Falls" program. "We had a class of all nurses and myself, so it was strange class."

Bartlett then said her friend Leonard was also in attendance of the class. "Here's this 85-year old man who was doing the exercises and was getting a really good effect from it. He was aware of the fact of how he stands. He definitely has problems since his stroke, and he became more aware of where his feet and body was. It was really a good class in that respect. It was really for people who were in a nursing home or close to it."