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Got a Question? |
NOTE: See Committees Page for a complete listing of all National and Area Officers,
Execs and committee persons.
“THANKS”
Several years ago NASCOE began a new Committee which was organized specifically for giving our membership the opportunity to submit suggestions of a better way with dealing with some of our programs. This might be getting absolute answers versus current broad, vague, or generic procedures.
The Programs Committee asks for what the issue is and a proposed solution. Once the issue is researched, it is submitted to the Department and then a response is sent down thru the channels. Prior to this committee, these type of things would go thru the Negotiating Committee, which discussed these issues with the department only one time a year.
I feel that this has been a VERY productive way for our association to deal with many issues and receive, in most cases, a quick response from the Department. I would also note that there have been a lot of changes and/or explanations of procedures that come back to us from this Committee.
I would encourage you to submit program issues to this Committee. They do get responses, most of the time. You should submit your issues thru your State Chair, your Area Chair, or the National Chair, depending on your particular situation in your state. I assure you that this Committee will do everything in their power to get you answers. Sometimes we get change and sometimes we only get an explanation. Either way, the Committee gets responses.
Lastly, I would like to COMMEND those Area Chairs and National Chairs for their hard work that they do for you and I, the county office employee. I would also recognize those that have served as National Chairpersons since the program began. The first National Chair was Shirley Redfern. Then Shelly Odenkirk come on for two years. Our current Chairman of “Programs” at the national level is Bill Putman. “Thanks” to each of you for your hard work and dedication.
Herb Sorley
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Greetings from the Northeast. I am honored to have been asked by our President, Bonnie Heinzman, to serve as the National Programs Committee Chair. Besides promising to be interesting and challenging, I believe this program has the greatest potential to positively affect every employee and the programs we use to effectively and efficiently administer our programs.
The main purpose of the committee is to accept and act on submissions received from members. These submissions, which can be efficiency ideas, suggestions or concerns, will be categorized as either a program efficiency to pursue or a negotiation item to follow thru on. All will be researched and then forwarded on to the appropriate department heads in WDC for further explanation/clarification or in many cases will result in implementation that creates a simplified and/or more efficient process for all county office employees.
The “Program Efficiency Submission Form” on this site is fillable and downloadable – you can fill it out and return via e-mail either to your area chair, myself or both. Please see below for contact information on all area program chairs. There is also a link above should you have a question about what is a program efficiency item vs. what should be considered a negotiation item. I will strive to regularly update the “Programs Status” link above, sending you to the spreadsheet indicating the items we are working on and the status of each.
The most important thing to remember is that your input is the single most critical factor ensuring the success of this committee. For without that, we have no ideas, suggestions or concerns to address and present to WDC to help create effective efficiencies.
Our main goal is to continually emphasize the value and importance of your contributions. We will make every effort to encourage participation from all employees from all areas of the country. We will also strive to maintain the open communications with submitters, area chairs, leadership and our administration which will enhance the effectiveness of this committee.
The Area Chairs I have the privilege of working with are:
NEA Howard Rood, CT
SEA Beverly Roberson, MS
MWA Jake Bourget, WI
NWA Brad Olson, ND
SWA Lori Annuschat, OK
Since up here in the Northeast, we are predominantly forage and dairy, I do not have much experience or knowledge with some of the crops and programs offered and implemented in many other parts of the country. Consequently when submissions are received, I will be reaching out to the area chairs for help and guidance on many if not all items received.
For a bit about me: I am a native Vermonter, a fifth generation dairy farmer (retired) and now a CED in Newport, Vermont only a few miles from the Canadian border. In 2001, after a 29 year career as a 100+/- Holstein cow dairy farmer, I opted to exit the dairy business. After a few months of enjoying some freedom in selecting what I would do on any particular day, I was strongly encouraged to seek employment that provided the family with some source of dependable income. It was fun while it lasted! The first job I applied for and was accepted in was as a GIS-PT at a newly formed GIS Digitizing Center. A few months into that I entered the COT program and after a 12 month training program ended up as the CED in my current office. We still live on the farm but rent our land to a neighboring beef operation for cropping and pasture. Our main Ag venture currently is the operation of a 3000 tap maple sugarbush where we produce and market about 900 gallons of Pure Vermont Maple Syrup each year.
I am really looking forward to working with our NASCOE leadership through this committee. I am also looking forward to serving our membership by acting on your program efficiency and negotiation item submissions. I cannot emphasize strongly enough the importance of your participation—so keep sending in your ideas, suggestions and concerns.
Thanks and Have a Great Year,
Bill Putnam
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