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James A. Chatfield, Ohio State University Extension, Northeast District/Horticulture and Crop Science; Joseph F. Boggs, Gary Y. Gao, Erik A. Draper, Keith L. Smith, Barbara G. Ludwig, Stephen R. Baertsche, |
We all know that money is only one type of resource, that teams fundamentally rise and fall on their human resources. We also all know how targeted money can sometimes drive a program in ways that interfere with a more open prioritization of activities. An example is with certain grants in which dollars flow in attached only to one particular static project that will not allow for needed re-prioritizations on the basis of changing circumstances.
With our team, we identified early on that we wanted to develop a new relationship with our industry partners (the Ohio Nursery and Landscape Association and others) that included a yearly proposal and yearly funding and accountability. An early question that arose from these discussions was whether this was just a one-shot deal or whether we would continue to make proposals and seek this funding commitment if our budgetary crisis ended. We quickly focused on the proposal, the partnership, the commitment, and the idea of team-building by being very clear that this was not a short-term relationship we sought, but rather the beginning of a new way of doing business.
With that clear, early understanding and with yearly proposals and accounting with our industry partners, we have secured funding from these organizations totaling more than $250,000 over the past nine years. What is this money for? It is essentially for team-building to make our team better able to deliver information and programming. It is used to make reference purchases for use by team members for Extension teaching. It is used for laptop computers to facilitate rapid development of the BYGL each week. It is used for cameras to take images used for the Buckeye Yard and Garden onLine website.
It is used for pilot projects such as a Plant Health Care program and Information Stations at garden centers. It is used to help defray costs for agents throughout the state to send "agent information" samples in to the Plant and Pest Diagnostic Clinic. It is used for out-of-state study tours that permit team members to travel to other states and countries, learning about other Extension systems and alternative horticultural practices, thus providing better insights about our own system ("He who only England knows, knows England least.") It is used to answer local concerns that statewide team activities add costs to county offices (phone costs for BYGL are rebated to the county offices from team funds).
The financial resources the team has received from our generous partners has allowed the ENLTT to do exactly what the funds are intended for to nurture a dynamic team that is a better bargain for its stakeholders, a team that continues to grow in what it accomplishes.