It was recommended to me to apply for this job but I don't really know anything about the NC Coop. Ext or what they do and I'm not at all sure I want the job..

Quote :

"EXTENSION PROGRAM ASSOCIATE FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT Primary Duties & Responsibilities - The Extension Program Associate will assist in the delivery of Cooperative Extension educational programs. Major program emphases of this position are related to community-based educational programs, both youth and adults, with a major emphasis on youth programs in the summer months. The successful candidate will be a committed and active member of the NC Cooperative Extension Team."

Can anyone translate that generic bullshit into some real-life meaning?

7/18/2007 9:53:48 PM

are you illiterate? what don't you get?

[Edited on July 18, 2007 at 10:36 PM. Reason : =]

7/18/2007 10:34:45 PM

Sounds like you're going to go run programs to teach kids about cooperative stuff, what is that, farming?

Sounds like a camp counselor.

7/18/2007 10:38:23 PM

Looks like some sort of cross between community lesion and 4-H program assistant.

7/18/2007 10:43:19 PM

pm sent

7/18/2007 11:09:10 PM

Quote :

"community lesion"

hah community lesion

7/18/2007 11:25:42 PM

Okay here is a brief description of Extension and how it works.

There is an extension office located in every county in NC as well as the Cherokee Reservation. Extension was started with the Smith Lever Act in 1914 to provide educational services to farmers and local communities. Major programming emphasis was along the lines of agriculture, home makers, and youth. Since people were often hesitant to change and were often unsure of "officials", 4-H youth were given educational materials, grew better crops for competition, and indirectly changed farming methods.

Today Extension is still struggling with finding its place in a less than agriculture society. Focus primarily falls along the lines of education and community service. Most counties host an agriculture, 4-H, and Family and Consumer Sciences. Within Agriculture you can have a variety of different agents: general agriculture, horticulture, livestock (beef, dairy, poultry), field crops (cotton, tobacco, etc). 4-H deals with the youth and its programming is different for each county (really depends on the local wants and needs). Typically you can have two types of 4-H programs: traditional and non-traditional. Traditional typically clings to the agriculture concept and sponsors 4-H clubs throughout the county. Imagine boyscout troops with leaders that are all managed at a central office. 4-H programs can also run/focus on afterschool childcare. Family and Consumer Sciences covers areas such as nutrition, time management, family management, financial management, etc. Its roots are in canning, quilting, sewing, etc.

Here is the definition of "community development" from the nc extension website:

Quote :

" Community Development is a program facilitated by the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service. Its purpose is to create a formal community organization in individual communities that allows their members to combine their efforts in an organized manner for the benefit of the community. The Community Development Council consist of representatives from each participating community. "

As an associate, you will not be at a full agent status. Instead many associates are hired to work under different branches of the extension service and serve to specialize/focus on certain areas such as community development. So basically, if I'm right, you will most likely be spending your time and energy developing, implementing, and working closely with a community development group for Cherokee County.

As for the major issues facing extension currently. Accountability is a nasty word that is flying around. The states requires agents to very specifically track and record all "successes." This can't just be 20 kids attended, all were happy, left safe. They want specific numbers and how the program has "impacted" the community. Funding is also a big issue. As an extension agent/associate, you are often called upon to write grants and find your own funding for your programs. In the past few years extension was ranked as one of the top 10 most useless government programs by Readers Digest. In all honesty this is most likely cause due to the lack of branding and marketing involved with extension (had you ever heard of them before?) So from a state level there is a huge effort in trying to unify all offices and create that brand.

Perks of extension are simple. You are a state employee so good benefits with not so great salary. However as an employee of extension you are partly an employee of NCSU (you get the @ncsu.edu email address and fancy business cards). Because of that you are allowed free graduate classes (I believe one a semester) and they will want you to get the masters.

7/18/2007 11:33:00 PM

Anyone else want this job? I think I'm gonna pass.

7/18/2007 11:50:13 PM

Quote :

"Can anyone translate that generic bullshit into some real-life meaning?"

sounds like you're out of the running

7/18/2007 11:59:46 PM

i highly recommend this job actually.

7/19/2007 3:50:53 AM

o rly? why?

7/19/2007 8:39:34 AM

you will be in charge of 4H

7/19/2007 10:15:10 AM

thanks Ashley
you beat me to it

I wouldn't recommend taking this position if you know nothing about agriculture and/or have never worked for a similar organization. Unless you really think it's something you'd be interested in...

7/19/2007 12:35:17 PM