October 10, 2017
Investing in Yourself and Your Profession
This week, many of our fellow K-State Research and Extension professionals are heading to the 2017 National Epsilon Sigma Phi Conference in North Carolina. Next week, some of our colleagues will be heading to Omaha to attend the 2017 Annual Session of the National Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences in Omaha. The week after that, several of our colleagues will be attending the American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, and Soil Science Society of America annual meeting in Tampa. As I mentioned last week, our own annual conference then takes place from October 31 to November 2.
What do all four of the events have in common? They all represent meetings of just a few of our Extension or academic professional associations. Associations such as these allow us to come together as colleagues to discuss issues of critical importance to our systems, professions and disciplines. They also offer opportunities for excellent professional development and opportunities to recognize professional excellence. In short, they offer a great opportunity to invest in yourself as an Extension professional.
Our professional Extension associations all meet during our annual conference. They include Epsilon Sigma Phi, the Kansas Extension Agents Association, Kansas Association of County Agricultural Agents, the Kansas Association of Extension 4-H Agents, Kansas Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences, Kansas Association of Community Development Extension Professionals, and the Kansas Extension Agents Associations. More information about them can be found at http://www.ksre.k-state.edu/employee_resources/Extension%20Professional%20Associations.html.
If you are already a highly engaged member in one or more of our professional associations, I encourage you to remain engaged. If you are a member of one or more of our professional associations but not really heavily involved, I encourage you to become more engaged. If you are not a member, why aren’t you? Invest in yourself, our system, and our profession? Become a member of one or more of our professional associations. You will be glad you did!