Item F1
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY
MEETING DATE: FEBRUARY 19, 2003
DIVISION: COMMUNITY SERVICES
BULK ITEM: NO
DEPARTMENT: COMMUNITY SERVICES
AGENDA ITEM WORDING: Community Services Division Director report.
1. Report on UF/Monroe County Extension Service Community Listening Sessions
by Doug Gregory, Extension Service Director.
ITEM BACKGROUND: See Attached
PREVIOUS RELEVANT BOCC ACTION: N/A
CONTRACDAGREEMENTCHANGES: N~
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: N/A
TOTAL COST: N/A
BUDGETED: N/A
COST TO COUNTY: N/A
SOURCE OF FUNDS:
REVENUE PRODUCING: N/A
AMOUNT PER MONTH /YEAR:
APPROVED BY: County Attorney N/A
OMB/Purchasing N/A
Risk Management N/A
DIVISION DIRECTOR APPROVAL
/ "Cecc;}2
S E. MALLOCH, Division Director
DOCUMENTATION: Included
To Follow
Not Required
AGENDA ITEM #
A
DISPOSITION:
2003 Community Listening Sessions
UFIIFAS Monroe County Extension
The University Extension program has requested each county office within the
state to conduct community listening sessions to evaluate the community educational
needs within Monroe County. The infonnation collected during these listening sessions
win assist both county and state Extension progI1Uns to develop a four-year plan of work.
Because of our commitment to grllSSroots involvement, the Extension long-range
planning process needs to be community based. The varied perspectives that result
through interactions with our Extension advisory committees, traditional and potential
audiences and Extension faculty help us translate Extension's purpose, vision, and
strategies into relevant community education programs that address economic,
environmental and life quality issues facing individuals, families, and businesses.
Since no organization can be all things to all people, a Particular focus of these
listening sessions will be directed toward issues, problems, and/or concerns that affect
people involved in agriculture, aquatic, coastal and aquaculture programS, natural
resources and the environment, youth development, family and consumer sciences,
energy and housing, and community. Current educational Extension program areas
within the Monroe County office include Marine, Horticulture, Family and Consumer
Sciences, and Youth Development.
Our specific desire/objective is to develop educational programs of relevance and
excellence that will help Floridians:
Realize a better quality of life;
- Produce responsible and productive young people;
Develop economically sound and environmentally sustainable smaIJ businesses,
communities, and natural resource dependent industries;
Develop leadership skills among diverse inhabitants, both in rural and urban
settings; and
Sustain our natural resources, Particularly the coastal areas.
In each of the listening sessions we will use a facilitated meeting structure with
breakout groups to address the four questions below.
1. What do we value (like) about living in Monroe County?
2. What issues or trends are impacting what we value (like)?
3. If current directions persist, is this where we want to go? If not, what kinds of
resources are needed to address these issues/trends?
4. Which of these issues/trends can be addressed through an Extension education
effort? And, what priority should be placed on each?
IM.... UNIVERSITY OF
'~_~
_FLORIDA
EXTENSION
Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences
BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS
Mayor Dixie Spehar, District I
Mayor Pro Tern Murray Nelson, District 5
Charles Sonny McCoy, District 3
George Neugent, District 2
David p, Rice, District 4
February 20, 2003
UF /IF AS Monroe COlmty Extension
1100 Simonton Street #2-260
Key West, FL 33040
305-292-4501
monroe@mail.ifas,ufl.edu
Dear County Resident:
We cordially invite you to participate in one of the UFIIFAS/Monroe County Extension's four-year
planning sessions. The pUIpose of these sessions is to help Extension prepare educational programs that
address the challenges and changes facing Monroe County residents over the next four years. We are
asking for your advice and input because Extension, as a university-based community educational
prograIn, needs to provide services relevant to our community. Extension's general mission areas
include agriculture, urban horticulture, natural resources, and families and youth. We have enclosed
some material for your review in case you are not familiar with Extension.
We invite you to join other community leaders from the Lower, Middle, and Upper Keys in one of
the county listening session to be held during March from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at one of the dates
and locations indicated below. Sandwiches, snacks and drinks will be available. We value your
thoughts and views and hope your schedule permits you to be with us for this important event.
Dates and locations of the Monroe County Extension Listening Sessions:
March 10 - -Marathon, Monroe County Regional Government Center, BOCC Meeting Room, 2798 OIS Hwy,
MM48
March 12 - Key West, HarveyiTruman Government Center, BOCC Meeting Room, 1200 Truman Avenue
March 24 - Key Largo, Key Largo Library, BOCC Meeting Room, Tradewinds Shopping Center,
101485 OIS Hwy, MM 101.5
Please take the time to read the enclosed description of the listening sessions purpose and
Extension brochures that will help you to prepare for our discussions. If you desire additional
infonnation on current and potential Extension programs please contact the Extension office at the
address indicated above in the letterhead or visit our web site at http://monroe.ifas.ufl.edu.
We look forward to your participation at one of the listening sessions. Please return your enclosed
RSVP in the postage paid envelope or contact us bye-mail or phone at the address above.
Sincerely,
Dixie Spehar, Mayor
Monroe County Board of County Commissioners
Douglas Gregory, Jr.
County Extension Director
The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IF AS) is an Equal Employment Opportunity - AfflJlI1lltive Action Employer authorized to provide research,
educational information and other services only to individuals and institutions that function without regard to race, color, sex, age, disability or national origin. U,S,
Department of Agriculture, Extension Service, University of Florida, IF AS, and Momoe County Board of County Commissioners,
r.ilY