Changes to eXtension Membership – October 2018
10/26/2018
For Immediate Release
Contact: Aaron Weibe, aaronweibe@eXtension.org
We have two major announcements regarding eXtension membership:
1. We have revamped our membership structure. There will no longer be two separate levels of membership. No more Premium and Basic members. There will only be one level of membership.
To help make this possible, a key decision was made to approve a two-year budget. Because of our strategic investment fund, we’ve approved a two-year stable budget through 2020 while we continue to expand resources and revenue. We have positive indications that 2021 will also be strong.
Currently, membership levels are based upon the 2014 assessment levels. For Premium Member institutions, the fee is 75% of the total assessment. Basic Member institutions are 60% of the total assessment. Moving forward, we are eliminating Premium and Basic membership levels and going with a single membership level. The new membership fee will be 65% of the 2014 assessment. Premium members will see a reduction from 75% to 65%; Basic Members will see a 5% increase from 60% to 65%, however, current Basic Members will be grandfathered into their current assessment of 60% for the next two years.
All members will now have full access to Impact Collaborative events including hosting institutional Impact Collaborative events, and having a Facilitator trained in the Impact Collaborative Innovation process at no cost. By adjusting our membership structure, we can now supply more institutions with professional development opportunities through the Impact Collaborative.
2. Join now, start now. If you become an eXtension Member institution for 2019, the rest of 2018 is on us. That’s up to 14 months of membership for the price of 12. We’re also ready to get you scheduled for hosting an Impact Collaborative Designathon One or Innovation Kit Workshop at your institution in 2019, which is included with your membership.
Why eXtension?
We’ve changed a lot over the past few years to better serve our members. While we still support the technology and tools that we’ve been known for, eXtension has answered the call to deliver high quality professional development focused on innovation to help with your institutional goals. We do this through the Impact Collaborative. We are also finding new, innovative ways to support Extension professionals across the country through our eFieldbooks, exploring Customer Relationship Management systems, and much more. While there are many great sources for innovation out there, what makes eXtension’s Impact Collaborative unique is that is pulls from a variety of methodologies and practices that is contextualized specifically for Extension professionals.
Building Capacity in the System
Last week, we held our first national Impact Collaborative Summit where 32 teams representing 40 institutions gathered to advance their projects and programs towards implementation through our innovation process, help from our Key Informants, outside partners, and supporting organizations. Their work culminated in our first ever PitchFest where teams had the chance to pitch their project and program in front of a panel of eXtension, Cooperative Extension, and partner organization judges. 14 teams walked away with awards that will provide more capacity to their projects to help with your institutional goals. We help build capacity by bringing new capacity to the system.
Hear what some individuals had to say about their experience at the Impact Collaborative Summit:
- Rick Klemme, Cooperative Extension/ECOP Executive Director, and Ed Jones, Director – VA Tech Extension and ECOP Chair
- Dreamal Worthen, Florida A&M CIVIC Team Participant
- Prairie View A&M, A New DEI Team
Interested in becoming an eXtension member institution, or do you have questions about becoming a member? Please do not hestitate to reach out to Beverly Coberly at beverlycoberly@eXtension.org
Join us, along with 53 member institutions, in becoming a member today.
We look forward to continuing to find innovative ways to serve you and support your local impact.
Your eXtension Foundation Board of Directors,
Barbara Petty, University of Idaho, Chair
Ken La Valley, University of New Hampshire, Vice Chair
Courtney Owens, Kentucky State University, Treasurer
Gary Jackson, Mississippi State University
Jason Henderson, Purdue University
Jane Clary Loveless, USDA-NIFA
Rick Klemme, Extension Committee on Organization and Policy