Success Stories
Table of Contents:
Strengthening Your Facilitation Skills
Local Tax Forum Opens Discussion Between Public and Elected Officials
Cumberland County Farm Pond Management Program
Strengthening Your Facilitation Skills
Last August, Educator Joann Kowalski and Director Karen Bracey of Penn State Cooperative Extension in Susquehanna and Wyoming counties, respectively, attended a train-the-trainer session for Strengthening Your Facilitation Skills at the University of Maine, Belfast. As many as 18 educators from across the state met in Maine for the program. As a result, the pair collaborated and teamed up to organize a pilot facilitation program. The program was geared toward community members of the neighboring counties interested in improving their skills in working with groups and facilitating group work.
Originally the two had planned to hold these workshops in both counties. However, they could not get enough people in Wyoming County to attend. As a result, the two counties were combined and the session was held in Susquehanna County. The training took place over four consecutive Tuesdays from April 1 to April 22. The program incorporated a series of activities that were hands on for the participants. This included small group discussions and lectures on facilitation. Participants would also be given a case-study that allowed them to be the facilitator of a group. They were given a problem and asked how they would go about facilitating the group toward a solution. One of the biggest tips stressed in the workshop was objectivity. When facilitating in a group setting, one must remain impartial so that all sides can be covered.
The goal of the program was to give people the skills to “effectively facilitate.” An evaluation after completing the program was met with positive feedback just as hoped. People indicated that they would now give more thought and consideration to facilitating groups. Since the program was such a success for Susquehanna County, there is a possibility for 3 more programs to be held in the northeast region of Pennsylvania. The programs have been discussed and will hopefully be starting this fall.
Rights of Way and Industrial Landscape Recertification
On April 4 another face-to-face seminar for the Rights of Way and Industrial Landscape Recertification was held in Crawford County. The program originated in Mercer County and was managed for many years by Tom Zundel and Gary Micsky. After Tom’s departure, Scott Sjolander decided to take on the project from Crawford County.
The seminar includes education updates managing plants around industrial activities. In many cases, the industries or activities occurring limit the size, location, or type of plant allowed. In most cases, managers are concerned with maintaining the most original ecology allowable. They often must keep a watch for invasive plants disrupting a highly erodible or biologically sensitive area. Some of these invasive plants include the Japanese knotweed and the Tree of Heaven. One main focus is keeping vegetation away from power lines and roadways. Sometimes no vegetation is called for in an area. However, some areas allow for specific vegetation. The seminar teaches which situations call for certain types of vegetation or none at all.
This seminar is in high demand because it is not offered in too many venues, Sjolander says. Although the program originated in the Northwest region, people come from all across Pennsylvania to receive this opportunity. The main tutorial is usually held once a year in the spring. However, other events may be offered during the course of a year. The seminars rely heavily on industry experts such as BASF, Dow-Agro Sciences, Arbor Chem and DuPont. Agents in Allegheny, Mercer and Erie counties also play an important role. The industry experts involved in the program do a great deal to deliver this valuable information to their audiences. Their efforts have been well received and the program continues to grow in strength.
Cumberland County Farm Pond Management Program
The Cumberland County Farm Pond Management program started with questions, says Tom McCarty, Cooperative Extension educator based in Cumberland County. Questions about ponds started to arise in the area. To meet the demand for inquiries concerning weeds, leaks, and fish populations that were “out of balance” or problematic, McCarty and Educator Steve Bogash of Franklin County teamed up to create a seminar concerning pond management. Bogash had experience with farm pond management in Maryland. The program drew in a lot of people who were interested in managing their ponds more effectively. The responses to the program were excellent each time the seminar was offered. The four-hour seminars, conducted in the nine-county Capital Region, were designed to be hands on for participants.
Participants were encouraged to bring in water and weed samples. They tested the water from their pond for pH and alkalinity. The instructors would then discuss what their results meant in terms of productivity and maintaining a hospitable environment for fish. The most effective part of the seminar was the question and answer portion. Participants would raise questions in front of the entire audience. The questions were discussed by the group until possibilities and solutions were clear.
The seminar covers all the aspects of managing a pond and offers a variety of solutions for the basic obstacles most people face. The biggest problem when managing a pond is the presence of too many nutrients. The abundance of nutrients results in the build up of biomass, which leads to pond scum. The seminar offers physical, biological, and chemical solutions. This provides audience members a good number of options to choose from allowing people to determine which methods work best for them. Feedback for the seminar has been good. People appreciate the thoroughness of the presentations and feel they leave with a clearer picture of a pond as an ecosystem. In follow up surveys about 75% report taking one or more management actions to improve the quality of their pond.
Another team consisting of Tom McCarty of Cumberland County, Melanie Barkley of Bedford County, Jim Clark of McKean County and Bryan Swistock an extension associate for the School of Forest Resources at University Park has formed an online course containing this subject matter. The framework of the course is six lessons including exercises to be submitted for feedback. The course fee results in interaction with the instructors. However, the materials for the course are provided free online and can be reached at http://bedford.extension.psu.edu/pond/pondcourse.htm
