Extension requests comments on programs

JONESBORO — The 74th year of the Washington County Extension Association will be recognized on March 16 when Extension leaders invite the public to comment on how Extension programs should be conducted.

The annual supper meeting will be held at 6 p.m. Tuesday in the gym at Jonesboro Elementary School. Association President Doug Dowling of Harrington will preside at the business session. Officers will be elected for the association and for the executive committee for 1993.

Supper reservations are required by Friday, March 12. The Jonesboro Grange will cater the supper which will cost $5 per person.

According to Nick Greer, community educator for Cooperative Extension, the public, including county and municipal officials, will be introduced to Extension’s many and varied programs. “Anyone may discuss how they feel those programs should be conducted,” he said.

At 6:45 p.m., plans for collaboration between Cooperative Extension and the University of Maine at Machias will be presented by a panel of Dr. Paul Nordstrom, president of UMM; Dr. Frederic Reynolds, past president of UMM; and Dr. Louis Bassano of Cooperative Extension.

The panel will comment on how the respective functions of UMM and Extension have combined professional resources to serve the Down East area, and how the two units currently are meeting the needs of communities and individuals.

At 7:15 p.m., the joint assembly will discuss “What has Washington County Extension Done Lately?”

While the familiar 4-H groups and the Senior Companion program will warrant a mention in the annual review of Extension programs, several less familiar programs will be explained.

Greer said Extension is the lead agency in the “Accessibility Coalition” group. Also, Extension is providing organizational support for the “Towns, Cities and Townships Association.”

In the Small Business Clinics program, Extension educators help people start and operate a business. The “Gardens” project features youths who learn to grow foods and distribute those products to people who are elderly or handicapped.

A special presentation will be made by participants in the “Voices From Our Future” program. The focus of the program is to raise students’ aspirations and develop their leadership skills. It involves a collaboration of students from seven high schools in the county.