Editor's Page

Emerging Theme

One of the questions I'm asked most frequently is how the special section theme is determined for each issue of the Journal. The short answer is-it emerges. Manuscripts on an amazingly wide variety of topics are submitted for review. Underlying that variety, however, is the "deep structure" of Extension work that connects us, in spite of differences in programs and approaches, from state to state and county to county. To the extent the Journal reflects what Extension faculty are about, it seems inevitable that submitted articles would cluster around particular Extension initiatives, processes, research, or teaching concerns. And, indeed they do.

This issue features a special section on approaches to economic development. Economic development has, of course, been an Extension initiative in many states for the past several years. The four special section articles describe how Extension education is having an impact on economic development in Oklahoma forestry, Ohio aquaculture, Missouri textiles, and California food marketing. They represent county, region, and statewide efforts; completed, ongoing programs and one in process. More importantly, these articles offer insights and applications to our larger concerns about seizing opportunities, documenting impacts, cooperating with industry, and redirecting Extension resources.

While the Journal's feature articles reflect Extension today, those published in the To the Point section are often a precursor of its future. We ask Extension readers to engage in dialogue about significant problems, issues, and trends confronting the organization. How these matters are dealt with will shape Extension for years to come.

Diversity in personnel, programming, and audiences is one of those significant issues that merits discussion in the To the Point section and throughout Extension. The rhetoric of diversity has swept the campuses and corporations of this country. The question is whether that rhetoric will become reality. In the lead To the Point article, Curtis Gear, co-chair of the Extension Task Force on Diversity, outlines the substance of Extension efforts to diversify and argues much more needs to be done. Leodrey Williams responds by underscoring the need for involvement and commitment at all levels and from all parts of Extension, including cooperation among 1890 and 1862 institutions. In a second response, Rachel Tompkins maintains that institutional plans and leadership aren't enough-personal responsibility for changing attitudes and behavior is required. Perhaps we'll see the signs of having moved from rhetoric to action when (and if) diversity emerges as a special section theme for a future issue of the Journal.

Two members of the Journal editorial team have recently retired from Extension. We want to thank Editorial Committee member Maria Russell, of Connecticut, for her outstanding service as a reviewer, and Martha Bullock Lamberts from Washington State, for her contribution as a Tools of the Trade editor. We also welcome Roger Rennekamp of Kentucky as the newest member of the Editorial Committee.

EMR