Maine Support Staffers Unite!

Introduction

In 1997, support staff at the University of Maine Cooperative Extension (UMCE) felt a need to formally unite. They had an overwhelming presence in their organization but no voice.

Eight members volunteered to form the Extension Support Staff Committee (EssC), with the hope of bringing a unified voice to the organization, not only to empower support staff but also to bring a meaningful voice to the organization as a whole.

EssC first reached out to UMCE administration, seeking recognition and support. We were warmly received and unanimously encouraged to challenge others and ourselves. We then announced our charge to the organization and asked for continuing feedback. Our initial goals were:

• To encourage, support, and facilitate communication among support staff as well as the rest of the organization; and
• To develop a structure by which support staff could contribute to both their own professional improvement and the quality of Cooperative Extension, particularly as it relates to programming.

Currently, EssC members volunteer to serve 2- or 3-year terms, and we come from across the state in an effort to remain as diverse as possible. Maine occupies nearly half of New England, with 33,215 square miles and 228 miles of coastline. There are 16 county Extension offices and 15 Extension units at the flagship campus in Orono.

At the 1996 biannual Extension Support Staff Conference, a "graffiti wall" had been used to anonymously collect support staff's ideas, issues, and concerns. EssC examined the "wall" to determine what issues we should tackle first. Two recurring concerns were apparent:

• The relationship between support staff and their supervisors, and
• The need to be recognized for the work they do.

EssC's first step in addressing these issues led to the development of the Extension Support Staff Award of Excellence and the Extension Supervisory Award of Excellence.

Extension Support Staff Award of Excellence and the Extension Supervisory Award of Excellence

EssC put together a proposal that included a monetary bonus for the support staff award and professional improvement monies for both awards. UMCE administration approved the program unanimously and offered to pay for the professional improvement part of the awards. We established a gift account for the bonus, and then donations and fundraising monies started rolling in. We recently completed our second annual recognition awards program.

To solicit nominations, we mail flyers in the fall to all Extension employees and volunteers. Nominators are required to submit at least three letters of recommendation for each nomination. EssC follows strict awards criteria, and we have a difficult task in selecting a single recipient for each award. However, we publicly recognize all completed nominations and announce them to the organization.

Internal Web Site for Support Staff

Another project we are equally proud of is the Web site for Extension support staffers developed for the organization's internal Web site. The frequently updated support staff Web site contains:

• A staff directory;
• Professional improvement opportunities;
• EssC committee information;
• Award criteria and information;
• Pictures;
• Fundraising opportunities;
• A "words of encouragement" section;
• An organizational support section, including campus room reservation availability, maps, procedural information, and human resources information;
• Evaluation forms, contact names, and numbers; and
• Links to other helpful information.

A recent survey shows the support staff pages are "hit" quite frequently by a diverse population of employees.

EssC Promotion

EssC has done work to promote itself, as well. We have developed displays for various Extension meetings, written articles for campus and Extension newsletters, and worked with the campus Women's Resource Center.

Currently, we are addressing grant writing, supervisory issues and work place concerns, and planning a workshop on "Enhancing the Nature of Your Workplace" for the Extension organizational meeting in November 2000.

Conclusion

UMCE support staffers are becoming more involved in their organization. We are becoming members of search committees, planning committees, program committees, and the like. Our opinions are being valued. Our voices are being heard. After all, we are part of the same team--Cooperative Extension.

If you would like more information regarding Maine's EssC, feel free to email us at <essc@umext.maine.edu>.