[CCMG-Announce] ACTION ALERT - Illinois budget crisis threatens local U of I Extension
Heap, Ava Marie
carmien2 at illinois.edu
Thu Dec 8 13:46:05 PST 2016
Master Gardeners,
As you're well-aware, the state of Illinois has been struggling fiscally. As University of Illinois Extension volunteers and key contributors to this community, your voices should be heard. Please review the following Action Alert created by the University of Illinois Extension Communication Director, Stephen Wald:
The University Ethics Office and Office of Government Relations approved this message and provided the following guidance:
It is a preferred practice to use your personal phone or email account when contacting your legislator. You may communicate before work hours, after work hours, or during any normally scheduled lunch or break using your work computer. Do not participate in this activity while at work if it will significantly interfere with your ability to perform your job effectively. This process does not represent a prohibited political activity, and it is not forbidden by the State Officials Employee Ethics Act.
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ACTION ALERT - URGENT
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS EXTENSION
Illinois budget crisis threatens local U of I Extension and 4-H programs
Request Governor Rauner and Comptroller Mendoza to release critical Fiscal Year 2017 funds
Take Action!
· Call or write today:
o Governor Bruce Rauner (full contact info<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.illinois.gov_gov_contactus_Pages_default.aspx&d=DQMFAw&c=8hUWFZcy2Z-Za5rBPlktOQ&r=TFjWXCD4_svudTsAdHtO89jwERWSMXka-K7VKrS8Ez4pCH0K3wT0J3zNC2jO_uNb&m=I862iv2IqgZAIbapZoCtfeBCerFPOPwy9QVbPDLl5Mo&s=nKCqtqHj4w9lYvcs200STgJK92k571yMtPyjCqJs_9Q&e=>)
§ Phone: 217-782-0244
o Comptroller Susana Mendoza (full contact info<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__illinoiscomptroller.gov_contact_our-2Dmailing-2Daddresses-2Dand-2Dphone-2Dnumbers_&d=DQMFAw&c=8hUWFZcy2Z-Za5rBPlktOQ&r=TFjWXCD4_svudTsAdHtO89jwERWSMXka-K7VKrS8Ez4pCH0K3wT0J3zNC2jO_uNb&m=I862iv2IqgZAIbapZoCtfeBCerFPOPwy9QVbPDLl5Mo&s=u-qTPDdL0W1BVzHyaUqlWKIhHTvX4fgy8Cp6I65aqlg&e=>)
§ Phone: 217-782-6000
· Request release of Fiscal Year 2017 funding for University of Illinois Extension
· Contact your state legislators (www.ilga.gov<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.ilga.gov&d=DQMFAw&c=8hUWFZcy2Z-Za5rBPlktOQ&r=TFjWXCD4_svudTsAdHtO89jwERWSMXka-K7VKrS8Ez4pCH0K3wT0J3zNC2jO_uNb&m=I862iv2IqgZAIbapZoCtfeBCerFPOPwy9QVbPDLl5Mo&s=nWgZJn7jq_ZOSum1SK8jIXRNeJkQO7yBdxkJD2cVFSk&e=> or lookup<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.elections.il.gov_districtlocator_addressfinder.aspx&d=DQMFAw&c=8hUWFZcy2Z-Za5rBPlktOQ&r=TFjWXCD4_svudTsAdHtO89jwERWSMXka-K7VKrS8Ez4pCH0K3wT0J3zNC2jO_uNb&m=I862iv2IqgZAIbapZoCtfeBCerFPOPwy9QVbPDLl5Mo&s=hgUxs8Jdi7lNZ5Fl9zfYhGimaQ-KOIjs8nBNyGHzSb0&e=>) and county board members and ask for their assistance.
Share your story about how Extension and 4-H programs are important to you and your community.
Your calls and letters make a difference! Thank you.
Background
Last week, the Illinois Governor's Office of Management and Budget placed an indefinite hold on $10 million in Extension funding in the Illinois Department of Agriculture budget - so-called County Board Matching funds.
This statutory pass-through fund (County Cooperative Extension Law, 505 ILCS 45/1 et. seq.) is especially vital to Extension because it matches local and county funding for Extension.
At risk are vital Extension programs serving urban and rural youth, families, older adults, low-income families, farmers, nonprofits, and entrepreneurs.
Programs at risk include 4-H, master gardeners, nutrition education, commercial agriculture, small farms/local foods, community development, and more.
Additional information
University of Illinois Extension and 4-H make a difference for Illinois
· Extension programs promote the health and well-being of individuals, families, and communities statewide through locally tailored programs and services in every county
· Extension makes 1.5 million educational contacts each year across the state
· 4-H reaches 1 in 14 youth in Illinois: nearly 200,000 youth/year
· Over 600,000 low income adults and children across Illinois learn essential skills that contribute to improved nutrition and health
· Over 3,200 volunteer master gardeners and master naturalists improved their communities by providing 630 hours of community service every day in 2015
· Extension's network of educators helps fulfill our state university's land grant mission to benefit the economy, environment, and people of Illinois.
Extension invests in Illinois's future
* 4-H provides leadership, workforce preparation, STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math), environment, and health programming, reaching nearly 200,000 urban and rural youth each year. 33% of 4-H participants are minority.
* Agriculture programs serving commercial and small farmers promote safe, abundant, profitable, and sustainable food production.
* Nutrition and family programs address obesity, diabetes, brain health, and aging to reach over 600,000 family members each year
* Consumer economics and community development programs build financial literacy and resilience for Illinois families and strong, vibrant communities.
Extension is lean and streamlined and has already absorbed funding cuts and restructured operations.
· Last year (FY16) Extension received zero county board matching funds.
· In FY2010, Extension reduced from 102 to 27 administrative units and eliminated over 200 positions
· Extension is budgeted to receive full funding by the governor and legislature in FY17
State matching funds are a critical component of Extension's local/state/federal cooperative funding model. Cuts to state matching funds imperil local and federal funding, magnifying the impact of cuts.
Thank you for supporting University of Illinois Extension and 4-H in your community.
extension.illinois.edu
[cid:image002.jpg at 01D2516A.2EA42BE0]Ava Heap
Program Coordinator, Horticulture
University of Illinois Extension, Unit 13
Champaign County
801 N. Country Fair Drive, Suite D
Champaign, IL 61821
carmien2 at illinois.edu<mailto:carmien2 at illinois.edu>
217-333-7672
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