FCS Ambassadors Newsletter Spring 2025 Vol. 36 No. 1
President's Message
Success: (as defined by Oxford Languages) is the accomplishment of an aim or purpose.
Success is best when it is shared. Together, we can achieve more than we ever could alone. When we support each other, stay focused on our goals and celebrate every milestone along the way, we are successful! Yes, one may be successful in individual tasks in life. But together, we do bigger things! Together, we see the results. I find it not only successful but an enjoyment to share with others; share with you. You make a difference and as a team, we make a difference in the lives we touch. Thank you for being a team member and thank you for sharing our success. I am so appreciative for you being supportive of me as president and I feel certain I can count on your continued support as I near the end of my term. As we journey through a new year, may you feel peace and joy throughout the upcoming days. Please continue to support and encourage others to also support CE-FCS Ambassadors.
Be safe, take care and stay strong!
Tara Brown
Communications Committee
The Communications committee is responsible for gathering information from the Ambassador officers and committee chairs every year and getting it to you, the members, in the form of newsletters, keeping Ambassadors informed. These particular items of information are shared: the upcoming slate of nominees, the financial report, any proposed amendments for the bylaws and information about the annual meeting. We appreciate everyone’s shared information for this newsletter. - Linda Lowber
Committee Reports
Public Relations Update
The Public Relations Committee is pleased to report the success of the 2024 Silent Auction fundraiser in support of the Ambassadors. A total of $4,269.00 was deposited on July 10, 2024, thanks to the generosity and efforts of counties and individuals. This total reflects the purchase of 58 donated items during the auction, along with 20 additional monetary donations made either in lieu of items or as outright contributions.
We are incredibly grateful for everyone who participated, whether by donating, bidding or supporting the event in other ways. Your contributions make a meaningful impact, and we thank you for helping make this fundraiser a success!
Megan Anderson
Annual Meeting Committee
County OSU Extension Office on May 20, 2025, at 11:00 a.m.
“FCS - We Are Pollinators!” Just as bees and butterflies go from plant to plant to pollinate and help with growth and production, we will be honoring our “Pollinators”, award winners who have created new ideas and programs to spread their knowledge to help nurture growth, inspire change and help pollinate ideas that will shape the future.
Our lunch will be a full salad and fruit bar with sandwiches. For questions, contact Trinity Brown at Pawnee County OSU Extension Office at (918) 762-2735 or email trinity.brown@okstate.edu.
Reservations and payments of $25 per person are due by April 30, 2025, to:
Oklahoma County OSU Extension Office
ATTN: Caitlyn Knudsen
2500 NE 63rd, Oklahoma City, OK 73111
Credit card payment:
Call (405) 713-1125
Archives
On The Shoulders of Giants
“If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.”
This quote has been attributed to Sir Isaac Newton since it appeared in a letter he wrote to fellow English scientist Robert Hooke dated 1675. I introduced Part 1 of wisdom from Recia Garcia in the Spring 2024 issue of the Ambassador newsletter. Recia was a charter member of our organization and a true giant among her peers. She passed away in June 2023 after a short illness. She was a true friend and mentor to many.
For those who knew her, her legacy lives on in the nuggets of wisdom she taught by example. For others, I’ve included the final installment of her guiding principles, in her own words.
- Support those who need it and adjust your support to fit the person/situation.
- Be Available!
- Remember to "Touch back" in longer term situations.
- Care deeply about our programs and our people. Find "your ways" to show it.
- Be your coworkers' #1 fan! When they succeed, we all succeed.
- Be generous
- Lift people UP in the presence of others, in a sincere way.
- Feature the strength of others. Look for and strive to bring out their best!
- Share broadly, resources or skills that you have to offer.
- Give credit to all whom it is due.
- Negotiate - Many things are negotiable, if we but respectfully inquire …
- Plan Ahead.
- Be well organized and from the very beginning, envision the end, and the in between.
- Save information where you can find it – others will look to you, when they can’t find theirs.
- Be yourself and accept others for who they are, as much as possible.
- Capitalize on your personal and professional strengths.
- Take others with you, to success, when you can. Achievement does not have to be a one-person platform.
- Remain humble as many people are capable of filling this position.
- Do the right thing and do it in the right way.
- If it’s not obvious, clarify the value of what you/we are doing.
- Operate in such a way that apologies are seldom needed. Save “I’m sorry” for truly appropriate times, otherwise the words lose their emotional value.
Recia, you will always be missed, and your legacy lives on with those you touched.
We thank you.
Brenda Sheik | Chair, Archive Committee
Treasurer’s Report
A big thank you to everyone who has contributed to FCS Ambassadors’ important work this year. Your support is more vital than ever as we continue our efforts in 2025. If you’re considering applying for a grant, a $25 donation is required. Starting at just $10, every contribution helps sustain and grow our mission. Don’t wait; make your impact today! Visit OSU Giving to donate and help us continue empowering our communities.
Financial report budget snapshot | December 2, 2024
Ambassador Report
Total Revenue: $268,810.38
Total Expenses: $17,346.28
Total Value Endowment: $1,339,868.68
Fitch Report
Total Revenue: $69,672.81
Total Expenses: $10,091.40
Total Value Endowment: $244,192.01
Jenni Klufa
Advisor and Ex-officio Message
Grants and Awards Committee
The CE-FCS Ambassador Grants and Awards Applications are due April 10, 2025. All grant and award recipients will be recognized at the CE-FCS Ambassador Awards Luncheon on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, at the Oklahoma County OSU Extension Conference Center.
The application process will look different this year. We are now using a grants management software, InfoReady. To access the InfoReady Portal, use Chrome of Edge (not Safari). For complete instruction, refer to Dr. Gina Peek’s email on 3/5/25 or email Kristy Spalding at Kristy.spalding@okstate.edu for instructions.
Kristy Spalding | Grants & Awards Committee Chair
