Joint Partnership for County and MSU

Iron County Iron County Extension P: 906-875-6642 E-mail: [email protected] 2 South 6th Street, Crystal Falls, F: 906-875- http://msue.msu.edu/Iron Michigan 49920-1400 6775 January 2007 Joint Partnership for County and MSU Through a partnership with the Commissioners, the County of Iron and Michigan State University Extension, the duties of both the County Extension Director for MSU and Director for the Iron County Economic Development Corporation are being fulfilled by Julie Melchiori who began her 4-H Shooting Sports duties on November 27, 2006. The County MSU Extension has had an active 4-H Shooting Sports Extension Director position in Iron County is one of 3 program for many years. Youth in more than 70 counties in the Upper Peninsula which focuses on Community and Economic Development which made the participate in a variety of shooting sports areas every year! partnership with the County Commissioners a natural Specific objectives for the 4-H Shooting Sports program fit. Prior to this appointment, Melchiori served as the Iron County Economic Development Corporation are: Director in Iron County. Melchiori will focus on 1. To encourage participation in environmental and building educational programming to assist local residents with community capacity building, outdoor education programs by exposing youth to entrepreneurship, small business management, shooting, hunting and related activities. financial management, and value added initiatives. Building community capacity to attract, grow and 2. To support youth in developing valuable conservation maintain small businesses in agriculture, natural and natural resources related knowledge, skills and resources, service, tourism and small manufacturing is part of the educational mission of Michigan State stewardship. University Extension. Melchiori was graduated from 3. To enhance development of self-concept, character Lake Superior State University with a bachelor’s and personal growth through safe, educational and socially degree in Business Management. She has a strong background in working with small businesses from acceptable involvement in shooting. startups to those which are established in the 4. To teach safe and responsible use of firearms and community and looking to grow. Melchiori is closely working with the communities within the county in archery equipment. successfully applying for downtown development 5. To strengthen families through participation in lifelong grants, business enhancement grant, and in building identities for the county and its communities. recreational activities. Contact Julie Melchiori at 906-875-0603 or e-mail 6. To provide hands-on learning experiences. [email protected]

In Iron County, the 4-H Shooting Sports program has been a 4-H tradition for over 30 years, with a brand new club starting up this Fall. Volunteers worked hard to build a safe shooting range and to secure funds to purchase new equipment by partnering with Wildlife Unlimited. Both youth and adults are enjoying the learning and recreational activities offered by hours of preparation and dedication of our shooting sports leaders. Contact, Kristina Carlson, 4-H Program Associate at (906) 875-0604

Michigan State University Extension helps people improve their lives through an educational process that applies knowledge to critical issues, needs and opportunities. Offices in counties across the state link the research of the land-grant university, MSU, to challenges facing communities. Citizens serving on county Extension councils regularly help select focus areas for programming. MSU Extension is funded jointly by county boards of commissioners, the state through Michigan State University and federally through the US Department of Agriculture.

Extension Council Meets New On average 550 newsletters are mailed each month Staffers to parents from the area. In an evaluation of last The Iron County MSU Extension Council participated year’s program, the following results were found: in a luncheon to meet new staff members Julie Melchiori CED/EDC Director and Office Assistant Lisa Masnova as When asked to indicate which of the following well as share the MSUE Issues Identification Priorities in ways, if any, the reader believed the newsletters Iron County as identified in the 2006 Fall Sessions. influenced their behavior with their baby, results The Council was updated on program offerings during showed the following: the luncheon by all county staff members. They learned Impact or Change % that a great deal of programming is completed in the local Talking to baby more: 68% schools and community facilities by MSU personnel. Providing more things for baby to feel, look at, listen to: 74% Responding more quickly when baby cried: 53% Welcome Newborns Less angry when baby is difficult: 69%

To help new parents learn about the resource Some of the comments from the surveys sent by the available to them and their babies, Iron County MSU parents are below Extension collaborates with other community partners “I really enjoy the “baby newsletter”. It has helped to offer the Welcome Newborn program which me and my husband be better parents. Thank you. includes the Welcome Newborn folder and a Parenting Newsletter series. The Welcome Newborn “I love receiving the newsletter with my oldest folder is delivered to new parents before discharge daughter who is now 3 ½. It is still very helpful with the new baby from the hospital by the hospital with my soon to be 1 year old. A person sometimes nurses. forgets some of the little things between children. Last year this program reached more than 400 Thank You”. families from Iron and Dickinson counties. The parents receive a folder with a flipchart with medical, “The newsletter was awesome! I couldn’t wait to nutrition and other pertinent other information. get the next issue. It was nice to get some confirmation that the things we do with our Parenting First Year newsletter is a 24 part newsletter daughter are right on track and it is nice to know series that is mailed directly to new parents. The what to look for in her next big adventure. Thank eight page series parenting series follows a child’s you.” monthly development during the first, second and third year. During the first year, the newsletter is sent The timely arrival of the newsletter in correlation to monthly. During the second and third year the my child’s age is very beneficial. It has created newsletter is mailed every other month. The awareness for me on certain milestones my child newsletter contains age specific information about a should reach and ideas to implement!” baby’s physical mental and emotional developmental, social skills, nutrition needs, and health and safety. Contact Beth Waitrovich, Extension Educator, at (906 774-0363 or Debra Nowak, Family Nutrition Program at (906) 875-0606

MSU is an affirmative-action, equal opportunity institution, Michigan State University Extension programs and materials are open to all without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital status, or family status. Issued in furtherance of MSU Extension work, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Thomas G. Coon, Extension Director, Michigan State University, E. Lansing, MI 48824