September 14, 2008
June 23, 2008
Technology Tools--Get Acquainted Bingo
Mixer used at AAFCS presentation on Technology Tools to Improve Program Effectiveness,
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 6/21/2008.
June 12, 2008
Financial Security for All Technology Tools
American Associaton for Family Consumer Sciences (AAFCS) 2008 Annual Meeting,
Milwaukee, slide presentation June 18, 2008
Download file
April 29, 2008
National Financial Literacy Challenge
Teachers! Help your students compete for a $2,500 scholarship for use at the post-secondary institution of their choice. Win a $1,000 for your school. Find out about an initiative recommended by the President’s Advisory Council on Financial Literacy and sponsored by the U.S. Department of the Treasury. The National Financial Literacy Challenge will measure the financial literacy of America’s high school students through a 35-question online test. Students will compete by taking the test April 28 through May 16.
For prize information, click on:
Download file
For rules information go to http://flc.treas.gov/teacher
November 29, 2007
Common $ense: A Personal Finance Conference
November 8, 2007, Governor Jim Douglas welcomed educators and parents attending the 3rd annual Jumpstart conference for personal finance education. 
Vermont State Treasurer, Jeb Spaulding, introduced Lisa Helme, the new Director of Financial Literacy and Communications for the Treasurer's office. 
Since arriving in Vermont, Lisa has worked closely with the VT Jumpstart Coalition members to assess the needs for personal finance information which the VT State Treasurer's office could provide. She re-designed the office's website at http://www.vermonttreasurer.gov/
Lisa told the conference participants "common sense" depends on one's personal perspective which is shaped by the information and experience one has at a particular time. That is why it is so important especially for youth to have quality information and skilled coaching in learning to make good choices with their personal finances.
VT Jumpstart Coalition members reflect on the conference with keynote speaker Sally Taylor
(sitting, second from picture left)
Poster
Download file
Registration Brochure
Download file
October 16, 2007
VT AAFCS~~Moving Beyond Poverty: Curriculum
Workshop Feedback and Agenda for The Buck Stops Here
Participant rating for workshop (10 evaluations)
Overall on a 4 point scale: 3
Trainers 3.6
Curriculum 3.6
Comments: The most helpful thing I learned from the workshop today,
Learning about the materials and support available was very helpful.
Financial Fair idea for students (2 comments)
Networking with other teachers
Information on new curriculum and new websites to visit
Obtained tools and activities for my teacher colleagues
Hearing what others do
Good Interaction
Resources for teaching financial literacy (2 comments)
Comments: How likely are you to offer a community fair for your students?
I'm thinking of discussing this with a group in our school that might make this work.
I would love to have a fair with our students.
Possibility
Not sure, but excellent idea for teaching financial literacy
Very likely! Great idea!!
I will think about it. I would prefer to work withi another school.
I will promote the idea with staff
It is a possibility!
Agenda for the VTAFCS Fall Conference October 18, 2007 conference in this pdf file.Download file
The Buck Stops Here: The Cliff Notes for Financial Literacy
Judy Branch, UVM Extension Specialist
Susi Taylor, Director of Financial Literacy: The Direct Foundation
Learn how to adapt the NEFE High School Financial Planning Program (HSFPP) curriculum and student guides to middle school students. Explore Internet, CD and community resources for helping middle school students learn to manage (plan spending, saving, sharing and earning) their money. In the afternoon, learn how to energize your community to help teach financial education to middle school age youth, share what is working and learn about other programs and activities available to you.
October 12, 2007
eXtension exhibit at NEAFCS
Terry Meisenbach, Communications & Marketing Leader, eXtension and Judy Branch, University of Vermont Associate Professor and Leader of Youth Financial Literacy sub-group for Financial Security for All CoP (community of practice) staff the eXtension exhibit at the National Extension Association for Family Consumer Sciences (NEAFCS)
October 8, 2007
NEAFCS Annual Conference in St. Paul, MN
NEWS RELEASE: October 8, 2007
University of Vermont Extension Specialists programming in Family Consumer Sciences, Judy Branch, Dianne Lamb, Diane Mincher, and Richard A. LeVitre, Associate Director for Faculty Support recently attended the seventy-second Annual Session of the National Extension Association of Family & Consumer Sciences (NEAFCS) held in St. Paul, Minnesota. 
More than 800 Extension Educators were in attendance at the Conference representing the 50 States and American Samoa. Extension Educators were honored for their outstanding program accomplishments.
The overall theme of the Annual Session was Bridging Scholarship & Entrepreneurship. The Annual Session focused on family and consumer science issues relevant to the 21st century need for extension educators to bring entrepreneurial vision and practicality to the profession. With its setting alongside the great Mississippi River and as one of the nation’s hubs of entrepreneurial activity, St. Paul was both metaphorically and literally the ideal setting to explore the links between entrepreneurship and scholarship while learning about new technologies, discovering population and cultural changes affecting extension programming and discussing family issues on local, state and national levels.
Keynote addresses included acclaimed New York journalist and author David Bornstein on How to Change the World: Social Entrepreneurs and the Power of New Ideas. Internationally-renowned evaluator, Dr. Michael Quinn Patton of St. Paul, addressed the group on Deepening Extension’s Knowledge Base: Best Practices and High Quality Lessons Learned. Underscoring the association’s commitment to diversity, the closing keynote address was Teaching Culture through Laughter, presented by Tou Ger Xiong of Minneapolis.
Extension Educators were able to broaden their knowledge, professionally and personally, through more than 70 educational seminars, exhibits and 48 Showcase of Excellence Displays. 
Vermont Extension Specialist, Diane Mincher presented an educational seminar, Food, Culture, and Reading Aftershool. Participants learned about the National 4-H CCS designed nutrition education program for youth in grades four to six.
Judy Branch, University of Vermont Extension Associate Professor accepted a national communication award for a team video that highlighted cooperative efforts of the Jumpstart Coalition in education and public policy to achieve greater youth financial literacy. 
NEAFCS honored Will Mikell, producer of Across the Fence (ATF), Keith Silva, ATF Senior Videographer, Gregg Mousley, Vermont Jumpstart Coalition President and Professor Branch for creating the youth financial literacy video that promotes the High School Financial Planning Program the National Endowment for Financial Education provides without charge to teachers, home-school parents and human service educators for financial education.
During the regional meetings, Branch also received a first place communication award in NEAFCS Eastern Region for a radio spot that discussed credit card savvy. How to get information from a VT Jumpstart Coalition Conference for teachers and parents as well as from local Extension offices closed the public service announcement.
University of Vermont Extension Associate Professor, Diane Mincher was honored by receiving a Continued Excellence NEAFCS Award while participating at the Annual Session. 
Professor Mincher continues to be proactive in developing very successful nationally recognized nutrition and literacy programs such as Food, Fun, and Reading and Growing Connections, a garden-enhanced nutrition education program. 
Ms. Mincher also won a first place Regional award for Food, Culture and Reading, a nutrition education program for a pre-school to grade two that uses picture books to learn about food and different cultures. Professor Mincher’s varied programming efforts have improved the quality of life for Vermonters.
Dianne Lamb, University of Vermont Extension Associate Professor, presented a Showcase of Excellence (poster session) entitled, Healthful Eating Self-Test: A Tool for Energizing Nutrition Programs. This presentation represented the work of UVM Extension Professors, Linda Berlin, Diane Mincher, M. Dale Steen, and Dianne Lamb. During the NEAFCS Eastern Regional Meeting (New England, NY, NJ, PA, DE, DC, MD, and WV). Participants are able to download this educational material to help their participants analyze their eating plans.
[Dianne Lamb with Eastern Regional Director, Louise Kirkland]
Professor Lamb was elected to NEAFCS National Nominating Committee, which will be responsible for recruiting candidates to run for regional and national offices at the annual session that will be held in Indianapolis, Indiana in September 2008. Lamb also served as a voting delegate from Vermont at the NEAFCS national business meeting.
Participants enjoyed the upper midwestern hospitality of St. Paul during the Friendship and Welcome Event held at the Minnesota Museum of Science. 
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