Condolences to Nann Armstrong

For Your Information stated today that Nann Armstrong's husband died December 29th, 2010. Memorials can be sent to Wheatland Presbyterian Church, 11839 S. Heggs Rd, Plainfield, IL 60544,  or to the Alzheimer's Association, P. O. Box 96011, Washington DC 20090-6011.Nann last served as Extension Unit Leader in Kendall County. If you would like her home address, send an e-mail to ieafcslife@gmail.com.

Our thoughts are with you, Nann!

Illinois for Illinois

Here is a copy of a newsletter that Dean Hauser has sent out. He is hoping to use this and future issues to improve communication between the College of ACES and stakeholders. We are forwarding it because those of you who don't use the University of Illinois e-mail have likely not seen it.

March 2011 Alumni and friends: A few months ago, I visited with our College of ACES Alumni Association Board members about the current financial situation in our college.   Following my presentation, a Board member asked a couple of excellent questions.  First, why must we (the Board members) come to campus to learn about these very important matters?  And second, why are we not informing others well beyond the few people sitting in this room?  In response to these questions, this communication represents the first in a series of updates to help keep our ACES friends and alumni up to speed on some of the most critical issues facing the College.   My goal is to make each update short, clear, and to the point, encouraging further discussions around questions or thoughts you might have.  I would like to begin this "Illinois for Illinois" series by focusing on a critically important change in our "base" funds.  That is, those funds provided by the State of Illinois and by the student.   These base funds are used mostly to pay our faculty and staff, and to cover much of our overhead.  They provide the basic infrastructure for all of our teaching, research, and service.  While we rely tremendously on other types of support - such as federal grants and contracts for research, corporate support, gifts from friends and alumni, and other sources - our foundation is based on state appropriations and student tuition.  Nine years ago, our campus received about $494 million of direct annual base support.  The annualized growth since then has been over 5 percent per year, resulting in about $785 million of support this year.  In other words, and perhaps to the surprise of many, our average annual growth in base funds for our campus has been good over the past decade. The big change has been in the composition of those funds.   Since 2001-02, state support to our campus has fallen at about 3 percent per year, while tuition revenue has increased by about 14 percent per year.  In 2001-02, state support comprised approximately two-thirds of the base funds.  Today, it is less than one-third.  The decline in state support has been offset with significant increases in tuition, raising obvious issues about affordability and access for students.   It also raises issues about how non-tuition related activities are funded. The College of ACES is committed to the land-grant missions of teaching, research, and extension.   Providing our students with a first-class education is our foremost responsibility.  It is the fundamental reason for our existence.  But, we are much more than a teaching college.  Our extension and outreach programs serve the state, the nation, and the world.  Our research is second to none.  And all of these missions - whether it involves teaching, research, extension, or any other service - are addressed by faculty and staff whose pay checks are increasingly covered by student tuition. The change in funding, away from the state and towards the student, raises basic questions about activities beyond the classroom.   For example, how much of our extension program, if any, should be funded by students?  What about research?  Does the State of Illinois want to continue to provide support for research and outreach activities that serve the state?   If so, how should the state and the university set those priorities and the attendant funding levels?  These and many other issues have surfaced prominently during the past few years.  Given the land-grant tradition of our College, what we look like 15 years from now very much depends on how we answer these questions today. In closing, I would like to encourage the readers of this series to feel free to get back to me with questions, thoughts, and ideas for future updates.   The next issue will be on the restructuring of University of Illinois Extension. Take care, Robert Hauser Dean, College of ACES Join Illinois Connection today! Strengthen your support of the College of ACES and the University of Illinois by joining Illinois Connection, a grassroots advocacy network for the University of Illinois. Through this initiative, alumni, students, faculty, and friends serve as advocates for the University to ensure support from the state and federal government. To learn more about Illinois Connection, visit  www.ic.uillinois.edu.

The University of Illinois and the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences (ACES) serve Illinois and its citizens in many different ways, through many different stakeholder partnerships.  Through these periodic communications, College of ACES Dean Robert "Bob" Hauser hopes to convey the importance and mutual value of these interdependent relationships.   Your feedback will be much appreciated.

College of
Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences (ACES)

227 Mumford Hall, MC-710
1301 W. Gregory Drive

Urbana, IL 61801

Consider Keeping Life Insurance

Lone Canada Goose

By Anne Tergesen for The Wall Street Journal 

Changes in estate taxes have prompted some families to consider dropping their life insurance. But for many, there are better options than allowing coverage to lapse.

In recent years, the amount an individual can shelter from the estate tax has risen steadily, from $675,000 in 2001 to $5 million in 2011 and 2012. The trend is causing families with estates below that figure to re-examine the need for life insurance obtained to help heirs cover the tax.

Faced with continuing premium payments, "more of our clients are asking themselves whether to keep the insurance," says Richard Connolly, an insurance agent at Ward & Connolly in Columbus, Ohio.

The answers are tied to your health, financial goals and the type of policy you have. To start, "if your health isn't as good as it was when you purchased the policy, chances are the economics of maintaining the policy are attractive," says Mr. Connolly. To find out, ask the insurer to project the total premium payment required to keep the policy in-force to various ages, such as your life expectancy and age 90. That way, you can calculate the return your heirs will receive at various points in time on the premiums you will have paid.

Moreover, while it may no longer be needed to cover an estate-tax liability, the policy may help solve other problems. Mr. Connolly points to clients -- a couple, ages 85 and 90 -- who have spent more of their savings than anticipated. "At this point, their $750,000 life-insurance policy will fund the inheritance they want their children to receive," he says.

Due to uncertainty about the future of the estate-tax exemption, maintaining coverage also could be a smart tax move for people who might get caught if the individual estate-tax exemption drops back to $1 million in 2013, as it's currently scheduled to do.

If you're too cash strapped to continue paying premiums, some recommend asking your heirs to cover all or a portion of the costs. (As long as the policy is owned by a trust for their benefit, there are ways to do this with no gift-tax consequences.)

There also are ways to restructure coverage to make premiums more affordable. For example, if you own whole or universal life insurance, you can ask the insurer to reduce the death benefit to a level at which you can afford to make payments, says Gary Cotter, a certified financial planner at Cotter Financial in Sun City Center, Fla. Or, you can keep the same death benefit, but shorten the period for which the coverage will be in force.

Those who need cash may be able to surrender a policy to the insurer for a lump sum. If you have a relatively short life expectancy, you may be able to sell your policy for a higher amount in a so-called life settlement transaction. With these, an investor buys a stranger's life-insurance policy for a lump sum and continues to pay the premiums until the policyholder dies to collect the death benefit.

A sale or surrender has tax consequences, so consult an adviser. Be aware, too, that if your life-insurance policy is held in a trust for your heirs, the money won't be available to you.

But your heirs can give you up to $13,000 a year tax-free.

Note: This is from the NARFE newsletter and provides a lot of food for thought.

Welcome Spring!

Hope everyone enjoyed the first day of spring. It was certainly nice in southern Illinois.

Here is a recipe from the Living Well Cookbook--Michigan. When the asparagus is ready, you may want to try it.

Roasted Asparagus with Parmesan Cheese
1    pound asparagus, trimmed
1    tablespoon olive oil
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Place the asparagus in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet. Drizzle with the olive oil.Sprinkle with the salt and pepper. Roll the asparagus spears to lightly coat. Roast medium-thick spears for 15 minutes or thin spears for 10 minutes, or until tender, testing with a fork to determine doneness. Remove from the oven and sprinkle with the cheese. Return to the oven and bake until the cheese melts. Serve hot.

Note: The asparagus may be seasoned with salt-free herb blends.

Nutrition content per serving: Calories 81, Protein 5g, Carbohydrates 5g, Total fat 5g, Cholesterol 6 mg., Fiber 2g, Sodium 250 mg., Sugar 2g, Calories from fat equals 56%.

Remember that copies of the cookbook are still available.Learn more at ieafcslife@gmail.com.

Obituary for Oma Jones

FACTS
Oma was educated at Leigh School in Johnston City, Illinois and graduated from Johnston City Township High School in 1950. She attended Southern Illinois University and graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in 1953. In 1978, she earned a Master's degree from the College of Education - SIU and a Doctor of Philosophy in Academic Administration College of Higher Education from SIU. 

She was employed in the Extension Service through the United States Department of Agriculture through the University of Illinois in Washington County for 2 years and Jefferson County for 32 years and retired in 1988. 

Oma was a member of Wesley United Methodist Church. Membership in organizations: American Association of Family & Consumer Sciences, National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association, Epsilon Sigma Phi, Kappa Omicron Nu, Military Officer's Association of America, American Association of Retired Person, Mt. Vernon Chapter, VFW Ladies Auxiliary #1376, American Legion Auxiliary #141, Jefferson County Home and Community Education, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, Mt. Vernon Women of the Moose, Chapter 1624, Mt. Vernon Order of Eastern Star Chapter #233.

ABOUT OUR BELOVED

Oma W. Dorris Jones, 79, of Mt. Vernon, Illinois passed away at 11:45 P.M. on Tuesday, March 15, 2011 at St. Mary’s Good Samaritan Hospital in Mt. Vernon, Illinois. 

Mrs. Jones was born on Sunday, January 10, 1932 in Williamson County near Johnston City, Illinois the daughter of the late Omar William and Annie Lee (Becker) Dorris. She married Dewey Oscar Jones on July 2, 1954 in Mt. Vernon, Illinois and he preceded her in death on October 1, 1999. 

Surviving family members include her 2 sons: Timothy “Tim” Dewey Jones and wife Suzanne of Murray, Utah and Thomas “Tom” Dewey Jones and wife Kay of Wellington, Florida; daughter: Deborah “Deb” Katherine Jones of Plymouth, Michigan; “Adopted Daughter”: Marsha Morlan of Mt. Vernon, Illinois; 5 sisters: Helen Lee Dorris of San Diego, California, Alice Marie Wiggins and husband Edward of DeKalb, illinois, Wanda Lou Walters and husband James of Muncie, Indiana, Janice Joann Goodspeed of Denver, Colorado and Georgia Sue Hertzel and husband Kenneth of Salem, Oregon; 5 grandchildren: Stephanie Ann Goins and husband Andy of Taylor, Michigan, Ssgt. Jeremy Thomas Jones, USMC, and wife Bernice of Jacksonville, NC, Mary Celeste Bray and husband Terry of St. Charles, Missouri, Matthew Raymond Figlewicz of Plymouth, Michigan and Kyle Thomas Jones of Wellington, Florida; 11 great grandchildren: Zachery David and Alexis Michelle Goins, Bethany Michelle, Genavieve Elizabeth, Izabella Saige and Nathaniel Dewey Jones, Chad Andruw Shreves and Skylar Dawn Evans, Keegan and Anna Bray and Nick Phillippe; several nieces, nephews and cousins also survive. 

Her parents, three brothers: Harold Lewis Dorris, Earl Edward Dorris and Elwin Leon Dorris, one son-in-law: Raymond Figlewicz, one sister-in-law and one brother-in-law preceded her in death.  

ARRANGEMENTS:
In honor of her wishes, she is to be donated to SIU - Carbondale for advancement of medical science and research. Services will be held at a later date. Inurnment will be at Mt. Vernon Memorial Gardens in Woodlawn, Illinois at a later date. For those who wish, memorials may be given to the Oma D. Jones Trust for the Jefferson County Association from Home & Community Education Past Presidents Scholarship and will be accepted at the funeral home or may be mailed to Hughey Funeral Home, P.O. Box 721, Mt. Vernon, Illinois 62864.

A Recipe With Some Green for St. Patrick's Day

Spinach-Orange Salad

(4 servings, about 1 cup each)

• 4 cups spinach (torn-into-pieces)
• 2 medium oranges, sectioned
• 2/3 cup sliced fresh mushrooms
• 1/2 cup sliced red onion (optional)
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 2 tablespoons vinegar
• 1/4 cup orange juice
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper

1. Place spinach in bowl. Add orange sections, mushrooms, and onion. Toss lightly to mix.
    
2. Mix oil, vinegar, orange juice, ginger, and pepper well. Pour over spinach mixture. Toss to mix.
    
3. Chill.

Per Serving:
Calories: 110
Total fat: 7 grams
Saturated fat: 1 gram
Cholesterol: 0 milligrams
Sodium: 25 milligrams

Source: Using the Food Guide Pyramid: A Resource for Nutrition Educators, U.S. Dept. of Agriculture/Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services/Center For Nutrition Policy and Promotion.

Hope everyone has a great day!

Sad News

Just heard that Oma Jones, former Jefferson County Extension Adviser, died on Tuesday. Will share more information as it is available.

Extension Moving to Three Regions

It seems that U of I Extension will be moving to three regions sometime this year. The explanation we have heard is that there will be Cook County and a small group of collar counties. The rest of the state will be divided East and West from far north to far south.

Springfield is to be the Regional Office for the west side, and it is not yet decided for sure where the one for the east side will be.

Changes in Civil Service staffing (community workers, program coordinators, and secretaries) are being discussed now and will take effect as soon after July 1st as possible depending on bumping scenarios, etc. Times are still tough!

Living Well--More Than a Cookbook

Living Well--More Than a Cookbook was developed by National Extension Association of Family and Consumer Science members from across the country.

It features favorite recipes of members from every state. Delicious ideas for every thing from appetizers to zucchini that represent all of the food groups are included.

The book also has tips on financial management, home safety, living green, and much more. It is a wonderful resource from professionals in the field!

Retail price for this hardbound book is $29.95, but you can purchase it for $25.00 plus shipping. It is an ideal gift for a wedding, birthday, or any other special occasion. To order one or more copies please contact us at ieafcslife@gmail.com.

Carol Schlitt is Keeping Busy!

Lighthouse in Maine

Carol Schlitt has started her own business, "Safe and Savory Solutions, Inc."  She is doing food safety and food preservation lessons and food demonstrations on a contract basis. She is involved in some other areas of food safety as well. Ask her about it when you see her! She is keeping busy in her retirement....and loving it!

Notes from JCEP

About 60 people attended the JCEP Meeting in Springfield this week. The group included a number of retirees. There are also several individuals who will be retiring and/or leaving by June 30th. Times are tough for Extension and everyone else with all the budget uncertainties.

Pam Weber did not have a lot of good news from the state legislature, but it is encouraging that Extension is still in the budget. Some groups have had their funds completely cut. Any contacts with legislators on behalf of Extension would be appreciated. There are a lot of new ones who need to be told about the excellent work that is done.

One news item is that Extension is moving out of the building on the State Fairgrounds sometime this summer. The Center will close. It is not yet known where the county office will be located.

Another is that there will be a retirement celebration for Dr. Jim Oliver on April 1st. Contact Susan Taylor at setaylor@illinois.edu for details.

Amy Griswold has had knee surgery recently, and she is recuperating. Hope you are doing better every day, Amy.

It was good to see many old friends and co-workers.

Fiber seems to be linked to a reduced risk of disease in people older than 50

Here is another note from NARFE.

A study analyzed medical and food consumption data on 388,122 adults older than 50. In a nine-year span, 31,456 of them died. People who routinely consumed the most fiber--an average of 24 grams daily for men, 26 for women, were 22 percent less likely to have died in this time period than were those whose diets included the least amount of fiber.

Something to think about!

JCEP spring meeting is this week in Springfield. We'll try to have an update on current events next week.

Send any news you are willing to share to ieafcslife@gmail.com.