Putnam County Record

Multi-Unit Council names officers

OGLESBY — Officers were elected at the University of Illinois Extension Multi-County Unit Council meeting on Sept. 21. The council provides a direct connection with the residents of the four-county service area, including Bureau, LaSalle, Marshall and Putnam counties.

Chris Dvorak of Ottawa was elected to the president/chairman position; Steve Wilson of McNabb was elected to the vice president position; Brandy Sandberg of McNabb was elected to the financial reporter position; and Laurie Delgado of DePue was elected to the secretary position.

A key purpose of the council is to connect local people to needed educational services and resources. Dvorak, regional superintendent, regional office of education, LaSalle, Marshall and Putnam, has returned to the council for another term of volunteer service. He invites calls to council members.

“We are fortunate to have our local Extension office providing such valuable services. Jill Guynn and University of Illinois Extension staff lead important educational programs that improve our community," Dvorak said. "Please contact any of our council members to further discuss offerings or to provide ideas for future programming. We look forward to best serving your needs.”

Jill Guynn, county Extension director, welcomed the new officers and members to the start of the program year.

“Council members are vital volunteers that connect the services of University of Illinois Extension and the country’s land-grant education system to the people where they live and work. Local issues, needs and concerns are addressed through Extension’s educational programs for youth and adults. Programs are unbiased and research-based and cover broad program areas including youth development and the 4-H program, agriculture and natural resources, nutrition, family and consumer sciences, community and economic development and much more.”

The Extension council is authorized by the University of Illinois Board of Trustees, in accordance with state law, to be actively involved in the operation of University of Illinois Extension. Extension councils cooperate with Extension staff in planning, promoting, developing, implementing, evaluating, and financing an Extension program designed to meet the needs and interests of the local area served.

Multi-County Unit Council members include Francis Morse of Tiskilwa, Shelly Miller of Princeton, Hugo Heredia of Spring Valley, Laurie Delgado of DePue, Lynne Weber of Princeton, Monico Nunez of Princeton, Teri Rossman of LaSalle, Steve Tuftie of Ottawa, David Torres of Oglesby, Sandra Woest of Oglesby, Chris Dvorak of Ottawa, Mike Kasap of LaSalle, John Ehrhardt of Wenona, Dennis Bogner of Sparland, Steve Reichman of Toluca, Luke Holly of Granville, Steve Wilson of McNabb and Brandy Sandberg of McNabb.

For more information, call University of Illinois Extension, Bureau-LaSalle-Marshall-Putnam Unit, at 815-224-0889.