{"id":822,"date":"2021-06-10T22:10:12","date_gmt":"2021-06-10T22:10:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.oregonstate.edu\/mgcoordinators\/?p=822"},"modified":"2021-06-10T22:15:52","modified_gmt":"2021-06-10T22:15:52","slug":"extension-operations-update","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.oregonstate.edu\/mgcoordinators\/2021\/06\/10\/extension-operations-update\/","title":{"rendered":"Extension Operations Update"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>After a very long year, we are starting to see an easing of COVID-related restrictions! And, we&#8217;re planning to offer face-to-face Master Gardener training classes in 2022!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As of June 1, 2021, OSU Extension made several changes to operations, that will make it easier for face-to-face Master Gardener programs to occur.  These updates specifically apply to Oregon counties that are at low or moderate risk of COVID transmission. Counties that are at high risk of COVID transmission still have some restrictions in place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\" type=\"1\"><li><strong>Travel for Master Gardener Activities:<\/strong>\u00a0The formerly used\u00a0In-person and travel\u00a0authorization\u00a0form will no longer be needed\u00a0for local travel of volunteers or employees. Out of state travel for MG related work by volunteers or employees continues to need approval, as has always been the case. <ul><li>This operations update does not broadly apply to most Master Gardener volunteers. During COVID restrictions, we did have a few volunteers who travelled to monitor invasive species traps with the Oregon Department of Agriculture. But, most Master Gardener volunteers do not &#8216;travel for Master Gardener activities&#8217;. Travelling to the Extension office or to a demonstration garden is considered &#8216;commuting&#8217; and not &#8216;travelling for work&#8217;.<\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><strong>Master Gardener<\/strong> <strong>Programming:<\/strong>\u00a0Master Gardener Programs and volunteer activities in Lower and Moderate Risk Counties no longer needs formal approval by an Extension Regional Director. Please note, however, that Master Gardener Programming and Volunteer Activities should be planned in close cooperation and communication with your Master Gardener Coordinator. All activities must be planned using the guidelines of the OSU Extension Activity Matrix (see the file, at the end of this post). Your Master Gardener Coordinator can help ensure that programs and volunteerism are being organized according to the Activity Matrix.<\/li><li>Counties at High Risk must continue to use the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fforms.office.com%2FPages%2FResponsePage.aspx%3Fid%3D4QVtzl48Yk2HqExKJxPBE3DN7iMpbrlFiqo_oKlh8DFUNENJUUNSRllOREtOWk8yRkRNVE8xQUlHWCQlQCN0PWcu&amp;data=04%7C01%7C%7C46382f73088f4e36d79f08d92228f6d4%7Cce6d05e13c5e4d6287a84c4a2713c113%7C0%7C0%7C637578381651521856%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&amp;sdata=DL5SY4yOGfPNXGZ18gi9TrE2axG6NLINCFH23%2FVjKhY%3D&amp;reserved=0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><span class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-cyan-blue-color\">High-Risk\u00a0Programming Approval<\/span><\/a> Form\u00a0for Master Gardener Programs and Volunteer Activities. These submissions are reviewed by an Extension Regional Director.<\/li><li><strong>Face Coverings:<\/strong>\u00a0If physical distancing can be maintained, face coverings are no longer required\u00a0<em>outdoors<\/em>\u00a0at OSU and during programming. However, if the setting is crowded, and\/or if physical distancing cannot be maintained, face coverings are required. Face coverings continue to be required indoors at all OSU locations and during\u00a0Extension\u00a0programming, regardless of vaccination status. OSU\u2019s physical distancing\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fpolicy.oregonstate.edu%2FUPSM%2F04-040_COVID19_physical_distancing&amp;data=04%7C01%7C%7C46382f73088f4e36d79f08d92228f6d4%7Cce6d05e13c5e4d6287a84c4a2713c113%7C0%7C0%7C637578381651531848%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&amp;sdata=%2FR7anCeZE%2FTHDuvulktaStnwDPJTIqhuUDQtqrOhp%2Bw%3D&amp;reserved=0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><span class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-cyan-blue-color\">policy<\/span><\/a><span class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-cyan-blue-color\">\u00a0<\/span>continues to require compliance with\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcoronavirus.oregon.gov%2FPages%2Fguidance.aspx&amp;data=04%7C01%7C%7C46382f73088f4e36d79f08d92228f6d4%7Cce6d05e13c5e4d6287a84c4a2713c113%7C0%7C0%7C637578381651541841%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&amp;sdata=7IioF1IAjdgdlI%2FQhgGYLIIrUldd1fycIuNy8IikZoI%3D&amp;reserved=0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><span class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-cyan-blue-color\">all current OHA guidelines<\/span><\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fosha.oregon.gov%2FOSHARules%2Fdiv1%2F437-001-0744.pdf&amp;data=04%7C01%7C%7C46382f73088f4e36d79f08d92228f6d4%7Cce6d05e13c5e4d6287a84c4a2713c113%7C0%7C0%7C637578381651541841%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&amp;sdata=K2gsbxM2p5ZM1lvrprffG0bopWwKwvTaPDYDKDQjwa8%3D&amp;reserved=0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><span class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-cyan-blue-color\">OSHA guidelines<\/span><\/a>. Gatherings \u2013 including indoors \u2013 are allowed, but should be planned and executed using the Extension Activity Matrix. This includes the allowance for in-person meetings and activities.<\/li><li><strong>COVID-19\u00a0Training:\u00a0<\/strong>COVID-19 training for employees and volunteers will no longer be required.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>I&#8217;m looking forward to the day when we can all meet in person, around our shared love of plants, gardening, insects, birds, fresh vegetables, shade trees, flowers, or whatever it is that excites you about the Program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>~Gail<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-file\"><a href=\"https:\/\/osu-wams-blogs-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/blogs.dir\/2972\/files\/2021\/06\/OSUExtensionActivityRiskLevelMatrix21April21.pdf\"><span class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-cyan-blue-color\">OSU Extension Activity Level Matrix<\/span><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/osu-wams-blogs-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/blogs.dir\/2972\/files\/2021\/06\/OSUExtensionActivityRiskLevelMatrix21April21.pdf\" class=\"wp-block-file__button\" download>Download<\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>After a very long year, we are starting to see an easing of COVID-related restrictions! And, we&#8217;re planning to offer face-to-face Master Gardener training classes in 2022! As of June 1, 2021, OSU Extension made several changes to operations, that will make it easier for face-to-face Master Gardener programs to occur. These updates specifically apply &hellip; <\/p>\n<p class=\"link-more\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.oregonstate.edu\/mgcoordinators\/2021\/06\/10\/extension-operations-update\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> &#8220;Extension Operations Update&#8221;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":502,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[1238796,1238724,1179198],"tags":[1238786,1238850,1238843,1238849,1238851],"class_list":["post-822","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-covid-19","category-policies-and-procedures","category-program-updates","tag-covid-19","tag-face-coverings","tag-face-masks","tag-program-planning","tag-volunteer-activities"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.oregonstate.edu\/mgcoordinators\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/822","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.oregonstate.edu\/mgcoordinators\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.oregonstate.edu\/mgcoordinators\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.oregonstate.edu\/mgcoordinators\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/502"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.oregonstate.edu\/mgcoordinators\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=822"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.oregonstate.edu\/mgcoordinators\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/822\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":825,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.oregonstate.edu\/mgcoordinators\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/822\/revisions\/825"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.oregonstate.edu\/mgcoordinators\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=822"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.oregonstate.edu\/mgcoordinators\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=822"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.oregonstate.edu\/mgcoordinators\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=822"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}