Master Naturalist Adventures
at Bellrose Island, Havana
Photo by Anita Wilkinson
A Message from the County Director
Earl Allen County Director
This past year has felt like we have been riding a rope swing with a lot of back and forth, up and down, and even some going in circles. Even so, our staff in collaboration with our many volunteers and partners have continued to do impactful work that addressed local needs, made our communities stronger, and improved the lives of people across our unit. The efforts required a lot of resilience and a growth mindset, but in the end, joy and satisfaction were found in our accomplishments.
help and collaboration.
an early retirement incentive triggering I also give additional seven retirements from thanks to our program our group of 35 staff. participants who have Cumulatively these gained and applied seven staff contributed new knowledge and more than 200 years of practices as a result of our direct education and work in Extension and served the public well. experiential learning efforts. You are the reason Congratulations to Janis Blout, Sheila Bolliger, we exist, and the people we are called to serve as a Kathie Brown, Margaret Cover, Deb Donaldson, part of U of I Extension. Irene Edwards, and Cathy This report highlights a Ludolph. May the next small portion of our work. chapter in their lives bring The stories are curated them as much joy as to demonstrate our they each found in their appreciation for all, and years working for U of I to inform you of some Extension. things of which you were With appreciation and unaware. Thank you to all who gratitude to all, In closing, I want to have worked with us in recognize a great group 2021, and to those who of staff from our unit have supported us. We cannot accomplish nearly who retired this past Earl Allen year. U of I offered as much without your County Director 2021 YEAR IN REVIEW FULTON, MASON, PEORIA, TAZEWELL 3
