NCCC052 Family Economics
Annual Meeting
October 5 - 6, 2006
The annual meeting of NCCC052 Family Economics was held at the SpringHill Suites Chicago O'Hare in Chicago, Illinois on October 5 - 6, 2006. These minutes constitute the official record of the meeting.
Administrative Advisor:
Cheryl Achterberg, Dean
College of Human Sciences
Iowa State University
E262 Lagmoarcino Hall
Ames, Iowa 50011-1061
Phone: (515) 294-7800
E-mail:
Officers:
Angela Lyons, Chair Frances Lawrence, Chair-Elect
Dept. of Agricultural & Consumer Economics School of Human Ecology
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Louisiana State University AgCenter
421 Mumford Hall 237 Human Ecology Building
1301 W. Gregory Dr. Tower and South Stadium Dr.
Urbana, IL 61801 Baton Rouge, LA 70809
Phone: (217) 244-2612 Phone: (2250 578-1726
E-mail: E-mail:
Present: Angela Lyons (), Illinois; Craig Gundersen (), Iowa; Frances Lawrence (), Louisiana; Virginia Zuiker (), Minnesota; Catherine Huddleston-Casas (), Nebraska; Debra Pankow (), North Dakota; Sharon Seiling (), Ohio; Elizabeth Gorham (), South Dakota; and Charles Hatcher (), Wisconsin.
Absent: Patricia Duffy (), Alabama; Sharon DeVaney (), Illinois; Kathryn Rettig (), Minnesota; Erica Tobe (), Michigan; Deanna Sharpe (), Missouri; Barbara O’Neill (), New Jersey; Jill Findeis (), Pennsylvania; Anastasia Snyder (), Pennsylvania; Celia Hayhoe (), Virginia; Jane Schuchardt (), Washington, DC (USDA/CSREES Representative); and Michael Gutter (), Wisconsin.
Guests: Anna Paulson, Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago; Sherrie Rhine, Federal Reserve Bank of New York
DAY 1: Thursday, October 5, 2006
1. Chair Angela Lyons called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m. and welcomed attendees. She presented an overview of the agenda for the two-day meeting that included:
· summarizing the three key research focus areas (see Attachment A)
· identifying persons making formal presentations: Elizabeth Gorham, Craig Gundersen, Anna Paulson, Sherrie L. W. Rhine, and Sharon Seiling
· summarizing the content of the approved NCCC052 proposal with an emphasis on the importance of documenting stated outcomes and impacts (see Attachment B)
· identifying the information required on SAES-422 (format for Multistate Research Activity and Accomplishments Report)
Attendees were encouraged to think realistically, be focused, and be committed.
2. Discussion occurred related to identifying NCCC052 stakeholders.
A reoccurring theme was that NCCC052 is a research coordinating committee and thus our stakeholders are different from those of a multistate research project. Discussion of identifying stakeholders was continued on Friday morning.
3. Introduction of attendees occurred.
4. Formal presentations related to the research focus area, financial security, were given by:
· Anna Paulson, Senior Financial Economist, Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago
“Financial Access and Institutional Quality: What Can We Learn from
U.S. Immigrants?”
A related paper was distributed and a PowerPoint presentation was e-mailed. Discussion occurred. Attendees were encouraged to submit papers or organize a panel discussion for the Midwest Economics Association being held on March 23 - 25, 2007 in Minneapolis, MM. For more information, e-mail .
· Elizabeth Gorham, Associate Professor, South Dakota State University
“Update on NC-1013, The Economic and Psychological Determinants of
Household Savings”
A written preliminary report was distributed. Discussion occurred. For more information, e-mail .
· Sharon Seiling, Associate Professor, The Ohio State University
“Update on NC-1011, Rural Low-Income Families: Tracking their Well-being and Function in an Era of Welfare Reform”
A summary of personnel, presentations, publications, and funding proposals was distributed. Discussion occurred. For more information, see http://fsops.che.umn.edu/projects/rfs.html or e-mail .
5. Lunch was catered in the meeting room.
6. Formal presentation related to the research focus area, economic vulnerability in times of disaster, was given by:
· Sherrie L. W. Rhine, Senior Economist, Federal Reserve Bank of New York
“How Effective Were the Financial Safety Nets in the Aftermath of Katina?”
A PowerPoint presentation was distributed. Discussion occurred. For more information,
e-mail .
Attendees were encouraged to attend the Federal Reserve System Community Affairs Research Conference being held on March 29 - 30, 2007 at the Capital Hilton in
Washington, DC.
7. Approval of the October 20 - 21, 2005 Meeting Minutes
· Gorham moved that the 2005 minutes be approved as distributed. Seconded by Gundersen. Passed.
· Discussion followed concerning states that had not had a representative present for several meetings. Lyons and Lawrence agreed to contact the members to determine their intended involvement.
8. Discussion of Objectives, Expected Outcomes, and Impacts
· The approved NCCC052 proposal was reviewed.
· Members discussed the potential of coordinating a hurricane-related conference. Although individual states have hurricane-related objectives, no member expressed the willingness to take leadership in this endeavor.
· Members identified the committee’s activities for the past year, i.e., activities that could be documented for 2005-2006:
o held a conference call on economic vulnerability
o set research priorities for multi-state and national work by identifying 3 focus areas (financial security; economic vulnerability in times of disaster; and financial management, food security, and health)
o increased committee’s level of knowledge of three focus areas by bringing in national experts to speak on emerging research in each of the focus areas at the 2006 meeting
o disseminated research publications, research briefs, and outreach/extension publications
o Made research presentations
o Obtained grant funding
· Members decided that having a template for next year’s state reports would aid in being able to document outcomes and impacts more effectively. Lyons would develop the template.
· Members discussed whether or not it is imperative for us to form T-committees. The result was that it was not imperative.
· Members brainstormed on potential future activities for 2006-2007. Possible activities suggested were:
o conduct a literature review related to the three focus areas
o organize sessions related to using large data sets and/or software
o organize a session on retirement planning
o prepare and publish research briefs
o identify where family economists are publishing
o identify who are the family economists
o identify what topics family economists research
o identify the number of colleagues working on multi-state/multi-disciplinary research projects
The list was adjusted and fine tuned on Friday morning.
9. Members gathered for an enjoyable dinner in a restaurant adjoining the hotel
at 6:00 p.m.
DAY 2: Friday, October 6, 2006
1. The meeting reconvened at 9:00 a.m. Lyons conveyed that Schuchardt sent regrets that she was unable to attend. Schuchardt’s written report was distributed and discussed (see Attachment C).
2. Formal presentation related to the research focus area, food security, was given by:
· Craig Gundersen, Associate Professor, Iowa State University
“Measuring the Extent, Depth, and Severity of Food Insecurity: An Application to American Indians in the United States”
Discussion followed. For more information, e-mail .
3. Lyons emphasized the importance of having detailed state reports covering the time period from October 1, 2005 to September 30, 2006 since the information would be used to complete the SAES-422 form.
4. Members brainstormed of activities that would be appropriate to include in the NCCC052 action plan for 2006-2007. Members decided that the action plan would include the following activities:
· Create a 1-page flyer identifying (a) the key research focus areas, (b) who we are, and (c) who to contact for more information. List serves and personal websites would be used to disseminate the flyer. Lawrence would be responsible for developing the flyer. The main objective is to communicate and disseminate research priorities to family economists and possibly expand the network.
· Place the three research focus areas on each committee member’s personal Web site. Each member would be responsible.
· Copy Agricultural Experiment Station administrators on appropriate e-mails. Each member would be responsible.
· Write research briefs. During 2006-2007, all committee members would submit a research brief written by themselves and/or their colleagues. The briefs would be distributed to the family and consumer economics network and stakeholders. Lyons would coordinate this effort. She also would ask Schuchardt if it is possible to add the briefs and the 1-page flyer to the educator tools section of the Financial Security in Later Life website.
· Organizing a session related to using large data sets at the 2007 NCCC052 meeting. Gundersen would take leadership to organize the session.
· Present research at conferences. Members would be responsible for presenting at appropriate conferences.
5. Reporting 2005-2006 Activities (SAES – 422: Multistate Research Activity Accomplishments Report)
Lyons would use state reports to obtain this information. (Also, see above Day 1, #8, bullet 3.)
6. 2005-2006 Impacts
Lyons would use state reports to obtain this information.
7. Clarification of the wording for the key research focus areas.
As recommended by Gundersen, one edit was made to the wording of the focus area, financial management, food insecurity, and health. The word, food insecurity, was replaced with food security.
8. Identification of Stakeholders
Discussion of who are NCCC052’s stakeholders built on the previous day’s thoughts.
It was concluded that the committee’s stakeholders would include: colleagues, Agricultural Experiment Station Directors, educators (extension and resident instructors), funders/partners, government, and private institutions. The focus for the coming year would be on targeting colleagues, Agricultural Experiment Station Directors, and funders/partners.
9. Potential accomplishments (see #4 action plan activities)
10. Anticipated 2006-2007 Impacts
After discussion, it was concluded that the anticipated 2006-2007 impacts would be:
· Increase awareness and exposure to large data sets
· Increase national awareness of the committee’s activities and research in the three key focus areas
· Increase number of research briefs sent to list serves and stakeholders
· Document number of researchers educated and the dissemination of committee’s research using list serves, websites, stakeholders, other researchers, etc.
· Document number of persons attending NCCC052 sponsored presentations, such as the one related to using large data sets
11. Ending Comments
· Lawrence encouraged submissions to Financial Counseling and Planning (FCP).
· Pankow announced that Cooperative Extension would hold a private breakfast and a public luncheon at the Association for Financial Counseling and Planning Education 2006 Annual Conference.
· Pictures taken at the meeting will be posted at http://nimss.umd.edu/homepages/home.cfm?trackID=7036.
· Lyons was commended for organizing and executing an informative, productive meeting.
12. Date and Hotel Information for the 2007 Meeting
The next meeting would be held on October 26 – 27, 2007 at Louisiana State University. Hotel arrangements can be made by contacting the Lod Cook Conference Hotel that is located on the LSU Campus in Baton, Rouge, Louisiana. There is a block of rooms under the name USDA/NCCC052. To make a reservation and receive the group rate of $93/standard and $113/suite, call (866) 610-2665 and ask for the group name. For more information, contact Fran Lawrence at (225) 578-1726 or .
13. There being no further business, Lyons adjourned the meeting at 12:30 PM.
Recorded by Frances Lawrence, Chair-Elect
Confirmed by Angela Lyons, Chair
Approved:
November 1, 2006
Frances Lawrence Date
NCCC052 Chair-elect
November 1, 2006
Cheryl Achterberg Date
NCCC052 Administrative Advisor
Attachment A
Key Research Focus Areas Identified at the 2005 Meeting
· Financial Security: Financial security is the ability to meet day-to-day obligations while planning, saving, and investing to achieve future financial goals such as education, retirement, homeownership, and small business startup. By building assets and managing debt, households will be better able to contribute to the economic vitality of their communities. More research is needed to determine and practices that motivate people to build wealth and not debt. Additional research is needed to examine the relationships between economically-secure families, community prosperity, civic engagement, and rural entrepreneurship.
· Economic vulnerability in times of disaster: There is a need for research on the economic consequences and adjustments of households following natural disasters, terrorism, and wars. Vulnerability is the risk of substantial losses from which families may have difficulty recovering, or may never recover. These losses are emotional, social, and financial because of loss of family members, personal health, jobs, houses, household goods, cars, financial incomes, assets and social support at interpersonal and community levels. Research is needed on the kinds of resilience demonstrated, the best practices to meet human needs following disasters, and information from households to inform and practices.
· Financial management, food insecurity, and health: Research has explored the links between family socioeconomic status and issues of food security and health. Resources such as community food support programs, the local health care system and employer-sponsored benefit programs profoundly influence family food security and health. In addition, how families use their resources can be influential. Independently, neither set of resources can fully address these issues. In order to comprehensively address health and food security, research must look at all of these resources and the interactions among them.
Attachment B
Stated Outcomes and Impacts from the NCCC052 Approved Proposal
· Increase the number of multi-state, multidisciplinary research projects on emerging issues significant to families such as health and financial well-being, youth and credit, costs of elder care, cultural perspectives on money, and other issues.
· Increase the number and quality of proposals initiated and submitted by family economics scholars for competitive grants, thereby increasing external dollar amounts received by family economics scholars.
· Increase the number and quality of manuscripts submitted to and subsequently published in top-tier research journals by family economics scholars and their academic units. This will also be demonstrated by the number of family economics scholars whose work is cited in leading research abstract indices.
· Disseminate research by organizing NCCC52 research sessions at major conferences related to family and consumer economics and at outside forums (e.g., annual meeting of the American Council on Consumer Interests or ACCI) and at public policy meetings (e.g., the annual meeting of the Association for Public Policy, Analysis, and Management or APPAM). One specific topic would emphasize the latest research methodology and empirical techniques being used in the profession.
· Develop research briefs from family economics research conducted at participating universities. Included in these research briefs would be summaries of manuscripts published in research journals and, in particular, top-tier research journals. Relevant policy issues would warrant a specific legislative briefing.