Zoom Education - Forestry & Natural Resources
Search for Excellence in Environmental Quality, Forestry and Natural Resources
James Shannon
Forestry Specialist
Mississippi State University
Verona
Team Members:
Shannon, J*1
-
Agent, , Pontotoc, Mississippi, 38863
Abstract
The Pontotoc Country Forestry Association includes a core group of Pontotoc citizens that own timberland. During the shutdowns due to the pandemic, I wanted to continue providing quality programming to these committed landowners. Understanding that the Zoom platform had the potential to reach many more across the region and state, I partnered with neighboring county agents to help serve their local forestry associations as well. I also reached out to the Mississippi Forestry Association seeking their assistance in helping to publicize these opportunities. I worked closely with Dr. John Auel with the Board of Registered Mississippi Foresters to determine if these Zoom sessions could be used as Continuing Forestry Education. I wanted to provide this service to registered foresters because so many in-person meetings, workshops and conferences had been canceled due to the pandemic. Dr. Auel approved the CFEs and I was able to issue certificates for CFEs to those registered foresters upon their request.
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Seven educational Zoom sessions were presented between June 2020-February 2021; these sessions impacted 526 participants and there were 153 requests from foresters requesting CEUs over the 9 month period. (See attached documentation for listing of dates, presenters, and topics for Zoom sessions.) In addition to the MFA and neighboring county agents, I also utilized flyers, social media, postcards, newsletters, and the local newspaper to encourage participation for these events.
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Years of CES Service: 0
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