The Schoharie and Otsego County Cooperative Extensions have taken the first step towards a merger.
Schoharie County CCE members approved the change at their annual meeting Wednesday.
Their Otsego County counterparts will cast their votes by mail in December and Don Smyers, executive director of both agencies since September 2009, said he’s optimistic their decision will be the same.
“With all the pieces of our funding puzzle under pressure, what we’re really trying to do is position the organization so it’s here for the longterm,” Mr. Smyers said.
In order for the merger to move ahead, members in both counties must approve the change.
Results of the Otsego County vote are expected by Christmas and Mr. Smyers said a new board of directors for a new organization could be in place as soon as January 1.
Though the details still have to be worked out, Mr. Smyers said the goal of the merger is to create a larger more streamlined organization that would be able to devote less of its funding to administration and more to programming, “where the rubber meets the road.”
Extension funding comes through the county, state, and federal governments, all of which, Mr. Smyers pointed out, are seeing tough economic times.
“We’re trying to be smart and become a more sustainable so we’ll continue to be here for our members,” he added.