President’s Message – Janet C. Cluck
What an honor it is for me to serve as president of the UTIA Retirees Association! It has been a pleasure to see some folks for the first time in many years. UTIA—with its mission of improving lives in classrooms, labs, farms, fields, homes, and communities across the state—is an uncommon workplace. Long hours spent planning and conducting educational experiences (think 4-H camp!) provide opportunities for professional and personal relationships that lead to lifelong friendships. I’m willing to bet that, like me, you have many friends who are amazed at the close-knit connections we made with people all over the state (and nation!) through our work. Involvement in the UTIA Retirees Association allows us to renew and maintain those relationships.
For those who may not know me, I began my employment with UT as a student worker in the office of the original creamery as a freshman and kept that job throughout my undergraduate years. I retired from UT Extension at the end of 2021 having spent my entire forty-plus year career in Dickson County except for two year-long stints as interim regional director (2010 in the Central Region and 2018 in the Western Region). My dream of being an Extension agent began during my own 4-H days in Rutherford County with Ben Powell as my first 4-H agent. The dream became reality with more than twenty years in youth work and another twenty in family and consumer sciences/community development.
One of my favorite quotes is from Herman Cain, former chair of Godfather’s Pizza and later a presidential primary candidate, who said, “Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful.” I loved my career and considered myself blessed to have earned a living doing work that I enjoyed. The relationships with people (my 4-H members, volunteer leaders, FCE members, community partners, farmers, elected officials, and colleagues) rewarded my efforts. Each of us could write a book about those people, and that’s what makes us a unique organization!
At our state board/leadership team meeting on July 18, 2025, I shared the following goals:
1) Increase membership and engagement
2) Update and maintain the association website
3) Revise the constitution and bylaws
4) Maintain association support and encourage individual support of UTIA programs
With your help, these goals will be easily achieved. If you aren’t sure where to start, here are my suggestions:
- Reminisce about your work buddies. With whom did you spend time at lunch, traveling to conferences, and/or planning/delivering programs? Invite those friends to join you at an association gathering. If they haven’t already joined the association, we can help with that!
- Review our website and pass along your thoughts for improvement. While you’re reviewing, look at our constitution and bylaws and send suggested revisions.
- The association is committed to our continued sponsorship of the state 4-H poster contest. We’d like to also sponsor the new digital division of the poster contest if funds allow. Additionally, I’m challenging each of us to identify a particular program, scholarship, activity, or event within any unit of the institute and lend your support—financially and/or with your time as a volunteer.
- Your association leadership team is made up of dedicated individuals who are enthusiastic about keeping the organization strong. And, we currently have tremendous support from key people on campus to facilitate communication (newsletters, website, contact with newly retired individuals, etc.). I’m already enjoying the opportunity to work with all these folks, so I know we are going to be successful!
- Please feel free to contact me with suggestions or questions! As I always told my staff in Dickson County, we don’t have to know the answer to all the questions, but we should know whom to call for the information we need!
I hope to see you at a retiree gathering soon to remind me of my age in friends, not years!
Janet C. Cluck
President