Extending herself
New county agent offering expertise to area
By BARRY HALVORSON news@leader-news.com

GERTSON

While she knows the area and is known in the area, new Wharton County Family and Consumer Sciences Agent Dianne Gertson is just settling into her new position.

"I haven't been out in public a lot yet," she said. "I'm hoping that area civic organizations and clubs will invite me to attend so I get to better know the people and the people better know me."

And making those kinds of connections are Gertson's priority after replacing long-time agent Marilyn Sebesta. While she was introduced by Texas Cooperative Extension to the Wharton County Commissioners Court in late September, she didn't officially start her new job until Oct. 22.

"I worked with Marilyn on a couple of projects over the years and she was a great lady," Gertson said. "And I'm hoping to continue to work with her as a volunteer as well as with the various groups and organizations in the county. A big part of what the Extension Service is designed to do is bring collaboration between various organizations to benefit the whole county."

Gertson's background is in nutrition - she is both a registered and licensed dietitian - and she spent several years with the Department of State Health Services, formerly the Texas Department of Health. A regional nutritionist in the Houston area, she was part of the DSHS staff that prepared the Strategic Plan for the Prevention of Obesity in Texas: 2005-2010.

"Marilyn did a great job of creating a number of great projects that I hope to build upon and continue," Gertson said. "But my background is in nutrition programming and so I'll naturally be looking at developing things in that area. I'm particularly looking to work with the Better Living for Texans program which addresses the health and nutrition needs for several of the state's under served populations. I'll be working with different public and private organizations and agencies, building contacts and the infrastructure to create community partnerships."

She admits that making the move from the DSHS to the Extension Service is a jump she'll need time to adapt to during the next several months.

"Actually, it's a pretty big change," Gertson said. "I've been focused on a single topic area, nutrition, and now have to address many topic areas. It's going to require that I think in broader terms."

And to do that, she said she's happy to have the resources of Texas A&M and the Extension Service backing her up.

"I'll be looking to them for several of their pre-packaged programs that were put together by experts in their field of study," she said.

"Marilyn did both of the diabetes series here in Wharton County and that's a particularly important program now. I'm looking forward to getting the training so I can continue to offer it. Through extension, I have access to materials and instruction in just about every level and topic."