VOLUNTEER BACKGROUND CHECKS UPDATE:
Arizona Cooperative Extension requires a background check from the National Criminal File for all volunteers. This is the only background check required. An authorization form is needed before you can conduct the background check. All offices must charge a fee of $10 for cost recovery; this will cover the National Criminal File ($6.50) plus administrative costs. Any additional background checks, such as Sex Offender's Status ($6.30) and Social Security validation ($2.50), are at the discretion of the agent supervising the volunteer program. Volunteers who will be driving may be screened by ChoicePoint's Motor vehicle record and Risk Management has indicated acceptance of ChoicePoint's MVR check. They also recommend that unless a potential volunteer has resided for 3 years within Arizona, other state vehicle checks should be conducted.
Each county director authorizes one person to run the check; the results are provided to the agent in charge of the particular program and the agent is responsible for determining if the volunteer is acceptable. The background check information must be maintained in secure and locked storage. After reviewing the background screening information, the agent determines whether to proceed with certification. This is the first step to certification for potential volunteers. Additional forms depend upon particular program areas. The potential volunteer must complete these forms before acceptance as a certified volunteer. If at any point there is concern regarding a potential volunteer's acceptance, it's best to not accept individuals as a volunteer for Arizona Cooperative Extension. If you have questions about Choice Point, please contact Lisa Lauxman (520.621.5316). For information regarding volunteer policies and background check, go to http://cals.arizona.edu/extension/employee/pandp/chap3.html.
FOCUS ON FACULTY:
- I'd like to welcome Kevin Rice who has recently accepted the Area Assistant Agent position (located in Pinal County and also serving Maricopa and northern Pima County). His first day will be July 9 .
- We are pleased to announce that Dr. Michael E. Staten has officially accepted the position as the Take Charge America Institutes (TCAI) Endowed Chair and Director, effective November 1 . Dr. Staten comes to us from the George Washington University, where he has served as Research Professor and Director of Financial Services Research Program. Prior to the GWU, he served as Distinguished Professor and Executive Director of the Credit Research Center at Georgetown University, followed by his long career at Purdue University in a similar position. He received his Ph.D. in Economics from Purdue University and spent much of his career, conducting research in the area of consumer finance and retail financial services marketing, economics of education and training, and health economics.
WEB CASTING PRESENTATIONS:
The remaining Web casting presentations for the Maricopa County Extension Director position, titled The Vision for Extension in Maricopa County: Short Term and Long Term will be as follows: 1) Cathy Martinez , June 22 , 3:00-3:45pm, and 2) Monica Pastor , July 9 , 11:15-12:00pm. We are also in the process of scheduling presentations for Sharon Hoelscher-Day and Buddy Borden (from Nevada). All presentations can be viewed at http://cals.arizona.edu/extension/webcasts.html using Internet Explorer (NOT Netscape) and Windows Media Player. For more information or questions, contact Glenda Thompson (520.621.3621).
UPCOMING EVENTS & DEADLINES:
- The SmartScape Program is hosting a 6-series informative half-hour television show through Tucson Access Television's program, Tucson Vision. Water conservation topics including local and statewide efforts (June), Xeriscape Turf and Drip Irrigation (July), and Water Quality and Rain Water Harvesting (August), will be presented by UA Extension and SmartScape/WaterSmart Instructors. Running June 9 through August 23 , these cable television programs will air on Saturdays at 5:30pm and Thursdays at 7:30pm on Access Tucson Channels (99/Cox and 74/Comcast). A full list of programs and dates are provided on the SmartScape website at http://www.ag.arizona.edu/pima/smartscape. For questions or more information, contact Kathryn Hahne, SmartScape Program Coordinator (520.626.5161).
- The Fourth Symposium on Southwest Hydrometeorology will take place on September 20-21 at the Tucson Hilton East Hotel. The event will provide a forum to discuss and present research issues associated with mid-latitude, subtropical, and tropical weather systems that affect the Southwest United States, and to discuss the impact of these systems on hydrologic systems. Since the Third Symposium in 2002, there have been considerable advances in both hydrologic and meteorological science; these advances have created a foundation for a much closer relationship between these disciplines. Extensive, ongoing research is underway through the North American Monsoon Experiment. Deterministic, ensemble and probabilistic forecasting has advanced. Close working relationships across academic, government and private sectors have opened new areas of investigation to address questions on how to add value to both weather and water forecasts. This symposium seeks to strengthen these relationships and continue to advance our understanding of the complex weather and hydrologic forecast issues in the Southwest U.S. For more information, visit the workshop Web site at http://www.atmo.arizona.edu/swhs/.