EXTENSION & ADMINISTRATOR RETREATS:
CEDs, Department Heads, School Directors and Ag Center Directors should mark your calendars for a combined Extension & Administrator Retreat on January 3-4, 2008 . The Extension Retreat will be on January 3, from 1:00-5:00 at the Holiday Inn Express (Cortaro & Ina) followed by a dinner at the Lazy K Ranch that evening. The Administrator Retreat will be on January 4, from approximately 8:00-3:00 at the Lazy K Ranch. More details will follow.
POLICY CHANGE IN ERE COVERED BY CENTRAL ADMINISTRATION:
Extension central administration has been paying ERE for the total budget allocated through the county based formula. Some counties have maximized the impact of ERE by putting all formula funds on personnel. Because of budget cuts the past few years, it is no longer possible for Extension central administration to pick up ERE on 100% of the county allocations. Beginning in the 2008-2009 budget year, we plan to allocate county formula funds 80% to personnel and 20% to operations. We will cover the ERE on the 80% allocation to personnel, but if you choose to transfer any of your operations dollars to cover personnel costs, you will also have to cover the associated ERE. Until next year, all ERE will be picked up centrally.
FOCUS ON FACULTY:
I'd like to welcome Lauren Romig , our new Assistant Agent in 4-H Youth Development & Youth & Family in Graham County. Her first day is today.
Congratulations to Channah Rock for receiving $49,930 in funding from the Arizona Water Institute (AWI) for her proposal, Status of Generation, Reuse and Recharge of Treated Wastewater in Arizona; Evaluation of Programs, Data Sources and Utilization Opportunities. The institute recently announced that 12 projects focused on resolving Arizona water sustainability issues and will receive a total of $555,000 in AWI funds. All of the projects involve multiple collaborators and at least two of the three universities.
Congratulations to the following 2007 NACAA Western Region award winners: Jack Kelly (Achievement Award), David Kopec (Distinguished Service Award), Jack Kelly & Mary Olsen (Communication Award National Finalists), and Jack Kelly (Regional Finalist).
FOCUS ON PROGRAMS:
Over 100 people participated in a two-day workshop on The Dynamic Nature and Natural Diversity of Riparian Areas at Camp Verde last week. Dr. George Zaimes , Assistant Specialist in the School of Natural Resources, provided overall leadership. Jim Sprinkle , Chris Jones , Dean Fish , Channah Rock (new assistant specialist in water located at MAC), and Doug Tolleson (new specialist located at V-V) participated. I was very impressed with the quality of presentations and the discussions.
PROGRAM & PROCEDURAL MANUAL UPDATE:
The online Program & Procedural Manual for UA Cooperative Extension Faculty has a new addition Appendix B. This new section not only covers Volunteer Policies but provides four downloadable fact sheets (in both Word and PDF formats) that can be useful as handouts for volunteers at orientation. The fact sheet titles are: UA Cooperative Extension Volunteers, Volunteer Benefits, Services & Insurance Coverage, Background Check Policy, and Youth Protection Policy Responsibility to Report. Check them out.
UPDATED FACULTY/STAFF ROSTER AVAILABLE:
The latest downloadable version ( 11/13/07 ) of the on-line Faculty/Staff Roster is now available under the "Directory Listing" section of our Web site. A direct link is available by clicking the 11/13/07 date above. If you have additional changes, please email or fax (520.621-1314) them to Steven Crofts.
NEW PUBLICATION:
A new CALS publication has been posted: Forage and Grain: A College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Report, edited by Michael Ottman with contributions by Patrick Clay, Anna Grimm, Steve Husman, Mike Ottman, Michael Rethwisch, S. E. Smith, and Michael Williams.
UPCOMING EVENTS & DEADLINES:
- Why Don't Cows Get Pregnant? - A workshop covering climate variability impacts and supplementation opportunities to optimize cattle production will be presented as follows: 1) November 26 at the Best Western Inn and Suites in Gallup, New Mexico; 2) November 27 at the Lodge at Cliff Castle in Camp Verde; 3) November 28 at the Cochise College Benson Campus, Benson; and 4) January 28 in San Carlos. The cost is $20 per person and includes lunch. For more information and a registration flyer, go to http://cals.arizona.edu/gila/whats_new/CampVerdeRLNSchool_Flyer2007.pdf.
- Range 101 - Arizona Guide to Range Management & Analysis, December 4-5, Apache Gold Convention Center (5 miles East of Globe on Highway 70). The cost is $20 per person and includes workbook, breaks and lunch on 12/5. For more information and a registration flyer, go to http://cals.arizona.edu/gila/whats_new/Range_101_Dec07.pdf.