TUESDAY MORNING NOTES - December 4, 2012

Tue Dec 4 10:00:29 MST 2012

TMN submittal:
http://cals.arizona.edu/extension/tuesday/form/submittal_form.html 

Tuesday Morning Notes 

December 4, 2012

FROM THE DIRECTOR:

A few weeks ago I communicated the fact that we were re-organizing and
consolidating some website and IT expertise in CALS Extension.  This
specifically involved the move of Robert Armstrong and his position to the
CALS Communications and Technology (CCT) group working in a team under the
direction of Mr. Robert Casler.  Accordingly, Mr. Casler was identified as
the point of contact for any website development needs that Robert Armstrong
had previously provided exclusively to Extension programs.  Mr. Casler would
then direct the request to the appropriate individual(s) within his group.

Now, having a few weeks experience with this new model, it has become
apparent that a better approach is to direct questions and requests from
Extension programs to Robert Armstrong directly.  If Mr. Armstrong needs
expertise beyond his own, he has the capacity to work with Mr. Casler and
the others in the CCT group to appropriately address the question or
request.  This is driven to help expedite the process of getting problems
solved and responses to relevant questions that often arise in a timely
manner.  Mr. Armstrong still has a direct relationship to the CALS Extension
organization within his CCT role and he has a lasting relationship with many
of the programs and individuals across the system that he has been working
with for several years in website development and management.

Kelly Arizmendi will continue to be the contact for Web content questions
(i.e., news, events, and program information) and for conducting the related
training sessions.

The intention with this organizational effort is to provide the best
expertise possible within the college to meet the website and IT needs that
we have and to do so without unnecessary duplication of programs.  We are
continuing to look at ways to make the most efficient and effective use of
everyone's time and capabilities, and will update everyone as more details
become available.  In the process of working through these changes, we very
much appreciate your cooperation and valuable input.  I am confident that
you will continue to provide your valuable thoughts and suggestions as we
move ahead.

VISTA POSITIONS AVAILABLE:

We have recently been approved to fill 5 more VISTA positions to support
Cooperative Extension work across the state with an emphasis on rural areas.
VISTA assignments can be in support of several program areas, but must have
a strong youth component.  VISTA members are all about capacity and
infrastructure building and cannot do direct service.  We are currently
recruiting VISTA members for a March 1 start date but we would need to have
all the paperwork completed by mid-January.  If you are interested in
finding out how a VISTA can add value to your work and "get things done,"
contact Kirk Astroth <mailto:kastroth at cals.arizona.edu>  (520.621.5316) or
Manasi Mallard <mailto:mpg at email.arizona.edu>  (520.626.6131).

NATIONAL 4-H CONGRESS:

Eight 4-H teen delegates from Arizona participated in the 91st Annual
National 4-H Congress held in Atlanta, Georgia from November 23-27.
Highlights of the event were sessions on service learning, physical health,
social media, diversity, and expanding horizons.  Attendees were treated to
inspirational speeches from Miss America and a Holocaust survivor; plus all
500 delegates from 43 states and Puerto Rico spent half a day participating
in service projects at local schools, libraries, homeless shelters, women
shelters, and community gardens.  Teen participants included Paige Hill,
Nicole McNatt, Emmaly Pisor, Kolton Walentiny & Gabrielle Peterson (Maricopa
County),   Austin Bracken (Mohave County), Brianne Bell (Navajo County),
Erin Paunil (Pinal County), and     Mike Hauser (Chaperone, Apache County).

FELLOWSHIP NEWS:

The Christopher Columbus Fellowship Foundation, a Federal government agency,
is now accepting Nominations for four Agriscience Awards and four Life
Sciences Awards to be presented in July 2013 in Washington, D.C.   A copy of
each Award's Call for Nominations follows.  PDF copies of each Call for
Nominations are available upon request.             

Nominations are accepted online only.  Deadlines and corresponding websites
are:

*	Agriscience Awards <http://www.agriscienceawards.com/> :  January
29, 2013
*	Life Sciences Awards <http://www.ccolumbusfoundationawards.org/> :
February 12, 2013

If you have any questions, contact Judi Shellenberger
<mailto:judithmscolumbus at cs.com> , Executive Director of the Foundation
(315.258.0090).

JOURNAL OF EXTENSION FOR OUTREACH PROFESSIONALS:

The Journal of Extension (JOE) is a referred journal that expands and
updates the research and knowledge base for U.S. Extension professionals and
other outreach educators to improve their effectiveness.  It also serves as
a forum for emerging and contemporary issues affecting U.S. Cooperative
Extension education. The October 2012 issue
<http://www.joe.org/journal-current-issue.php>  is now available.

WEBINAR ON COMPLETING YOUR APR:

There will be an instructive "Completing Your Annual Performance Review
(APR)" webinar for Extension Agents, presented by the APR Guidance
Committee, on Friday, December 14, from 10:00am to 12:00noon.  To join the
webinar, call 1-800-920-7487, enter the code (7783624#) and you will then go
to a login link (https://www.accuconference.com/customer/join/).  At the
login link, enter the call in (dial in) number again (no dashes or spaces -
18009207487) and the conference code (same as participant code - 7783624#),
and your name.  Click on "Join Conference" and the PowerPoint presentation
will open.  Prizes for participation include UA shirts donated by Kim
Gressley's son (and you must be present on the call to win if your name is
drawn).  Presenters include Mike "How to Get a Five" Hauser, Rick "The APR
Guru" Gibson, Dean "He's Not So Mean"  Fish, and Dan "I Never Met a Logic
Model I Didn't Like" McDonald (with special guest appearances by Susan Pater
and Patti B!).

UPCOMING EVENTS:

The December 11 WRRC Brown Bag has been cancelled (it was Dave White's
presentation, Linking Knowledge and Action for Water Sustainability and
Urban Climate Adaptation:  Research Update from the ASU Decision Center for
a Desert City). 

January 2-9, 2013 - Annual Intensive Greenhouse Crop Production Course,
hosted by the Controlled Environment Agriculture Center (CEAC).  The course
will have an emphasis on growing tomatoes and lettuce and will be taught by
hydroponic specialist Dr. Pat Rorabaugh and business expert Myles Lewis
(with a special lecture from a legend in the world on Controlled Environment
Agriculture, Dr. Merle Jensen).  Students will receive a blend of classroom
and hands-on time in a hydroponic greenhouse to successfully grow crops on
their own.  Other useful events include a round table discussion with
greenhouse engineers (where students can ask questions regarding their
greenhouse design and operations) and a marketing lesson from Myles Lewis at
Tucson's best farmers market.  More information is available on the CEAC
website <http://ag.arizona.edu/ceac/>  (left-hand side).   

March 5, 2013 - Water Resources Research Center (WRRC) 2013 Annual
Conference:  Water Security from the Ground Up, UA Student Union Memorial
Center.  Registration is now open and a form and information can be found at
the WRRC Conference website
<http://wrrc.arizona.edu/registration-conference-2013>  along with a
complete agenda <http://wrrc.arizona.edu/agenda-conference-2013> .  The
event is being organized in partnership with the U.S. Geological Survey and
the conference is open to everyone with an interest in ensuring a reliable
and sustainable water supply for our future.

If you have any questions, contact Jane Cripps
<mailto:jcripps at cals.arizona.edu>  and feel free to share this information
via newsletters, listservs and posting.

Jeffrey C. Silvertooth
Associate Dean

Director for Economic Development & Extension
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
PO Box 210036
Tucson, AZ  85721-0036
520.621.7205
520.621.1314 (fax)

To submit tips, suggestions, ideas for changes and anything that could help
us be more effective, use  the "Director
<http://extension.arizona.edu/state/directors-suggestion-box> 's Suggestion
Box" - all submissions are anonymous.  

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