TUESDAY MORNING NOTES - April 30, 2013

Tue Apr 30 13:09:14 MST 2013

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

Tuesday Morning Notes 

April 30, 2013

FROM THE DIRECTOR:

In a recent note I made reference to a group of wise sages who provided
their gracious input, wisdom, and advice to young workers in this college
about 25 years ago.  Of that group, I believe all have now retired and/or
gone on to the happy Extension hunting grounds with the exception of one.
Mr. Rob Grumbles, who serves as the Agricultural/Natural Resources Agent and
County Extension Director (CED) for Mohave County, was one of those generous
Extension veterans offering direction and advice when I first began working
in this college.  Rob has not only persisted but he has actually thrived
during this entire period; in fact I don't think he looks a day older than
he did when I first met him in January 1987.  Rob first began working in
CALS Cooperative Extension in 1974 but now he has recently decided to retire
effective 30 April 2013.  

On a recent trip to Mohave County, Rob ushered me into his office and
provided two fine gifts.  The first was a small pocket-sized booklet titled
"The Extension Worker
<https://extension.arizona.edu/sites/extension.arizona.edu/files/resourcefil
e/resource/scrofts/ExtensionWorkersCode-FEB1922.pdf> 's Code."  This small
booklet contains a list of points or principle objectives associated with
the development of a successful Extension program.  Consistent with all of
Rob's input over the time that I have known him, this booklet was full of
good advice.  When I reviewed the source of this booklet, I noticed that it
was a 1922 publication from Kansas State University by T.J. Talbert.  Rob
and I both enjoyed the simple truth in the points and recommendations
provided in the booklet that outline some fundamental aspects of a
successful Extension education program. The second gift Rob provided to me
was a very nice Mohave County Cooperative Extension cap, which he knows is
valuable to me with a hairstyle like mine.

As I have read through and reflected on the points provided in that booklet,
I recognize the basic truths associated with each of the points.  None of
them are fancy, complicated, or elaborate but they offer a basic set of
fundamental points or principles.  I find it interesting to note that Rob
Grumbles exemplifies an Extension professional who demonstrates these
fundamentals in a very consistent and effective way.  Accordingly, I'm
reminded of the fact that no matter how much things change and our levels of
sophistication, at least technically, have improved, the very basic elements
of directing successful Extension programs have remained the same for nearly
100 years. 

As Rob completes his 39 year career with the University of Arizona, CALS,
and Cooperative Extension, I want to thank and compliment him on his
capacity to maintain strong and effective support for the stakeholders with
whom he works, their needs, and collective interests.  For those of us that
have had the opportunity to work with Rob, we know that he is consistent and
tireless in his efforts to advocate for the development of effective
programs for the benefit of our stakeholders and partners in Arizona.  Rob
has always done an excellent job in facilitating the development of programs
and bringing resources to bear on the problems relevant to his area of
operation.  I've always found Rob to be motivated by his interests in
developing strong, accurate, and reliable materials from which to build our
Extension programs and to make a positive difference with the information we
have.  Please join me in extending our sincere thanks for Rob's service and
contributions and wishing him the very best in all future endeavors.  

FOCUS ON FACULTY & STAFF:

Last Wednesday, April 24, about 104 CALS & Extension employees were honored
at the Annual Service Awards Luncheon & Ceremony (which recognized a total
of 978 employees with awards ranging from 10-55 years of service).   There
are too many to list here, so I want to congratulate all who were honored
that day for what comes to about 1,945 years of collective service to the
University of Arizona (and many just within CALS or Extension alone).  A
list of employees by their years of service is available on the UA at Work
website
<http://uaatwork.arizona.edu/sites/default/files/2013_service_awards_luncheo
n_list.pdf> .

Alex Atkin, Instructional Specialist, Pima County and the Tucson Village
Farm were featured in the Saturday, April 27 edition of the Arizona Daily
Star.  Alex worked with students from Homer Davis Elementary School at the
Second Annual Health Eating, Active Lifestyle (HEAL) Field Trip Festival
where more than 250 fifth-graders from local elementary schools attended.
The festival was created by a 12-year-old youth health advocate, Haile
Thomas, in 2012 as a service-learning project to help combat childhood
obesity through fun and flavorful activities around balanced food and
healthy lifestyle choices.  

The latest issue (April) of the Journal of Extension
<http://www.joe.org/journal-current-issue.php>  is now available and
features an article by Mark Apel, Ayman Mostafa, Bill Brandau and Greg
Garfin - Externships in Sustainability Program as an Outreach Tool for
Extension <http://www.joe.org/joe/2013april/tt7.php> .

Kurt Nolte (Yuma County Extension), George Frisvold (AREC), and Trent
Teegerstrom (AREC) gave a presentation on
<http://www.greateryuma.org/cms_uploads/text/GYEDC-Yuma-Ag-talk.pdf> "The
Economic Impact of Agriculture in Yuma County" at the Greater Yuma Economic
Development Corporation's Quarterly Investor Luncheon on April 23 in Yuma.
A copy of the presentation is also posted at the Economic Development
Corporation's website <http://www.greateryuma.org/> .  Some highlights
include:  1) Yuma County is in the top 1% of U.S. counties for vegetable
sales, vegetable acreage, and total agricultural sales; 2) agriculture is
the single largest sector in the county with gross sales above $1 billion
annually; 3) Yuma farm earnings as a share of total county earnings are 8
times the national average; and 4) Farm earnings growth lead county earnings
growth out of the recession.   

FOCUS ON PROGRAMS:

The Water Resources Research Center (WRRC) has just released its 2013 annual
Arroyo - a 12-page newsletter devoted to a single topic of timely interest
to Arizona.  This year, the topic is "Contaminants of Emerging Concern in
Water," a subject that has raised questions from the public and challenged
water managers and regulators across the country. For more information and
to view the report, go to the WRRC website
<http://wrrc.arizona.edu/node/12356> .

UPCOMING EVENTS:

June 6-7, 17th Annual AZ Women in Agriculture Conference, Doubletree by
Hilton, Gilbert.  Registration is open and an agenda and registration form
are available on the Arizona Farm Bureau site
<http://www.azfb.org/public/466/programs/women_in_agriculture_conference> .
This year's theme, "Leaders:  Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow," will include a
celebration of Arizona's 4-H Centennial.  Attendees do not need to be a Farm
Bureau member to participate.  CALS has been a sponsor of the conference
since its inception. 

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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