TUESDAY MORNING NOTES - FEBRUARY 11, 2014

Tue Feb 11 13:41:02 MST 2014

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

Tuesday Morning Notes 

February 11, 2014

FROM THE DIRECTOR - eXtension:

What do you think of the idea about developing a system of searching and
identifying all Cooperative Extension (CE) bulletins and publications on any
given topic from all land-grant universities CE systems?  Personally, I
think it’s a great idea!

As many of you will know this is not a new or novel idea at all.  In fact,
about a decade ago efforts began to develop a web-based system to conduct
nationwide searches among all CE systems at land-grant institutions for
relevant topics.  This program is referred to as eXtension (pronounced as
“e-extension”) and has been supported by financial contributions from all
participating CE systems across the country, including CALS CE.  As I
mentioned, I think this is a wonderful idea and I fully support the concept.
However, eXtension has not been performing up to many expectations
considering it has been under development for over a decade. Moreover,
Arizona CE has been expected to allocate approximately $15K/year from our
budget for the eXtension assessment.  As originally proposed, eXtension was
supposed to be supported by Congressional appropriations but failing to
achieve this, each state was levied with an assessment amount.

Two years ago, when I first came into this position as Associate Dean and
Director of CE, we were faced with the unpleasant task of carrying out a
budget reduction of nearly 9% of our state allocated funding to CE.  This
was complicated by the fact that CALS and CE had been undergoing budget
reductions regularly for the past 10 years and the accumulative impacts on
our system were readily apparent and quite severe.  At the same time, the
range of national level assessments levied on Arizona CE and the College
continued to increase while our base allocated budgets decreased.  Somewhere
in this process something has to give.

Accordingly, the CALS Executive Council (EC) and the Extension
Administration Team (EAT) worked hard to scrutinize the entire CALS budget,
including CE, in an effort to identify where we were investing our funding,
what benefits were being derived from those investments, and consider
possible impacts if funding would be eliminated for any given expenditure.

My analysis of eXtension, which included many people but certainly not
everyone in CE, rendered a rather negative review in relation to its ability
to address the objectives as I have stated above.  Even creating an
eXtension group here in CE was difficult.  Sheila Merrigan and Barb
Hutchinson tried for many months to convene an eXtension group but
participation was sparse and the group disbanded.  There seemed to be a lack
of interest and surveys consistently showed that few Arizona CE people used
eXtension as a source of information.  

Secondary benefits that were identified with eXtension included the
Communities of Practice (COPs) and the pool of funding for eXtension that
was set aside for grants that participating institutions could apply for.
These beneficial results were recognized but more importantly eXtension was
not meeting the objectives and the principle purpose of the program.  

Thus, based on all the advice and information I had, I decided to eliminate
this $15K expenditure from the CALS CE budget.  This $15K reduction also
saved us from making that cut elsewhere in our budget, resulting in further
cuts in unit allocations, which then would have translated into further
reductions in staff salaries and unit operations.  The elimination of the
eXtension assessment payment was not just about the math but it was a
strategic decision.

Recently, some CALS CE personnel have questioned or criticized this
decision.   Please know that I fully respect these different perspectives.
However, I still maintain that our scarce resources are better put to use
here within Arizona to directly benefit our programs and the people of the
state.  

FOCUS ON PROGRAMS:

The Walk Across Arizona, a community walking program promoting healthy
lifestyles in adults and youth, is celebrating 13th years of fun!  The 2014
Walk Across Arizona program will start this month!  We expect to have more
than 550 people from Green Valley and UA campus (Pima County), Pinal,
Greenlee, and Navajo counties to walk for 8 weeks!

AMERICORPS & VISTA HAVE ADDED TO COOPERATIVE EXTENSION:

Recently, we summarized data on the collective impact of both our VISTA and
AmeriCorps projects to Cooperative Extension and the College of Agriculture.

VISTA - Over the past 5 years, we have engaged the talents of 33 young
people as full-time VISTA volunteers with Cooperative Extension.  Our last 3
members are graduating over the next 2 months.  This has been a great
experience and we have been fortunate to have access to so many gifted young
people who have enriched and strengthened our programs.  The VISTA program
has brought in over $1 million in funding to CALS during this period.  Many
of these VISTA members are now enrolled here in graduate programs at the
University of Arizona or working in community-based agencies.

AmeriCorps - Over the same number of years, we have had 89 full-time
equivalent positions with this program, translating into more than 220
individuals who worked a variety of part-time positions.  Our retention rate
has been 89% with only 26 members exiting without earning the educational
award.  This program has also brought in nearly $2 million in funding to
CALS during this period.

We are now also involved in the National Civilian Conservation Corp program
which has done a lot for the James 4-H Camp and Cooperative Extension
programs in Sierra Vista and Nogales.  We have hosted now a total of 4 teams
with more to come in the next few months.

Thank you to everyone who has collaborated with us on these placements and
your support for utilizing these energetic and passionate young people who
have contributed so much to Extension capacity.

POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT:

The UA College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) is seeking a Research
and Extension Center Resident Director.  This position will provide vision
and leadership to the Maricopa Agricultural Center (MAC), with a mission to
sustain and improve agriculture and communities in Arizona through research
and education of high relevance to the citizens of Arizona.  We seek an
entrepreneurial and visionary leader who will partner with stakeholders and
faculty to plan, manage personnel and resources, and to develop and expand
the economic impact of research and Extension programs of the University of
Arizona.  The successful candidate will provide vision, leadership, and
management for the largest Research and Extension Center in Arizona,
influencing the development and future of one of the most important
agricultural regions of the Southwest.

If you think you know of someone who would be a great fit for this position
or are interested in applying, the posting can be viewed on the HR
CareerTrack website
<https://www.uacareertrack.com/applicants/jsp/shared/frameset/Frameset.jsp?t
ime=1391621095641> .  For questions or suggestions,  contact Channah Rock
<mailto:channah at cals.arizona.edu> . 

CENTENNIAL SHIRT ORDER OPPORTUNITY - FEBRUARY 20 DEADLINE:

A reminder that as part of our CALS Cooperative Extension Centennial
celebrations, we will be placing a group order for a variety of shirt styles
and colors, with the CALS logo on the left and the Extension Centennial logo
on the right.  All shirts will be the Port Authority brand and should be
available by early to mid-March.

One t-shirt style is available in red with the CALS logo on the front left
and the centennial logo large on the back.  Also, it does not come in XS and
we must have at least 24 t-shirts ordered.  If you order a t-shirt and we do
not meet the minimum required, you will be contacted for an alternate
choice.

In addition, shirts A_L607 and J_S607 only come in navy or white and G_L612
is the only one available in Mediterranean blue.  Please make the proper
selection for these even though other selections show.  Most are available
in red, navy or white.

Sample shirt images, logos and shirt specification sheets can be viewed here
<http://goo.gl/KJR3nN> . You will need to open the “0_Shirtimages_Logos.pdf”
file in order to see the images and know what to select on the order form.

Orders must be placed by 5pm, Thursday, February 20.  We will not be able to
accommodate any late orders at these prices.  Methods of payment will be
credit card or check.

To place an order, click here <http://goo.gl/DEagXY>  and complete all
appropriate information.  If you have any questions before you order,
contact Steven Crofts <mailto:scrofts at cals.arizona.edu>  (520.621.7145). 

O’BRIEN ENDOWMENT AWARD CALL FOR PROPOSALS:

The deadline to submit proposals for the College of Agriculture & Life
Sciences (CALS) James P. & Shirley J. O’Brien Endowment is a little of 2½
weeks away.  For detailed information, go to the Proposal Submission
Guidelines
<https://extension.arizona.edu/sites/extension.arizona.edu/files/resources/O
brien-endowment-guidelines.pdf>  and/or the Endowment Gift Agreement
<https://extension.arizona.edu/sites/extension.arizona.edu/files/resources/O
Brien_Gift_Agreement.pdf>  or view previous award proposals and winners
<https://extension.arizona.edu/james-p-shirley-j-obrien-endowment-award> .
Please note that this award differs from the “Shirley O’Brien Diversity
Award” that was designed to honor individuals who have contributed
significantly to promoting diversity and an inclusive environment within
CALS and across campus.  The deadline for proposal submission is Friday,
February 28.  If you have any questions, contact Steven Crofts
<mailto:scrofts at cals.arizona.edu>  (520.621.7145).

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FUNDS POLICY CHANGE:

Professional Development is an important aspect in the career of every
faculty and staff member in CALS. Extension Administration annually makes
support funds available to support the professional career development
through attendance or training for specific educational experiences or
materials or professional meetings/events. To request professional
development funds, Extension faculty should submit this form
<https://extension.arizona.edu/sites/extension.arizona.edu/files/resources/P
D_RequestForm.pdf>  to the appropriate Program Leader (Associate Director)
via pattiB. a minimum of 30 days prior to the conference/meeting or purchase
of materials. The relevant Program Leader, working in consultation with the
Director of Extension and the Extension Administrative Team, is the line of
authority for approval for professional development funds. Effective January
2014, funds are no longer allocated based on FTE.

NEW PUBLICATIONS:

*	Renovating Alfalfa Stands in Arizona
<http://cals.arizona.edu/pubs/crops/az1608.pdf>  by Shawna Loper & Mike
Ottman (pub #az1608)
*	Making Healthier Foods and Physical Activity Choices with
SuperTracker <http://cals.arizona.edu/pubs/health/az1616.pdf>  by Nobuko
Hongu (pub #az1616)
*	Diagnosing Nutrient Deficiencies Quick-Reference
<http://cals.arizona.edu/pubs/crops/az1609.pdf>  by Shawna Loper  (pub
#az1609) 

UPCOMING EVENTS:

Beginning Farmer Program
<http://www.tucsonvillagefarm.org/2014/02/beginning-farmer-program/>  –
February 12 & 26 and March 12 & 26, Pima County Extension Office Conference
Room (4210 N. Campbell Avenue, Tucson).  Led by Ursula Schuch, Trent
Teegerstrom and Russell Tronstad, this 4-part series will provide a
foundation for new and young individuals to develop a business plan for
growing high value specialty crops, utilizing a hoop house.  The program
will have business and production aspects.  Business training will include
developing business and marketing plans, securing financing, and evaluating
the profitability of different crops.  Topics of production that will be
covered include growing in a hoop house, soils, irrigation, starting
transplants, crop species and variety selection, types of plants to grow and
crop planning.  The 4-part series is only $20.  To register, contact Grover
Reitz <mailto:groverreitz at email.arizona.edu> , Tucson Village Farm
(520.626.5161).  

March 6-7 - Walnut Gulch Experimental Watershed 60th Anniversary, Tombstone:
The 58 square mile Walnut Gulch Experimental Watershed will celebrate its
60th Anniversary with a Thursday and Friday morning event on the watershed
near Tombstone.  Sessions will include tours, field and computer sessions
devoted to the new Rangeland Hydrology and Erosion Model (RHEM), as well as
sessions on upland erosion control measures.  CEUs are available through the
Society for Range Management.  There is no registration fee, but
participants will have to provide or purchase lunch.  To review the agenda
and register online (by February 28), go to the Walnut Gulch 60th
Anniversary Celebration website
<http://apps.tucson.ars.ag.gov/swrc60thanniversary/> .  For questions,
contact Phil Heilman <mailto:phil.heilman at ars.usda.gov> . 

March 23-30 - UA Controlled Environment Agriculture Center (CEAC) Spring
Crop Production & Engineering Design Short Course.  The 3 options include
the Full Course, the Lettuce Intensive, or webcast the event from the
comfort of your own home.  Deadline to receive a discounted registration fee
and hotel rate is February 28 (after which you can then reserve your
discounted hotel room at the Westward Look Resort
<http://www.wyndham.com/groupevents2014/TUSGR_2014CEAC/main.wnt> ).  More
information on the course options and hotel are available at the CEAC Short
Course website <https://ag.arizona.edu/ceac/Spring-Short-Course>  or by
emailing Aaron Tevik <mailto:atevik at cals.arizona.edu> . 

Jeffrey C. Silvertooth
Associate Dean & Director, Extension & Economic Development 

Associate Director, Arizona Experiment Station

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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