[Staff] CALES Staff Council News Flash

[Vann, Kristen - (akvann)]

Greetings,

Below is the CALES Staff Council News Flash with lots of information.  We have also attached the News Flash as a pdf.

Thank you,
CALES Staff Council

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CALES Staff Council News Flash

The CALES Staff Council<https://compass.arizona.edu/content/alvsce-staff-council> is a group of dedicated staff members working to support and advocate for all staff and post-docs across the College. As members of the CALES Staff Council, we aim to represent the interests of all staff within by advocating with executive leaders, promoting greater awareness of initiatives throughout the division, and sharing engaging and professional development events for staff to elevate their expertise and connect with others across the college.

Website: https://compass.arizona.edu/staff/alvsce-staff-council
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Announcements

A very big THANK YOU to those who participated in the CALES Winter Door Decoration Contest.  Lots of creativity and fun.  The winner of the contest is drumroll please, Southern Arizona Experiment Station.  Their theme was "Hogwarts Invitation Received."

All the door decorations were fabulous.  They include:

  *   Cooperative Extension - Pinal County: "Outside Looking In"
  *   DBS Team 1: "Baby, it's cold outside"
  *   Cooperative Extension - Gila County: "Snowy Christmas Tree/Little Elf/Santa Delivering"
  *   Cooperative Extension - Pinal County - EFNEP: "Enjoy some Hot Cocoa"
  *   Take Charge Cats: "Christmas Cactus and Gingerbread Village"

Everyone deserves an honorable mention for getting into the spirit and participating.  Thank you!

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Upcoming Events

CALES Food Drive
February 1, 2026 - March 31, 2026

The CALES Staff Council is coordinating a CALES Food Drive in February and March to help people in-need, and as part of the UA Be Kind, Bear Down Initiative, https://facultyaffairs.arizona.edu/be-kind-bear-down-initiative.

We will have one bin at the Campus Agricultural Center, main business office; one in Forbes 322; and one in Shantz 403.  If you are on-campus and your unit would like a bin, please reach to Aaron Tevik, atevik at arizona.edu<mailto:atevik at arizona.edu>.   Attached is a list of items the Campus Pantry currently needs; however, other food items are happily accepted.  More information can be found here, https://campuspantry.arizona.edu/.

If you are off-campus and would like to participate, please reach out to your closest Food Bank for bins and donation information.

The CALES Staff Council would like to share contribution news and pictures on our webpage.  Please select a unit representative and have that person send pictures and updates to ALVSCE-Staff-Council at teams.arizona.edu<mailto:ALVSCE-Staff-Council at teams.arizona.edu>.  For every week the unit representative sends us an update and at least one picture, that unit will receive a raffle ticket for a Pizza or Donut Party for their office.  Drawing from the raffle will take place the first week of April.

CALES Outstanding Staff Award
February 6, 2026 Deadline

The CALES Outstanding Staff Award is a great opportunity to celebrate the hard work, dedication, and contributions of our incredible CALES, Cooperative Extension, and Arizona Experiment Station staff.  This year we will continue with presenting and honoring all four award recipients once a year, each receiving a $1,000 monetary award and individual plaques.

February Open Forum
Date TBD

More details to come, but we would love ideas!  Please send them to ALVSCE-Staff-Council at teams.arizona.edu<mailto:ALVSCE-Staff-Council at teams.arizona.edu>.
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Professional Development

CALES Staff Council Professional Development - QPR Suicide Prevention Gatekeeper Trainings Spring 2026

Question. Persuade. Refer. Help save a life with three simple steps.

Just as people trained in CPR help save thousands of lives each year, people trained in QPR learn to recognize the warning signs of suicide and to question, persuade, and refer someone to help. Each year, thousands of Americans like you are saying "yes" to saving the life of a friend, colleague, family member, or neighbor.

CALES Staff Council is partnering with UA Life & Work Connections to hold two QPR trainings this semester. Due to the structure of the trainings, Life and Work Connections do not conduct hybrid QPR sessions so we are offering one in-person training and one fully online training.

In Person Training
Fully Online Training
Friday, February 13, 2026
U of A Main Campus, ENR2, S215
10:00AM - 12:00PM
RSVP Here<https://forms.gle/gLi4hJcjbsovQCkb7>
**Limited to 30 participants**

Friday, March 27, 2026
Fully online via Zoom
10:00AM - 12:00PM
Register Here<https://arizona.zoom.us/meeting/register/60x6xGyzTUW6n6svlNV6vw>
**Limited to 50 participants**

This important training will help provide skills to have a conversation with someone and get them the help they need. We hope to see you there!

Seeds for Success New Employee Workshop
March 9, 2026 at Campus Agricultural Center - In Person
All Day (Exact times TBD)

This is for new employees; however, registration will also be open to current employees if space allows.

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