Tuesday Morning Notes
December 7, 1999
Over 25 faculty and staff attended the initial training for the new Cooperative
Extension Parenting Education Program (a subsidiary of Family Community
Connection) December 3 in Maricopa County. About 60% of the trainees were
newly hired in the few days proceeding the training and were very eager
to learn how to conduct this program in their assigned county. Darcy Dixon
and Beth Tucker presented curriculum and Family Educators from the Pinal
County Parenting Program discussed their successes and failures in delivering
parenting education to families at risk. This training was the first step
in a state-wide parent training program funded in cooperation with the
Department of Economic Security. The goal is to do a pre-and post test
over six months to 400 plus families statewide. Congratulations to Darcy
Dixon for receiving the funding and organizing this new effort.
* Congratulations to the following College of Agriculture faculty who
have been approved for Sabbatic leave during 2000-2001:
Lucy Bradley, Maricopa County Extension: January 1 - December 31, 2000
Robert Call, Cochise County Extension: April 1 - October 1, 2000
Ellen Goldsberry, Family and Consumer Resources: January 1 - June 30,
2000
Dennis Larson, Ag. Biosystems Engineering: January 1 - June 30, 2001
David Rowe, Family and Consumer Resources: Fall Semester 2000 - Spring
Semester 2001
Don Slack, Ag. Biosystems Engineering: July 1 - December 31, 2000
Angela Taylor, Family and Consumer Resources: Fall Semester 2000 -
Spring Semester 2001
Juanita Waits, Maricopa County Extension: July 1 - December 31, 2000
Peter Wierenga, Soil, Water Environmental Sciences: Fall Semester 2000
Paul Wilson, Ag. Resource Economics: Spring Semester 2001
* The Arizona Turfgrass Research Classic Tournament held on Monday,
November 22, 1999 was a big success. Special thanks to the Cactus and Pine
Golf Course Superintendents Association of Arizona, and the many other
sponsors who supported this event. Their support will provide added funds
to further turfgrass research and improve the quality of golf for all Arizonans.
* I noted the following information in Kathy Kristof's Personal Finance
column in the Sunday, December 5, 1999 Arizona Daily Star, and thought
I would share it with you...
Question: Is there any tax advantage for those of us who volunteer our
time for charity? Is mileage tax deductible? What about conventions that
are held out of state? I am a master gardener with University of California
Cooperative Extension and provide many hours of volunteer work. However,
I do drive many miles and attend many events - some of which require air
fare and other expenses. I am very dedicated to this program and will continue
to be, but I was wondering how the IRS accounts for volunteerism. I have
friends who volunteer with senior citizens, children and other charitable
causes, but we have never inquired about whether any of our expenses are
deductible. Are they? - Deb S., Sacramento, CA.
Answer: Yes. You cannot deduct the value of your time. But, you can
deduct mileage and other out-of-pocket, unreimbursed expenses incurred
while rendering service to a charity. Deductions are also allowed for transportation
and other travel expenses, including meals and lodging, incurred while
performing charitable service away from home, as long as there is no significant
element of personal pleasure, recreation or
vacation. If the trip is part pleasure, the deductions will be disallowed.
For the mileage expenses, you can deduct your actual costs (of gasoline,
oil, etc), excluding the cost of depreciation and insurance on your car.
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Jim Christenson, Director
Cooperative Extension, College of Agriculture
Phone: 520/621-7209
FAX #: 520/621-1314
jimc@cals.arizona.edu
http://cals.arizona.edu/extension/
http://cals.arizona.edu/extension/director/jacindex.html
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