Tuesday Morning Notes

February 1st, 2000


Just a note to express our sincere thanks to Harry Ayer for all his special efforts pertaining to Choices magazine. Harry has made "Choices" a nationally respected Magazine. He has completed his term as editor and is looking forward to his sabbatical where he is working with colleagues in Europe for a version of "Euro-Choices." Thanks for making us look good Harry!

* "Mas Cerca que Nunca" The Tucson-Mexico Project members met at the Meat Science Lab Friday morning. The goal of this two-year old group is to promote cooperative projects between Tucson and Sonora. They meet three times a year and Shirley O'Brien hosted the meeting for over 40 participants. This group usually meets in the top hotels of the city so the Meats Lab was a new "educational" experience for them. Beside the usual business program, John Marchello discussed the purpose, products and training that goes on in the lab, Russ Tronstad presented a power-point program of the Strategic Economic Development Vision Study and Bruce Russell logged onto the Arizona-Mexico AZMET web site to demonstrate how researchers and producers in Ciudad Obregon are using the data. Augie Garcia, the project director, called this meeting one of the most successful ever held.

* Many thanks to everyone who supported the Arizona Crop Improvement Association's 67th Annual Meeting held at the Sheraton Tucson Hotel and Suites, January 24 and 25, 2000. George Frisvold, Hal Moser, Merle Jensen, and Pat Clay did outstanding jobs representing the College of Agriculture in their presentations.

* Corky Poster, his students, and the Drachman Institute recently completed the Safford Downtown Revitalization Plan. The Community Planning and Design Workshop assisted the City of Safford and downtown merchants in the development of a preliminary plan for the revitalization of the downtown area. In particular, they developed urban design, landscape and planning ideas to make downtown Safford a more interesting, pedestrian-oriented, economically vital area. The project was completed in May of 1999. Congratulations!

* A special thanks to Bob Kattnig for his recent SWIAA efforts. When a major presentor withdrew, Bob prepared an outstanding presentation with a 24 hour notice, taught a class, drove to Parker, made his presentation, and is now taking an active leadership role in the upcoming Indian Livestock Field Days in April (see below). I really appreciate his EXTRA efforts supporting the Native American population across our state. Thanks Bob!

* Announcing the 11th Annual Native American Indian Livestock Field Days, April 19-20 at the Fort McDowell Yavapai Indian Community, Fountain Hills, Arizona. The field days are sponsored by SWIAA and the University of Arizona. Additional information will be going out in late February. Please start notifying your clientele about these dates. If you have any questions, please direct them to Bob Kattnig at 520/621-9757 or by e-mail to rkattnig@cals.arizona.edu.

* We learned yesterday that Elaine Hassinger, Assistant in Extension, located at Big MAC, will be moving to the next step of her career after nine years with Arizona Cooperative Extension. She worked with Jack Watson and more recently with Kitt Farrell Poe. We appreciate her tremendous contribution to Water programs throughout the Southwest. If you want to wish her well, you better hurry ­ her last day is Friday, February 4, 2000. Our Best Wishes for a prosperous future Elaine.

* Human Resources is pleased to announced "A Man on the Moon in This Century: Vision to Mission to Plan". This development program, offered from 8:30 - Noon on Thursday, February 10, will cover tools, strategies, and approaches for creating collaborative plans that lead to amazing results. This program is open to all members of the University community and counts as an elective for those enrolled in the University Leadership Institute. You may register by e-mail at hrsignup@u.arizona.edu, or by calling Rebecca Kinsey at 621-7701. For further information on these development programs and others, visit: http://hr2.hr.arizona.edu/development.

Reminder:

- Nationally renowned cowboy poet Baxter Black will perform in Tucson on Monday, February 21 at a benefit dinner and concert. Proceeds will go to the University of Arizona Livestock Judging Team. Dinner tickets are $100 which includes preferred seating at the concert (partly tax deductible). Tickets for the concert are $20 per person and are not tax deductible. Call Beth Carter in the Agriculture Development and Alumni Office at 520/621-7190 for more information.

UPCOMING MEETINGS:

- The 5th Annual Vegetable Field Day will be held February 22, 2000 at the UofA's Maricopa Agricultural Center. The program should be finalized soon.
- The Direct Farm Marketing Conference will be held on March 9 in Phoenix at Heritage Square.
- The Agribusiness Forum will be held April 21, in Mesa.




James A. Christenson, Ph.D. (jimc@cals.arizona.edu)

http://cals.arizona.edu/extension/director/
Associate Dean and Director
Arizona Cooperative Extension
Forbes, Room 301
Tucson, Arizona 85721
520/621-7209
520/621-1314 FAX