Thanks to Scottie Misner for hosting the state EFNEP in-service. It was a
great opportunity for Extension faculty and staff delivering programs on
nutrition education to share effective curricula, to learn about other
counties, and to form partnerships.
* On March 22, 2000, representatives from all 15 counties, Human Resources
and University legal counsel gathered at the Sheraton Four Points Hotel to
review, discuss and approve the new volunteer policy. This meeting was a
result of several months of work by a volunteer policy committee chaired by
Bill Peterson. The following policy is now in effect for Cooperative
Extension volunteers: Cooperative Extension Volunteer Policy Statement.
Volunteers make a valuable contribution to Arizona Cooperative Extension
and serve at the pleasure of the program. They provide time and expertise
without expecting monetary or other compensation. Volunteers contribute
their skills, talents and experiences to strengthen all aspects of the
program and support its mission. They work at the direction of Cooperative
Extension personnel to make better use of limited resources and reach more
youth and adults. Selection and retention of volunteers is based on the
interests, skills and talents of the individual and the needs of the
program at the time. While Arizona Cooperative Extension depends and
appreciates the valuable service of volunteers, the needs of the program
vary from time to time and place to place. It is the program's goal to
effectively utilize available resources including volunteers. Volunteers
serve at the invitation of the University of Arizona and their
participation in Cooperative Extension programs may be discontinued at any
time by the County Extension employee responsible for the program. Before
discontinuing an individual's volunteer status, the responsible employee
shall obtain approval from his/her supervisor. The volunteer will be
notified in writing and the decision regarding the volunteer's
participation is final.
* The March 23, 2000 issue of The Chronicle of Philanthropy (page 12, by
Stephen G. Greene) provides information from a report, "Grants: Corporate
Grantmaking for Racial and Ethnic Communities" (a summary of the report --
based on giving in 1995, the latest year for which figures were available
-- is found at http://www.ncrp.org). "America's principal minority groups -
blacks, Hispanics, Asian Pacific Americans and American Indians - together
make up about 28 percent of the U.S. population, the report notes. But a
survey of 124 major companies in 15 industries shows that just 14 percent
of their grants go to programs primarily intended to benefit such groups."
However, "...Of the companies profiled, some earmarked virtually all their
grants for the benefit of minority groups, while others made no such grants
at all. Among the most generous, as a percentage of their total giving,
were the Matsushita Electric Corporation of America and its subsidiary
Panasonic Foundation, Hitachi America, American Honda Motor Company, Levi
Strauss and Company, and the Paine Webber Group. Companies that gave the
most cash to minority groups included American International Group, Exxon
Corporation, General Mills, the St. Paul Companies, Aetna, the Coca-Cola
Company, Levi Strauss, and Bank of America, all of which gave more than $5
million to programs directed at minority groups....." [several large
corporations did not provide information for the survey, however and the
writers of the report are hoping to include them in a subsequent report.]