* Extra!!! Next Annual Conference will be the 3rd week in May, 2002 at a
Luxury Resort in Tucson. Mark your calendars now! Drum roll please!
Evaluation results of the 2000 CALS Annual Conference are in. Overall, the
conference was rated "good". There were many fine suggestions received by
the committee that will be implemented for the next conference. After a
final wrap-up meeting, the 2000 Annual Conference committee made the
following recommendations: 1) that the next Annual Conference focus on
program planning and in-service training for those involved in outreach
programs, 2) expand the conference to a 3-day, 2 night format, 3) move the
next conference date to the latter part of May 2002 and hold it at a resort
in the Tucson area to take advantage of off-season reasonable rates, and 4)
send out a questionnaire to solicit input on topics for an in-depth
in-service (as well as how the conference should be structured, and other
issues). Ed Martin and Lisa Lauxman have agreed to serve as co-chairs along
with Lucy Bradley who will be co-chair elect for the 2002 Annual Conference.
* Approximately 180 people attended the 13th annual Southwestern Indian
Agriculture Association conference in Parker last week. The conference
theme was "Land and Water...The Future of Indian Agriculture". Several
presentations were made which dealt with water issues, including leasing
and marketing, instream flows, wildlife habitat values, and irrigation
improvements. A tour of the Colorado River Indian Tribes farming operations
and wildlife preserve were highlights of the meetings. Speakers, panelists
and moderators from U of A/CALS included Collin Kaltenbach, Don Slack, Joe
Hiller, Dave Langston, Leslie Honaker, Howard Jones, Prunell Charley, Joe
Graham, and Fred Swader (new adjunct professor in Ag and Biosystems
Engineering). Other U of A personnel included Bob Varaday and Ann
Browning-Allen from the Udall Center.
* Over 20 people attended the CHAPS meeting in Pima County last Thursday.
Plans for the next year were articulated. My thanks to the CHAPS Education
Committee for their hard work: Doug Taren, Linda Block, Linda Houtkooper,
Lisa Lauxman, and Sarah Hortman.
* Grant seeking .. how do you do it? Sheila Merrigan has put together a 3
hour presentation on program development, funding sources, proposal
writing, and proposal routing procedures. Contact Sheila at 520-626-6543 or
merrigan@cals.arizona.edu for more information or to schedule a presentation
at your location.
* Arizona Pecan & Wine Festival is scheduled for February 10 at Camp Verde
Community Center. Contact Jeff Schalau for details.
* Using Library Online Databases (electronic class) - A general
introduction to using databases available via the University of Arizona
library. Basic introduction including how to connect to the databases,
deciding which databases to use, how to search the databases, and how to
obtain articles. This class is targeting off-campus Cooperative Extension
faculty and staff and will focus on their needs, however, other college
personnel are welcome. This is a 4 week class with lessons posted each
week. Registration is required. Go to
http://cals.arizona.edu/ecat/classes/register.html to register. Restricted to
CALS employees, students, and volunteers. February 6 through February 27,
weekly lessons, no face-to-face meetings. Instructor: Sheila Merrigan.