Tuesday Morning Notes

September 6, 2005


At the joint AEA/ASRED meeting held this week in Charleston, SC, Extension Directors and Administrators agreed whole-heartedly to assist Extension faculty and staff, predominantly in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama, who have suffered personal loss as a result of Hurricane Katrina. Many Extension employee families lost their homes and/or possessions and Extension is providing a mechanism for voluntary personal cash donations from the Extension System faculty and staff. The funds collected will be distributed through Extension Directors and Administrators in the affected states who will identify Extension faculty and staff who have suffered from Hurricane Katrina's devastation. A committee (James Wade, Clyde Chesney, Linda William-Willis, Joe Zublena and Bernadette Hinkle) has been appointed to help facilitate the acceptance and distribution of funds to assist Extension faculty and staff in those parishes and counties that have suffered personal loss. The details of where and how to make contributions and donations will be available later this week. Efforts are underway to make it an easy and accessible process for all in the Extension system.

Congratulations to Sharon Hoelscher Day and Kitt Farrell-Poe for receiving funding from the Water Resources Research Center (WRRC). Their project "Home Water Quality Hotline and Web Outreach" was awarded directed initiatives funds for fiscal year 2006. The WRRC supports specific project areas that are important to the state and are aligned with the mission of the center. The WRRC is pleased to support the proposed consumer information system for water quality.

Dan McDonald and Lisa Lauxman have received "special needs" funding from CSREES. The goal of the project is to develop, in conjunction with Sunnyside School District, a local wellness policy that will address goals for nutrition education and physical activity and include a pilot project of implementation to truly develop sustainable change by involving the community of parents, students, and representatives of the school food authority, the school board, school administrators and the public.

As AZ 4-H Military Liaison, Lisa Lauxman announces the receipt of a 2 year grant, Arizona's Operation: Military Kids, that will seek to provide support by bringing together youth and families of National Guard and Reserve military for educational programs in a fun and relaxing atmosphere. A statewide OMK partnership will be formed with representatives from Boys and Girls Club, the Arizona Department of Education, American Legion, the Arizona Air and Army National Guard and the Arizona Army Reserve to provide infrastructure for sustainability and support within the local communities and leverage efforts and resources.

Many have been asking about the status of the formation of the Arizona Virtual Water University. The latest issue of The Arizona Water Resource includes Sharon Megdal's column entitled "The Arizona Virtual Water University is Becoming a Reality." The column can be accessed at http://www.cals.arizona.edu/AZWATER/presentations/megdal-p&p.html . The entire newsletter is posted on the Water Resources Research Center's web site, www.cals.arizona.edu/azwater/.

Wade Albrecht, Coconino County and Barron Orr, Geospatial Extension Specialist are holding a professional development opportunity for those interested in learning more about Digital Field Mapping with the Geospatial Tool Kit. The workshop will be held on October 12, 2005, 8:30 am to 2:30pm in Flagstaff (Coconino County Cooperative Extension office). For more information, click on the attached pdf file http://cals.arizona.edu/extension/download/GPS_ProfessionalDevelopmentWorkshop.pdf(username: cals, password: ua) or contact Wade at (928) 774-1868.

The Arizona Community Vitality Initiative Workgroup is making available three $1,000 competitive grants to promote university and community partnerships in community vitality/community development. A university community partnership is required. Matching funds are encouraged but not required. The deadline for submission of electronic applications is September 30, 5:00 p.m. For more information and detailed instructions for application, please point your browser at http://ag.arizona.edu/pimaand click on the downloadable application form and instructions. For more information, contact Cynthia Flynn.

The University of Arizona Office of the Vice President for Research, Graduate Studies and Economic Development and the University of Arizona Foundation continue to support the Faculty Small Grants Program. Awards of up to $10,000 are made on a competitive basis for projects involving research or other creative scholarly activity. Proposals are due Wednesday, September 14, 2005. More information and instructions can be found at http://www.vpr.arizona.edu/smallgrants/index.html.

A workshop on livestock health and animal identification for Arizona producers will be held Tuesday, September 20, 2005, from 6:00­9:00 pm, by the Mohave County Cooperative Extension. The workshop will be held in Kanab. Speakers include Rob Grumbles, Peder Cuneo, Bob Kattnig and Al Davis (from the Arizona Department of Agriculture). For more information, contact Rob.

Reminder: The CALS grant routing procedure states that TWO copies of the proposal (includes abstract, budget narrative and budget), proposal routing sheet, cost-sharing worksheet (if applicable) and indirect cost waiver justification (if applicable) are required. See http://ag.arizona.edu/aas/home/ROUTING.HTM.

Maricopa County Extension is looking for an extension agent in water/natural resources. The position description is listed at https://www.uacareertrack.com/applicants/jsp/shared/frameset/Frameset.jsp?time=1125950562637 . Please help us advertise this position.





James A. Christenson, Ph.D.
(jimc@cals.arizona.edu)
Associate Dean and Director
Arizona Cooperative Extension
Forbes, Room 301
Tucson, Arizona 85721
520/621-7205
520/621-1314 FAX