Tuesday Morning Notes

October 4, 2005


A tele-forum will be held on Wednesday, October 19 from 10:00-11:00am for those interested in providing input on the search for the new president. Each off-campus office will have access. We want to strongly encourage the public to have input and are encouraging all off-campus units to participate so that we have good input. It is not often that we get the opportunity to talk to a member of Board of Regents (who is also the chair of the UA Presidential Search Committee) to articulate the vision of “Land Grant” and the value of Cooperative Extension programs and the ag centers. So, let’s make sure we have a good turnout. For communities with daily or weekly papers, we should advertise the opportunity. Suggested wording for a newspaper ad would be:

The UA Presidential Search Committee
Invites YOU To
Share Your Thoughts About the Qualities Needed
in the Next President of The University of Arizona
and the Issues Facing the UA in the Next Several Years

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 10 – 11 AM

Come to the Extension Service Office, ____________, for a “Tele-Forum”

Take Advantage of this Chance to
Give Your Input to the Search Committee!

Note: If you’re unable to participate in this meeting, you can comment through e-mail to
Anne.Barton@asu.edu or call Anne Barton at 602-229-2543

We are pleased to welcome Bill Peterson back to Arizona after several months of retirement in Minnesota. Many of us wonder what brings him south for the winter. Bill will be working quarter time for about two months this fall and again for two months in the spring to review county programs and overall state efforts related to Civil Rights. He will be reviewing files, the desk audit and other diversity issues. He will not be working in 4-H, but will be spending the majority of his time on the road in counties beginning in Apache County on October 17. I know Bill is looking forward to seeing all of you again.

Provost George Davis has just announced the call for nominations for the University Distinguished Outreach Faculty award. This award was established by President Peter Likins in 2003 to recognize faculty who have made outstanding contributions to outreach at the University of Arizona, in the State of Arizona and the nation and have demonstrated sustained excellence in the University's outreach mission: ".improving the quality of life for the people of Arizona and the Nation." Award recipients will be honored in a ceremony in 2006. Complete information and criteria about the University Distinguished Outreach Faculty may be viewed and downloaded at: http://provost.web.arizona.edu/outreach.html. Congratulations to Dr. Tim Dennehy (Entomology) who received the first University Distinguished Outreach Faculty Award last year.

In partnership with NRCS, Cooperative Extension is sponsoring a workshop on Thursday, October 6th, 2005 at the Maricopa County Extension Office to facilitate networking and synergy between our two organizations. State Conservationist David McKay will discuss CSP 2006 Watersheds and Watershed Protection Efforts and which natural resource issues are of most concern to NRCS. Extension will introduce our watershed programs to NRCS personnel, and together we will identify how we can work together, build synergy between our respective programs, and influence and prioritize which agricultural practices receive CSP funding. Please contact Kristine Uhlman for further information.

SAVE THE DATE – October 11, 9:00-11:30am (PDT) for “Stormwater Management from a Watershed Perspective,” the fourth in the Watershed Issues Series Satellite and Videostream Conference at the Maricopa County Extension Office. The satellite/videostream program, made available through an USDA-CSREES Section 406 water quality grant, will be broadcast to Land Grant University Cooperative Extension offices across the nation. The University of Arizona Maricopa County Extension office invites you to attend!

Last week basic information on eXtension was provided. This week, we introduce our eXtension Institutional Team: Deborah Young, Associate Director; Mike Crimmins, Climate Specialist; Linda Masters , EIRP/ANR/4-H Agent and La Paz County Director; Sheila Merrigan, Extension Programs; Robert Casler, Publications Director, ECAT; Barbara Hutchinson, Director Arid Lands Information Center, Office of Arid Lands Studies; Doug Jones, Librarian, UA Science and Engineering Library. This team has requested that each Extension faculty and staff member, nationwide, contribute five to ten Frequently Asked Questions to the eXtension FAQ database. If you'd like to participate, see the FAQ's Guidelines at http://intranet.extension.org/index.php?module=articles&func=display&aid=160 or talk to one of the team members. Working groups may wish to consider submitting questions that highlight the work they do.

In recognition of National 4-H Week, Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESR) has announced it will offer a software grant program for U.S. 4-H clubs in 2006. Proposals will be accepted from 4-H groups to conduct community mapping projects using GIS (Geographic Information Systems) and GPS (Global Positioning Systems) technologies. Many traditional 4-H programs are beginning to integrate geospatial knowledge, building a strong foundation for future learning. ESRI will award grants of GIS club software and learning resources to U.S. 4-H groups whose community mapping project proposals are approved. More about 4-H GIS/GPS projects can be found on the web at http://www.4-h.org/tech/gisgps and http://www.tnstate.edu/iager/gisgps/main.htm. Proposals will be accepted from January 1-March 30, 2006. Applicants will describe their existing GIS/GPS programs and efforts, if any, and their plan for using GIS in their local program for 2006. To register for notification of the 4-H Grant application and selection guidelines, you must register to receive an e-mail notification from ESRI on 4-H grant opportunities at www.esri.com/grants. If you have a question about the ESRI GIS Grants for 4-H email or go to www.esri.com/4-H. To learn more about 4-H GIS/GPS Integration Projects, contact CSREES national program leader Tom Tate (202-720-2727).







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