On June 13, a group of Canadians from the First Nations Agricultural Council of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan toured the San Carlos Apache Reservation with extension agent Sabrina Tuttle. They visited the Tribal farms alfalfa operation and the R100 Tribal ranch. The members of the tour represented the Selkirk Dene Nation, the Cree Nation, the Blood Tribe of the Blackfoot Nation, the Algonquin Nation, the Maori Tribe of New Zealand, the director of the First Nations Agricultural Council, and faculty from the University of Saskatchewan. During the tour they also visited the Udall Center at UA, Gila River Indian reservation, and the Tohono O'Odham Nation.
OUTREACH EFFORTS:
The Summer 2006 UA Report on Research , a new report out of the Vice President for Research Office, is now available online and features many stories related to Extension including the BEST program, Colorado River research, bark beetles, Grandparents Raising Grandchildren and KKONA, Rangeview, and the 4-H Military program. The report is available in a pdf format (see link above) and you are encouraged to print copies of relevant articles to market our Extension programs.
FOCUS ON FACULTY:
I am pleased to announce that as of July 1, Dr. Dan McDonald is in a new status as Area Family and Consumer Science Assistant Agent and Assistant Regional Specialist. Dan will continue his work in Pima County and will assist Santa Cruz County with their nutrition education program. He will also work with the Norton School of Family and Consumer Sciences on appropriate research and extension activities.
Congratulations to Patty Merk, Area Agent in Maricopa County. She has been selected as one of 48 individuals nationally for the Children's Defense Fund Emerging Leaders Project. This leadership and advocacy professional development program began in 1999 and has 250 graduates.
Congratulations to Monica Pastor, 4-H Agent in Maricopa County. She was elected President of the National Agriculture in the Classroom Consortium at their annual meeting in New Jersey on June 24. She will serve in this position for one year and will preside as President during the USDA National Ag in the Classroom Annual meeting, June 2007, in New Orleans.
Congratulations to Kerry Schwartz in her new position as extension specialist, Department of Agricultural Education. Kerry facilitates and promotes water educational outreach statewide. Much of her work focuses on teachers, but she works with public and student education programs as well. As the State Coordinator for Project WET International, a nationally recognized, teacher-tested program, she coordinates a network of Project WET facilitators and conducts educator and facilitator workshops, among other duties.
On June 27-28, Sabrina Tuttle attended the “Building Futures with Mother Earth: Indigenous Development” Conference as a guest speaker in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. Her presentation was titled "University of Arizona Indian Country Extension." Many First Nations Tribes of Saskatchewan, including those on the Arizona tour, also attended the conference, as well as 6 members of the Maori Tribe of New Zealand.
FACULTY CONFERENCE ANNOUNCEMENTS:
- The conference registration deadline is just two days (July 14) away for this year's CALS Faculty Conference (with Poster Exhibit submissions due by July 21). Conference dates are August 15-17 and it will be held at the Westward Look Resort . If you are planning to attend and have not yet registered, please go to http://cals.arizona.edu/registration/2006FC/ and register today. In addition you can view the tentative agenda and/or submit a poster exhibit proposal).
- Nominations for the Extension Faculty of the Year Award and the Extensionist of the Year Award are due to our office by July 14. The Faculty of the Year award will be presented at the 2006 Faculty Conference and is CALS way of recognizing faculty accomplishments. The recipient will receive $1,000 and a plaque. The Extensionist of the Year award will be presented at a college-wide event in Spring 2007 and recognizes a resident of the State of Arizona who has contributed time and talent, through Cooperative Extension, to citizens of his/her community and the state. An Extension Faculty of the Year Award nomination form and criteria are located at http://ag.arizona.edu/awards/extfacultyawd.html and criteria and nomination information for the Extensionist of the Year Award can be found at http://ag.arizona.edu/extension/pdf_files/nominationformandcriteria.pdf . If you have any questions, please contact me at 621-7205.
- Don't forget to submit your high resolution, high quality photographs for use in a PowerPoint presentation at the CALS faculty conference. They will be used as a part of a brief introduction to the diversity of CALS research, education and extension programs and people during the opening luncheon on August 15 with new UA president, Robert Shelton. Photographs should depict the people and activities in your department and/or clearly depict a project and the people involved. They should be sharp, in good focus, and at least 300 dpi. Send photos to Joanne Littlefield no later than July 30 and contact her with any questions (602-212-9159).
FUNDING NEWS:
The Family and Consumer Sciences Extension Development Fund is announcing mini-grant funding opportunities. Five $1,000 mini-grants are being offered. This endowed fund from the University of Arizona Foundation provides accrued interest to be used to support and enhance Family and Consumer Sciences Extension programs where regular annual university budget allocations are unavailable. Funds are to be utilized by or through Family and Consumer Sciences Extension faculty members to enhance county or statewide Extension educational program efforts. Lead faculty members must have county Family and Consumer Science responsibilities to apply; other state and county faculty are encouraged as collaborators. The deadline for application is July 30, 2006. For proposal application and further details, go to the FCSEDF grant website . For more information, contact Cynthia Flynn (520-626-5161).
UPDATING FACULTY BIOS:
A reminder that faculty can request biography changes for the biography that appears as a "More Info" link next to their name on our Extension directory website. To do this: 1) click "More Info" next to your name, 2) scroll down and click on "Edit Biography" (located on the left side in small print), 3) enter a username/password to enter the edit screen, 4) indicate which section or sections are being updated by unchecking the "No Change" checkbox, and 5) make edits and click the "Submit Changes for Review" button. Changes are not made automatically, but will be forwarded to Steven Crofts for approval and should show within a few days. If you have any questions on this process, contact Steven Crofts or Robert Armstrong.
NEW PUBLICATIONS:
A new and free publication, “Sustaining Agriculture in Arizona” is now available through the Publications Distribution Center (PDC) using our promotional materials order form .
The “ How Many Animals Can I Graze On My Pasture? ” may prove useful to counties with an increasing amount of small ranchettes. Check it out.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
A rainwater harvesting conference, "Looking Ahead: Managing Stormwater and Harvesting Rainwater for Conservation" will be held in Tucson on October 27-28. For more information, visit the CATCH Water website and go to the ARCSA SW Regional Conference link.