ADMINISTRATORS MEETING NOTES:
The minutes from the June 27 administrators meeting in Casa Grande (which included county directors, department heads, school directors, and ag center directors) are available on line at http://cals.arizona.edu/extension/employee/administrative_meeting/062707_notes.pdf. I wrote up these minutes, so any inaccuracies will be mine. Although several people reviewed the document, we did not capture all the information at end of meeting, but overall, a good executive summary. If you have any additional thoughts, get them to me.
FOCUS ON FACULTY:
- Because of the 2005 Decision Package, we have been able to hire many new faculty in both agent and specialist positions. Recent agent positions and start dates are: Stephanie Shank (Assistant Agent, 4-H Youth Development, Yavapai County - February 26 ), Cynthia Warzecha (Area Assistant Agent, Natural Resources & Agriculture, Coconino County & also serving Yavapai County, February 26 ) Kevin Rice (Area Assistant Agent, Agriculture, Pinal County & also serving Maricopa and northern Pima County, July 2 ), Erin Taylor (Area Assistant Agent, Agriculture, Maricopa County & also serving northern Pima County and Pinal County, July 2 ), Bill Brandau (Graham County Director & Area Agent, August 6 ). Recent specialist positions and start dates are: Todd Bilby (Assistant Specialist, Animal Sciences, February 19 ), and Channah Rock (Assistant Specialist, Soils, Water & Environmental Science, August 1 ). In addition, we have had several agents take on new responsibilities in other counties: Juanita Waits became the Navajo County Extension Director and Darcy Dixon became the Santa Cruz County Extension Director on July 1 , Dean Fish and Steve Campbell became area agents, Kurt Nolte takes over the position of Yuma County Extension Director as of November 1 (following Vickie Steinfelts retirement), and Cynthia Flynn took on the additional role of Interim County Director in Maricopa County. We have several additional positions pending and will provide a complete listing to you in September.
- Congratulations to Al Fournier (IPM Program Manager, Maricopa Agricultural Center) who recently received an achievement award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for "outstanding contributions to the national IPM in Schools effort."
ADDRESS CHANGE:
As of July 1, the zip code for the Maricopa Agricultural Center changed.slightly. It is now 85238 (formerly 85239). If you use the Zip+4 system, it would be 85238-3010. Please note and change on any mailing labels and lists you have (since the postal service has been known to return mail for even one digit being wrong in a zip code or a street address).
UPCOMING EVENTS & DEADLINES:
- There will be a Nutritional Sciences Seminar on Tuesday, July 17 at 1:00pm in Marley 230 (and possibly using the Breeze system). Guest speaker, Dr. Margaret Harris (Assistant Professor, UAMS, College of Health Related Professions Department of Dietetics and Nutrition), will be talking on Can Children Teach Parents Nutrition? A brief political background regarding ACT 1220 in Arkansas will be presented. As a result of this act, schools need to have some type of nutrition in their curriculums and one way this provision is addressed is through Cooperative Extensions work through the Food Stamp and Nutrition Education Program. Future endeavors that are being piloted will also be discussed. Contact Vanessa Stanford (520.626.4920) for more information.
- Peter Gleick (co-founder and president of the Pacific Institute for Studies in Development, Environment, and Security) will discuss innovate strategies for achieving sustainable water use at a public lecture at Temple Emanu-El, 225 N. Country Club, Tucson, Thursday, August 30 , 7:30pm. The lecture is free and open to the public. Sponsors of the event include Pima County, Arizona Hydrological Society, Southwest Hydrology, Southern Arizona Leadership Council and Temple Emanu-El, the Water Resources Research Center and the Institute for the Study of Planet Earth. For more information, contact Sharon Megdal (Water Resources Research Center) or Gregg Garfin (Institute for the Study of Planet Earth).