FOCUS ON FACULTY:
The following is an updated list of agent and specialist positions we've been able to hire during 2007 because of the 2005 Decision Package and other state funds: Todd Bilby (Assistant Specialist in Dairy, Animal Sciences, February 19 ), 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 ), Erin Taylor (Area Assistant Agent, Agriculture, Maricopa County & also serving northern Pima County and Pinal County, June 4) , Kevin Rice (Area Assistant Agent, Agriculture, Pinal County & also serving Maricopa and northern Pima County, July 9 ), Mark Apel (Area Associate Agent, Community Resource Development, Cochise County, serving Southern Arizona, August 1 ), Channah Rock (Assistant Specialist, Soils, Water & Environmental Science, August 1 ), Erik Glenn (Area Assistant Agent, Community Resource Development, Yavapai County, serving Northern Arizona, August 15 ), Pedro Andrade-Sanchez (Assistant Specialist, Maricopa Ag Center, August 23 ), Bill Brandau (Graham County Director & Area Agent, September 4 ), Monica Pastor (Maricopa County Director, September 24 ), and Stacey Bealmer (Assistant Agent, Urban Horticulture, Yuma County, January 2, 2008 ). In addition, we are expecting Lauren Romig (Assistant Agent, 4-H Youth Development & Youth & Family, Graham County , November 13 ) and Doug Tolleson (Natural Resources Specialist located at the V Bar V, starting in 2008). In addition, three Extension faculty took over as county directors on July 1 -- Melvina Adolf ( Greenlee County ), Darcy Dixon ( Santa Cruz County ), and Juanita Waits ( Navajo County ), and Kurt Nolte will take over the position of Yuma County Extension Director as of October 1 .
2007 CALS & EXTENSION STAFF IN-SERVICE REGISTRATIONS DUE SOON:
As previously announced, the 2007 CALS & Extension Staff In-Services will take place on Thursday, October 11 from 10:45am-5:00pm for all CALS staff at the Tanque Verde Ranch (14301 E. Speedway Blvd.) and on Friday, October 12 , from 8:00am-1:30pm for Extension staff at the Hilton Tucson East ( 7600 E. Broadway Blvd. ).
If you're planning to come and have not yet registered, be sure to do so right away since the deadline for hotel accommodation is this Thursday, September 20 . Since the planning team must turn in a rooming list by that date, reservations are needed right away. To register and read more about the sessions offered, go to http://ag.arizona.edu/dean/inservice/poster.pdf .
BREEZE TRAINING SESSIONS:
We would like to encourage everyone to use Breeze for meetings and other forms of communication. Two training sessions will be offered Wednesday, September 19 , at 10:00am ( for participants ) and 2:00pm ( for hosts). To attend the host session, you must have attended either the morning participant session or a previous participant session. Each session will be limited to 8 people.
Participant sessions will cover how to enter a meeting, use of a microphone, use of chat, and general meeting room etiquette. Host sessions will cover setting up a meeting, uploading content, and managing the meeting. We strongly encourage you to attend a participant session prior to attending a host session. Session length will vary depending upon questions, but plan on at least an hour for the participant session and 2 hours for the host session. It is important that you review the Quick Instructions on Using Breeze for Participating in a Meeting prior to attending the Participant Session and the Breeze Host Instructions prior to attending the Host Session.
To sign up for a session, go to http://cals.arizona.edu/registration/acebreeze/ . If you have any questions, contact Sheila Merrigan (520.626.6543) or Robert Armstrong (520.621.3872).
CALS PUBLICATION SEARCH PAGE KEYWORD SEARCH:
The CALS publications search page now includes a keyword search. Choosing search publications by keywords will take you to a new screen to avoid mixing the title and keyword search. Keywords are taken from the keyword field in the Publications Planning Form, so it is very important that authors put correct keywords into the Planning Form. Author and publication number searches are available from the Author Tracking Form . Contact Robert Casler (520.621.7177) or Sheila Merrigan (520.626.6543) if you have questions.
UPCOMING EVENTS & DEADLINES:
- The Arizona Pecan Growers Association will have their annual meeting on September 21 at the Palo Verde Holiday Inn in Tucson . Registration will be from 8:00-9:00am with the educational program beginning at 9:00am. Topics include labor issues, pecan promotion program, weed management, orchard floor management, salinity management, insecticide and harmful insect issues, tree dormancy problems and pruning techniques. For more information concerning the meeting, contact Dr. Michael Kilby (520.403.4613).
- The Eighth Annual Arizona Highlands Garden Conference will be held October 11-12 at the Apache Gold Casino, five miles east of Globe. The conference is open to the public and will offer three concurrent sessions both days on high-country gardening and landscaping, including hands-on workshops. This year's conference theme is “The Go Native, How-To Gardening Conference!” Registration fees $65 for one day or $125 for two days. Registration forms and other details are available at www.cals.arizona.edu/gila/horticulture .
- The Annual Arizona Nursery Association (ANA) EXPO will be November 8 at the UOP Stadium. ANA sent invitations to many of the UA departments and programs to have a booth at the EXPO. Kai Umeda, ANR/Turfgrass Agent, Maricopa County ) has proposed to ANA to have a designated area that will be an "island" or "row" of all UA exhibits/booths. This will show the industry that the UA is one unified entity instead of a bunch of individual programs and/or departments with varying names that confuse the clientele and the public in general. Kai is willing to work with ANA to coordinate all requests. Contact Kai (602.470.8086, ext. 314) with any questions and/or requests.
- The CALS Controlled Environment Agriculture Center will present the Greenhouse Crop Production & Engineering Design Short Course , January 20-23, 2008 , at the Holiday Inn Palo Verde, Tucson . Attendees will learn the best methodologies to develop a successful greenhouse operation and have multiple opportunities to interact with some of the world's leading controlled environment agriculture experts. This year's theme is “Eye on Economics.” Registration $499 for early bird registration ($599 after December 10). For more information and to register, visit the Web site ( http://ag.arizona.edu/ceac/ ) or contact Glenn McCreedy , coordinator (520.626.9566). Support provided by Arizona Cooperative Extension.