Cynthia Flynn, Extension Director and FCS Agent, recently announced her retirement effective June 30. Her own announcement said it best: "I truly enjoy working with all of you and have been fortunate to have worked for Cooperative Extension for the last 35 years. This is a great organization and I am a strong believer in the land grant mission. I will miss the people and the programs. Cooperative Extension has been a wonderful career. As the saying goes, there is a season for everything and this is my season to move on to another phase of life." We are in the process of assessing who will be acting CED with the hope that within a year we will have a permanent CED in place. Cynthia, we wish you all the best!!
Congratulations to Tom DeGomez (Coconino County) and Patty Merk (Maricopa County) for their promotions to Agent status. Also, congratulations to Jorge Fonseca (Yuma Ag Center/Plant Sciences) to Associate Research Scientist.
After almost 43 years of service to Cooperative Extension (9 in Maricopa County and 33+ in Yavapai County), Leslie Lutey, Administrative Secretary, Yavapai County, will be retiring on June 30. Both her longevity with Extension and the Yavapai County community will be missed. Leslie, we wish you all the best.
Congratulations to Dotty Spears and Anne Cimarelli-Stears, Maricopa County, who were selected to receive Mesa Public School's "Ray Rafford Community Award" for their outstanding contributions to special education. Dotty and Anne present Food and Nutrition classes to the various schools as part of the SNAP Ed nutrition program. They will be presented this award at the 40th Annual Student Services Awards Ceremony on May 15.
An unusual outreach and education event at the Santa Rita Experimental Range (SRER) headquarters involved 10 residents from La Posada (an assisted living center in Green Valley). After hearing a talk on SRER legacy and science, the group enjoyed a BBQ, campfire, and overnight. The seniors were fascinated to learn about SRER and delighted by the ambiance of Florida Station. The event was coordinated by Elizabeth Sparks (Instructional Specialist, Senior, Pima County). To view photos from the event, go to picasaweb.google.com/SRERStation/LaPosadaAssistedLivingGreenValleyOvernightAtSRERHQ.
Arizona was recently awarded a $30,000 4-H2O Replenish Project Grant from National 4-H Council and the Coca-Cola Foundation. Matching funds were obtained from the Region 9 Water Quality Program for monitoring equipment. The projects are aimed at raising awareness and promoting a culture of water conservation through rainwater harvesting demonstration projects and boosting young people's knowledge and interest in water conservation. Nine mini-grants have been awarded to the following to implement projects statewide: Elizabeth Sparks - 4-H High Ropes Course GreenLot!; Barbara Engle - Blue River High School Water Conservation Project; Bill Brandau, Sarah Hopkins and Deborah Mendelson - Water Harvesting in Graham and Greenlee Counties; Cheryl Pailzote - East Fork Lutheran School Water Harvesting Project; Lisa Shipek - Boys and Girls Club Rainwater Harvesting Garden; Mark Apel - Greenway Youth Garden Rainwater Harvesting Project; Darcy Tessman and Rob Call - Fort Huachuca Rainwater Harvest System and Vegetable Garden; Anne Goldfeld - North Mountain Visitor Center. Congratulations to the mini-grant recipients.
As part of the 4-H20 Replenish Project an art contest is being held statewide. The theme is 4-H20 and "Save the Rain Arizona" and is open to all Arizona youth in grades K-12 during the 2009-2010 school year. Official rules and registration forms are available at cals.arizona.edu/4-h. All entries are due by June 30, 2009.
The Arizona Youth Livestock Quality Team recently received $74,451 from the Anyplace Access for Arizonans (AAA) Initiative. The initiative is funded by the Technology and Research Initiative Fund and administered by the Arizona Board of Regents. The AAA Initiative is aimed at expanding access to the benefits of our university to citizens across the State of Arizona, either through the development of online (or other distance-deliverable) programs, or through the establishment of electronic information resources that support Arizonans in their work and daily lives. The Youth Livestock Quality Assurance Team will be developing age-specific, interactive online re-certification modules for 4-H and FFA youth statewide. The proposal was submitted by Susan Pater, Peder Cuneo, Dean Fish, Garry Forger and John Marchello.
On May 11 the price for a 1-ounce First-Class Mail stamp will increase from 42¢ to 44¢. Prices for other mailing services - Standard Mail, Periodicals, Package Services (including Parcel Post) and Extra Services - will also change. Forever Stamps (shop.usps.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10152&storeId=10001&categoryId=18406&productId=37901&langId=-1&WT.ac=37901), regardless of when purchased, can be used after the price change without the need for additional postage. For more information and new rate charts, go to ;www.usps.com/prices/pricechanges.htm?from=home_ftpromo&page=NewMay09Prices.
The latest downloadable version (May 5, 2009) of the on-line Faculty/Staff Roster is now available under the "Directory Listing" section of our Web site. A direct link is available by clicking the May 5 date above. If you have additional changes, email or fax (520.621.1314) them to Steven Crofts (scrofts@cals.arizona.edu).
The annual Spring Awards Reception and Banquet will take place this Friday, May 8 at the Student Union beginning with a reception at 5:30pm in the Tucson Room followed by the banquet at 6:30 in the South Ballroom. The cost is $50 per person. Lifetime Achievement Award recipients are Gil Aguirre (Animal Sciences), Bob Antle, Norm Bingham (Animal Sciences), Charlotte Harris (FCS) and Beth Martin (FCS); Outstanding Achiever recipient is Steve Goucher (Ag Econ); CALS Alumni Achievement Award recipients are Bill Brandt (Animal Sciences), Kelly & Cheryl Keithly (Ag Ed & FCS) and Mel Potter (Animal Sciences); Friend of CALS recipient is Rocky Curtis (Agronomy); Heritage Family Award recipient is the Rovey family; Extensionists of the Year Awardees are Gary & Carolyn Gruenhagen and Bob Sandberg; Carol Knowles Award for Excellence in Development and Alumni Relations will be presented to Debby Janes. For more information or to make reservations, contact Joanne Gonzalez-Eader (520.626.3036).
"All-Associations" In-Service, May 26-27, Besh Ba Gowah, Globe. "Working Together for Success" will be the working theme cross-cutting research and extension activities in agriculture, natural resources, 4-H, and Family & Consumer Sciences. An objective of the in-service is to share information about new multi-disciplinary, multi-county, multi-agency, and/or multi-state programming work done by Cooperative Extension in Arizona. Examples are recently completed projects, a current program, or one just getting underway that involves more than one program area, multiple departments, and/or multi-state with research and extension components. The presentations describing these projects will be 20 minutes in length. All agents, specialists, and workers in Extension are encouraged to submit a proposal to describe and share their cross-cutting programming activities. To submit a proposal, send/email a one-page proposal as a Word document to Sharon Hoelscher Day (shday@cals.arizona.edu) before 5:00pm on May 11. The proposal should include: a) project title; b) presenter's name, county/department, email and phone number; c) a 50-word description (abstract); and d) participants list indicative of various disciplines, counties, states, agencies, and/or departments that are involved in the project. The abstract should describe results, outcomes, and/or impacts of the project/program. For more conference information, contact Kai Umeda (kumeda@cals.arizona.edu, 602.827.8200, x-314).
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
TMN submittal: http://cals.arizona.edu/extension/tuesday/submittal_form.html