A recording of the Breeze call held yesterday to discuss the RFP for the upcoming 2009-2010 Extension Programs Funding can be heard at breeze.ltc.arizona.edu/p16542398/. The call was about 30 minutes and contains a brief discussion and some questions and answers on the RFP and criteria. For further information, contact Ed, Linda, Kirk or Patti B. Also, questions were raised about having a central posting point for all intended proposals to avoid duplication and solicit additional team members, additional input, etc. Unfortunately, we do not have the mechanism to do this, other than contacting Patti B. (pattib@cals.arizona.edu) who can send information to a specific set of faculty. If you'd like to send her a "letter of intent" listing the proposal name or idea, a master list will be compiled.
The 13th Annual Arizona Women in Agriculture Conference, co-sponsored by the Arizona Farm Bureau Women's Leadership Committee and the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, was held in Flagstaff on July 10. The theme of the conference was "Pulling Together" and stressed the need for people to work together to create synergy within the agricultural community and educate children, youth and adults on how farmers positively impact people's lives. Monica Pastor gave a welcome on behalf of CALS and was a co-presenter for a session on "Pulling Together for Ag Literacy" along with Katie Aikins, Manager, Agriculture Education for the Arizona Farm Bureau Federation. Linda Houtkooper presented a session on "Healthy Living - Nutrition and Activity Tips". A presentation on Project CENTRL was given by Everett Rhodes and Paul Brierley, Director, Organization, Arizona Farm Bureau Federation. Congratulations to all on a successful meeting!
Lisa Lauxman is on a one-year Intergovernmental Personnel Act (opm.gov/PROGRAMS/IPA/assignF.asp) (IPA) assignment (from 12/1/08-11/30/09) in Washington as the National CYFAR Coordinator, reporting to USDA-CSREES 4-H Headquarters yet remaining a UA employee. She has been able to participate in the change occurring both from the transition of a new administration as well as changes both to the Farm Bill and the agency to the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). The CYFAR program is an $8.1 million Smith-Lever funded grant program, initially called Youth at Risk, that has been funded since 1991. Due to changes within the Farm Bill, the grant became competitive and is now open to 1862 and 1890 land-grant institutions. Lisa's responsibilities have been to solicit, enter, and create the panel reviewers for three panel reviews; conduct face-to-face and phone panels; and process the awards from a program management side. The CYFAR program is composed of the CYFAR Sustainable Community grants (SCP); CYFERnet (Children, Youth and Families Resource network), which has three components of evaluation, programming and technology; and CYFAR Liaisons. Sixty-two proposals were reviewed with funding extended to 42 SCPs, 8 Liaisons and 3 CYFERnet proposals. Recently three Request for Funding Applications (RFAs) were released that she and others developed. The 2009 CYFAR conference was attended by 750 participants in May which Lisa co-chaired and the 2010 conference is in the works as are the 2010 CYFAR SCP RFAs. The experience has given Lisa an understanding about the complexities of other agencies and she is pursuing opportunities to meet with those internally and externally to the agency to extend the opportunities for vulnerable populations as well as positive youth development.
As part of an all-day celebration of ranching and cowboy culture in downtown Flagstaff's Heritage Square, there will be another Ranching in the Future workshop. This installment will be held on Thursday, August 6 from 10am-3:30pm and will take place at the Hotel Weatherford, 23 N. Leroux Street, Flagstaff. A variety of speakers from local ranches, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, the financial and legal professions, and the Central Arizona Land Trust will share their insights into land protection and estate planning options. Please RSVP by July 31 to Erik Glenn (erikg@cals.arizona.edu) if you plan to attend.
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