As we move forward with new changes and the transition of our Cooperative Extension Web sites to a content management system called Drupal, we want to enable you, or your designee(s) to put your program and event information content directly into the Web site right from your computers. You will also be able to easily change and update your program information. A number of trainings will be offered to teach you how to enter content. This round of trainings will focus on getting state program information and events into the database and will take place on the UA campus in the Forbes computer lab. We will offer trainings via Breeze at a later date and may be able to offer some on-site training when we are ready to input county information. If interested in learning how to put state program and event information into a site, go to Doodle at http://doodle.com/ay3z5d2kynhuhad8 and indicate your availability. Class sizes will be limited to 8 people, so indicate all dates/times that you are available. If you have questions, contact Sheila Merrigan (merrigan@cals.arizona.edu, 520.626.6543).
The on-campus Extension Administration offices will be closed for a full day office retreat this Thursday, August 13. Our main line will be covered, but all personnel will either be at the retreat or at other commitments and not available. Faxes and emails can still be sent but mostly likely will not be responded to until the following day. Please make a note of this closure.
Since requiring new volunteers to complete the on-line education (the Washington E-learning series) as part of their 4-H certification, 4-H has received comments about glitches in the system. Specifically, counties are not being notified when a volunteer has completed a module. The situation has now been rectified and notification will now be completed in a timely manner. To accomplish this, each county office must let Kirk Astroth (kastroth@cals.arizona.edu) know who is to receive this email. It may be the 4-H agent, 4-H secretary, or 4-H program assistant, or whoever will be tracking the information. They are asking for your patience as they move forward.
There is still time to have your 4-H volunteers be the first cohort to begin AZ's advanced volunteer training, the AZ 4-H Volunteer University. The first set of topics that will be covered are Positive Youth Development, Ages and Stages of Youth Development, Essential Elements of Youth Development, and the Elements of Vibrant 4-H Clubs. Presenters will vary from location to location, but include Brent Strickland, Darcy Tessman, Jerry Olson, Stephanie Shank, Kirk Astroth and Bob Peterson. Registration is $15 per person and registration forms are available on-line (cals.arizona.edu/4-h/volunteers.html). The program will be interactive with many hands-on activities.
The Climate, Natural Resources and Sustainability Working Group will be sending out a link for a survey to all Extension staff, faculty and specialists in the beginning of September. The survey, titled "An Assessment of Sustainability in Arizona's Extension Programs," will help the working group develop a strategy to better enhance, foster or develop concepts around the topic of sustainability within Extension. The survey shouldn't take more than 5-10 minutes to complete online. The working group is looking forward to as much participation as possible by Extension personnel, so stay tuned for the link. If you have any questions about what the working group is up to, contact Gila County Agent Chris Jones (ckjones@cals.arizona.edu) or Area Agent Mark Apel (mapel@cals.arizona.edu) for more information.
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