March 22, 2002

BUDGET PLANNING UPDATE

As you know, the state legislature completed the supplemental state budget for FY 2003 late last week. The budget is currently being reviewed by Governor Locke and it awaits his signature. There may be some line item vetoes. For details, stay tuned to www.olympia.wsu.edu.

The Regents and President Rawlins are developing a budget discussion and planning process that will involve faculty, staff and students in view of budget scenarios. We will keep you informed as details about the process are released.

NATIONAL SERVICE LEARNING CONFERENCE

Thanks to the vision and leadership of several faculty and staff, Washington State University Cooperative Extension 4-H Youth Development co-hosted the 13th National Service Learning Conference in Seattle this week. The other co-host is our state office of the Superintendent of Public Institution.

The conference was loaded with information and opportunity for the vast service learning community which includes K-12 teachers, university faculty and staff, business and government leaders, nonprofit officers, faith-based organization leaders, youth and family development professionals, young people and many community volunteers. More than 3,500 conference participants attended the opening ceremony on Wednesday, March 20, at the Seattle Convention Center. More information about this conference is available at www.nylc.org. Next year, the conference will be April 23-26, 2003 in Minneapolis, MN. As described in our University Strategic Plan and Design Team Report, service learning is a core element of a "world class undergraduate experience."

8th ANNUAL PARENTING CONFERENCE

The Extension faculty and cooperators in the PNW states hosted the 8th annual conference to update parent educators. "The Art and Science of Raising Competent Children" was held on the WSU Vancouver campus and drew nearly 400 participants from the region. The kick-off gala banquet featured world class researchers on how the brain develops and learning; John Medina from the Talaris Institute in Seattle and Alison Gopnik from University of California, Berkeley. Excellent workshops, research updates, and lunch-and-learn sessions continued the theme. Congratulations to conference co-chairs Drew Betz, WSU, and Terry Hadlock, OSU as well as all the faculty who planned and presented.

PERSONNEL

Two of our extension faculty experienced the death of their father this week. Please share in expressing condolences to Ron Tinnemore and to Mary Robson.

SCHEDULE

Both Mike and Linda will be in Pullman next week, March 25 29.

Mike Tate
Dean and Director
Linda Kirk Fox
Associate Director
Cooperative Extension
PO Box 646230
Washington State University
Pullman, WA 99164-6230
Ph 509-335-2933
Fax 509-335-2926
lkfox@wsu.edu