December 15, 2006
Topics in today's issue of Extension Update:
ELSON FLOYD JOINS WSU AS NEW PRESIDENT
Dr. Elson S. Floyd, president of the four-campus University
of Missouri, was selected Wednesday, December 13th by the Washington
State University Board of Regents as the university’s 10th
president. See WSU Today online at www.wsutoday.wsu.edu
or the article in the Seattle Times http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003476794_floyd14m.html
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
This week the Governor kicked off a series of public meetings,
news releases, and policy briefs regarding the upcoming biennial
budget announcement next Tuesday.. To read the most recent news
releases and policy briefs from Governor Gregoire’s office
go to the following link http://www.governor.wa.gov/news/
Here are a few select pdf documents summarizing key proposals:
“Rainy Day Fund” http://www.governor.wa.gov/news/rainyday_brief.pdf
“Working Lands Initiative” http://www.governor.wa.gov/news/agriculture_brief.pdf
“Puget Sound: Protecting our Health & Safety” http://www.governor.wa.gov/news/pugetsound_brief.pdf
WSU SHOWCASE
Mark Friday, March 23, 2007 on your calendar for the next
WSU Showcase celebration. This annual event includes an Academic
Showcase, a luncheon presentation of the Distinguished Faculty Address,
a reception for WSU retirees, and Celebrating Excellence, the University's
recognition banquet for faculty and staff including those recently
promoted and tenured. The online abstract submission process is
now “live” and can be accessed December 15 ending at
5 p.m. on February 9. The Showcase web site is http://showcase.wsu.edu/.
Contact Tena Old, skeen@wsu.edu
or 335-1467, for more details. Go to the Honoring Faculty &
Staff site for information on the Provost's Faculty Awards Program.
EMPLOYEE DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE
Mark your calendars and make plans to attend the 2007 CAHNRS/Extension
Employee Development Conference in Pullman, Washington on August
6th, 7th & 8th. The change in dates from October to August was
prompted by the renovation of the CUB and lack of conferencing space
on campus in October. The date change is for the 2007 year conference
only. There will be more information to come so keep an eye open.
USDA AWARDS $5.3 MILLION FOR IRAQ EXTENSION
REVITALIZATION
US Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns announced that a team of U.S.
universities will receive $5.3 million to strengthen agricultural
extension and training at Iraqi universities. "We believe that
restoring Iraq's agricultural sector will contribute to overall
stability in the country - and the extension system is a tremendous
tool to help us achieve this goal," said Johanns. The full
story can be found on the USDA home page http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usdahome/
Texas Cooperative Extension at Texas A&M University will lead
a team that includes four other universities: Washington State University,
Utah State University, University of California at Davis, and New
Mexico State University. The partners plan to involve Prairie View
A&M University, a historically black and-grant institution,
and Dine College, a tribal college. The partnering Iraqi universities
will be selected in the coming months and will include universities
in all parts of Iraq.
NEW ISSUE OF WSU TODAY
The Friday, December 15 issue of WSU Today is being distributed
across the campuses beginning today. A PDF will be posted later
this morning online. See http://www.wsutoday.wsu.edu.
In this issue you’ll find the special insert featuring WSU
Extension http://www.wsutoday.wsu.edu/includes/Extension%20Today%2012-15-06.pdf
NOTICE TO TRAVELERS -- NEW VEHICLE
MILEAGE RATE
Beginning January 1, 2007 the private vehicle mileage reimbursement
rate will be increased to 48.5 cents per mile from the current rate
of 44.5 cents per mile. Please be sure to double check calculations
on your TEV forms when preparing January travel. New forms with
the correct 2007 mileage rate are available for Filemaker Pro and
Excel. Please contact Kasey Schertenleib at kasey@wsu.edu if you
would like a copy of the new form. For other travel policy questions,
please contact Kasey Schertenleib at kasey@wsu.edu
or 509-335-2827.
PERSONNEL
SW District Extension vegetable horticulturist Carol Miles will
join the faculty of the Washington State University Northwestern
Washington Research and Extension Center. Carol is currently stationed
at the WSU Vancouver Research and Extension Unit, will relocate
to the Mount Vernon facility early next summer. Carol will continue
to support the vegetable industries statewide with applied research
on fresh market production, including organic crop production, alternative
crops, and soil and fertility management. Her research and extension
programs also will address problems associated with product marketing,
post harvest handling and shipping. Read more about her program
at the Ag News web site http://cahenews.wsu.edu/RELEASES/2006/06086.htm
HAPPY HOLIDAYS! SCHEDULE
We wish you and yours happy holidays and best wishes for
the New Year! The following is the planned time off for staff in
the Extension Dean and Director's office. There will be someone
here every day to answer your calls and questions (the university
is officially closed December 25, 26, and January 1). However, we
will not be fully staffed so we can spend time with family and friends.
For grant writing, Esther Tate will be out Dec. 21 - Jan. 2. Jennifer
Jansen will be out Dec. 27 - 29. Joan Root will be out Dec. 29.
Mary Hoffman will be out Dec. 22 and Jan. 2. For EEO/AA, Lisa Clyde
will be out Dec. 27 - Jan. 2. Kathy Stilwell will be out Dec. 20
– 29 and Cheryl Druffel will be out Dec. 29.
Both Linda and John will be in the office Monday through Friday,
December 18 - 22 and Wednesday through Friday, December 27 - 29.
******************************
Linda Kirk Fox, PhD
Dean and Director
Washington State University Extension
PO Box 646248, 411 Hulbert Hall
Pullman WA 99164-6248
(509) 335-2933 Office
(509) 335-9223 Desk/Voicemail
FAX (509) 335-2926
lkfox@wsu.edu
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