February 23, 2007
Topics in today's issue of Extension Update:
Sun Grant Western Regional Center (WRC) announces
Grants Program
The
Sun Grant Western Regional Center (WRC) announces its 2007
DOT-funded Competitive Grants Program to support research,
education and outreach projects in the priority program areas
of Biofuels Feedstocks Development (biomass production), Biofuels
Conversion Processes (conversion technologies), and Bioproducts
(biologically-based products) that reduces or replaces petroleum
use. WRC expects to award up to $900,000 in competitive
grants this calendar year and seeks proposals from qualified
institutions and investigators that address the stated regional
programmatic priorities. Integration, economics, marketing,
policy, education or a combination of these overarching activities
may be incorporated in any proposal. See the Sun Grant Web
site for more details.
Letters of Intent due: March 15, 2007 | Full Applications
due: April 30, 2007
Application materials must be submitted online at http://webnibus.org/sungrant/western.
FUNDS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT EXECUTIVES FOR NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS LEADERSHIP
INITIATIVEE
Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government
has an unexpected pool of fellowship money available for state
and local government executives for the upcoming National Preparedness
Leadership Initiative (NPLI) Executive Education program session.
The program, co-offered with Harvard’s School of Public
Health and the Center for Public Leadership, is designed to
bring together representatives with responsibility for emergency
planning, response and/or recovery from all levels of government.
We welcome applications not just from traditional first responders
and homeland security but also from departments of transportation,
public works, agriculture, education, health, etc., as well
as from elected officials.
The National Preparedness Leadership Initiative (NPLI) program
is scheduled from March 4-9, 2007 with a follow-up session
scheduled from July 31 August 3, 2007.
To learn more about the program please visit the NPLI Web
site at www.ksg.harvard.edu/execed/npli.
If you or your colleagues are interested in the fellowship
opportunities available, please email Annette
Wilson.
OUTREACH SCHOLARSHIP CONFERENCE
The University of Wisconsin-Extension/University
of Wisconsin College are hosting the Access through Engagement
October 7 - 9, 2007 at Monona Terrace Madison, Wisconsin. Call
for Proposals is due February 28, 2007. Apply at http://www.learn.wisconsin.edu/outreach_scholarship/
TONIE FITZGERALD RECEIVES URBAN FOREST STEWARDSHIP
AWARD
The
Washington State Department of Natural Resources’ Urban & Community
Forestry Program and the Washington Community Forestry Council
(WCFC) awarded its Urban Forest Stewardship Award which recognizes
individuals who have demonstrated outstanding effort and commitment
to community forestry in Washington. One of those awards
was presented to Tonie Fitzgerald, Horticulture Extension Educator
in Spokane County. The award was presented in conjunction with
the kickoff of the Inland Turf, Tree & Landscape Conference
in Coeur D’Alene, Idaho on February 8, 2007. Tonie was
recognized for exceptional public service through her volunteer
efforts to initiate a community forestry program in Spokane.
GATES FOUNDATION FUNDS THURSTON COUNTY LEADERSHIP
TRAINING PROGRAM
In collaboration with the South Puget
Intertribal Planning Agency (SPIPA), WSU Thurston County Extension
received a $35,000 Gates Foundation grant to develop and pilot
a leadership training program for emerging leaders within the
organization ($25,000 in year one, and an additional $5,000 in
years two and three if acceptable progress is being made). SPIPA’s
mission is to deliver social services, training and technical
assistance and resource development services to the Chehalis,
Nisqually, Shoalwater Bay, Skokomish and Squaxin Island Tribal
communities. As a non-profit organization with a 28 year history,
SPIPA has been increasingly interested in developing a succession
plan.
The Intertribal Leadership Academy (ILA) is one significant
component of that plan. The Academy consists of one full day
of instruction per month for 12 months, and includes an online
component where participants and instructors interact, work
on projects and share resources between sessions. Curriculum
for the 12 sessions was mapped out over numerous planning sessions
between senior SPIPA administrators and WSU Extension faculty.
Gates funding provided support for project planning, outreach
to SPIPA’s board and management, and for two WSU Faculty
members, Lessie Tompkins from Pierce County Extension, and
Mike Gaffney from the Division of Governmental Studies and
Services, to modify curricula and collaborate with tribal leaders
to infuse a Native American sensibility into the material.
Curricula work began in February and recruitment for the first
cohort began in May.
One extremely successful element of the Academy is that that
while each session is led by a WSU faculty member, each session
is hosted by a tribal member from SPIPA. The host, who generally
has the session material in advance to review, opens the session
with a prayer and an overview and during the day offers a Tribal
perspective on the material and real-world examples of how
the material might fit into the Tribal context. Feedback from
participants and WSU faculty alike suggest that this joint
facilitation model is very valuable and enhances the learning
for Academy members.
The Academy’s Year One Report to the Gates Foundation
was accepted as first submitted and Year 2 funding was released.
In addition, an additional $44,000 of outside resources has
been secured to launch a second cohort in 2007.
For additional information, please contact Cliff
Moore, County
Director, Thurston County Extension.
SCHEDULE
Next week both Linda and John will be in Pullman all
week.
******************************
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 |
