June 20, 2003

WSU BUDGET REDUCTIONS ANNOUNCED
The WSU budget reductions were announced by President Rawlins this week, and instructions on implementation were distributed by the Provost's office. A sub-committee of the Extension administrative team is meeting June 26 and 27 to make initial recommendations. Then the Extension Administrative Team will meet June 30 July 2 to finalize our response to the reductions. We will keep you informed of decisions as soon as we possibly can. Here are some of the details you may be interested in knowing:

The Washington Legislature has passed the 2003 2005 biennial operating budget. The session was long and difficult as legislators dealt with a $2.6 billion shortfall. No increase in taxes were approved. Most of the shortfall was eliminated by cutting agency budgets. Higher education received significant reductions, even though they were less severe than those in many other parts of government.

The state appropriation for Washington State University is being cut by $21.9 million. The cuts are exacerbated by the lack of new funding to cover inflation, faculty promotional increases and institutional priorities. Tuition increases will offset an estimated $13.8 million of this cut.

The late conclusion of the legislature provides little time to prepare for the budget that begins on July 1. The University must reduce our permanent budget by 3% effective July 1, 2003. To accomplish the reduction, Cooperative Extension and all other Deans are required to make reductions that total 3% for our area, resulting in a budget that equals 97% of our 2002-03 base. For Cooperative Extension, a 3% reduction translates to $359,392 of state Permanent Budget Line (PBL). Keep in mind that this is only the beginning base allocation for all areas. Final budgets (including the possibility of additional reductions) will not be determined until after Budget Hearings in August, where we are asked to present a 5% budget reduction scenario, and in the fall. In the mean time, we are instructed to implement reductions immediately to keep expenditures below last year's levels.

While another year of significant budget reductions is not what we would wish for, I'm reminded of the positive side of the legislative budget for WSU. The Veterinary Medicine Program received $1.5 million toward the loss of funding; WSU received $1.2 million to fully fund utilities and maintenance of recently completed buildings; Extension receive $360,000 in permanent funding for viticulture and enology and WSU CAHE received $477,000 start-up funding for wine industry education; and $1.3 million was received for Science and Engineering Institute at WSU Vancouver.

NEW 4-H MANAGEMENT STRUCTURE
Many of you attending 4-H Program Days have reviewed and provided valuable feedback for the proposed Washington State 4-H Youth Development Management Structure. The plan is to put in place a new "Core Committee" to facilitate the implementation of the management structure by ensuring committee leadership, training, and serve as an advisory group to set and approve statewide 4-H Policies. This core committee will sustain and implement the 4-H strategic plan and review membership for additional committee and task force activities. The District Directors and the Professional Development Action Team (PDAT) will be asking for nominees for the core committee between now and the 4-H Forum in October.

Thanks to the PDAT committee for all their efforts: Jana Ferris, Ann Hennings, Jim Lindstrom, M. J. Myer, Sonja Morales, Penny Smith, Joan Vance, Kevin Wright, and Mary Deen.

WSU EXTENSION PROPOSES AFFILIATION WITH WSAC
The Washington State Association of Counties (WSAC) will hold their 97th annual state convention in Spokane next week, June 24 - 27. The theme "Fiscal Reality and the Future of Government" is a perfect backdrop for the presentation of our proposal for WSU Extension to become an Affiliate of WSAC. This will be presented to the WSAC Board of Directors on Wednesday, June 25. While fiscal challenges were top on everyone's mind, the opportunity to enhance our partnership with county partners is a proactive step.

On behalf of the Extension County Chairs, an ad hoc committee was named at the Chairs' conferences in early April to work on the bylaws and letter of intent to WSAC. Members of the ad hoc committee are: Ray Faini, Chelan County, Katherine Baril, Jefferson County, Curt Moulton, Snohomish County, Doug Steinbarger, Clark County, Dan Fagerlie, Ferry County, Wayne Madson, NE District Director, Kelsey Gray, Extension Organizational Development Specialist, and Linda Kirk Fox, Associate Dean. These same individuals will be the first executive board of the WSU Extension Affilition, Ray Faini, chair. The next WSAC event is a joint meeting with WACO (Washington Association of County Officials) September 29 - October 2 in Seattle.

CAHE UPDATE AUGUST 28
Mark your calendar for the next CAHE Update: August 28, 10:30 a.m. Guests will be Dean Zuiches: Budget update; introduce new CAHE/CE faculty; Vicki McCracken: describes the new major in Organic Agriculture; Sandra Ristow: Reports on the National Agriculture Biotechnology Conference (NABC 15) June meeting; Linda Kirk Fox: 100 years of Home Economics Celebration at WSU; and the New Puyallup R & E Director: Welcome and talks about his plans. For more information refer to the Information Department Web site.

INNOVATIONS IN FOOD SYSTEMS EDUCATION CONFERENCE
September 25 - 27, Washington State University Pullman.

The Innovations in Food Systems Conference goals are to highlight innovative ideas, models and tools in sustainable food systems education and catalyze future collaborative and individual efforts within and between educational institutions and the communities that they serve. The agenda will include national and international speakers: Janet Brown, Kate Clancy, John Ikerd, Fred Kirschenmann, Patrick Moore, and Michael Shuman and others. Key discussion themes: sustainability and systems; holistic teaching approaches; cultural issues; health and nutrition; production and the environment; processing and distribution; and economic, policy and international considerations. Who should attend? Faculty, students & staff of 2- and 4-year colleges and universities, K-12 teachers, community outreach educators, farmers/ranchers, agriculture and commodity groups/organizations, tribal members, & interested community members.

LOOKING ACROSS THE DISCIPLINES: MAKING LEARNING VISIBLE WITH NEW MEDIA TECHNOLOGIES
June 26 - July 1, 2003, WSU Pullman. WSU's NMC/VISIBLE KNOWLEDGE PROJECT invites university faculty and interested graduate students from throughout the region to participate in a hands-on workshop where sessions and demonstrations focus on what new media technologies might help you do better in classes, and how best to get parts of courses on line. How can the Internet be used to foster critical thinking and evaluation in learner-centered, inquiry based exercises? How can new technologies be used to improve student responses to text and their research in specific content areas? How best to get students (and yourself) to make better use of electronic presentation tools? How to deepen and make "visible" your students' learning in on-line environments? How to include more images and other visual materials in your courses? What, in other worlds, is the best way to get started if you are a beginner, or to make your use of technology more sophisticated if you're not? Bring your syllabi and summer projects to work on.

The registration fee for the NMC/VKP Northwest Regional Institute is $400. Faculty from institutions or WSU colleges participating in the Co-Teach grant should contact their site coordinators for registration reimbursement. Scholarships and registration stipends are available for faculty involved in Tier III courses and/or those faculty involved in teacher training and the Co-Teach grant.

For more information, see the Institute's Web site or contact:
Susan Kilgore, Associate Director, General Education Program, 509-335-5699

FY 2004 House Ag Appropriations Subcommittee Mark-Up
On Tuesday, June 17, 2003, the House Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee marked up the FY 2004 agriculture appropriations bill. Preliminary information indicates that the House Subcommittee mark for CSREES is $1,108,426,000. This is an increase of $93,554,000 above the FY 2004 President's Budget level and $17,621,000 below the FY 03 appropriation with rescission. (The FY 2004 President's Budget and FY 03 appropriation totals include estimates for the interest earned on the Native American Endowment Fund.) Preliminary information is available on the NASULGC Web site. Please note that the table does not include information on the Native American Endowment Fund or Section 2501, Outreach for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers Program. However, based on preliminary FY 2004 information the House Subcommittee proposes $9,000,000 for the Native American Endowment Fund and $3,470,000 for Section 2501.

It is anticipated that the full House Appropriations Committee will mark up the bill next week. No date has been announced for Senate Subcommittee mark up. We will provide additional information as it becomes available. For more information contact Tina Buch, 202-720-2810.

GPS USER ONLINE MAGAZINE
Introducing GPS User Magazine, new Web-based monthly publication for people who use GPS technology in their work, www.gpsuser.com. Colleagues and students who are interested in precision agriculture would be interested in reading our magazine. Subscriptions are free. Information for authors can be found on our Web site.
Source: Gail Elber, Senior Editor, GPS User Magazine, www.gpsuser.com

PERSONNEL:
Reappointment of Program Director (4 years effective July 1):
Ed Adams, Agriculture and Natural Resources

Reappointment of District Director (4 years effective July 1):
Wayne Madson, NE District
Jim Kropf, NW District
Blair Wolfley, SW District

Reappointment of County Chairs (4 years effective July 1):
Ole Helgerson, Skamania County
Craig MacConnell, Whatcom County
Paul Gutierrez, King County
Susan Kerr, Klickitat County
Roland Schirman, Columbia County
Al Kowitz, Stevens County
Jay Jenkins, Okanogan County

Appointment Complete:

Name: Theresa Reda
Title: County Extension Agent, E-2
Address: Pierce County
Funding: 100% Extension
Status: Faculty
Effective Date: June 30, 2003

Resignations:

Name: Deborah L. Nistler
Title: County Extension Agent, E-2
Address: Clallam County
Funding: 100% Extension
Status: Faculty
Effective Date: June 20, 2003

SCHEDULE
Next week Mike is in Washington D.C. and in Park City, Utah to attend the Joint Council of Extension Professionals (JCEP).

Next week Linda will be in Pullman Monday, Thursday and Friday. On Tuesday and Wednesday Linda will be in Spokane attending the NE District faculty meeting and attending the Washington State Association of Counties (WSAC) Summer Convention.

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Linda Kirk Fox, PhD
Associate Dean and Associate Director
Cooperative Extension
Washington State University
PO Box 646230
Pullman WA 99164-6230
(509) 335-2933 Office
(509) 335-9223 Desk/Voicemail
FAX (509) 335-2926
lkfox@wsu.edu