March 19,
2004
NWAF ANNOUNCES NE DISTRICT COMMUNITIES GRANT AWARDEES
On March 16 the Northwest Area Foundation (NWAF) announced
the names of 12 small, rural communities to join an innovative
leadership development program designed to help reverse economic
and population declines. Also announced were the grant awards
to four organizations, each of which will work with a cluster
of three communities to conduct the locally-based, two-year initiative
called "Horizons."
The four grantee organizations are:
- Washington
State University Extension
- University
of Idaho Extension
- North
Dakota State University Extension Service
- Montana
Community Foundation
The selected community clusters are:
- Omak,
Tonasket, and Bridgeport, WA coached by Washington State
University Extension
- Elk
River, Kamiah, and Orofino, ID, coached by the University
of Idaho Extension
- Beach,
Regent, and Mott, ND, coached by North Dakota State University
Extension Service
- Glendive,
Sidney, and Circle, MT coached by the Montana Community Foundation
The awards total more than $1.4 million; $352,000 for WSU Extension
over two years. Each of these organizations will work with a
cluster of three small communities to introduce a community leadership
program designed to meet the needs and build on the strengths
of communities with populations of less than 5,000.
The purpose of these grants is to provide a cluster of three small,
rural communities, who have been accepted into the Horizons Program
by the Foundation, with resources and support that will increase
each community's level of civic engagement and depth and breadth
of leadership. All training and consultation activities shall
foster improvements in civic participation amongst many sectors
of its citizens. The funds are not available to provide or support
direct services for community members or organizations, or to
fund economic development or other similar programs.
The program purposes are four-fold: Delivery of a core curriculum,
developed by the Horizons Design Team, to a large and diverse
set of participants; Development, with the help of the cluster's
citizen community planning group, of a customized curriculum
unique to the three communities, and delivery of the various
elements of this curriculum to a large and diverse set of participants;
Administrative and logistic support; and Community volunteerism
and in-kind support.
We look forward to hearing more from Doreen Hauser-Lindstrom, Jay
Jenkins, Rob McDaniel, and Wayne Madson as the project unfolds
over the next two years. We appreciate their leadership in responding
to the grant opportunity and implementing the program.
CBDD OVERSEES THREE STATE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY
DEMONSTRATION
On Friday, March 19, the Center to Bridget the Digital Divide (CBDD)
will oversee a three-state briefing and demonstration of a prototype
technology platform designed to facilitate the smooth flow of
emergency and homeland security data among multiple jurisdictions.
The briefing location in Washington State is the state emergency
management center within Camp Murray near Tacoma. The state's
head Homeland Security Officer Major General Timothy Lowenberg
will be present with approximately 35 state emergency/safety
leaders.
A similar gathering led by US Senator Conrad Burns will be present
at the Burns Telecommunications Center in Bozeman, MT. A high
level delegation is also anticipated in Alaska. The three sites
will be jointed through interactive video to observe the operation
of a prototype emergency communication platform in helping to
save lives in the event of a major regional security threat.
The
emergency communication platform known as EPAD addresses a current
national gap in our nation's homeland security infrastructure.
Specifically, to date there does not exist a comprehensive directory
of telephone numbers, email addresses, physical locations and
other contact information required to connect need-to-know emergency/safety
professionals with shared real-time data critical to prevent
and respond effectively to serious emergencies.
For additional information contact Bill Gillis, CBDD Director.
38TH ANNUAL PACIFIC NORTHWEST REGIONAL ECONOMIC CONFERENCE
Join Extension economist Gary Smith and others gathered May 19-21
in Tacoma for this year's 38th annual Pacific Northwest Regional
Economic Conference (PNREC). The theme "New Formulas and
Partnerships Emerging" reflects the search for answers to
aid regional economic recovery from the collapse and structural
weaknesses in key industries; high unemployment rates; state
and local budget shortages; and increasing international competition.
Confirmed as keynote speakers:
- Dr.
Desmond O'Rourke, President, Belrose, Inc. retired from the
Agricultural Economics faculty at Washington State University
as head of the IMPACT Center. The title of his presentation: "Playing
the Agriculture Survivors Game: Will the Pacific Northwest
be voted Off the Island?"
- Bill
Gates, Sr., founding partner at Preston Gates & Ellis,
has served as president of both the Seattle/King County Bar
Association and the Washington State Bar Association. Governor
Locke asked
Mr. Gates to chair the Washington State Tax Structure Committee
to look into the Washington State tax issue. Title of his presentation: "An
Evaluation of Washington's Tax Structure"
- Dr.
David Wyss, Chief Economist at Standard & Poor's, NY.
He has written many articles for popular and professional publications.
Title of his presentation: "End of the Recession, But
When will Jobs Come?"
- Dr.
Josh Farley, a well-recognized expert in the effort to transcend
traditional disciplinary boundaries in order to address the
interrelationships between ecological and economic systems.
He is with the Gund
Institute for Ecological Economics at the University of Vermont.
The title of his presentation: "Beyond the Economics
of Fish and Timber: Ecosystem Services, Information, and
the Tragedy
of the Non-Commons"
Additional information about PNREC 2004 may be obtained by visiting:
www.pnrec.org
CIVIL RIGHTS RESOURCES UPDATED AND POSTED TO WEB
New/revised information has been added to the Civil
Rights section in the Extension Policies and Procedures.
At
this Web site, you will find: links to print the "And Justice
for All" poster, county success stories from the past year,
schedule of counties to be reviewed in the near future and a county
complaint process "at a glance."
Please print out all the links and add them to your Civil Rights
Handbook and file.
Contact Rebecca Armstrong with questions at 509-335-2822.
OLYMPIA UPDATE: CAPITAL CONSTRUCTION BUDGET PASSES OVERWHELMINGLY
ON FINAL DAY
A capital construction budget for higher education, including $31.6
million for the Spokane Academic Center, was kicked out of the
Washington Legislature on what was an overwhelming final vote
on the last day of the 2004 legislative session. In addition
to the Academic Center, the capital budget provided $3.4 million
in state funding for the first phase of the Pullman Wastewater
Reclamation Project. Other projects funded included $337,000
for emergency repairs at the Spokane Intercollegiate Research
and Technology Institute; $4 million in classroom improvements
at the University of Washington, a new freeway off-ramp at UW
Bothell, an $8.1 million renovation of Senior Hall at Eastern
Washington University, $4.9 million for a Central Washington
University higher education center near SeaTac; and $2 million
for a Health Sciences Center at Columbia Basin College.
See
the full text of the Olympia
Update.
EFNEP PRAISED BY CONGRESSIONWOMAN DeLAURO
Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) delivered a statement in the House of
Representatives praising the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education
Program (EFNEP) and celebrating the program's 35 years of helping
Americans. Rep. DeLauro said (in part):
"Now
celebrating its 35th year of service, EFNEP operates in nearly
800 counties in all 50 states and the U.S. territories. EFNEP's
mission is help low-income families and youth improve their diet
quality and stretch their food dollar, skills which directly affect
obesity. By making positive changes in individual and family behavior
regarding healthy food choices, physical activity, and stretching
the family food dollar, EFNEP participants can combat obesity and
improve their health...
At a time when the need for EFNEP is greatest, financial support
for the program from Congress has waned. This will only squander
some of the significant gains EFNEP has already made in hundreds
of communities around the country. And this penny-wise solution
to short-term budget challenges will come back to haunt us in
the long run as the federal government's share of health costs
- driven by the obesity epidemic - continue to rise.
With a relatively small investment we can stem the tide of obesity
in this country. That is why, for 2005, I hope we can increase
funding for this critical program. I respectfully urge my colleagues
to seize this opportunity and do what is right."
A
complete copy of Rep.
DeLauro's speech has been posted on the
nasulgc-bac.com Web site.
SHOWCASE ON MARCH 26
On behalf of everyone in Extension, we are pleased to say congratulations
to the faculty and staff award winners who will be recognized
at the banquet for Excellence on Friday, March 26. Also being
honored that evening are the newly tenured and promoted faculty.
SCHEDULE
Next week, Monday through Wednesday, Mike and Linda will be in
Las Vegas attending the western region joint meeting of Extension
and Experiment Station Directors. Mike will be returning to Washington
DC on Thursday, Linda will be in returning to Pullman.
Linda Kirk Fox. Ph.D.
Associate Dean and Associate Director
Washington State University Extension
PO Box 646230
Pullman, WA 99164-6230
Ph 509-335-2933
Fax 509-335-2926
lkfox@wsu.edu
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