May 7, 2007 Extension Update

Dear Extension Faculty and Staff:

I have attached a list of University Communications news releases for April, 2007, (pdf) synopsis of Research and Resources Magazine stories (Winter 2006) (pdf) and a list of U-Comm reporters and their area(s) of work (pdf). U-Comm staff has captured some of the good work that has gone on recently throughout the college/state. Please feel free to make the appropriate media contacts so that more of Cooperative Extension good work can be recognized widely.  

Some of you have been involved in international work/projects over the years. The 2007 George Washington Carver Agricultural Excellence Award nominations are being accepted until July 27th. Individuals can self-nominate or nominate others who have made a significant contribution to improving the lives of people in developing countries in agriculture. The USAID GWC award includes a medal to the awardee(s), a plaque to the institution, and a $5,000 honorarium to the awardee. If you would like to receive the nomination packet, please call or email Bea @ 646-3015 or beagarre@nmsu.edu .  

Priority issues are being collected in a Zoomerang Survey sent out last week. Please take the time to provide your input by Thurs.,May 10, 5pm at http://www.zoomerang.com/survey.zgi?p=WEB226FFJK3YNC. This coming legislative year, the Extension and Research Support Council Executive Committee has proposed that we request a base funding increase for Research and Extension. Priority issues/areas that you help identify will be used to justify a funding increase for Extension. Please take a few minutes to give the survey some thoughtful consideration. Thank you to many of you who have taken the time to respond to the survey.  

Last week I attended the New Mexico First, Town Hall Meeting titled Strengthening NM Healthcare: Access, Coverage and Economics. My interest in attending was to assess the state of health care in rural communities and listen and learn what changes were being proposed to ensure the health care needs of rural families, as many of you are aware a complex issue. The meeting brought to light that thirty of our counties have national designation as medical, dental, and/or behavioral health profession shortage areas, and that transportation, language barriers, economic and/cultural barriers all provide challenges in the mix of issues. I brought home some interesting reports if you care to review them.  

Recently Dean Catlett sent out a letter regarding the impending College name change. I encourage CES faculty and staff to provide thoughtful consideration to potential names, seek stakeholder input, and carefully consider how a new name would/could have a positive affect on the college and CES constituencies.  

Ursula Rosauer (Natural Resources Specialist/Agent in Northern NM) recently received word that her $450,000 grant proposal  was funded from USDA Forest Service Collaborative Forest Restoration funds. The project seeks to assist a small Hispanic-owned tree thinning business, and includes a collaborative effort of thirty-four partners. The project seeks to restore over 250 acres of heavily forested state managed land (at risk for catastrophic wildfire) by developing collaborations for, prescription, implementation, education and outreach, job training and creation--with pre/post monitoring of both ecological and socio-economic conditions. The proposal was recommended for full funding and was noted to be in the top 4 proposals submitted. The project begins Summer 2007 and ends in 2011. Good work, Ursula!  

I will be in Shiprock NM this Wednesday meeting with members of the Tribal Extension Task Force, Dine College and The Navajo Department of Agriculture to discuss the establishment of a Tribal Extension Center on the Navajo Nation. I know that several of you have plans to be their, I look forward to seeing you their.   

Have a good week!   

Paul