- Author: Pamela Kan-Rice
Born in Ely, Nev., Wilson was raised in Placerville and Lincoln and earned his B.S. in animal science at UC Davis in 1954. After college, he served in the U.S. Army in the Veterinary Food Inspection Service. After he was discharged from the Army in 1956, Wilson worked as a livestock buyer for Cudahy Meat Packing Company in San Diego.
Wilson joined UC Cooperative Extension in 1961 as a 4-H advisor in San Diego, then transferred to Butte County in 1962 to be a farm advisor. In 1969, he became the livestock advisor in Glenn County office for a year before taking the livestock advisor position in the Yuba-Sutter office in 1970.
“Chuck conducted research on irrigated pasture management and supplementation of selenium in cattle,” recalled Glenn Nader, fellow UCCE livestock and natural resources advisor emeritus. “I always enjoyed his humor and positive attitude.”
Among his research projects, Wilson studied fertilization of annual rangeland and other rangeland forage production. He also served as a member of the Research Advisory Committee for the Sierra Foothill Research and Extension Center for several years.
“I started in UC Cooperative Extension in March 1986,” said Roger Ingram, livestock and natural resources advisor emeritus. “I considered Chuck a mentor in my early career. I worked with Chuck and Mel [George] on a SFREC research project on warm season grass variety trial that also evaluated different irrigation scheduling and animal grazing preferences for the warm season grasses.
“I remember Chuck as being a resource for assessing body condition scoring of cows to assess their nutritional status. He also helped with a study on the effect of pelvic area on calving difficulty. He was involved in reproductive studies at SFREC looking at breeding yearling heifers to bulls of three different breeds.”
Mike Connor, who worked with Wilson as a UC Cooperative Extension specialist and a Sierra Foothill REC superintendent, said, “He was active in support of the Yuba-Sutter Cattlemen's Association and served as their secretary for many years. He was also a long-term, active supporter and leader for the beef carcass contest and livestock auction for 4-H and FFA at the Yuba-Sutter Fair.”
Wilson was also named the UCCE director for Yuba and Sutter counties in 1989 until he retired in 1995.
“He enjoyed his years in extension where he felt he made a difference serving local livestock producers,” said his son Dennis Wilson.
Chuck Wilson is survived by his wife Valerie and their five children: Dennis, Joyce, Janice, Tammy and Beth, numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, Wilson asked that people contribute to their favorite charity. Sympathy cards can be addressed to Valerie Wilson, C/O The Courtyards, 1240 Williams Way, Yuba City, CA 95991
Changes to several UC Presidential policies regarding relocation, travel, financial deficit management, probationary periods and payroll pertain to ANR members. The new, revised and rescinded UC Presidential Policies can be viewed at http://policy.ucop.edu. Below is an outline of the changes.
BFB-G-13 Policy and Regulations Governing Moving and Relocation
The core changes that went into effect on Oct. 15, 2017, include the following:
• removed policy on relocation allowance;
- added provision allowing the reimbursement of reasonable expenses associated with the sale of former primary residence or unexpired lease expenses associated with new appointment;
- added repayment provisions requiring new appointees to reimburse moving and relocation expenses if the appointees voluntarily separate from the position prior to completing one year of service;
- clarified the reimbursement of meals while in temporary living quarters; and
- revised to require submission of nontaxable expenses reimbursement requests within a reasonable amount of time not to exceed 60 days.
BFB-G-28 Travel Regulation Policy
The core changes that are effective immediately, relate to travel within the continental U.S. under 30 days and include the following:
- reduction in the lower maximum daily meals and incidentals reimbursement from $7 4 to $62; and
- establishment of a maximum lodging reimbursement rate of $275 per night, before taxes and mandatory hotel fees.
Exceptions are allowed if a hotel rate at $275 is not available. Traveler must submit additional documentation, such as price comparisons within the proximity of the meeting location, that supports the higher lodging rate incurred. Price comparisons should be performed at the time of booking. Pre-arranged conference lodging rates in excess of $275 per night do not require an exceptional approval.
NEW ANR Deficit Management Policy Section 293 (http://ucanr.edu/sites/anrstaff/files/271966.pdf )
Revised PPSM-22: Probationary Period has undergone a technical review
To comply with the policy review requirement, as well as the Working Smarter Initiative directive to incorporate policies where appropriate.
Revisions to the policy include the following:
- incorporation of the probationary language from PPSM-61: Release During the Probationary Period or from Limited, Casual I Restricted, and Floater Appointments; and
- updating definitions with PPSM-3: Types of Appointment updates and remove any common term definitions and including a reference to PPSM-2: Definitions.
Rescinded Policies
PPSM-61: Release During the Probationary Period or from Limited, Casual/Restricted, and Floater Positions.
The majority of the policy language and content has been incorporated into the recently approved revised PPSM-3: Types of Appointment, and the remaining probationary language has been incorporated into the attached revised PPSM-22: Probationary Period Policy.
AM-P-196-30 Payroll: OASDI and Medicare Contributions
This Accounting Manual Chapter was determined to be more a procedural/guideline and not a Presidential policy. This procedure will be moved into the Accounting Manual SharePoint site.
- Author: Pamela Kan-Rice
UC ANR will offer a two-day Collaborative Facilitation and Group Process Tools Workshop in May. It will give UC ANR academic and staff employees an opportunity for
- Learning collaborative facilitation techniques
- Increasing the effectiveness and efficiency of collaborative processes
- Increasing participants' comfort level in applying facilitation skills
If you are interested, fill out this application survey at https://ucanr.edu/survey/survey.cfm?surveynumber=22115 by Nov. 15.
The exact dates and location are to be determined. The two-day workshop will be followed by a one-day training in Summer 2018.
The workshop will be limited to 24 participants. Applications will be reviewed and selected to give opportunities to both staff and academics representing different units and job titles.
Fees for approved registrants will be covered by ANR Learning and Development Funds.
For more information about workshop content, contact Kim Ingram at kcingram@ucanr.edu or (530) 750-1282.
For questions on travel or funding, contact Jodi Azulai at jlazulai@ucanr.edu or (530) 750-1239.
- Author: Pamela Kan-Rice
On Nov. 28, ANR will again participate in #GivingTuesday, a global day of giving, powered by our social networks. Celebrated on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, #GivingTuesday kicks off the charitable season. For ANR, Giving Tuesday is an opportunity to raise funds for UC Cooperative Extension county programs, research and extension centers and statewide programs. As a result of the ongoing effects of the drought, recent wildfires and persistent pockets of poverty, California's needs in the coming year will be great, and year-end giving is an opportunity for donors to assist.
“UC Cooperative Extension professionals have a deep passion for their work and a dedication to the communities they serve. While most deliver their research and programs quietly every day, it is especially incredible to witness their response to disaster; for example, recent wildfires saw local UCCE offices responding immediately with vital information for coping with the fires, care for livestock and pets, as well as service in food banks and other volunteer needs,” said VP Glenda Humiston.
UC Cooperative Extension staff and 4-H members helped rescue livestock in Sonoma County as people evacuated. The UC Master Gardener Program connected volunteers throughout the state who wanted to provide relief to the 17 UC Master Gardener volunteers who lost their homes in Solano County.
“UC Master Gardener volunteers are true to their generous nature and have offered tremendous support to fellow volunteers who have lost homes in the fires. With compassionate hearts, they have offered lodging, supplies and words of support,” said Missy Gable, UC Master Gardener Program director. “In the future, we will look to replant what was lost and find healing in the care and establishment of new landscapes and wild spaces.”
“Giving Tuesday gives us an opportunity to talk about our research and outreach to enhance food systems and create thriving communities, as well as all the other positive things everyone in ANR is doing to make life better for Californians,” Humiston said.
For UC ANR stakeholders, Giving Tuesday presents an opportunity to support the many programs and services that strengthen California communities each day and more importantly, during times of crisis. Last year, over $64,000 was raised on Giving Tuesday to support UC ANR programs including the 4-H Youth Development Program and UC Master Gardener Program.
“Last year, the 4-H Foundation recorded a 430 percent increase in donations over the previous fiscal year, raising over $30,000 in one day from 37 counties!” said Mary Ciricillo, director of annual giving for UC ANR. This was due in large part to a match challenge from an anonymous donor.
“This year, I'm excited to share that we will have two match challenge funds. One supporting the California 4-H Foundation and one for all UC ANR.” said Ciricillo.
A website is being created with links to all of ANR's programs, Research and Extension Centers and UCCE offices: ucanr.edu/givingtuesday. It invites donors to designate programs or locations to which they wish to donate.
As of Nov. 1, the website will contain a toolkit for county offices and programs to participate. It will include:
- A customizable letter to send to stakeholders
- Templates for “unselfies.” Donors may take photos of themselves holding an unselfie sign and share on social media how they are giving.
- Sample tweets and social media posts
- Sample thank you note
The UC Master Gardener Giving Tuesday website is at http://mg.ucanr.edu/givingtuesday.
The 4-H Youth Development Program also has its own website at http://4h.ucanr.edu/GivingTuesday. Last year, 4-H programs in 17 California counties participated.
Although not as well-known as the shopping events Black Friday and Cyber Monday, #GivingTuesday appeals to people who are swept up in the spirit of giving at the end of the year.
This year Development Services has set a goal of collecting a total of $60,000 for 4-H and UC ANR from 300 or more donors on Giving Tuesday. Last year UC ANR and 4-H received 224 gifts.
“The #GivingTuesday campaign is a fun way for people in all ANR programs to supplement their funding with private donations,” said Andrea Ambrose, acting director, UC ANR Development Services.
- Author: Wendy Powers
These groups have submitted their ideas for condition changes to be coded into Project Board. Katherine Webb-Martinez, Mark Bell and I have reviewed the recommendations and compared the proposed variations for the original 19 that were proposed by multiple groups as well as new condition changes that were recommended. The recommended changes were not drastically different from the original, but changes were proposed and adopted with the final list is now a bit longer, but still manageable. The next step is for a group of 12 self-identified Program Team Leaders, SI Leaders, Statewide Program and Institute Directors to work together and, using this new list plus the 2025 Strategic Vision, revise the Public Values Statements drafted back in May. I so appreciate those that have stepped up to continue this work process – not surprising given the commitment and leadership ingrained in so many across UC ANR!
I suspect this iterative process of drafting and revising is a bit frustrating for many but, as we use this information to convey the importance of your work to those who don't know us and we seek to find increased support for your work, it is important to put forth compelling Public Value Statements and be able to ‘bucket' our impacts so that the stories behind the condition changes are readily available to share with decision-makers, prospective funders, and each other. These benefits are above and beyond that which comes from aligning our work with the 2025 Strategic Vision in order to position ourselves to achieve the Vision and support our achievement with stories of how we have made a difference, even to those who don't know us. So THANK YOU to all for the commitment to the process and the enthusiasm you've demonstrated for continuing excellence in UC ANR!
Along the lines of “identify the performance objectives and then determine the design” that I have talked about previously, I've been thinking about the upcoming 2018 Position Call. Program Council has discussed the process a few times and soon we will need to have that nailed down. Below are what I believe to be the key attributes of the ideal process:
- Considers needs/gaps across the state and across program areas
- Engages clientele/stakeholders in the need identification process
- Seeks input from all UC ANR academics
- Builds recognition of needs across program areas through a collaborative process
- Results in decisions that reflect ‘hearing' academics, partners, stakeholders
- Makes it easy for Program Council to recognize high priority positions
What am I missing? Thanks in advance for your feedback!
[This article was originally published Oct. 24 in the ANR Adventures blog at http://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=25473.]
