Recently I had the opportunity to meet with President Napolitano to review accomplishments and goals for ANR. Following a very upbeat and encouraging conversation, the president requested that ANR's leadership complete a more detailed five-year strategic plan. The draft is due at the end of October, with the final document due in December.
While this is a timely and useful exercise for the division, it comes with a very challenging timeline. The 2025 Strategic Vision will guide our work, and where strategic plans already exist within the statewide programs, strategic initiatives, Research and Extension Centers, budget plans, etc., we will draw from these plans.
Because of the timeline, it is not possible to conduct the extensive input and feedback processes that were used in creating the 2025 Strategic Vision. However, strategic plans, by nature, are dynamic documents. The intent is to position ANR to achieve the goals laid out in the 2025 Strategic Vision and address strengths, weaknesses and gaps in attaining those goals. The draft that is shared with the president will undergo a vetting process with ANR advisory groups and committees.
The primary planning group will be the Senior Leadership Team. However, other individuals have been invited to participate so that both programs and administrative units are well-represented.
We'll share the final document with you when we've delivered it to the president's office. If you have comments or suggestions for this process, please submit them to me using this link http://ucanr.edu/5yearplancomments.
Best regards,
Glenda Humiston
Vice President
Strategic Initiative conferences - http://ucanr.edu/sites/SIconferences
- Sept. 26-29: Healthy Families and Communities (HFC) Strategic Initiative Conference. Multiple workgroups and program teams are meeting during the HFC conference.
- Nov. 16: Joint Strategic Initiatives Conference for Sustainable and Natural Ecosystems (SNE) and Endemic & Invasive Pests & Diseases (EIPD). Registration is also open for the in-service restoration training, Do No Harm Workshop, which will be held on Nov. 15.
Program Team (PT) meetings - http://ucanr.edu/sites/programteams
- Sept. 16 Forest and Rangeland PT
- Oct. 12-13 Research to Policy Training and PT
- Nov. 30-Dec. 1 Meat Production PT (Registration opening soon. Check the Program Teams website for registration.)
- Dec. 5-6 Vegetable Crops PT
2017 Strategic Initiative events being planned
The Water and Sustainable Food Systems strategic initiatives are in the process of planning a co-hosted conference in the spring. The Sustainable Food Systems Strategic Initiative is also planning a conference for the fall. More information will be shared as details are firmed up.
For more information about logistics for ANR Strategic Initiative and Program Team events, contact the Program Support Unit at anrprogramsupport@ucanr.edu.
For more information about ANR's Strategic Initiatives, visit http://ucanr.edu/sites/StrategicInitiatives.
Time away from work for a pregnancy, illness or unexpected injury could mean months without a paycheck. While UC's basic employer-paid disability insurance offers some protection – a benefit capped at $800 per month for six months – it probably won't be enough to cover your expenses.
For a modest monthly premium, UC's Voluntary Disability Insurance replaces much more of your income – 60 percent of your eligible pay up to $15,000 per month – for increased financial security when you need it most.
UC is changing its voluntary disability insurance options to give all eligible employees — those currently covered and those not enrolled — new options for protecting their finances. For 2017, you can choose Voluntary Short-Term Disability (benefits up to six months), Long-Term Disability (benefits after six months, up to your Social Security retirement age) or both, depending on your needs and budget. Since you pay premiums with after-tax dollars, income from Voluntary Disability Insurance is generally not taxable.
If you are not enrolled in Supplemental Disability Insurance
If you've never thought about disability insurance, this is the year to take a look. During Open Enrollment, you cannot be denied coverage due to an existing medical condition. Later, you'll need a statement of health to qualify.
UC has also expanded eligibility to all employees eligible for full, mid-level or core benefits, so this may be your first opportunity to enroll.
If you are already enrolled in Supplemental Disability Insurance
To ensure continuing protection, those who are currently enrolled in Supplemental Disability and don't take action during Open Enrollment will be automatically enrolled in both Short- and Long-Term Voluntary Disability Insurance. This change will affect your premium costs, though, so take the time to choose the coverage you need. You can reduce or discontinue coverage at any time.
Learn more
You'll get more information, including a tool to help you estimate your monthly premiums, during Open Enrollment. But you don't have to wait to learn about your new choices for Voluntary Disability Insurance. For details — and for more information about why disability coverage is important — visit UCnet's 2017 Disability Insurance page. At the website, a video explains disability options and an overview of what's changing, why this opportunity is important for employees, and how to enroll.
- Author: Kathy Keatley Garvey
"Dr. Ehler had a remarkable career at UC Davis,” said Steve Nadler, professor and chair of the UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology. “In his research he built upon fundamental investigations in integrated pest management (IPM) to provide practical biological control for many different systems. Les was both a national leader in the discipline of biological control, and an outstanding citizen of the department and university.”
Ehler, who joined the UC Davis Department of Entomology in 1973 and retired in 2008, championed the use of natural enemies to control agricultural pests and warned of the dangers of pesticides.
At UC Davis, Ehler battled pests such as obscure scale and aphids on oaks, stink bugs on tomato, aphids on sugar beet and white fir, and beet armyworm on alfalfa and sugar beet. His expertise ranges from the theory and practice of biological control to the ecology and management of insects and mites in natural, agricultural and urban environments.
“Les was a meticulous researcher and an excellent applied field ecologist,” said colleague and close friend UC Cooperative Extension specialist Larry Godfrey of the UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology. “When he took on a research project, you were confident the project would be conducted well and all aspects of the system considered. He made major contributions to our understanding of stink bug ecology and biological control of stink bugs. Les was also excellent at transferring his knowledge via classroom teaching.”
Ehler received his bachelor's degree in entomology from Texas Tech University, and his doctorate in entomology from UC Berkeley. He joined UC Davis in 1973 as an assistant professor, advancing in 1985 to professor of entomology and entomologist in the Agricultural Experiment Station at UC Davis.
He is survived by son Brian of Susanville and daughter Mary Ehler Yung and husband, Eric, of Sacramento, and granddaughters Emma Yung and Georgiana Grace Yung.
Read more about Ehler's career at http://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=22031.
- Author: Pamela Kan-Rice
The Sonoma County native served as a U.S. Army sergeant from 1953 through 1955, then earned his B.S. and M.S. in animal husbandry from UC Davis. In 1960, Lawrence joined UC Cooperative Extension as an extension assistant in Contra Costa County. In April 1961, he transferred to Fresno County to work on agricultural economics and farm analysis until June 1961, when he accepted a dairy advisor position in Humboldt County. Lawrence retired in 1991.
In retirement, he enjoyed tending his apple orchard and managing timber harvests and regrowth at the family's redwood forest. He also served as president of a family foundation that provides grants annually in support of care for the elderly in Humboldt County.
Lawrence is survived by his wife, Lynn, and children Barbara Johnson, Anna Garlick, Sara Bank, Bill Lawrence, Joe Lawrence; ten grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. The family will have a private burial service followed by a gathering at the Humboldt County Agriculture Center at 5630 South Broadway, Eureka, on Tuesday, Sept. 27, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Read his full obituary at http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/times-standard/obituary.aspx?pid=181490235#sthash.cAITfio4.dpuf.
