- Author: Wendy Powers
I have trouble with long holidays. While I enjoy the time away, the longer I am away the harder it is to come back! As a result of unexpected closures last week, things were a bit less productive than anticipated making the time off seem a bit longer than planned. Nonetheless, we are all back to work now. However, it turned out to be something of a technology-challenged day. Nothing seemed to function properly (laptop, cell phone, landline phone, even the wall clock). Eventually everything straightened out and I'm ready for whatever the rest of the week holds.
Tomorrow starts early with Giving Tuesday. The REC directors are in town for a day-long meeting that begins at 8 AM. The intended outcome is a near-term financial plan for the REC system that will set the centers up for long-term success. There's much thinking and calculating to be done so it promises to be a bit of a brain drain day. Wednesday and Thursday are the Ideation Workshop – more brainstorming. I finished my homework and took some time to be creative over the long weekend so hopefully that leaves me prepared for the conversations (though technically I am an observer). In particular I am looking forward to the PitchFest at the end of the workshop. Part of the homework was watching (re-watching) a portion of a Simon Sinek TED talk. If you haven't watched it, I would recommend it. Despite the title, I think it really hits the mark on how we might all think about describing UC ANR and what we do – perfecting our elevator pitch.
In between the meetings this week is the BugFest on Wednesday. It sounds like Chris has accepted the challenge though I'm unclear if he will be in Davis to publically consume a pest. A clear videotape could serve as a suitable proxy.
It sounds like the UC ANR Advisory Committee will submit its report to the President soon. For those who have tuned into the Zoom-based monthly staff meetings, you are pretty much current on what we anticipate as the content of the report – no major changes to UC ANR structure or operations but some good ideas how to strengthen our workings across the UC system and, therefore, recognition and achievement of the UC ANR mission. No doubt there will be work to do as a result of the report, but there's always work to do and that's not a bad thing. Also out soon will be an update on the position call process. Stay tuned. Now that the smoke has cleared, at least in Davis things are getting back on schedule. In the meantime, take a listen to Lenya Quinn-Davidson on NPR. Great job, Lenya!
/span>- Author: Wendy Powers
The Amazing Race, then Survivor, followed by Big Brother
I'm not really much into television but that's my preference for the various series, in order from left to right. I think the new seasons have started. At least I know it has for the Amazing Race, the only of the 3 shows I really care to watch. And that's as much because of the places they go and cultural things the contestants do than because of the actual contestants. But this season's teams are all quite accomplished – from former Olympians and NBA stars to successful ‘goat yoga' entrepreneurs (talk about creative!) – each team has a unique talent. Now my fear of heights and lack of interest in eating bugs or drinking whatever it was teams had to consume while in Iceland for this season's first stop would prevent me from ever wanting to pursue applying to be an Amazing Race contestant. But I find it easy to watch because teams can work independently without having to go out of their way to derail another team's game. Survivor, a show I can withstand in very small doses, has a bit too much of a social strategy within the game for my liking. Big Brother appears to be nothing but a social game, thus I find myself motivated to leave the room and make far better use of my time if it happens to be on. Fortunately, I don't seem to be places where it is on.
Along the lines of talent, the Strategic Initiative Leaders met this week as did Program Council. John Harper (banjo player) passed the torch to David Lile who will be leading the Sustainable Natural Ecosystems SI. And Carl Winter (keyboards, singer/songwriter) was able to participate in a portion of the Program Council meeting but was also hosting CE Specialist candidates for one of the positions under recruitment in the Food Science & Technology Department.
The SI Leaders talked about the larger purpose and benefits of having Strategic Initiatives, the value of the panels, and shared ideas and experiences. Program Council heard about the California Naturalist Program from Adina and Greg. If you don't know much about the program, take some time to look into it – it's an impressive story to hear about how it has grown over a short time and Adina's passion for the program is evident when she talks about it and the larger vision. Program Council had an update from Shannon and Lupita about the diversity efforts within 4-H. Nothing short of incredible, and, like Adina, Lupita has a real talent for pulling you into the story and success of the Latino Initiative. Hearing from the leadership of these 2 programs at the first Program Council meeting of 2018 really set the stage for Program Council's renewed commitment to UC ANR and all that it does.
Program Council also talked a bit about the 2018 Position Call process. A few details need to be wrapped up and communications drafted to explain the process both internally and externally but more information will be out soon. It occurred to me that this process brings in aspects of those social games I don't care to watch – a reminder, I suppose, that, like it or not, the social piece is as important and any strategic play.
Tomorrow and Friday is an Invasive Species Summit in Sacramento. Anne Megaro (vocalist) has been quite involved working with the planning committee with considerable leadership from John Kabashima. UC ANR is a co-sponsor of the event.
I won't be at the Invasive Species Summit as I am attending the first session of the CORO leadership program SoCal cohort. The NorCal cohort was meeting in the Davis UC ANR building during the first day of Program Council. It was a bit loud. Keith (CORO graduate) described the exercise he knew to be going on next door as ‘a bit like Survivor' and then described the social aspect of the exercise. When I followed up with Jim Farrar who is in the current NorCal cohort he eluded more to what I would describe as a strategic exercise. So perhaps it is like Survivor, with both strategic and social elements to it and without the voting. I will have a better sense after I watch it tomorrow.
Hard to believe a long weekend is just around the corner. I'll try to use some of that time to hone build some everyday life skills.