- Author: Wendy Powers
I spent much of the weekend working. Although I wasn't able to login to Project Board, I know I have many dossiers to review. For those who prepared the documents and successfully uploaded them by Friday, close of business, I suspect you may have taken the weekend off. Others may have had the login challenges I had and were unable to complete the necessary uploads. The deadline has been extended until Wednesday, pending any further difficulties. New things often present some challenges. In this case, I suspect it was the volume of users that impacted the system.
I worked on a few new agreements, getting them into draft form to share with partners and/or colleagues involved in the discussions. One of the contracts was quite simple – agree to continue discussions that will likely lead to a more detailed agreement. This one was for the University of Autonoma Baja California (UABC). Beyond the already strong relationship that Desert REC and UCCE Imperial have with UABC, I believe there is potential to expand the ties across UC ANR, both in campuses and RECs in addition to increased partnerships with personnel from across the state.
When we visited UCAB last week, we had a chance to tour the campus briefly. We didn't tour most of the labs, but we did get a chance to drive past a number of the farms. We took a tour through the milking parlor and had a chance to see the new bulk tank that was a donation from a private company. The 100 milking cows looked happy, but we heard that finding and keeping a good crew of employees to milk the cows is a challenge. While I don't think I have ever milked in anything smaller than a double 6, I can relate to the problem of keeping milkers.
A couple of the agreements I drafted over the weekend edited existing agreements with other partners and even one with a current partner where we are expanding the partnership with an improvement. I'm working on another new agreement with a campus and a private donor. This one will take some time to draft and work through. Though not hard, these agreements take time and conversation so that the result reflects each party's goals.
The rest of the weekend I spent working on a project that is not work-related. I'm not particularly fond of this project and have been procrastinating. The work isn't hard, but it takes time and attention to the details. I suppose part of my procrastination is due to knowing that to find the time needed to devote to the project it meant not doing something else. The project is not my usual type of work, so I have had to learn, then do, something new. There are many pages of instructions, and I have learned that I do need to follow the instructions. But I committed to finishing it and, like so many things, no one is going to finish it for me so if I want it done, I need to do it myself. While I may never tackle something like this again, the outcome will be a good thing. Perhaps this project is not so different than challenges we all face.
Tomorrow I am taking a tour of the UCD Animal Science Department farms. I've been to most before, but it has been decades. I can't even remember their milk parlor. Hopefully, we will see the sun before it becomes a distant memory.
- Author: Wendy Powers
Tomorrow I head to Imperial County to meet with essential partners from the nearby agriculture institute at the University in Mexicali. The group in Imperial County (both UCCE and DREC) already have strong relationships with the institute; we are considering how these might expand or be formalized. Wall or no wall, there's a commitment to working together to meet the needs of clientele in the Sonoran Desert region. It's a quick trip, returning on Thursday. Friday, like every first Friday, is booked with Zoom meetings.
The budget is at the forefront of conversations these days. Even though the federal government is back to work, we know that the deadline will be here before we know it and Congress has much work to do. I haven't followed the news too closely over the last two days, but so far, I haven't heard if there have been any negotiations yet. We, along with campuses, need to continue to think about next steps should an agreement not be reached.
The state budget is early in the process, but it's never too early to think through the implications of budget proposals as we hear about them. And, it is never too soon to look for opportunities to identify sources of funds. It takes time and effort but is one of those things that we need to make room for in our schedules, likely requiring that we are willing to give something up. A few of us met for several hours on Monday to strategize how we resource current commitments and position UC ANR to increase the number of people reached with the critical, relevant programming offered all across UC ANR. Four people won't solve it; instead, the power of the collective diverse and dispersed team, all across California, is required. Ideas, assistance, strategies are welcome!
Next week is Program Council. We will continue the January discussions, focusing on programmatic units and their impact. The meeting is shorter than the usual day and a half. I'm optimistic this will leave me with time to get some draft MOUs compiled for a couple of promising new partnerships. My goal is to be inundated with such requests so if you have prospective partners for positions or programs; please drop me an email.
- Author: Wendy Powers
The first month of 2019 is just about behind us. I find that hard to believe! However, this weekend the increasing day length was both apparent and welcomed. Admittedly, I miss the long summer days of Michigan. Even a seemingly small 4° difference in latitude makes a big difference.
Last week I had a chance to listen to a reader-recommended TED talk that focused on improving work efficiencies. The speaker, Martin Danoesastro, makes the case that alignment around purpose enables autonomy and that autonomy allows for a faster, and more flexible work environment. Companies that organize themselves around multidisciplinary teams, as opposed to disciplinary silos, can be successful provided each employee is willing to be a leader. The hurdle is that each has to change their behavior and in so doing be willing to give something up. Thanks for the recommendation – I found the talk useful and timely.
Tomorrow is a UC ANR Town Hall to talk about UC Path, a new business system designed to change the way our operations data flows and integrates. The network of personnel working on UC Path are testing systems day and night right now to ensure that everyone receives a paycheck on April 1, 2019, and minimize disruptions. Long term, UC Path will improve efficiencies but it will take a change for that to happen and, no doubt, some things will be lost including mailed paychecks. As someone who still hasn't established a bank account with a financial institution that has a presence in California, I can't imagine getting a paper paycheck; it would parallel installing a landline telephone (something I stopped around 2001). Cybersecurity concerns contribute to changes, too. As a result, DUO multifactor authentication goes into effect soon. I can say that while this may change the way we work in that we have an added layer of sign-in to complete online approvals, I much prefer this system to the one we used at Michigan State. The Michigan State MFA required that you had to receive a 6-digit code by phone or text and enter that code to complete the sign-in.
I heard much discussion over the weekend about the need to change how we harvest crops. First, I read a post shared with my by Jose Aguiar: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/could-california-produce-soon-cost-you-more-farms-face-labor-shortages-immigration-woes/ar-BBSNijI?ocid=ob-fb-enus-280&fbclid=IwAR3IuTVX_W3yONXcXsAq-Azk6jE-NoDrL9ukPnz4Gn5D7_5vz0zy2iml23Y. I am not sure if Jose was aware that the same topic would make its way to a news report over the weekend, but the reporter talked about this very topic of the increased cost of food because of labor shortages.
Imagine if we could find a way to harvest, mechanically, more of the fruits and vegetables grown? Harvest automation was one of the ‘gaps' identified by growers we met with in Blythe a couple of weeks back. The farmers thought UC and UC ANR should direct more effort to automation as a key step in maintaining California's stature in food production. The topic did not make its way into the 46 positions considered during the recent process, but I do wonder if we have enough FTE directed towards this problem at present. Sure, we would give up something in the process, but overall, the opportunity to change how the work is done would be worthwhile. Perhaps the alignment around purpose is not quite there yet.
- Author: Wendy Powers
I seem to be missing a few blog posts. Apparently, I need to learn how to write directly into the portal and actually make the post. I realized the other day that some of the posts I thought I had made were missing so I must have failed to save the post. Sadly, I cannot remember what the posts included as content. I will just move on then.
A couple of times in the last few weeks I have heard mention that there is a lack of clarity as to the differences between a CE Specialist and a CE Advisor. The question is a good one! After 20 years as an Extension Specialist, I am not sure I know if there is a clear definition. I have my understanding of the differences between the positions. This understanding formed the basis of how I operated during my career and what I continue to perceive as the clear value that necessitates an 'and/both' rather than an 'either/or' model for an effective Cooperative Extension system. I posed the question to a few people. What I heard back is that the difference between the CE Advisor and CE Specialist titles is one of geography whereby a CE Specialist addresses topics on a statewide basis while a CE Advisor operates on a regional, county, or area basis. I argue that the differences are that and much more.
Here is how I have always looked at it: A CE Specialist looks at the issues of tomorrow, trying to prevent some things from happening while at the same time working to increase the likelihood that other things do happen. The CE specialist addresses things that will be relevant across the state or in any portion of the state. A CE Advisor (also referred to as a field specialist in at least one state) focuses on a region or area of the state and addresses the problems of today in that geographic area. The relationship between a CE Advisor and a CE Specialist is one of symbiosis. The CE Advisor is the 'boots on the ground, eyes in the field' partner, interacting with clientele to learn of current challenges and working through implementation of solutions. As the trusted middleman between the client and the CE Specialist, the CE Advisor feeds information to the CE Specialist who uses that information to set course for the future, identifying needs and predicting challenges while focusing on delivering science that leads to the development of policy and new solutions for problems yet undefined. The CE Specialist is the intermediary between the bench researcher and the CE Advisor, working closely with both and feeding/receiving information from both directions.
The roles are entirely different though both are expected to develop and share research-based information through research and dissemination activities (published and direct delivery), requiring that personnel in both title codes find outside resources to support their programs. The differences are in scope, both geographic and temporal, which then translate to operational differences on a day-to-day basis. For example, the CE Specialist may engage in research more and with clientele less than the CE Advisor. The client may be different. The CE Specialist may operate more in a train-the-trainer mode with CE Advisors as key clientele as well as perhaps agency staff whereas the CE Advisor may work more with the end-users such as managers, farmers, and field staff. At least in my program, I could never have been successful (or as successful) if I did not have my CE Advisor colleagues.
I'm curious what you think, about what is the standard and about what should be the standard going forward.
- Author: Wendy Powers
In between the rain, tornado warnings, and disappointing playoff games, I took some time this long weekend to engage in some hobbies to engage my creative side. For the most part, this was relaxing. While not a hobby, I started my taxes. I don't mind doing taxes which is good because I do them for others and I still do them for multiple states. What was frustrating was the 'new improved' tax laws does not benefit an individual whose income is quite low. In fact, that individual will owe twice the federal income tax they owed last year even though the income is a combination of tax-deferred retirement investments and SSI. That leaves me wondering how the less fortunate will come out of this and reminded of the work of UC ANR, such as that of EFNEP, that is so important.
At the monthly Davis staff meeting last week, Shyra provided an enlightening overview of EFNEP, including testimonials from EFNEP participants and their health care providers singing the praises of the program. Interviewees talked about their weight loss, the savings they have observed in their grocery bills, and even the improved health outcomes as a result of the program. If you are not familiar with the program, contact Katie or Shyra to learn more. Shyra did a great job! Now we need the federal government to reopen so that this vital program can focus on what matters!
No need to travel to the Woodbridge Preserve these days to see the Sandhill Cranes fly in. I need to go to my back yard. A couple of cranes and a handful of egrets have taken over what is currently a bit of a lake. We've excluded the dogs from the area for the time being to minimize the mud they track around on their paws. Instead, they stand at the fence barking at the birds that have taken over their yard; I'm not sure which is worse.
The Academic Assembly Council has been busy putting together their nominations for the new UC ANR Governing Council. There wasn't much lead time provided to AAC to get the nominations submitted. Next time the AAC will have more notice. By early February we should know who will fill all of the available seats on the committee.
I am not traveling this week, so I should be able to catch up on things in both offices this week and maybe even continue with some of my hobbies during the evenings. I need to make the most of my time as soon enough it will be time to do yard work.