- Author: Wendy Powers
Despite the television news (stock market, Rochester, fires, temperatures) the good news continues in UC ANR!
Laura Ann Yee Vollmer started this week as the Nutrition, Family and Consumer Sciences Adviser, based in Half Moon Bay, with programmatic responsibilities in San Mateo, Santa Clara, and San Francisco Counties. Please welcome Laura!
One of NOS's news stories got picked up by the LA Times in Spanish. Congratulations, Norma! If you haven't heard, Ricardo has a great lineup of events to celebrate Hispanic Heritage month. Be sure to take a look.
Scott Brayton also shared good news that I am excited to pass on. A passionate donor has made a very generous personal gift to form a new ANR endowment. The Citrus and Avocado (CA) Endowment will support critical and innovative research and extension activities designed to advance and protect citrus and avocado crops in California. Through this gift, our donor (who wishes to remain anonymous) has provided us with a long-term, sustainable resource that will enable us to better face today's challenges and create tomorrow's solutions. The CA Endowment will be established with an initial gift of $109,000. In addition, our donor has graciously pledged ongoing support to the endowment through a future estate gift. Development Services team member, Scott Brayton, stated that the donor is excited to make this gift to show their appreciation to all of ANR. In the wake of all that has happened this year, I am continually humbled by the support of our donors who stand apart as sources of optimism and inspiration for our work.
The Almond Board of California publically thanked UC ANR and farm advisors for the great work and research conducted in support of the almond industry.
I finished by project for the Master Gardener's auction. I hope there is much interest in the items and I can't wait to get them to Missy! I also completed my 21-day challenge last week, but work is far from finished and never will be when striving for excellence. However, the goal of the challenge is to prepare one for the journey.
Overall, a great start to a short week!
- Author: Wendy Powers
Do you recognize the character in the photo? It's Happy McGivins, our Big Dig Day mascot. I'm not sure if Happy is Irish or Scottish, but I know that Big Dig Day is just around the corner (June 5)! The Development Services team is so creative – Emily and team have customized a ‘Flat Happy' for each of our programs to use in Big Dig Day selfies. Despite the economic fallout of COVID-19, the statistics for giving are pretty remarkable. I hope you are ready to spread the word to supporters about your program and UC ANR!
Some of our supporters may be those who have adopted practices learned through UC ANR educational content. A quick review of our federal report impacts illustrates that our work translates to behavior changes. Here are a few examples that will be shared with our federal partners:
- A participating grower in the cover crop field trails, saw measured improvements in soil health including reduced weed pressure in cover crop treatments, and increased total carbon and nitrogen in the topsoil. Additionally, early adopters of improved soil health practices the Sacramento Valley using cover crops and compost have reduced water use, and seen reduced pest pressure. (Amber Vinchesi and Sarah Light)
- A participating grower in the cover crop field trails, saw measured improvements in soil health including reduced weed pressure in cover crop treatments, and increased total carbon and nitrogen in the topsoil. Additionally, early adopters of improved soil health practices the Sacramento Valley using cover crops and compost have reduced water use, and seen reduced pest pressure. (Amber Vinchesi and Sarah Light)
- The number of virus-tested sweet potato plants produced by UC Davis Foundation Plants Services has increased gradually over the past five years. Adoption by growers in California is very high, about 80%, based on information from the main seed producer in the state. (Scott Stoddard)
- Evaluation data collected from 153 students enrolled in the Cal Fresh Healthy Living, UC Hunger Attack program in a Riverside County high school found about one-third of students made improvements in vegetable consumption (34%), sweetened beverage consumption (33%); and tracking how much they spend on food each week (37%). (Chutima Ganthavorn)
What great stories we have to share with our federal and local partners! We don't have to dig very deep to see how our work makes a difference.
I am wrapping up the academic merit and promotion reviews for this year, with hopes of having final documents uploaded into our system in 2 weeks, just in time for paperwork processing of salary actions. I am finding it more difficult to stay focused on this task this year, despite the effort being one of the most important functions of my position. I suspect I need a change in venue. After seeing some of the photos of crowded spaces across the country that occurred during the long weekend, I wonder if we might be heading backwards a bit. Just in case, I had better get used to my current scenery.
- Author: Wendy Powers
Mentally, I am exhausted. The week started with a couple of excellent meetings on the Berkeley campus. Then came a full day at the UC ANR Governing Council where we had a lively and productive conversation about UC ANR's public value statements, our partnerships, and our statewide programs. I was pleased with the level of interest in our work by those members of the Council who perhaps don't know us as well as our traditional campus partners. I found the suggestions and insights very helpful. I believe there is much potential to build solid partnerships with new campus partners while strengthening existing partnerships such that everyone feels a win. Things won't happen overnight, but the conversation has to start somewhere. I believe that conversation is off to a good start.
I'm hearing good things about the outcome of Giving Tuesday! I know final numbers are not tallied but I understand we exceeded an aggressive goal of $125,000 by over $5,000 and increased our number of donors! How exciting! The outcome is particularly strong considering we had added a second day of giving back in June. There's so much good work going on in UC ANR, it makes sense that people want to give! Congratulations to everyone who had any role in Giving Tuesday – from IT who made the Donate buttons happen, to everyone who sent encouraging emails, to every donor. We couldn't have done it without you!
Today the Program Council met and reviewed the CE Specialist and CE Advisor needs. There were moments during the meeting where I thought we couldn't possibly finish on time, but we did. While the thinking that had to go on was grueling, we were all fueled by the anticipation of building our colleague numbers. I don't envy the decisions the Vice President has to make; there were no unnecessary positions in the bunch. However, I am elated that there are positions to be announced in the very near future.
Mental exhaustion aside, the week has been uplifting and filled with motivation to do more. I can't wait to see what tomorrow brings!
- Author: Wendy Powers
We wrap up the 5-location Information Sessions on Friday of this week, with 3 of those five sessions taking place the last portion of the week. It has been nice to get out and see those whom I don't often get a chance to see. Also, there have been some new folks that I hadn't met in person yet. For the summer, these five sessions took the place of county office and REC visits. Once summer ends, I will have to assess my schedule. However, I welcome any invitations to come out to your area and meet with the local team. Visits can be as long or short as the hosts' desire and be anything from an informal conversation around a table to an action-packed agenda with tight timelines. For me, the emphasis is on the connection and not the format.
Back in the office, I'm working to diversify our funding sources and build resiliency against the uncertainty of state and federal funding sources. The goals are to 1) develop capacity throughout the state, reducing the reality of too much work with too few people, and 2) provide more resources to do the work. I'm not alone if the effort; a number of us are working towards these goals, not for our individual programs but the broader UC ANR. The strategy is to identify opportunities for specific programs and secure additional resources. By so doing, the tide rises to lift all boats. Some examples include:
- Securing a $500,000 gift to expand the CalNat program, with a goal of building on that gift for a long-term sustained expansion of the program;
- Secured funding of $500,000 that was matched by the UC President's Office to provide the UC Presidential Researcher for Sustainable Citrus Clonal Protection, held by Georgios Vidalakis;
- Received $19M in state funding for structural improvements at 3 RECs plus Elkus Ranch, an amount that far exceeds all funds received previously for this purpose;
- Developed partnership agreements to co-fund 6 CE Advisor position and 2 CE Specialist positions. Partners included a state agency (2 positions), 2 UC campuses, one commodity group (2 positions), and two counties. An agreement is under review by a third county for a 7th CE Advisor position. Additional conversations with new partners are in various stages;
- Established 10 Community Education Specialist position, funded by CDFA, to work in Climate Smart Agriculture by leveraging our academic network;
- Worked with one County government officials to secure funding for FY18/19 and increase it in FY19/20, following three consecutive years without funding (other than space);
- Worked with one County government office to prevent removal of funding proposed as a result of a significant structural deficit in the County;
- Implemented new annual giving strategies, resulting in a total revenue increase of in FY18/19, compared to FY17/18;
- Establishment of funding campaigns to stabilize funding for Community Education Specialist positions in both 4-H and Master Gardener programs.
None of these successes happened overnight. Each required numerous conversations with donors or partners to determine common goals and establish a path forward. Following, continued maintenance of the relationship remains essential, requiring continuous time and effort.
The above accomplishments contribute to different 'slices' of our funding sources pie, making it perhaps appear as less significant accomplishments than say a $10M donation. Some of the above achievements represent Competitive Grants and Extramural Contracts, while others increase the County funds slice of the pie, and yet other strategies add to the Endowment Income slice. But that's part of the plan – to garner support for the breadth of work across UC ANR.
While not everyone feels a direct benefit from the efforts yet, over time everyone wins, even if it is in some small way (averting a funding crisis, maintenance of program support despite a flat state budget, one more person in the office delivering a program, etc.). No question that a $10M donation to a specific program or building fund is great, but I'm just as happy to spread the wealth a bit more even if it takes time for everyone to feel the victory. Like any condition change, this, too takes time.
- Author: Wendy Powers
Today was full of meetings. Strategic plan goal owners met to talk about progress on the plan, identify successes and obstacles, remind each other that we have a Wednesday deadline to provide updates into the Smartsheet project tracker. I hope to complete my updates early tomorrow morning.
Following the goal owner meeting, a number of us moved to the other end of the building to meet with the Development Services team and catch up on achievements around the state as well as prioritize the team efforts. There are many recent successes out in the counties. Congratulations to everyone who has been working with donors and partners! Even if you haven't realized a success, yet, the effort deserves a celebration.
The next meeting was to start to process of improving the UC ANR website, beyond the recent refresh that only addressed the first layer of the framework. Like Project Board, this entails a long process and sizable investment. We have to start somewhere. During the meeting, Hans Gude talked about risks in the process – outcome, process, and project risks.
After I complete my goal updates tomorrow, I head to the President's Advisory Committee meeting in Oakland. While the President is unable to attend, her office will be represented. Among other topics, Doug Parker and Secretary Karen Ross will provide an overview of our recent agreement with CDFA to increase implementation of climate-smart farm practices. The presentation will give Doug a chance to brag about the fantastic Community Education Specialists we've been fortunate enough to hire as a result of the partnership with CDFA. Though he might be jet-lagged a bit, I'm sure Doug is looking forward to the meeting. Doug, Glenda, and Sherry Cooper just returned from Spain over the weekend. They attended the Rosenberg Forum while in Spain.
Amidst meetings, jet-lag or whatever happens to be on your calendar, please don't forget a few key dates and items:
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Wednesday, May 1, is UC Walks. Try to get out and enjoy the great weather and don't forget your antihistamines. Last year, I had the great pleasure of walking with the Fresno County team through the Garden of the Sun – what a fun walk!
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May 15 is the last day to Raise Your Hand in support of 4-H. I noticed that Ohio is boasting over 17,000 hands raised. Surely we can beat out Ohio!
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If you have an educational news story to share, be sure to submit it into the story pipeline. Check out the story that David Lewis submitted.
I hope everyone's meetings go well this week!