Taskforces to create new models for local delivery of ANR services

Challenging issues, strong beliefs and lively dialogue marked the June 8 workshop including county directors and the Executive Working Group. The commitment to ANR’s future was evident with more than 50 participants working throughout the day to identify potential positive and negative consequences associated with various administrative and programmatic structures.

Results of the recent ANR County-based Cooperative Extension Survey were presented. The survey results can be viewed at http://ucanr.org/partnerships/cdmeeting.

Dan Dooley identified the CDs as our county-based leadership and challenged them to fully participate in shaping our future activities at the community level to take advantage of the changing financial and stakeholder realities in California.

“While the commitment to local delivery and the research–outreach continuum remains at the core of ANR’s mission, new approaches for delivery and evolving relationships with clientele will be important components of our future,” Dooley said.

Next steps in the process to stabilize county funding and optimize resource investment in programs will include several taskforces to create a model or models that will meet California’s needs across the next 25 years. This work will need to include our county partners in Cooperative Extension as well as stakeholders.

Models will be presented to ANR for evaluation in the fall with decisions and implementation of any changes in place for FY 2011-12.

If you are interested in serving on a taskforce, contact Don Klingborg at djklingborg@ucdavis.edu.