Happy New Year and welcome to my blog!
One of my goals for 2017 is to continue to learn all I can about UC ANR, the work we are doing and the impact that work has across California and share it with you through this blog. I will share, also, some of the things going on within UC ANR leadership. If you have something you would like me to know and potentially have shared in the blog, please forward to me.
I don't know about you but, even after a great holiday break with family and friends, I was eager to get back to work. It started with a day-long meeting of the Vice President's (VP) Council. Among the several topics covered was the next step for the strategic plan. The final plan was turned in to President Napolitano right before the holiday break and will be available more broadly within the next couple of weeks. VP Council discussed ideas for developing action plans around each of the 15 goals. VP Council members had some great ideas, many of which will be acted upon when a 23-member group meets January 30-31 to flesh out action steps for at least 5 of the goals. That group includes UC ANR leadership and representatives of the statewide programs, strategic initiatives, county directors, REC directors, UCCE specialists, AES faculty, campus administration, Academic Assembly, Staff Assembly, and UC ANR support units. It's a group that represents a wide array of vested interests in UC ANR. I am looking forward to the interactions and ideas that result.
Members of the VP Council gave updates on their statewide programs and/or business units. I am amazed at all of the exciting things going on and I am sure that, with only 6 months into the position, I know only a tiny piece of the work going on! For example, I had no idea there was interest in growing tea in the Central Valley (past or present) but according to Jeff Dahlberg there is renewed interest and opportunity at the Kearney REC. Clearly I have much to learn and look forward to getting out in the state more in 2017.
Well that's about it for the first day in the office in 2017. Next week Program Council meets to talk about the pending release of the request for proposal submissions to the UC ANR grants program. I hope your 2017 is off to a good start. Please check back often for updates or subscribe to my blog, ANR Adventures.