What's the best part of my job? Getting out across the state and talking with those that make things happen in UC ANR. That doesn't mean that those in the Oakland and Davis offices aren't making things happen but the days in Oakland and Davis are full of meetings about logistics and details with little time to just talk to people. Today we finished the second of our 5 information sessions around the state. Not surprising, they have been really fun for me! Hopefully those attending have felt it was a good use of their time. The information has gone both ways. I learned about a Master Gardener coloring book project in San Diego that Scott is spearheading. I had a chance to meet with Scott and a couple of the volunteers when I was in San Diego this winter so it was nice to hear some of what the group has been up to since. Janet and Eta are planning a Desert Ag Day for late February in the Coachella Valley – sounds like a great opportunity for working with our many partners in the region. And I had a chance to meet Ali Montazar and Natalie Price, two of our new Advisors in Imperial and Orange Counties, respectively. Today's meeting in San Luis Obispo gave me an opportunity to meet staff that I wasn't able to meet when I was last in the office. A large team of them had just won a STAR team award and, not surprising, it wasn't the first STAR award for several of them. The team environment was quite evident and what a fun group! I had met one of the team leaders, Shannon, during Crucial Conversations training so it was nice to see her again and compare notes how we were putting our training to use. A Master Gardener volunteer from Leah's program in Ventura stopped in and had some great ideas how to increase our reach and enhance visibility of the tremendous resource information UC ANR has available. Her willingness to travel to be part of the meeting illustrates the commitment our volunteers have to our programs – heart warming! Leah has a tremendous program and it was nice to hear the compliments this volunteer had of Leah.
Of course we've also talked about the intended topic for the meetings but the purpose is to have conversations. After the final meeting next week, I will have to digest all that I have heard. One thing I know is that I'd like to do this more often than once every strategic plan. I'm looking forward to Kearney tomorrow but admittedly I am acquiring a growing to-do list for the weekend.
Maybe we need a road trip – I'm thinking a bus load of people from the Davis and Oakland offices going out across the state together to see our work in action and see what I'm fortunate enough to have a chance to see. I don't know how this aligns with policy but it could certainly help ground us and recognize our individual connection to division-wide work.