I have trouble with long holidays. While I enjoy the time away, the longer I am away the harder it is to come back! As a result of unexpected closures last week, things were a bit less productive than anticipated making the time off seem a bit longer than planned. Nonetheless, we are all back to work now. However, it turned out to be something of a technology-challenged day. Nothing seemed to function properly (laptop, cell phone, landline phone, even the wall clock). Eventually everything straightened out and I'm ready for whatever the rest of the week holds.
Tomorrow starts early with Giving Tuesday. The REC directors are in town for a day-long meeting that begins at 8 AM. The intended outcome is a near-term financial plan for the REC system that will set the centers up for long-term success. There's much thinking and calculating to be done so it promises to be a bit of a brain drain day. Wednesday and Thursday are the Ideation Workshop – more brainstorming. I finished my homework and took some time to be creative over the long weekend so hopefully that leaves me prepared for the conversations (though technically I am an observer). In particular I am looking forward to the PitchFest at the end of the workshop. Part of the homework was watching (re-watching) a portion of a Simon Sinek TED talk. If you haven't watched it, I would recommend it. Despite the title, I think it really hits the mark on how we might all think about describing UC ANR and what we do – perfecting our elevator pitch.
In between the meetings this week is the BugFest on Wednesday. It sounds like Chris has accepted the challenge though I'm unclear if he will be in Davis to publically consume a pest. A clear videotape could serve as a suitable proxy.
It sounds like the UC ANR Advisory Committee will submit its report to the President soon. For those who have tuned into the Zoom-based monthly staff meetings, you are pretty much current on what we anticipate as the content of the report – no major changes to UC ANR structure or operations but some good ideas how to strengthen our workings across the UC system and, therefore, recognition and achievement of the UC ANR mission. No doubt there will be work to do as a result of the report, but there's always work to do and that's not a bad thing. Also out soon will be an update on the position call process. Stay tuned. Now that the smoke has cleared, at least in Davis things are getting back on schedule. In the meantime, take a listen to Lenya Quinn-Davidson on NPR. Great job, Lenya!