WestNileVirus-L: Merrill's Monday Morning Memo

From: Deena Haines <deh8_at_cornell.edu>
Date: July 24 2000

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My apologies if you are receiving this more than once.  Have run
into some technological difficulties this morning.  Thank you for
your patience.  Deena Haines 
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Merrillâs Monday Morning Memo 
July 24, 2000 
 
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Dear Colleagues, 
 
It seems like a long time since I wrote one of these.  I just
returned from a two-week trip to the Philippines where I visited one of
my students doing doctoral research.  I also did some follow-up work
on my own research project initiated during my sabbatical three years
ago.  In addition to spending time with several of my former
students, I led four workshops for NGOs and universities with which I
collaborated three years ago while I was a Fulbright scholar in the
Visayas. 
 
I worked on a Monday Memo on the trip and had intended to send it from
the Philippines but then my computer crashed.  This was the first
time since 1984 that I have not had a working laptop with me on a
trip.  I hardly knew what to do!  Anyway, Iâm back and ready to
roll out another MMMM: 
 
1.  Welcome Mike! -  You've all heard
me speak long and often about the need for
land grant university programs to be accessible, responsive, accountable,
and excellent.   Congress has mandated a whole new level
accountability.  Political leaders are insisting that we document
the impact of our programs. To comply with these new requirements, we
have worked closely with the (CALS) Deanâs office and the Research office
to develop a new position that will address these issues.  It will
also help us engage Cornell with the problems of this state in some new
ways. 
 
      On July 5, Dr. Mike (Mick) Voiland 
assumed the position of Coordinator of Public Engagement and
Accountability.  Mike will report jointly to the CALS Office for
Research and to Cooperative Extension--helping us refine our processes
and systems of reporting impacts and accomplishments to our federal and
state sponsors.  He will also help us more effectively communicate
the relevance and benefits of research and extension programs to key
stakeholders and public leaders, to open channels for communication to
outside interests, to provide feedback into the programs that our faculty
and extension educators are undertaking, and to help nurture greater
integration of research and extension programs. 
 
     Mike returns to us after 6 years as Senior
Legislative Associate and Assistant Director of Government Affairs for
Cornell University. Prior to that assignment, Mike spent 11 years in CALS
as an extension associate in a field position with Sea Grant, and 7 years
in Sea Grant program leadership roles.  He is located in 245 Roberts
Hall; you may contact him by phone at: 255-2552, and e-mail at:
mpv1@cornell.edu.  Please join
me in welcoming Mike to this new role. It is critically important to our
future! 
 
2.  Welcome Deena!  -  Many of you know
Robin Dollaway who has worked with me in an administrative support role
during the past number of months.  (Robin replaced Ann Argetsinger
who assumed the volunteer coordinator role in the 4-H office a number of
months ago.)   At the time when Robin moved into this position,
I had promised her that if an opportunity opened up to work in finance,
she would be considered for it.  A position dealing with the
accounting side of contracts and grants did open up so after wrestling
with my conscience, I (very) reluctantly told her about it.  She
just completed her degree (May 2000) in accounting and wanted to work in
this area.  Robin took the position.  While I was very sorry to
see her go, Iâm glad that we are keeping her in the system.  
Robin, I think youâre terrific; thanks for a job well done!  
     
     Meanwhile, Deena Haines has moved over from
Extension Operations to provide administrative support to me.  Many
of you know Deena from that role so will understand why Iâm so glad to
have her here. This change is a promotion.  She will be working with
many old friends but in a new capacity.  Deena, Iâm delighted to
have you on this side of the hall!  
 
3.  New role for former Dean Lund  -  Daryl
Lund, former dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, will
become the Executive Director of the North Central Regional Association
of Agricultural Experiment Station Directors effective January 8,
2001.  He will replace Richard Lower, who held the position for the
past six years.  Dr. Lower will be returning to the Department of
Horticulture at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.  The Executive
Director's office will remain at the University of Wisconsin-Madison so
that is why Daryl will be moving there.  
 
     During the fall, Daryl will update a textbook
that he previous co-authored and will spend part of November teaching in
Argentine.  By January, he and his wife Dawn will move to Madison,
Wisconsin.  Daryl, thank you for the strong support that you have
given to CCE during your tenure as Dean.  Best wishes to you and
Dawn as you return ãhomeä to Wisconsin to take on this challenging new
role! 
 
4.  CCE Association Board Conference (September
15-16)  -  I want to invite all Executive Directors and
their Association Board members to participate in this conference to be
held at Cornell University in Ithaca this fall.  A working
conference, this will include opportunities to meet with campus leaders
and get acquainted with the broader university and talk about a variety
of issues including the partnership between Cornell and local
associations, the Agricultural Initiative, program priorities and board
leadership.  The conference will begin with a luncheon at noon
Friday, September 15 and will wrap up with lunch on Saturday September
16.  Agenda details will be in the next Board Member Newsletter, to
be mailed in early August.<x-tab>   </x-tab>I hope that
you put this on your calendars! 
 
5.  Construction on North Campus  - I have been amazed
to see the tremendous progress that the builders have made on the new
construction on North Campus.  Could not believe the change during
the two weeks that I was gone!  Jo Swanson looks out of her window
in MVR every day and sees the progress being made.  If you are
interested, you can see the same view on the following web site:
<a href="http://ncricam.campuslife.cornell.edu/EX1/default.html.%A0" eudora="autourl">http://ncricam.campuslife.cornell.edu/EX1/default.</a>html<a href="http://ncricam.campuslife.cornell.edu/EX1/default.html.%A0" eudora="autourl">.
</a> This will give you a real time picture of what is happening. You can
actually control the cameras with your computer. Take a look; itâs really
cool! 
 
6.  New location for Rod Howe  -  Rod Howe,
Assistant Director, has moved to 41 Warren Hall to be co-located with the
Community and Rural Development Institute (CaRDI) and the Local
Government Program (LGP).  His phone number will remain the same
(607-255-2231).  This move underscores the strong partnership
between CCE and these two entities in the community and economic vitality
arena.  In conjunction with the move, Rod's relationship to CaRDI
will also become more formal.   As we head toward this Fall's
CCE week with its theme of strengthening the economic and social vitality
of communities I want to recognize the support and important contribution
of both CaRDI and the LGP.  Look for information on a CaRDI Open
House later this fall. 
 
7.  CCE 2000 Tapes - A follow-up to the CCE 2000: Renewing
Our Commitment to New Yorkers conference.  We have audiotapes
from the keynote and cap note addresses.  If you would like to order
them please contact Rod Howe by e-mail at 
rlh13@cornell.edu by August 15. 
Cost will be $3.00 per tape.  The keynote tape (Dr. Peter Magrath)
includes a Q&A session as well as remarks by Scott Peters.  The
cap note tape (Dr. Graham Spanier) includes Q&A and remarks by
Merrill Ewert and Hunter Rawlings.  Be specific about which tape you
wish to order (if ordering only one) and send account number to be
charged. 
 
8.  West Nile update  - Lois Levitan has provided the
following update of the West Nile situation:  Yes, we now know that
West Nile Virus did indeed overwinter in our Region.  Since
mid-June, more than half a dozen dead crows (and 1 blue jay) from three
NYS counties (Rockland, Westchester and Suffolk) have been confirmed as
being West Nile Virus-positive.  WNV-positive birds have also been
confirmed in Northern New Jersey.  However, the virus has not yet
been detected in mosquito samples, nor have there been reports in the
Year 2000 of the disease in mammals. 
 
       The NYS Department of Health says
that these results are not surprising so the public should not become
alarmed.  Individuals need not limit outdoor activities though
everyone should try to avoid mosquito bites!  Concerted effort to
eliminate breeding sites of the primary WNV-vector (Culex species) is a
good way to reduce exposure.  The educational/action campaign to
"remove standing water near homes and animal enclosures, clean bird
baths weekly, make sure water is not pooling in rain gutters and old
tires" should continue throughout the mosquito season.  The
Culex complex of mosquitoes breed chiefly in artificial containers
containing even small amounts of polluted water, or water containing
organic matter. 
 
     Updates, camera-ready public information
materials, and much more about West    Nile Virus are
posted on the website of Cornell's Environmental Risk Analysis Program
<a href="http://www.cfe.cornell.edu/risk" eudora="autourl">http://www.cfe.cornell.edu/risk</a>.
The website now has links to several articles about the efficacy of
different mosquito repellents as well as information about other mosquito
controls.  Archives of the WESTNILEVIRUS-L listserv are also now
posted at this website. 
 
9.  Financial management education program gift - 
Cornell Cooperative Extension has received a program implementation gift
of $20,000 from Household International (parent company of Household
Finance) in recognition of program excellence.  The funds will
promote the expansion of financial education in NYS communities and build
local coalitions through two regional conferences for adults and older
youth--who will in turn re-teach financial management to others. 
  
     The programâs goal is to: Increase the
capacity of teachers, parents, social service organizations and the
business community to promote financial literacy and economic well being
of children, youth and families in New York State.  The focus is
on enabling key adults and older youth to effectively teach financial
skills and promote positive money management behaviors. 
 
     Each conference will be planned, organized and
carried out by a Task Force or Coalition led by a representative of
Cornell Cooperative Extension and made up of key community leaders
representing a specific region.  The conferences will also feature
CCE financial management curricula and other materials.  Conferences
will conclude with a networking session organized by community to plan
local implementation.  Follow up evaluation at three and six months
will assess local strategies and activities. 
 
     CCE's track record as an innovator in the
development of financial education materials and outreach in communities
led to a Household International contact with CCE's Development
office.  Missy Fountain, Ben Davis and B.J. Bristow, (Department of
Policy Analysis and Management) quickly turned around a letter describing
what CCE could do with a corporate gift for financial
education.   In a matter of days, BJ had the program check in
hand.  Way to go! 
 
10.  Death in the Promised Land   - At the
very moment that I was flying out of the Manila Airport for Cebu (in the
Central Visayas) two weeks ago, Manilaâs garbage mountain collapsed onto
the village of Payatas.  More than 200 people died; at least another
100 are still missing.  Last Monday, one of my former students and I
went to the scene.  It was one of the most moving experiences of my
life.  Upon my return to the city, I went to the Cyber CafŽ (as I
mentioned earlier, my own computer had crashed) I where I wrote a letter
to my family and friends describing what I saw.  I sat down in front
of a computer, ordered a cappuccino, and started to write.  When I
finished, I realized that night had fallen and that several hours had
passed without me moving from the chair; it seemed like only a few
minutes to me.  I had to write down what I saw or I knew that Iâd
never be able to sleep.  Iâll attach a copy to this Monday Memo for
those who are interested in reading it.   
 
11.  Building social capital   -  One of the
things that I do while traveling is to read--articles, books, and papers
that I donât have the time to read when Iâm at home.  On this trip,
I read a number of articles (mostly from the Harvard Business
Review) and books on organizational change (starting with The Price
Waterhouse Change Integration Teamâs Better Change: Best Practices for
Transforming Your Organization).  However, I was absolutely
mesmerized by (Harvard Political Scientist) Robert Putnamâs latest book,
Bowling Alone.   I think this is the best book I have
read in ten years; it talks about the decline of community in
America--and what to do about it.  
 
     Putnam examines the nature of social
capital (defined as social networks, norms of reciprocity and
connectedness) and documents the effect that it has on individuals,
families, and communities.  He traces the relationship between
social capital and health, crime, safety, economic prosperity,
satisfaction, and effective democracy.  His 400-page argument is
backed up with thousands of studies on which he draws to support his
conclusions.  If anybody has any questions about why we do
community-based development work, read Putnam! 
 
     I promised my graduate students that I would
leave Bowling Alone with them in the Philippines--if I finished it
before I left the country.  They  hounded me during the days
that we spend together: ãMerrill, are you done yet?" "Merrill,
how's it going?" "Read, Merrill, read!ä  I finished it. I
hope that you will too.  More on this later·. 
 
12.  The 4-H name and emblem  -  From time to time,
people have asked us whether they could change some aspect of the 4-H
name and emblem (dropping the hyphen would be an example) in their own
use (in their literature, on their t-shirts, etc.).  The answer is,
emphatically no!  Because of growing concerns about abuse of the
name and/or emblem, USDA has just appointed a national task force that
will examine the policies around the 4-H name and Clover.  The task
force will review the authorization processes and accountability
issues.  Changing these policies would probably require (literally)
an act of Congress.  USDA is very serious about maintaining the
integrity of the name and emblem so it is important that we follow
established policies about their use.  If anyone has any questions
about this, please contact the State 4-H Office.  
 
13.  Congratulations to CCE of Chemung County!  - 
Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chemung County is the proud
recipient of a 2000 Way Award from the Chemung Countyâs Commission
on Human Relations.  The award recognizes the fact that CCE is
making a difference in diversity education and highlights work that Linda
Couchon and Donna Powell have accomplished to promote diversity and make
diversity work in the county's communities.  CCE Chemung has
coordinated a number of diversity training events; it also publishes a
Diversity Newsletter, maintains the community's Multi-Cultural Library,
and acts as a clearinghouse for resources dealing with diversity. 
What to go! 
 
14.  The week ahead - Looks like a pretty quiet week. 
Some of the people who usually work on this floor are fighting off the
black flies in the Adirondacks.  Others are creating waves up and
down the Finger Lakes.  Others can be found standing in trout
streams.  The rest of us are catching up on our work.  Hope
that youâre all taking some time to re-create! 
 
Have a good week! 
 
Merrill 
 
Attachment: ãDeath in the Promised Landä 
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Received on Tue Jul 25 08:29:54 2000