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____________________________________________
MONTHLY
UPDATE
News for C-FAR Members
Illinois Council on Food and Agricultural
Research
October/November 2008
Fall greetings from C-FAR. Safe wishes to
our producer colleagues as harvest remains in full gear
for many. A few highlights of the past month include the
following.
FY09 SUPPLEMENTAL
APPROPRIATION
As we shared last month, a State of Illinois supplemental
appropriations bill was advanced to the Governor for his
consideration by the Illinois General Assembly. This bill
includes a supplemental appropriation of $2.135 million
for food and agricultural research via C-FAR. While the
Governor is considering this bill, he signed an accompanying
bill this past month that allows for so-called "funds
sweep" which would provide the funding for these supplemental
appropriations. This C-FAR supplemental appropriation has
significance as it means the difference between ongoing
research being funded close to their intended levels versus
being reduced by 50-60% in many cases.
DR. WINTERS NAMED
ASSOCIATE DEAN
A 14-year member of Southern Illinois University Carbondale
College of Agricultural Sciences faculty, Dr. Todd Winters
has been named the College's Associate Dean for Research
and Personnel (effective November 1). He succeeds Dr. John
Russin who assumed new responsibilities at Louisiana State
University during August.
Todd is no stranger to C-FAR, having carried out a number
of C-FAR research initiatives as a faculty member and most
recently serving as Chair of the Department of Animal Science,
Food and Nutrition. We congratulate Dr. Winters on his new
leadership responsibilities and look forward to working
with him.
THREE IN A ROW
For the third consecutive year, the UIUC Department of Agricultural
and Biological Engineering has been named the best program
in the nation by U.S. News and World Report. Unlike
some other academic rankings that have an obscure set of
criteria, this ranking is determined by deans and senior
faculty members from throughout the nation. We are proud
the Department is a C-FAR partner and equally proud of its
faculty who carry out many C-FAR research initiatives. We
extend our congratulations to the Department's administration,
faculty and staff.
CANDIDATES SUPPORT
During early October, the Board of Directors on behalf of
the C-FAR membership sent every candidate for the Illinois
General Assembly a letter to familiarize (or re-familiarize)
them with C-FAR and its research programs. The letter also
invited their support. The response by candidates was highly
positive and in a recent special Voters Handbook insert
to Illinois Farm Bureau's FarmWeek publication, several
of these candidates expressed their support of C-FAR and
for food and agricultural research.
These candidates cross party lines, are incumbents, and
non-incumbents and are from throughout Illinois. We look
forward to continuing to be a strong partner with all governmental
facets of the State of Illinois.
As we look to November…
C-FAR DAY AT WIU -
RSVPs DUE NOVEMBER 4
As just shared by my associate, LeAnn Ormsby, via an email
reminder, please note that RSVPs for the 8th Annual C-FAR
Day are due November 4. This year's C-FAR Day will be held
November 11 at Western Illinois University in Macomb. The
event will feature several C-FAR-funded initiatives taking
place at WIU. It is a highly unique opportunity to see C-FAR
research "in action."
BOARD NOMINATIONS
DUE
The deadline for nominations to establish candidacy for
the C-FAR Board of Directors is November 14. Nominations
will also be accepted from the floor at the February 17,
2009 Annual Meeting (when Board members are elected). However,
the submission of the formal nomination by November 14 is
highly encouraged.
The Nominating Committee is charged with establishing a
slate of candidates in advance of the annual meeting that
will be presented to the membership for consideration.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
MEETING
Your Board of Directors will convene during early November
for a regular meeting with a very full agenda. Anticipated
actions by the Board include:
- Considerations of alternatives to a full audit of membership
(dues-based) financial accounts. New nationally enacted
auditing standards have resulted in auditors having to
spend more time in carrying out these new standards and
as a result, audit costs have escalated for C-FAR and
most every association of our size. The Board will study
potential other financial examination options that maintain
financial integrity at a more reasonable cost.
- Discussion on appropriate initial engagements by C-FAR
for the State of Illinois' consideration of the FY10 appropriation
for food and agricultural research.
- Reviewing alternatives to the Achievement Award in FY09.
The question is whether there are other means to recognize
outstanding C-FAR-funded research in the absence of the
Achievement Award not being conducted this year. The Achievement
Award is not being conducted in FY09 so that funding associated
with the award could be directed to ongoing research needs.
While an alternative recognition program may not be possible,
the Board wants to at least consider the matter.
- Initial plans for the 2009 Annual Meeting schedule will
be addressed.
- Requests to C-FAR for sponsorships will be considered.
- Acceptance of the FY08 audit will be entertained; recently
received from the Illinois Agricultural Auditing Association.
- Review of a number of considerations for potential committee
work.
WORKING
GROUP LEADER NOMINATIONS & ELECTIONS
If serving as a member of the Board is not your inclination,
there are many upcoming opportunities for leadership within
the working groups. Also to be conducted at the annual meeting
(within the individual working group meetings), every working
group chair, vice chair, and two representatives to the
Research Committee will be elected. Details on the nomination
and election of these leaders will be communicated to all
C-FAR members during January.
VISION FOR ILLINOIS
AGRICULTURE
As you may recall, the Illinois Farm Bureau, with many partners,
embarked on an initiative entitled "Vision for Illinois
Agriculture" during the summer of 2007. With considerable
input regarding the future opportunities and challenges
of our state's number one industry, the initiative has matured
into having implementation teams - one very appropriately
labeled "Business Climate." The focus of this
team, while currently being refined, covers a myriad of
factors to enhance our state's business climate. Food and
agriculture research funding is among these factors.
DID YOU KNOW!
The ongoing C-FAR membership of many is an invaluable asset
to our organization. Upon this 15th anniversary of our organization,
it is certainly worth noting the number of our founding
members whose commitment has been unwavering and remain
a member today. Here are the numbers: 21 Organizational,
5 Affiliate, and 10 Individual members enlisted their support
on day 1 and have remained a steadfast member ever since.
These and other long-term members will be recognized at
our annual meeting. Thank you!
IN CLOSING
During these troubling economic times, may we not forget
to express our gratitude as we look to the Thanksgiving
holiday. We, C-FAR, are very appreciative of our many members,
associated partners, and the State of Illinois for allowing
our mission to underpin our state's number one industry.
All our best.
Kraig
_______________________________________________________
Kraig A. Wagenecht, Executive Administrator
Illinois Council on Food & Agricultural Research (C-FAR)
1101 W. Peabody Drive · Urbana, IL 61801
Tel: 217.244.4232 · Fax: 217.244.8594
e-mail: wagenech@illinois.edu
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