the current

the monthly e-newsletter of UC ANR Staff Assembly | Dec. 12, 2023 | Vol. 2, No. 12

From the SAC Chair

Warmest holiday wishes from all of us

on your Staff Assembly Council!

On behalf of the entire Staff Assembly Council, I wish you a joyous holiday season filled with laughter, love and cherished moments. May the spirit of kindness and generosity surround you, and may the New Year bring you happiness, good health and exciting adventures. May you find warmth in the company of family and friends, and may the holiday magic touch every aspect of your life.

Here's to creating beautiful memories and embracing the spirit of togetherness. Happy holidays and cheers!

Scott Brayton

Staff Assembly Council Chair 23-24

CUCSA update

Delegates growing skills, knowledge to benefit ANR staff

Christine Davidson (left in photo) and Shirley Salado are the 2023-24 UC ANR delegates for CUCSA, the Council of UC Staff Assemblies.

On Dec. 6-8, they joined their counterparts from across the UC system for the fall quarterly CUCSA meeting at the UCPath Center in Riverside, hosted by UCOP.

Shirley is in the Sustainable Workforce workgroup and Christine is with the Wellness workgroup. They are both engaging in conversations with local and systemwide leadership to grow their understanding of how to better serve UC ANR staff.

holiday cheer

Don't miss UC ANR Winter Faire on Dec. 21

Join us for some joy and merriment during this beloved holiday tradition! Most of the December UC ANR Town Hall (Dec. 21, 2-4 p.m.) will be a Winter Faire full of fun and cheer. Log on here (note this is different from the customary Town Hall link).

In addition to virtual games and activities in breakout rooms, there will be an opportunity for shout-outs for your colleagues (submit yours for inclusion by Dec. 14 at noon).

Also, submit your favorite photos of pets, travel adventures or your fun ANR memories for the festive Photo Parade.

And be sure to stay until the end, when there will be a random drawing for gift cards!

learning & development highlight

Dec. 14: Using Data to Tell Your Extension Story

Discover the art of telling a compelling an Extension story! Join the Extension Foundation publication team as they share valuable insights and tips on creating impactful data visualizations with writing techniques, accompanied by real-life examples. Details.

Additional classes, workshops and events can be found on the UC ANR Learning & Development website.

important dates

Make a New Year's resolution to develop your skills, career

As you look ahead to 2024, now is the time to think about what career and professional training and development you would like to pursue!

UC ANR Staff Assembly provides financial assistance for these activities through the Education Reimbursement Program.

For trainings or career development pursuits between Nov. 1, 2023 and April 15, 2024, the next deadline to apply for reimbursement is April 15, 2024.

All ANR career staff employees (represented and non-represented) who have completed the probationary period are eligible to apply, as well as all UCCE County paid staff employees in good standing.

Learn more

did you know?

Get social on ANR Facebook Group, other platforms

Learn what your colleagues are up to and enjoy some virtual camaraderie on the UC ANR Facebook Group.

Also, be sure to join the ANR online community @ucanr on your favorite social platform(s): Facebook, Instagram, X (Twitter), LinkedIn, YouTube, TikTok and Threads.

And don't forget: if you manage ANR-affiliated social channels, online resources are available to help guide you.

The Current is your monthly Staff Assembly e-newsletter, distributed on the second Tuesday of each month (read archived past issues). All staff members at UC Agriculture and Natural Resources are part of UC ANR Staff Assembly. We on the Staff Assembly Council help advise senior leadership and advocate on your behalf, and we also organize programs and events that promote your professional development and personal growth. (Note: Academics are members of our counterpart entity, Academic Assembly.)

Photo credits | SAC holiday collage, Mike Hsu; CUCSA delegates, courtesy of Christine Davidson; social media heart, Karsten Winegeart on Unsplash