Strategic Plan

SIG,

We need you to read and comment on the strategic plan. Please comment here or email me at mbyrnes@nmsu,edu. We would love some suggestions. We want to discuss this and vote on it during the conference so please give us a little of your time… particularly if you won’t be attending the conference. Leslie Edgar, your soon to be Chair, deserves major props for writing this. Don Poucher, your soon to be Vice Chair, deserves a big shout out for his significant contributions too. 

Take care

iSIG Mission:

Provides a forum for discussion of issues pertinent to international communicators and technologists; enables collaboration among communicators and technologists on various international projects and programs.

iSIG Goal 1 – Improve involvement, communication and collaboration in international activities among iSIG members.

Objectives –     

(a) Identify at least five individuals interested in mentoring new or young members, in and effort to explore potential involvement and expansion of international activities. (2009-2010)

                              i)  Increase to ten members (2010-2012)

(b) Identify at least five individuals interested in being mentored. (2009-2010)

                              i)  Increase to ten members (2010-2012)

Tactics –          

(a) Use the 2009 ACE iSIG meeting to initiate conversations regarding this goal.

(b) Update iSIG Web site with information about mentor/mentee program. (2009)

(c) Focus on building program collaborations and expanding international efforts. (2009-2012)

(d) Begin regular communications and/or meetings based on iSIG member feedback. (2009-2012)

 iSIG Goal 2 – Utilize technology more and provide greater access and communication among iSIG members.

Objectives –            

(a) Identify names and institutional affiliations of iSIG membership. (2009)

(b) From iSIG membership, develop inventory of available technology among members (such as SKYPE, polycom, etc) that will enable real-time collaboration. (2009-2012)

(c) Schedule and conduct regular presentations by iSIG members to iSIG members and others. Presentations will highlight past, present, and future activities in the international arena. (2010-2012)

Tactics –      

(a) Use the existing iSIG list and cross reference with the ACE list to identify contact information and institutional affiliation. (2009)

(b) Survey iSIG members to determine past and present international work. (2010)

(c) Use the 2009 ACE iSIG meeting to initiate conversations regarding this goal.

(d) Survey iSIG members to develop inventory of available technology. (2010)

(e) Initiate communication/collaboration with available technology. (2009-2012)

 iSIG Goal 3 – Build collaborations and connections with international organizations such as CGIAR centers, IICA, CATIE, and AIAEE.

Objectives –      

(a) Meet personally w/ representatives from two identified organizations to discuss potential collaborations. (2009-2010)

i)      Identify additional organizations. (2009-2012)

ii)    Increase to five organizations by 2012. (2011-2012)

Tactics –            

(a) Use existing relationships in iSIG to explore connections and collaborations.

(b) Develop and implement schedule of real-time collaborations. 

  iSIG Goal 4 – Maintain existing relationships and seek expansion of activities throughout the Americas: Central America, South American and Canada.

Objectives –      

(a) Among iSIG members, identify current relationships, activities and future plans in the Americas. (2009-2012)

(b) Increase participation and collaboration among membership. (2009-2012)

(c) Identify target people/organizations and begin regular communication with these individuals/entities. (2009-2012)

Tactics –      

(a) Use existing and future activities in iSIG to explore connections and collaborations in target countries.

The hierarchy of presentations

For those of us with presentations check out Seth Godin’s blog on The hierarchy of presentations…

and his link to Presentation Zen.

Vice Chair-Elect

Hey folks! Getting close to the conference… looking forward to seeing you all there. We are still looking for a Vice Chair-Elect to help maintain the leadership. If you or someone you know would like to help lead the iSIG into the future please give me a call or email.

Have a great day.

Brad Beckman Back from El Salvador

Hey folks!

Hope everyone is well. Brad just posted his latest. Read it here and check out the great pix too.

World Water Day 2009 :: March 22nd

International World Water Day is held annually on 22 March as a means of focusing attention on the importance of freshwater and advocating for the sustainable management of freshwater resources.

An international day to celebrate freshwater was recommended at the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED). The United Nations General Assembly responded by designating 22 March 1993 as the first World Water Day.

Each year, World Water Day highlights a specific aspect of freshwater.

 In 2009, the theme for World Water Day is “Shared Water – Shared Opportunities”. Special focus will be placed on transboundary waters. Nurturing the opportunities for cooperation in transboundary water management can help build mutual respect, understanding and trust among countries and promote peace, security and sustainable economic growth. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) leads the activities of the World Water Day 2009 with the support of United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). 

Also check out:

http://www.waterforpeopledc.org/

Global Economy Will Shrink for First Time Since 1940s

Not so happy news from the Washington Post. How will this impact what we do? Leave some comments and tell us your thoughts.

The World Bank also cautioned that the cost of helping poorer nations in crisis would exceed the current financial resources of multilateral lenders. Such aid could prove critical to political stability as concerns mount over unrest in poorer nations, particularly in Eastern Europe, generated by their sharp reversal of fortunes as private investment evaporates and global trade collapses. 

Award of Excellence

 

Hey folks!

The Award of Excellence recognizes individuals who have demonstrated excellence in the SIG area as well as leadership and involvement in ACE. A recipient may be either a current or a past member of the SIG. Nominees may be nominated by anyone in ACE.

Guidelines for Nomination

   1. Nominee must have membership dues paid for the current year.

   2. Nominee must have at least five years of membership in ACE (not necessarily consecutive). Any ACE member – active or retired – may be nominated by any ACE member.

   3. Nominees must not be current chair, co-chair or vice chair of SIG in which nominated.

   4. No person should be named an award recipient for more than one SIG in the same year.

   5. Nominees must be current or past members of SIG for which the award is given and must meet all other criteria (1,2,3 and 4 above).

   6. SIGs do not have to have a nominee every year. Only one award per SIG may be presented each year.

   7. Current voting members of the ACE board are not eligible to receive Awards of Excellence. Directors-elect, however, are eligible for these awards.

   8. SIG chairs and the SIG director serve as the Awards of Excellence Committee. They are responsible for promoting the awards, soliciting and screening nominations, selecting recipients and presenting the awards at the ACE annual meeting. It is each SIG’s responsibility to create a method for selecting recipients and to consult with the Award of Excellence Committee members to resolve any ties. The name of the finalist must be sent to the SIG director for presentation to and approval by the board.

   9. The SIG director and the ACE board, with SIG chair concurrence, may reject any nomination if candidates do not meet expected standards of documented performance.

  10. Runner-up nominees are not considered automatic candidates in subsequent years. New nominations need to be made each year.

  11. Completed forms are to be returned to the appropriate SIG chair by February 13, 2009 in time for selections to be made and awards prepared.

  12. SIG chairs must send the name and the nomination form of the finalist recommended to receive the award to the SIG director and Headquarters by March 2, 2009.

  13. Selection, acquisition and engraving of appropriate plaques or certificates is a function of ACE Headquarters. No cash or sponsored award is allowed.

For additional details and nomination restrictions, please consult the Policies and Procedures Manual (PDF), Section II, Award Nomination and Selection Procedures. 

Here is the nomination form:

award_excellence_nom

New hydrogen production method could reduce need for fossil fuels

Interesting development… The breakthrough means ethanol which comes from the fermentation of crops can be completely converted to hydrogen and carbon dioxide for the first time.

Read more…
http://www.physorg.com/news150472856.html

Dr. Jeanne Gleason’s Training and Capacity Building Workshops in Afghanistan

Dr. Jeanne Gleason, Director of New Mexico State University’s Media Productions, traveled to Afghanistan in October, 2008 with the goals:

• To establish a framework for assisting with AWATT communications projects. 
• To initiate a capacity building program for communications skills development by one or more Afghans to support AWATT’s educational and training communications outreach activities.  

 

Here is a photo from Dr. Gleason’s training and capacity building workshops in Afghanistan as part of the AWATT project. I’ll post a few more soon.

Dr. Gleason was kind enough to give me permission to post some photographs and a few details of her amazing journey and experiences. I’ll be asking her post a story or two, and more pictures over the next few months because what I post won’t compare to hearing Dr. Gleason describe the trip herself. She is already away on the next assignment.

Thanks Dr. Gleason!

FAS WORLDWIDE

FAS WorldWide

An online review of Foreign Agricultural Service initiatives and services. FAS Worldwide, which debuted in March 2005, is an online magazine from USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service that is designed to cover the full spectrum of the Agency’s responsibilities and activities. This electronic publication provides comprehensive information about the multiple goals and activities of FAS in a flexible, user-friendly format.