Re: ExtensionCutToTheQuick--Again

**"* G* <d*@gmail.com>**

Ah - the Illinois government.   A short story if you will...   I'm Canadian.
 Mayo - my partner - is from Illinois and her car has Il plates.  I was
driving it the other day and stopped to get gas.  The guy pumping ahead of
me, turned and said, "Sorry you guys seem to be having so much trouble."  I
had absolutely no idea what he was talking about - looked puzzled - and he
gestured at my/Mayo's license. I got it right away.  He thought I was from
Ill and he was sympathizing with me.  We exchanged a few stranger-type
mutual condolences on "our" various governments and went our snowy way.
I've asked Santa for a Team Canada hockey sweater for Christmas!
Doug

On Fri, Dec 19, 2008 at 9:31 AM, Carolyn Ulrich <cultivated@sbcglobal.net>wrote:

> A few months ago, Illinois Extension was threatened with extinction,
> but it has been funded for 2009. After that, who knows. As you may
> have heard, state government in Illinois is not exactly stable these
> days. Nor is it solvent.
> Carolyn Ulrich
> On Dec 18, 2008, at 10:15 PM, Molly Day wrote:
>
> > I'm interested in being kept in the loop on this topic, Cheryl.
> > Please include me in the distribution if you take the conversation
> > off GWL.
> > Thanks, Martha Stoodley
> > http://muskogeephoenixonline.com/blogs/MollyDay/
> >
> > On Thu, Dec 18, 2008 at 9:43 PM, Vermont Gardener
> > <vermontgardener@yahoo.com
> >> wrote:
> >
> >> Hi All:
> >>   I know this was a topic some years ago, but in Vermont, Virginia
> >> and
> >> likely other states, university cooperative extensions are again
> >> facing
> >> severe cuts, as state's slash budgets.
> >>   University of Vermont Extension is slated for a $653,000 cut in its
> >> FY2009 budget (which will drain its reserves) then a $540,000 cut
> >> in FY2010.
> >> So by the end of January we will know which jobs and programs will
> >> dissolve
> >> next July. The two-year total is equal to its annual operating
> >> budget and
> >> the equivalent of a 24 percent reduction.
> >>   Among its many resources that benefit gardeners (and garden
> >> writers) in
> >> addition to a strong Master Gardener program are: renowned
> >> perennial expert
> >> Leonard Perry, multi-state organic apple growing research, hardy
> >> grape and
> >> wine-grape growing trials, a youth horticulture program, 4-H, a grain
> >> growing revival that includes varieties developed by the famed
> >> botanist
> >> Cyrus Pringle...plus many agricultural, forestry, community
> >> development,
> >> nutrition and environmental programs and specialists.
> >>   Meanwhile, even UVM Extension doesn't yet seem to realize that
> >> many of
> >> the other line-item state budget cuts will affect Extension's
> >> other grant
> >> programs in specialized areas.
> >>   As I track this story unfolding in the new year, I'd like to
> >> include
> >> comparisons to other states.
> >>   The only thing I've found so far is a 2 December article saying
> >> that the
> >> Virginia governor cut two positions and $2.3M from its cooperative
> >> extension
> >> so far with more cuts coming. We always hear that other states are
> >> worse off
> >> than we are, but I'd like specifics.
> >>   Ironically it is in hard times that Extension's trusted services
> >> such as
> >> teaching gardening, budgeting, farm viability planning, canning
> >> and freezing
> >> become most popular.
> >>   If writers in other states will be following this tale (I know some
> >> garden writers have also been Extension specialists and many are
> >> Master
> >> Gardeners), we can compare notes here on the listserv.
> >>   If this is not a thread you want to pursue, please contact me
> >> offline if
> >> you have similar news of your state and would like to hear the
> >> outcome of
> >> our cuts.
> >> Wishing you frugality in the new year,
> >> Cheryl Dorschner
> >> vermontgardener@yahoo.com
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> _______________________________________________
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> >>
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> >>
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> >>
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> >>
> >> For GWL website and Wiki, go to
> >> http://www.ibiblio.org/gardenwriters
> >>
> > _______________________________________________
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> >
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> >
> > Post gardening questions/threads to
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> &gt;
> >
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>
> Carolyn Ulrich, Editor
> Chicagoland Gardening
>
> _______________________________________________
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>
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>
> Post gardening questions/threads to
> &quot;Gardenwriters on Gardening&quot; &lt;gwl-g@lists.ibiblio.org<lt%3Bgwl-g@lists.ibiblio.org>
> &gt;
>
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>

-- 
Doug Green
Editor-in-Chief
SGF Publishing  www.simplegiftsfarm.com
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