Development and External Relations Update

The Development and External Relations office UPDATE is a monthly summary of activities in the section and is published for your general information. If you have questions, please contact Jim Goit or call at (902) 893-7950

• The Principal’s IT committee, which Jim now chairs, is moving forward on a review of the network architecture of the Campus as well as preparing a priority list for Desktop PC replacement. It is hoped that these reports will be completed in May, for approval by executive.
• Jim attended the first meeting of the Task Group on Organic Agriculture, held via conference call on April 5th. This is one of 5 such groups formed under the new AACC (Atlantic Agricultural Coordinating Council) structure. Jim is the NSAC’s designated member on the Working Group and acts as liaison with the Organic Task group.
• Jim, Bruce and Greg Bishop met with Bob Williams who is representing the Truro Chamber of Commerce in the preparation of a proposal to develop an IT Incubation facility in the area. They are looking for cooperating institutions. Although Bob was told that the NSAC would be a potential source of work for companies in such a facility, we would not be in a position to contribute other than in kind on specific projects.
• Jim attended the Society of Fundraising Executives held in Halifax the 17th and 18th of April. The SFRE conference is an excellent networking opportunity as it brings together all the chartable organizations in the region. It is a very useful event with a lot of good ideas coming forth.
• Jim found a new potential scholarship provider this month. The Bidawhile Animal shelter board is interested in giving $1000 annually toward an AHT student. They would consider making it endowed in the future. Brian Crouse is working with them to have it ready for next year.
• Jim met with several faculty members to discuss projects and potential funding ideas. Tracy Mackenzie is working on a Landscape Horticultural expansion project. Claude Caldwell is working on redefining the expansion to Cox that has been on the planning board for a long time. There is overlap in these first two projects, so coordination of efforts will be necessary. Discussions with Graham Pearson and Katherine Enright resulted in Jim sending them some funding ideas from the Funding Database the Development office has a subscription to.
• The CFI project celebration and announcement event went very well on April 15th. We had good press coverage on the event and excellent attendance of all the major players. This type of event is important for us to continue as it raises awareness of the success of our research work.
• JoAnne reports that a total of 4 lost sheep were found this month.
• JoAnne prepared and presented the first "Update" Newsletter for the Alumni Board of Directors. This update is meant to help the Board of Directors know what is happening at the Development and Alumni Affairs Office and will be circulated via e-mail on a quarterly basis.
• As we await the nominations for the Hall of Fame we have received a new member organization. The N.S. Sheep Producers Association has joined the fold.
• The new Hall of Fame brochure has arrived. It is a professional looking promotional piece designed to help the board attract new supporters. It includes information on the new corporate membership class for the organization. The brochure will be distributed widely as we do a membership drive leading up to the induction ceremony in October.
• The Poultry Research Centre Information Event May 1st was a success. A total of 55 people attended from around the region and as far away as Ontario. We will be following up with a number of individuals and companies in the weeks and months ahead.
• Jim was successful in getting one individual to stand for nomination to the Foundation Board. David Martin and Sherry Porter are helping with a second person. We need two new directors to replace Nancy Crowe and David Martin, both of whose terms have expired. It takes a long time to work through the process even after you get a person to be nominated.
• Stephanie reports the following is a brief update of activities in the Public Relations office for the month of April 2002




• Completion of April Post
• Update of News& Events and Alumni web pages
• Completed publicity for Convocation
• Participated in the “Leave a Legacy” Initiative in the area
• Successful CFI event/tour/program/release
• Organized tours of campus for Rotary and a Ukraine visitor
• Article in Life Sciences newsletter
• Created advertising for insertion in Gardening supplement locally and nationally
• Created advertising for insertion in Education week along with article
• Applied for a summer student under the provincial employment program
• Organized signing ceremony and special luncheon for Millbrook contract training
• Committee work and Preliminary release on AASTW
• The intake of donations was very slow during the month. A summary is listed below.