NSAC E-Bulletin

Please forward your submissions to the NSAC E-Bulletin to Stephanie Rogers (news@nsac.ca) by Friday at 3:00 p.m. for inclusion in the next week's edition.

Wednesday December 1st, 2004 Noon to 1:00 p.m.

C.A. Douglas Room, Cumming Hall

Please feel free to bring a bag lunch; coffee, juice and cookies will be provided. Presented in cooperation with NSERC and the Research and Graduate Studies Office.

THE AGROLOGISTS' SECRET BALL
THE AGROLOGISTS' SECRET BALL
(formerly known as the Aggie Christmas Dinner/Dance/Party)

All are Welcome!! Get your Tickets by Thursday! You and your guest(s) are invited to attend THE AGROLOGIST'S SECRET BALL!! This is indeed, the annual dinner and dance where you can catch up with colleagues and friends and share winter's stories (bet you already have lots!).

When: 6:30 pm on Saturday, December 11
Where: Jenkins Hall, NSAC
What: Reception, Dinner (incl. complimentary wine), Dance and LOTS of fun!!
Tickets: Deadline extended until THURSDAY, Dec. 02 $22 ($15 for Grad students)

Ticket agents:
Theresa Blois, Cumming Hall
Marianne Clark, Cox Institute
Marilyn Roberts, Haley Institute
Margie Johnson, Harlow Institute
Mary Harrison, CFIA, (Pictou Rd.)
Laurie Sandeson, AgriTech Park

News from the Road
Monica gave tours this past week to students from New York state and from Dalbrae Academy in Cape Breton. Recruitment trips by Craig consisted of visits to high schools in Pictou and Cumberland counties. Student Recruitment also hosted representatives from universities across Atlantic Canada for year-end meetings and activities. Thanks to Julie in Chartwells for helping us to host these recruiters. Thanks also to Dr. Tennessen and Dr. Stratton for meeting with our visiting students.

Students’ Union Christmas
The NSAC Students' Union is gearing up for the Holiday season and there are a fwe things to watch out for.
Wreath Decorating Contest: Chapman, Fraser and Trueman House as well as Off-campus students are invited to participate in a wreath decorating contest. The wreaths for residence will be hung by Gordie Farrell on the morning of Monday, Nov. 29th, and will be judged later that day, after-which time the winner will be announced. The Off-Campus wreath will hang in SU Lounge in Cox.

Santa Clause Parade: SU is once again entering a float into the Truro Santa Clause Parade. Our theme is the ‘Frosty the Snowman’ Fairytale. We will be decorating the float at the RAC on Friday, Nov. 26th, beginning at 4:30 pm, and on Saturday, Nov. 27th, 3:00 pm-7:00 pm. We need a number of dedicated volunteers in order to make this work, so please, spread the word! The parade begins at 2:00 pm, starting from Colchester Legion Stadium on SUNDAY, Nov. 28th.

FOOD BANK: Donations for the food bank are being collected at the parade. We are going to do a food drive amongst all NSAC students. We would like you to collect food items all week and bring them to the SU office by Friday, Nov. 26th at 3:30 pm. Additional donations of food must be brought to the parade site on Sunday, Nov. 28th. This is a very important cause, so please make an effort.

Tree Lighting: On the evening of Monday, Nov. 29th, we will host our annual Tree Lighting in the Horseshoe at 7:30 pm! There will be cocoa, cookies, and caroling, as well as lots of familiar faces. Please join us, and of course bring all your friends!

Christmas Index Registry: Christmas Index is a cooperative effort of groups in Colchester County dedicated to providing assistance for those in need at Christmas time. Some groups choose to sponsor a family and donate Christmas Dinner, toys, and gifts. Other groups donate various toys, gifts or clothing & knitted goods for the organizer to distribute to families in need. Students’ Union has decided to co-ordinate donations for Christmas Index. We are asking all groups on campus to get-together and donate toys and other gifts, as well as new items of clothing or knitted goods (mittens, etc.) that will then be given to The Christmas Index Program (Children’s Aid and Family Services of Colchester County) for distribution to those in need. We will also except monetary donations and then purchase gifts to donate to the Christmas Index. We would like to announce a week-long campaign for Christmas Index Registry. We will accept donations (as per above, further information available in SU Offices) at our Office in Cox Institute from Wednesday, November 24th thru Wednesday, December 1st at 3:00 pm - this is a very worthy cause and we look forward to being able to help many families this Holiday season.

SU Christmas Party: The annual event will be held WEDNESDAY, Dec. 1st in the SU Lounge in Cox Institute from 11:00 am thru 3:00 pm. There will be lots of refreshments and Christmas goodies, as well as music, games, prizes, and lots more! Please spread the word as all are welcome. We welcome any musicians, and also feel free to bring games, cards, treats to share or the like! The more the merrier so join us in celebrating the Holidays just a little early!

NSAC Students’ Union would like to take this opportunity to wish you all the best for the Holiday Season!

NSAC Links to The Danish Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University
Linkage map of the mink genome links the NSAC to The Danish Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University. Razvan Anistoroaei, a PhD student from the Division of Animal Genetics, Department of Animal and Veterinary Basic Sciences of The Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University arrived in Truro in October 2004 and will spend five weeks in the laboratories of Drs. Farid and Benkel in the Department of Plant and Animal Sciences. His plan is to construct several genomic libraries for mink.

Razvan’s supervisor, Dr. Knud Christensen and Drs. Farid and Benkel are members of the International Mink Genome Mapping Group. They are collaborating to create the first generation linkage map of the mink genome, with financial support from the Canada Mink Breeders Association and the Danish mink industry. Approximately 300 special DNA markers, called microsatellites, are needed to construct a rough linkage map. To date, fewer than 100 markers have been characterized for mink. More than 50 per cent of the markers have been developed in Dr. Farid’s laboratory at the NSAC. Genomic libraries that will be constructed by Razvan will be used to characterize the additional 200 markers.

The linkage map of the mink genome will facilitate the extraction of knowledge from the well-studied species, such as human and mice. Known human and mouse genes can be assigned very rapidly to the mink genome map. The long-term objective of the group is to develop a set of genomic-based tools that could facilitate the identification of genes that underpin production traits and disease resistance in mink and form the basis of a novel technology with unprecedented power for genetic improvement.

Search for Holland College President
Holland College, Prince Edward Island's Community College, has recently begun its search for a new President and invited application and nomination for this cahllengin career opportunity. It is the hope fo the Presidential Search Committee that as amy qualited candidate as possible become aware of this opportunity. For more information, please vist our website at www.hollandcollege.com and click on the link for the Presidential Search.

Fifteen 2 TwentyNine
Fifteen2Twenty Nine is a website designed for youth in Colchester sponsored by the Colchester Regional Development Agency, the NSAC and NSCC. The site has been designed as a road map for youth to get the most out of the community. You'll find links to most of the groups, agencies and individuals in Colchester County that are active in working with youth. Please visit the site at www.fifteen2twentynine.ca

The site was the initiative of Opportunity Colchester as part of Corda's Youth Strategy.

Rescheduled “University 101”
......A 1st yr. Seminar Course for New Students

Speaker - Susan Drain*
Atlantic Association of Universities - 2003 Best Teacher Award Winner

Faculty describe an increasing gap between their expectations of entering first-year students and the level of preparation they encounter. In this session, faculty will be invited to discern what might assist students in making a successful transition from secondary to post-secondary learning, and will explore some existing models facilitating that transition as well as some challenges of the challenges involved.

When: Dec. 6th, 2:00 pm
Where: Cox Institute Rm. 257
Expected Duration: 90 minutes
P lease register attendance by email: afitzgerald@nsac.ns.ca

Light Refreshments will be served during the workshop.

This workshop is sponsored by the NSAC Instructional Development Committee

*Susan Drain is the 2003 winner of the Association of Atlantic Universities Teaching Award for Instructional Leadership. She was nominated for this award by Mount Saint Vincent in recognition of her commitment to the development of writing instruction within the department and across the curriculum, as well for her work in developing a first-year seminar course, UNIV 1101, for incoming students. She teaches writing, children's literature, and Victorian literature and culture in the department of English.

Residence Idol
The students in residence held their first Residence Idol competition in November. Each House was judged individually, choosing the top three winners. These winners then performed at the Alumni Theatre on Nov.23. This competition resulted in the three top winners of Residence Idol 2004. They are ( L to R) Kyle Perrott, Meredith Leier and Catherine Pal

Those present in the audience were treated to a great show with a variety of musical styles. Each contestant can be proud of their performance, the judges had a very difficult task. Congratulations to winners Catherine Pal ( 1st place), Kyle Perrott ( 2nd place) and Meredith Leier( 3rd place).
A special thank you to all contestants and to Janita Sullivan ( Trueman House President) for organizing this fun event.

Friends of the Garden Recognized at NSAC’s Autumn Assembly
During recent Autumn Assembly ceremonies at NSAC, a Friend of NSAC award was presented to Friends of the Garden. Carol Goodwin, Environmental Sciences Dept. is shown congratulating Catherine Dale and Ann Hill, on receiving the award. The Friends of the Garden group are very instrumental in the establishment of the Rock Garden at the NSAC campus.

Varsity Results