[Vision2020] The UI Friday Letter for September 1, 2006

[Tom Hansen]

Copied and pasted below is the UI Friday Letter for September 1, 2006 from
UI
President White.

--------------------------------------------------------------

University of Idaho
Office of the President
Moscow, Idaho 83844-3151
Phone: 208-885-6365
Fax: 208-885-6558

The Friday Letter
A Newsletter for University of Idaho Alumni and Friends Sept. 1, 2006

Dear Friends,

on Thursday, Sept. 14, Gov. Jim Risch '65, '68 will join us to cut the
ribbon on the University's new $3.2 million biotechnology aquaculture
laboratory and office complex at the Aquaculture Research Institute site at
Hagerman. It is the final element-the capstone-of the University's
Biotechnology Facilities campaign, begun in 1997 and chaired by Tom
Nicholson '59 that raised more the $20 million in federal and state funds
and private donations for biotechnology facilities, renovations and
scientific instrumentation. I invite you to the dedication ceremony that is
open to the public and begins at 10:30 a.m.

The new building includes six analytical laboratories, offices and two
conference rooms wired for distance learning and video conferencing with the
university's Moscow campus and the university's other collaborators,
including Native American tribes, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's
Agricultural Research Service (ARS), and National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration Fisheries. 

Here is some compelling evidence of the quality, impact and relevance of the
research conducted by Idaho fish and aquaculture scientists. A recent report
from Blackwell Science Publications at Oxford in England states that in 2005
the University of Idaho was the top-ranked U.S. university - and fourth in
the world - by number of papers ranked by the of Institute for Scientific
Information and published in the Journal of Fish Diseases. 
This is an uncommon and distinctive recognition that speaks to the strength
of our faculty, staff and students, and to the courage and vision of those
individuals who worked long and hard on taking actions to support the
Biotechnology Initiative.  

Our new world-class biotechnology aquaculture laboratory will ensure our
ability to maintain international prominence in fish disease, fish
nutrition, conservation fisheries research and fish genetics and breeding.
It is research that impacts the state, the nation and the world.

Tim White
President

Here's the latest news from the University of Idaho:

Two University of Idaho chemistry professors and one student have been
nominated for national ChemLunimary awards by the American Chemical Society.

Undergraduate student Trina Villalobos and Professor Nick Natale have been
nominated for their outreach efforts to Native American students. Professor
Richard Williams is a finalist for the Chemists with Disabilities Inclusion
Award. He has been a mentor to disabled chemistry students at Idaho, and
adapted an organic chemistry laboratory in Renfrew Hall to accommodate the
needs of disabled students. Award recipients will be announced Sept. 12 at
the 232nd ACS national meeting in San Francisco, Calif. 

Duke University biologist Anne Yoder will to visit the Idaho campus to
present a historical view of biological diversity on Madagascar, one of the
world's richest troves of unique animal and plant life. Her talk, Tuesday,
Sept. 5, is part of the Randall Seminar Series "Women in Science at the
University of Idaho." Her presentation is at 2:30 p.m. in the Commons
Whitewater Room. Yoder also will lead a roundtable discussion on career
issues for women scientists from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the Idaho Commons
Panorama Room. Both programs are free and open to the public.

Last week, Congress passed and President Bush signed into law the Pension
Protection Act of 2006 (PPA) which includes a limited-time provision
allowing tax-free distributions from traditional or Roth Individual
Retirement Account ( IRA) assets directly to charity. Between now and
December 31, 2007, you have an unprecedented opportunity to support the
students and programs at the University of Idaho.  Here's how:  

~ Individuals aged 70 and older may choose to make charitable distributions
in any amount up to $100,000 per year. A couple with separate IRA's could
each give up to that amount.

~ To qualify, the distribution must be made directly from the trustee of the
IRA to the University of Idaho. You should not take the distribution
yourself and subsequently write a check to the university.

~ The charitable distributions made through an IRA will count toward
satisfying your mandatory IRA withdrawal amounts.

~ To enjoy the full benefit of this two-year opportunity to support the
University of Idaho, you must complete each year's transfer prior to
December 31 of that year.

The provision does include some limitations. For instance, distributions may
not be used to fund Charitable Remainder Trusts or Charitable Gift
Annuities. In addition, despite the obvious benefits of this provision,
there may be more tax-efficient ways for you to make a gift. If you are
interested in discussing your options under this new provision, please call
Ed McBride or Heidi Linehan in Gift Planning Services at (208) 885-7069 or
(866) 671-7041 or www.uidaho.edu/givetoidaho. As always, we recommend you
seek the advice of your tax and/or legal counsel before making a gift from
retirement plan assets to the University of Idaho.
--------------------------------------------------------------

Take care, Moscow (you, too, Vandals).

Tom Hansen
Moscow, Idaho
UI '96

***********************************
Work like you don't need the money.
Love like you've never been hurt.
Dance like nobody's watching.

- Author Unknown
***********************************