The Tuesday Letter
Agricultural Experiment Station & Cooperative Extension Service

  
Vol. 8, No. 18   March 26, 2002

IN THIS ISSUE...

...March 29 Paycheck
...Introduction of Chuck Banks - USDA Rural Development Director
...Past KKSU Programs Now On-Line
...Special Seminar on Salmonella in Livestock
...State Contract Purchasing Information: Microsoft Products
...Silent Auction in Salina
...4-H Venturers Headed to Philmont for a Backpacking Adventure!
...4-H Venturers Headed to Utah to Raft on the Green River!
...2004 National 4-H Camping Institute
...Play Days!
...Publications/Production Services Update
...KSU Will Host the Kansas Vector-Borne Disease Prevention Conference
...Master Schedule

...Tuesday Letter Archives  

MARCH 29 PAYCHECK
March 29 is the payday in which we will receive a third paycheck in the same month. Because of this, there  will be several differences in the amounts of payroll deductions.

If you have State of Kansas benefits, your premiums for group health insurance, KPERS Optional Group Life Insurance, TEA life insurance and contributions to the KanElect flexible spending accounts WILL NOT be deducted from this third paycheck.

If you have federal benefits, your contributions for Federal Employees Health Benefits and Federal Employees Group Life Insurance WILL be deducted from this third paycheck. If you have any of the state benefits listed in the above paragraph (such as the life insurance or KanElect) they WILL NOT be deducted. 

Additionally, 12-month unclassified employees WILL NOT earn an 8 hour vacation day for the pay period which is paid on March 29 unless you were first employed after June 10, 2001.

All of the above will happen again in the paycheck received on August 31, 2002 since it will also be the third paycheck received in the same month. --Stacey M. Warner  swarner@oznet.ksu.edu 

INTRODUCTION OF CHUCK BANKS - USDA RURAL DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
Please allow me to introduce myself as the new Kansas Director of USDA Rural Development. Prior to my appointment to this position, I had the opportunity to work with many of you while I served on the staff of U.S. Senator Pat Roberts. I certainly appreciated all of your past cooperation and look forward to continued cooperation and networking.

Since my appointment as State Director of USDA Rural Development in early December, I have had the opportunity to become even better acquainted with the excellent programs offered by this agency. Assisting the residents of rural America in the development of sustainable communities and improving their quality of life is the mission of USDA Rural Development. Two of my goals while serving as State Director are to oversee the increased promotion of Rural Development programs and the enhancement of our partnering efforts with government agencies, such as K-State Research and Extension.

Through Rural Development's housing programs, individuals are helped with buying, building, or renting housing. Rural Development's business and cooperative programs create jobs by funding the growth and creation of rural businesses and cooperatives. Other Rural Development programs help rural communities build or improve schools, health clinics, fire stations, and other community facilities. Rural Development also has programs that help rural communities with infrastructure projects; building or extending utilities such as water, electricity and telecommunications.

A significant need exists in rural Kansas for increased economic opportunities. I appreciate this opportunity to introduce myself to you. As a member of K-State Research and Extension and someone who shares our interest in improving both the economic health and quality of life of our rural communities, I would ask that you help spread the word of USDA Rural Development's loan and grant programs to the groups and individuals that could benefit most from these opportunities.

For further information about the programs of USDA Rural Development, please visit our web site at: http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/ks . Chuck Banks --Marc Johnson mjohnson@oznet.ksu.edu 

PAST KKSU PROGRAMS NOW ON-LINE
Past KKSU programs are now on-line for you to hear! Three weeks of local shows are available in RealAudio format at: http://www.kksu.com . Click "Archives" under "Streaming Audio" to go to the programs of your choice.

Every weekday afternoon, KKSU-AM 580 features interviews with K-State Research Extension specialists, as well as K-State faculty and staff, and state and national experts. Each morning KKSU distributes its program schedule via e-mail, with that day's news, weather, and programming information. To subscribe, send the message "subscribe kksu-today" (minus quotation marks), followed by a hard return to mailserv@lists.oznet.ksu.edu . To unsubscribe, follow the same procedure, but with "unsubscribe kksu-today" (minus quotes). --Larry Jackson ljackson@oznet.ksu.edu 

SPECIAL SEMINAR ON SALMONELLA IN LIVESTOCK
K-State Research and Extension, the College of Veterinary Medicine, and the College of Agriculture invite you to attend a briefing on the current risk of salmonella in Kansas livestock and the human food supply. Salmonella is a disease of animals that is communicable to humans. In animals, it can cause production losses due to diarrhea and arthritis, or death. Veterinarians at Kansas State University cite the pathogen as a major source of carcass contamination.

According to 1999 data from the Centers for Disease Control, salmonella caused more than 1.3 million cases of human foodborne illness in the United States, and more than 15,000 hospitalizations. That same year, there were 553 deaths due to salmonellosis, the highest number of deaths reported among the six most common foodborne pathogens.

Experts who will talk during the briefing include:

** Dr. Sylvain Quessy, M.D., Salmonella Expert, University of Montreal, Canada
** Dr. Randall Phebus, Food Microbiologist, K-State Research and Extension, Manhattan

The seminar will be held on Thursday, March 28, from 1 to 3:30 p.m. in the Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine Practice Management Center, 4th floor of Trotter Hall. For more information, contact Dr. Mark Spire, 785-532-4201, or Dr. George Kennedy, 785-532-4454. --Steven Graham sgraham@oznet.ksu.edu 

STATE CONTRACT PURCHASING INFORMATION: MICROSOFT PRODUCTS
There are a variety of options one can choose from when purchasing Microsoft applications. These options and license issues can be confusing. If you would like help determining the best options for your office please contact Gary Kepka at IET, 785-532-6270, or your area support technician. If you know exactly what you want, the following information may be helpful.

Microsoft/State of Kansas - Education
Contract Number: 33426

Software Spectrum
22721 East Mission Ave.
Liberty Lake, WA 99019
FEIN: 75-1878002

Customer Action Response Experts (CARE)
Telephone: 800-862-8434
Fax: 509-742-8344
E-mail: isteamsl@softwarespectrum.com .

Call the Higher Education Account Team at: 800-862-8434, and anyone can take your order. --Roger Terry rterry@oznet.ksu.edu 

SILENT AUCTION IN SALINA
Was the Garfield print on Ebay out of your budget? Perhaps you'll find something on the Silent Auction which will be held during Spring Action Conference in Salina. Remember, this is the Centennial year of 4-H! Come prepared to bid on the exciting variety of items which are being donated by members of KAE4-HA. All K-State Research and Extension staff are invited to participate in the auction. Co-chairs of the committee for the silent auction are Crystal Coffman, Miami County; Jeremy Nelson, Cowley County; and Gary Gerhard, State 4-H Office. --Phyllis Kriesel pkriesel@oznet.ksu.edu 

4-H VENTURERS HEADED TO PHILMONT FOR A BACKPACKING ADVENTURE!
We've got 6 (six) spaces left to be filled for this chance-of-a-lifetime for coed teens who are seeking a high adventure experience, backpacking in the wilderness areas of the Philmont High Adventure Base near Cimarron, New Mexico.

The trip takes place August 9-19, cost is $500 for the 10 day trip, including lodging, camping fees, insurance, food, transportation, equipment, training materials, Shakedown Training Workshop (May 31-June 2), and incidentals. The teens must be 14 years of age by January 1, or will have graduated from the 8th grade in 2002 in order to go on the trip.

We may also have room for 1-2 coed adults who thrive on outdoor adventures, love to work with teens in the outdoors, and think nothing of putting a 45 pound pack on their back as they hike nearly 25 miles of rugged wilderness trails!

All participants are required to attend the Shakedown Workshop, May 31-June 1, at Camp Hanson, Kerwin Reservoir in Phillips County. They'll experience all kinds of workshops and hands-on learning experiences pertaining to low-impact camping and hiking, outdoor cookery, team building, map and compass work, and first aid.

Spaces will be filled on a first-come, first-serve basis. Please contact the State 4-H Office at 785-532-5800 for more information and registration materials. We will accept registrations up until May 1, or until all slots have been filled. Please contact Pat Fultz if you have questions. --Pat Fultz pfultz@oznet.ksu.edu 

4-H VENTURERS HEADED TO UTAH TO RAFT ON THE GREEN RIVER!
For the first time, we are pleased to offer a second adventure experience this summer for teens and adults who seek outdoor high adventure experiences. Luckily, we were able to draw a permit for 25 youth and adults to raft through the Desolation and Gray Canyons on the Green River in eastern Utah! Luckily, we've got the trip almost filled. However, there's a remote chance that we'll have an opening for 1-2 youth. For this trip, teens must be 14 years of age and have completed the 8th grade in 2002. At this point in time, all adult slots have been filled.

The trip takes place June 16-25, cost will be $300-350 (final details yet to be finalized), and will include equipment, meals, insurance, Shakedown Training (May 31-June 1), transportation, campground fees and rafting fee. Attendance at Shakedown is required, where intensive training on rafting techniques and water safety will take place.

If you should have a teen that would be interested in going on this trip, please contact the State 4-H Office at 785-532-5800 immediately to get registration materials. Any vacancies will be filled on a first-come, first-serve basis. --Pat Fultz pfultz@oznet.ksu.edu 

2004 NATIONAL 4-H CAMPING INSTITUTE
We are thrilled to announce that the Department of 4-H Youth Development and the State 4-H Camping Action Team will be hosting the National 4-H Camping Institute, February 4-8, at Rock Springs! This bi-annual conference brings together camping enthusiasts, programmers, agents, camp facility directors and camp counselors from across the country and will feature dynamic presenters, workshops, exhibits, tours, and tons of fun. If you are interested in helping serve on one of the sub-committees for the State Camp Action Team to plan and produce this incredible event, please contact the State 4-H Office at 785-532-5800. --Pat Fultz pfultz@oznet.ksu.edu 

PLAY DAYS!
A gentle reminder that April 10 is the cut-off date for any registrations for Play Days!, a two-day action-packed, hands-on, fun-filled conference focusing on day camp programs, after school programs and just-about-any-kind-of-short-term-program!

This conference takes place April 24-25 at Rock Springs. We've already got 70+ folks registered from Kansas and Missouri, representing a variety of organizations and agencies as well as extension. We're pleased to bring three 'gurus' from Ohio State University who are top-notch programmers, creative and tons of fun.

At the Playground, you'll have a chance to 'make and take' some tools for immediate use back home. At the Play Toy Shop, you'll have a chance to purchase some of the neatest resource books and materials! This conference is a project of the State 4-H Camp Action. Contact the State 4-H Office at 785-532-5800 for more details.

Remember.....April 10th is the absolute deadline for registrations to be accepted! --Pat Fultz pfultz@oznet.ksu.edu 

PUBLICATIONS/PRODUCTION SERVICES UPDATE
New Form Available
A new Packet Distribution form is available in the Distribution Center, and copies will be included in packets sent Friday, March 29. The form may be used for letters, memos and other materials you wish to send with weekly packet mail through the Department of Communications in Umberger Hall. The form is also available on line at: www.oznet.ksu.edu/communications/OrgResources/distribution.htm .

The form replaces the carbonless forms used in the past and is intended to be more flexible and easily understood. Senders may choose to send single copies of materials to recipient groups or any number of copies to individuals or offices selected from the listing.

If you have questions regarding the form, please contact Jane Gibbs, customer service representative jgibbs@oznet.ksu.edu , or Walter Barr, mail officer, wbarr@oznet.ksu.edu .

Publication Changes
Publication costs of MF-2488 "Corn Gluten" and L-778 "Using Legumes in Crop Rotations" are no longer covered by grant funding. Future orders will be invoiced. --Nancy Peavler npeavler@oznet.ksu.edu 

KSU WILL HOST THE KANSAS VECTOR-BORNE DISEASE PREVENTION CONFERENCE
Kansas State University will host the Kansas Vector-Borne Disease Prevention Conference on April 15-16, 2002 at the K-State Student Union in Manhattan. The conference will provide current information and training on the prevention of vector-borne diseases threatening the health of the population of Kansas, and cover vector and disease identification, prevention, new vector control measures, medical treatment, and new information concerning vector and disease life cycles. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Kansas Department of Health and Environment and K-State’s Department of Entomology will sponsor the conference. Registration may be made until April 5, 2002 by phone, 785-532-5569; by fax, 785-532-2422; or by mail to Kansas Vector-Borne Disease Prevention Conference, Division of Continuing Education, Kansas State  University, 141 College Court Building, Manhattan, Kansas., 66506. --Continuing Education

VIEW THE MASTER SCHEDULE OR ADD NEW ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS . 

Submit corrections to previously submitted items to jzarger@oznet.ksu.edu .

DATES TAKEN FROM THE MASTER SCHEDULE FOR APRIL 3, 2002, THROUGH APRIL 9, 2002:

Wednesday, April 3, through Friday, April 5
.... Five-State Multicultural Conference, Garden City, Multi-state, Linda Walter lwalter@oznet.ksu.edu 

Thursday, April 4
.... Roundup, Ag Research Center, Hays, Statewide, 4:00 p.m., Keith Harmoney kharmone@oznet.ksu.edu 

Saturday, April 6
.... K-State Open House, Manhattan, Statewide, Pat Bosco bosco@ksu.edu 
.... Finney County Swine Sale, Garden City, Statewide, Whitey Whitehill dwhitehi@oznet.ksu.edu 

Sunday, April 7, through Saturday, April 13
.... National 4-H Conference, Washington, D.C., Lindy Lindquist llindqui@oznet.ksu.edu 

Monday, April 8
.... Master Volunteer Program, Hill City/GH, NW Area, 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Walter Barker wbarker@oznet.ksu.edu 
.... Spring KAFCE SW Council, Garden City/FI, SW Area, Carol Young cyoung@oznet.ksu.edu 

Top