The Tuesday Letter
Agricultural Experiment Station & Cooperative Extension Service

  
Vol. 9, No. 47   October 7, 2003

IN THIS ISSUE...

...Long-Term Strategic Planning (continued)
...Pratt County Extension Office Moving This Week
...Business Travel Card
...State 4-H Dog Conference - November 8 and 9 - Rock Springs 4-H Center
...Hunting, Fishing, and Furharvesting School Cancelled
...International Carbon Measurement and Monitoring Forum
...World Wide Paint Horse Congress Judging Contest
...Horse Panorama Information
...Grassroots Community Development Training Offered a Second Time
...FrontPage Web Authoring Training
...The Changing Landscape of Watershed Management
...4HCCS Pilot Testing Opportunities
...October Edition of Kansas Junior Master Gardener Newsletter Now Online
...Now is the Time to Join
...Fort Hays Judging Contest
...Traveling Photo Judging Kits Now Available
...National 4-H Camping Institute -- Workshop Proposals Due November 1
...Wilderness First Aid Certification Workshop
...Master Schedule

Strengths of Extension in Kansas

• Partnerships
• University Expertise and Agents
• Network of individuals in place but underutilized for other things
• Infrastructure - county agent/office system
• Knowledge and research base
• Excellent youth development
• Creditable based on research and factual data
• Useful research for use on local level
• Providing unbiased, research-based information by agents who are trained in interpersonal skills
• Dealing with traditional, interested families

Weaknesses of Extension in Kansas

• Selling ourselves
• Complacency and stagnation
• Competition
• Participation from the public (delivery of content and program)
• Need to be more current on information people
• Need today in all subjects
• Extension tends to attract the same "crowd" or people to all programs
• Need a way to pull people not familiar with extension into the program; maybe to sum it up - marketing
• Tight budgets
• Financial limits and exposure to non-contemporary participants
• The continuing image that Extension and 4-H are only for rural farm families
• There is a need for image education in urban communities
• Being slow in adapting to changes
• Working with single parent families
• Working with minorities

Opportunities for improving Extension in Kansas

• Technology - Internet and e-mail for content delivery
• Budget has brought change and "new blood" - opportunity to implement change and tear down existing walls and stumbling blocks
• Utilize cable television - create our own station
• Extension may look to "plug the holes" where other programs fail. Partner with other government agencies as a delivery mechanism and/or technical information
• Improvement in public relations - put the word out about what extension accomplishes; work better with county commissioners, improve diversity with program delivery
• Trying to reach the new crowd
• Develop programs for different ethnic groups
• Using technology to communicate with continents
• Market extension program to all citizens in Kansas

Threats to the continued existence of Extension in Kansas

• Lack of participation
• Not reaching the consumer - then eventually we are not needed 
• Budget
• Private sector research
• Too much competitiveness in winning in livestock showing events
• Competition from outside sources
• Closing of local offices losing the local participation
• Loss of population in rural areas
• Lack of understanding by elected officials

These comments will help guide our long-term Extension strategic planning discussions that will take place over the next several months. Please forward suggestions to mhightow@oznet.ksu.edu regarding this process and people/groups that you believe should be asked to share in these discussions. --Randy Higgins. rhiggins@oznet.ksu.edu 

PRATT COUNTY EXTENSION OFFICE MOVING THIS WEEK
The Pratt County Extension Office will be moving this week. We will be without phone service at least until  October 9. We will be without computer service from Monday, October 6, until at least October 15. For now we will retain the same P.O. Box A address. Our new physical address will be 824 W. First. Phone and fax numbers will remain the same. --Jean Clarkson-Frisbie jcfrisbi@oznet.ksu.edu 

BUSINESS TRAVEL CARD
State employees who have overnight travel with their responsibilities may be interested in applying for a Business Travel Card. This allows business expenses to be on a different credit card than personal expenses.

For information and an application see: http://www.ksu.edu/hr/imcard.htm . --Stacey M. Warner swarner@oznet.ksu.edu 

STATE 4-H DOG CONFERENCE - NOVEMBER 8 AND 9 - ROCK SPRINGS 4-H CENTER
Don't forget that registrations are due to the State 4-H Office by October 10!! Send that last minute reminder to your Dog Care and Training members and leaders. Refer to the letter of September 8 for all the details. --Jim Adams jadams@oznet.ksu.edu 

HUNTING, FISHING, AND FURHARVESTING SCHOOL CANCELLED
The Hunting, Fishing, and Furharvesting School to be held October 11 and 12, has been cancelled due to low enrollment. --Linda Siebold lsiebold@oznet.ksu.edu 

INTERNATIONAL CARBON MEASUREMENT AND MONITORING FORUM
K-State is hosting an international Carbon Measurement and Monitoring Forum October 15-17, sponsored by the Coalition for Agricultural Soils Management of Greenhouse Gases (CASMGS).

The special Wednesday afternoon session on October 15 will be held at Forum Hall in the Student Union, beginning at 2 p.m. Speakers at the Wednesday afternoon session include Chuck Rice, Department of Agronomy; and speakers from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the U.S. Department of State. The speakers will discuss governmental climate policies and the role of agriculture in greenhouse gas mitigation. The Wednesday  afternoon session is free and open to the public. Speakers for the other two days of the Forum include representatives from NASA, USDA, K-State, other CASMGS universities, and private industry. Senator Pat Roberts (R-KS) will be the luncheon speaker on Friday.

For details on the full Forum program, see: http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/ctec/Fall_Forum.htm . --Steve Watson swatson@oznet.ksu.edu 

WORLD WIDE PAINT HORSE CONGRESS JUDGING CONTEST
The World Wide Paint Horse Congress Judging Contest will be held Saturday, October 18, at the Kansas Coliseum. For more information contact Diane Gage, 316-772-5762. --Ann Domsch adomsch@oznet.ksu.edu 

HORSE PANORAMA INFORMATION
Horse Panorama information is on the 4-H horse page at www.oznet.ksu.edu/dp_4hyp/horse/horsepage.htm  --Ann Domsch adomsch@oznet.ksu.edu 

GRASSROOTS COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT TRAINING OFFERED A SECOND TIME
In the past, USDA Rural Development has offered "advanced community development training" to Agency staff. Earlier this year, Chuck Banks, the State Director of USDA Rural Development in Kansas, decided the same training should be offered to a wider audience, including rural community leaders across Kansas.

Last June, the first such training was offered. Chuck would like to invite K-State Research and Extension employees to join him in the second round of "Grassroots Community Development" to be offered October 20-23, in Great Bend. The program will be presented by the following: K-State Research and Extension, Kansas R C & Ds, representatives from the cities of Great Bend and Topeka, and USDA Rural Development staff from Kansas. It is Chuck's hope that this effort, along with future sessions, will lay the foundation to assist rural Kansans to better evaluate and build upon the strengths and opportunities of their local communities and regions.

To make a reservation for the October 20-23 session, contact Steven Graham for more information and the reservation form.

(Message from Steven Graham - If you were not able to attend the first session and are interested in this topic, I would highly suggest you consider attending now. This second session will be subsidized by USDA Rural Development. Future sessions may not be subsidized and may cost considerably more.) --Steven Graham sgraham@oznet.ksu.edu 

FRONTPAGE WEB AUTHORING TRAINING
This beginner/intermediate class will cover the essentials for creating and maintaining a successful Web site. Topics to be included are working with text, optimizing digital images, using tables for layout purposes, adding Acrobat files to your site, managing Web files and more.

Please register for this class by calling IET, 785-532-6270. Class size is limited and available on a first come basis. Current Class dates: October 22, October 23, November 5, December 3. These are half-day classes from 8 a.m. to noon in Umberger 317 on the K-State campus.

For more information contact IET or Gerry Snyder. --Gerry Snyder gsnyder@oznet.ksu.edu 

THE CHANGING LANDSCAPE OF WATERSHED MANAGEMENT
This seminar for Local and State Government Environmental Professionals will be Thursday, November 6, -  11:30 a.m. – 5 p.m., in the Olathe Municipal Services Center (see directions below).

OVERVIEW:

• Learn more about some of the “big picture” issues impacting watershed management and water quality protection efforts in Kansas
• Network and share ideas with colleagues from other communities and agencies
• Enhance your small group facilitation skills

PRESENTATIONS:

• Overview of Kansas Natural Resources Legacy Alliance recommendations and potential impacts on future state policy direction - Tracy Streeter, Executive Director, Kansas State Conservation Commission
• Overview of efforts to focus agency resources on watershed protection efforts at EPA Region 7; Future trends and issues regarding watershed/water quality protection - Julie Elfving, Interim Chief, EPA Region 7 Watershed Planning & Implementation Branch
• Changes to the state water planning process and impacts on local watershed/water quality protection efforts - Joe Harkins, Director, Kansas Water Office
• Enhancing small group facilitation skills - Dan Kahl, Coordinator, Kansas PRIDE Program

REGISTRATION:

• No registration fee.
• Box lunches will be available for $7, payable at the door.
• To register, contact Robert Wilson at K-State Research & Extension at 785-532-7823 or rmwilson@k-state.edu  by November 4.

This seminar is sponsored by K-State Research & Extension, hosted by City of Olathe Municipal Services, and funded by KDHE Watershed Management Section through EPA Section 319 Nonpoint Source Pollution Control Grant #C9007405-08

DIRECTIONS TO OLATHE MUNICIPAL SERVICES CENTER:

From Kansas City:
Take I-35 south to the Old 56 Hwy exit.
Travel west on Old 56 Hwy to Robinson Ave.
Turn left (south) onto Robinson.
The Olathe Municipal Services Center is located just south of the Johnson County Transit Facility.

From Lawrence:
Take K-10 to the K-7 exit.
Travel south on K-7 to Old 56 Hwy.
Turn right (west) onto Old 56 Hwy.
Travel west on Old 56 Hwy to Robinson Ave.
Turn left (south) onto Robinson.
The Olathe Municipal Services Center is located just south of the Johnson County Transit Facility. --Bill Hargrove bhargrov@oznet.ksu.edu 

4HCCS PILOT TESTING OPPORTUNITIES
Kansas is invited to participate in the piloting of one or more of the 11 new and revised 4HCCS product sets scheduled for release in 2004 (Entrepreneurship, Forestry, Outdoor Adventures, Consumer Savvy, Veterinary Science, Sewing, Swine, Rabbit, Child Development, Theatre Arts, Horse). Each county that electronically submits a minimum of 10 evaluations (combined youth and adult) by February 15, 2004, will receive a set of each product evaluated when they are printed next year. Application must be submitted by November 1, 2003.

I encourage you to involve your counties in this national piloting effort. Just ask them to complete the Pilot Test Application found on the 4HCCS web site,  www.n4hccs.org . The link has been included on the home page for easy access. The Application can be completed online. 

Thank you for your assistance. --Jim Adams jadams@oznet.ksu.edu 

OCTOBER EDITION OF KANSAS JUNIOR MASTER GARDENER NEWSLETTER NOW ONLINE
The October edition of the Kansas Junior Master Gardener Newsletter is now available at http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/dp_4hyp/JMG/Newsletters/current.htm .

This month the newsletter includes information on 

* Pumpkins and corn
* JMG groups in Kansas
* The National JMG September Group of the Month from Johnson County
* The new, revised edition of the JMG Level 1 Teacher/Leader manual

--Evelyn Neier  eneier@oznet.ksu.edu 

NOW IS THE TIME TO JOIN
Now is the time to join the Kansas Association of Extension 4-H Agents. Dues are $100 for full members and $40 for associate members. For more information on membership options, contact Shawna Mitchell, McPherson County 4-H Youth Development Agent, 620-241-1523. --Shawna M. Mitchell smitchel@oznet.ksu.edu 

FORT HAYS JUDGING CONTEST
The Annual Fort Hays Judging Contest will be held April 17, 2004 at Fort Hays State University. The contest will involve Consumer & Lifeskills, Entomology, Horticulture, Crops, Photography and Livestock Judging. Each contestant can compete in one or as many contests as they desire. Further information will follow as the contest nears. --Stacy Campbell scampbel@oznet.ksu.edu 

TRAVELING PHOTO JUDGING KITS NOW AVAILABLE
Are you needing assistance with your photography project? A traveling Photography Judging Kit is now available for checkout. There are three different kits with four classes in each kit. Suggested results and cuts are provided. Please contact Haskell County 4-H Teen Leader, Jenny Gillespie, 620-668-5620, or gillespi@ucom.net  to reserve a checkout date. Take advantage of this judging opportunity for a local club or a county-wide event. --Pat McNally pcmnally@oznet.ksu.edu 

NATIONAL 4-H CAMPING INSTITUTE --- WORKSHOP PROPOSALS DUE NOVEMBER 1
If you are seeking a venue for presenting a workshop at a national conference to be held almost in your backyard, then you will want to consider submitting a workshop proposal for the National 4-H Camping Institute. Workshops will be presented on Monday and Tuesday, February 9-10, at Rock Springs 4-H Center.

For more information about submitting a workshop proposal, please contact Amy Gerdes, Ford County 4-H Agent at agerdes@oznet.ksu.edu . For more information on the National 4-H Camping Institute, please review the web site at www.oznet.ksu.edu/4hyp/NCI/NCIhomepage.htm . --Pat McNally pmcnally@oznet.ksu.edu 

WILDERNESS FIRST AID CERTIFICATION WORKSHOP
Taught by Wilderness Medicine Institute instructors, this 16 hour workshop will take place February 12-14, at Rock Springs 4-H Center. The hands-on program emphasizes the principles of treatment and decision-making guidelines and not the memorization of lists. Wilderness is defined as being in an area where it takes 1 hour to reach a medical facility --- thus, the information and training are pertinent to many residents of Kansas.

The workshop is fast-paced, hands-on and is a comprehensive introductory-level course. It can also be used as a Wilderness First Responder certification course. Please feel free to share this information with individuals and organizations in your communities that may be interested in attending this workshop.

For more information about the Wilderness Medicine Institute, review their web site: www.nols.edu/wmi . For more information and to register for the February certification workshop, contact Jo Ellen Arnold, Franklin County 4-H Agent at jearnold@oznet.ksu.edu . --Pat McNally pmcnally@oznet.ksu.edu 

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 OCTOBER 15, 2003, THROUGH OCTOBER 21, 2003:

Thursday, October 16
.... World Food Day Satellite Downlink, Manhattan (137 Waters Hall), Statewide observance of worldwide event, 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m., Sandy Procter procter@humec.ksu.edu

Friday, October 17, through Sunday, October 19
.... State 4-H Shooting Sports Certification Workshop, Meade, KS, Statewide, Gary Gerhard ggerhard@oznet.ksu.edu

Saturday, October 18, through Sunday, October 19
.... State 4-H Volunteer Leader Forum, Rock Springs, Statewide, Pat McNally pmcnally@oznet.ksu.edu

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