The Tuesday Letter
Agricultural Experiment Station & Cooperative Extension Service

  
Vol. 9, No. 48   October 14, 2003

IN THIS ISSUE...

...Excellence in Extension Seminar (Location Change)
...Northern Flint Hills Audubon Society Program this Week
...Grassroots Community Development Training Offered a Second Time
...Tuition Assistance Applications Due
...Plan Now for Annual Conference Publications
...4-H CCS Materials Here at Last!
...New Order Form
...Upcoming Kansas 4-H SpaceTech Program
...Suggestions Requested for Changes to our Health Benefits
...2004 Kansas 4-H Family and Consumer Sciences State Contests
...Join the Kansas Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences
...Save the Date
...Master Schedule

EXCELLENCE IN EXTENSION SEMINAR (LOCATION CHANGE)
Dr. Sharon Anderson, North Dakota State University Extension Director, will be on campus to present an Excellence In Extension Seminar on Wednesday, October 22, 2003, 3:30 p.m., in 123 Weber Hall. Anderson's seminar is entitled "21st Century Extension Service: Mostly Opportunities with Some Challenges."  A flier is available through the following link: http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/eanr/welcome_files/Excellence.pdf .

Sharon Anderson served on the Extension Committee on Organization and Policy from 1996 to 1999 and was chair in 1999. She was also a member of ECOP's Extension Vision for the 21st Century Committee that created the report, "The Extension System: Vision for the 21st Century." --Daryl Buchholz dbuchhol@oznet.ksu.edu 

NORTHERN FLINT HILLS AUDUBON SOCIETY PROGRAM THIS WEEK 
The Northern Flint Hills Audubon Society will meet tomorrow evening, Wednesday, October 15, 7:30 p.m., 1018 Throckmorton Hall.

The topic for this meeting is "Whither Organic Agriculture: Market Growth, Research Agenda, Threats."

Dan Nagengast, of the Kansas Rural Center, will speak about the surge in organically produced foods here and abroad, the state of research at American universities concerning organic systems, and finally, threats to organic systems and markets. --Judy Roe jroe@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 

TUITION ASSISTANCE APPLICATIONS DUE
Tuition Assistance applications for the spring semester are due November 1. For more information, see http://www.ksu.edu/hr/benefits/tuition.htm . --Stacey M. Warner swarner@oznet.ksu.edu 

PLAN NOW FOR ANNUAL CONFERENCE PUBLICATIONS
The K-State Research and Extension Annual Conference is scheduled for January 6-9, 2004 -- less than three months from now! Don't be caught without enough copies for your presentation or with no time to prepare your group's meeting or banquet program. The schedule allows only two work days between the end of semester break and the beginning of the conference.

To ensure a happy holiday season for yourself and a great program in January, be sure to have your printed materials prepared and at the Duplicating Center no later than December 5. If you need assistance with editing and/or design, contact your publications editor or Nancy Zimmerli, nancyz@oznet.ksu.edu , immediately for scheduling.

For printing scheduling and estimates, contact Greg LeValley at 532-1158, or glevalle@oznet.ksu.edu . --Nancy Zimmerli

4-H CCS MATERIALS HERE AT LAST!
Months in the planning and with a cast of thousands, the 4-H CCS materials have finally arrived in the Distribution Center! Please note that your order will be shipped as soon as possible, but our shipment arrived later than in previous years, further delaying your office order. We appreciate your patience and understanding as we deal with sorting and distributing more than 150 CCS titles, FCE and internal orders for the annual FCS series titles, and routine orders -- all with two fewer Distribution employees.

If you have questions about your order or need to arrange for pick-up, contact Jane Gibbs at 785-532-1146, or jgibbs@oznet.ksu.edu . --Nancy Zimmerli nancyz@oznet.ksu.edu 

NEW ORDER FORM
The order form for new and revised publications scheduled for delivery by January 1, 2004, has been sent to research centers, local and area offices, department heads, and state leaders. The form and draft versions are also available online at http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/prepubs/ . Orders are due November 1.

This order form includes the 2004 version of Chemical Weed Control for Field Crops, Pastures, Rangeland, and Noncropland. Remember there are no longer standing orders for AES materials; they must be ordered individually. --Nancy Zimmerli nancyz@oznet.ksu.edu 

UPCOMING KANSAS 4-H SPACETECH PROGRAM
The Kansas 4-H SpaceTech experience, in its fourth year of aerospace and technology activities, provides opportunities for youth throughout Kansas. Kansas State 4-H works in partnership with the Kansas Cosmosphere; K-State Aviation Department, Salina; the Exploration Place, Wichita; Hutchinson Community College; the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA); Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA); KidVenture, Oshkosh, Wisconsin; University of Kansas aviation department; and other local organizations to bring a comprehensive SpaceTech program to Kansas youth. 

SpaceTech 2003 is scheduled for November 13 thru 16. Participating youth gain knowledge and skills through hands-on experience in aerospace technology in the areas of rocketry, astronomy, and robotics. The SpaceTech 2003 adds a new activity, remote control. Besides these activities, participants can qualify for the annual trip to Oshkosh, Wisconsin, to be part of the KidVenture Experience. 

The KidVenture Experience is sponsored by the national EAA, Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Those who are selected for this event share their SpaceTech experiences with other youth from across the nation and the world. The ten youth that attended KidVenture, 2003, shared their SpaceTech experiences with more than 6,000 kids both nationally and internationally.

Additional information on how to become involved in SpaceTech 2003 can be obtained form the K-State website: www.oznet.ksu.edu/spacetech , or contacts through spatten@oznet.ksu.edu , or wbarker@oznet.ksu.edu . Please note the extension for early bird registration. --Walter Barker wbarker@oznet.ksu.edu 

SUGGESTIONS REQUESTED FOR CHANGES TO OUR HEALTH BENEFITS
As Secretary of the Health Care Commission Employee Advisory Committee, I am in need of concerns and suggestions for changes to our health benefits. We will begin discussion on changes for our 2005 plan year in November.

By now you've all received your Open Enrollment benefits booklet. Most of you will be experiencing premium increases, but some employees will actually see a small decrease in premiums.

Additionally, plan benefits have been changed. Deductibles have been eliminated, but copayments and coinsurance have been changed/increased for most plans.

While the changes aren't the best for everyone, they did have the effect of keeping premiums lower than they would have been otherwise.

I ask that if you have a complaint, you also include a comment on what part of your insurance plan you most like and/or least need. For example I don't like the high coinsurance rate for my policy. I like not having a deductible and I'm willing to accept a lower lifetime maximum benefit to save cost.

Our committee also works with all the other health benefits such as visual, dental, prescription drug, etc. so all comments are welcome and appreciated. --Doug Musick dmusick@oznet.ksu.edu 

2004 KANSAS 4-H FAMILY AND CONSUMER SCIENCES STATE CONTESTS
The 2003 FCS State Contest dates and locations have been set by the State 4-H FCS Action Team who will provide leadership for these events.

#1. Kansas 4-H FCS Judging Contest (Intermediate Ages Only)
Saturday, September 18, 2004
Kansas State Fair, Hutchinson, Kansas
Co-Chair: Kathleen Ramonda, Shawnee County 4-H Volunteer
Co-Chair: Linda Biles, Shawnee County 4-H Volunteer

#2. Kansas 4-H FCS Quiz Bowl (Senior Ages Only)
Sunday, September 19, 2004
Kansas State Fair, Hutchinson, Kansas
Co-Chairs: TBA (Pending Acceptance)

--Gary Gerhard gerhard@oznet.ksu.edu 

JOIN THE KANSAS EXTENSION ASSOCIATION OF FAMILY AND CONSUMER SCIENCES
The time is right to join the Kansas Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences. Dues are $70 for full members and $64 for associate members. For more information on membership options, contact Joann Paschal, Russell County Family and Consumer Sciences Agent, 785-483-3157. --Joann Paschal jpaschal@oznet.ksu.edu 

SAVE THE DATE
The Kansas Nutrition Council annual conference will be held Friday, April 2, 2004, at the Sheraton Hotel in Wichita. More information will be available by early January. --Cindy Evans cevans@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 22, 2003, THROUGH OCTOBER 28, 2003:

Wednesday, October 22
.... NW Animal Science Agent Update, Ellis Co. Extension Meeting Room, NW Area (but all are welcome), 9:30 a.m., Sandy Johnson skjohnso@oznet.ksu.edu

Saturday, October 25, through Tuesday, October 28
.... American Dietetics Association, San Antonio, TX, Mary Meck Higgins mhiggins@humec.ksu.edu

Monday, October 27, through Wednesday, October 29
.... Financial Management Training, Manhattan, Statewide, Training begins at 1:00 p.m. on the 27^th and ends at 12:30 p.m. on the 29th., Esther Maddux emaddux@oznet.ksu.edu

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