The Tuesday Letter
Agricultural Experiment Station & Cooperative Extension Service

  
Vol. 9, No. 49   October 21, 2003

IN THIS ISSUE...

...Five-Year Plan Update
...Benefits Enrollment Deadlines
...21st Century Extension Service: Opportunities and Challenges
...Leadership Literature that Can Guide Extension Work
...Upcoming Kansas 4-H SpaceTech Program
...Community Food Systems Workshop-Using Food to Build Healthy Local Communities
...KAE4-HA Katch Phrase
...Publications/Production Services Update
...Master Schedule

FIVE-YEAR PLAN UPDATE
Writing teams are reminded of the deadline of November 1 to return completed Long Term Intended Outcome (LTIO) statements developed for the K-State Research & Extension 5-year plan to Marie Blythe. As mentioned in several communications, the latest versions of the 12 LTIO statements are posted to the 5-year plan web site within our Intranet as they are received and edited. Comments should be returned to Marie Blythe at mblythe@oznet.ksu.edu  and to the writing team leaders for each LTIO. Primary contacts for each LTIO are listed as follows:

LTIO 1 - Healthy Eating and Physical Activity -- Mary Higgins
LTIO 2 - Healthy Sustainable Communities -- Dan Kahl
LTIO 3 - Positive Child, Youth, and Family Development -- Chuck Smith
LTIO 4 - Positive Adult Quality of Life -- Kerri Parsons
LTIO 5 - New and Enhanced Productions from Agriculture -- Ron Madl
LTIO 6 - Conservation of Soil, Water, and Energy -- Bill Hargrove
LTIO 7 - Improved Quality of Land, Air, and Water -- Bill Hargrove
LTIO 8 - Efficient and Sustainable Cropping and Horticultural Systems -- Bob Zeigler
LTIO 9 - Efficient and Sustainable Animal Production Systems -- Bob Cochran
LTIO 10 - Farm and Food Systems Management -- Dan Bernardo
LTIO 11 - Safe, Secure, High-Quality Food Supply -- Fadi Aramouni
LTIO 12 - Enhanced Nutritional Quality of the Food Supply -- Denis Medeiros

David Dzewaltkowski has been assisting with the organization and development of LTIOs 1 through 4 (now concentrating on LTIOs 1 through 3) and Curtis Kastner is providing joint leadership to LTIOs 11 and 12. --Randy Higgins rhiggins@oznet.ksu.edu  and Forrest Chumley fchumley@oznet.ksu.edu 

BENEFITS ENROLLMENT DEADLINES
Remember that open enrollment for state health insurance plans and Flexible Spending Accounts ends on Friday, October 31. Do not wait until October 31 as the help desk and the web site will likely be overwhelmed with traffic.

An employee must enter the Employee Self Service Center on the accessKansas website to enroll in the Health Risk Appraisal and receive a credit, to make changes to a state health insurance plan or to participate or renew participation in a Flexible Spending Account for Plan Year 2004. Employees not wanting to make ANY changes to their Health Plan, and not wanting to enroll in the Health Risk Appraisal or Flexible Spending Accounts, are not required to enroll on-line.

To enroll, go to the Employee Self Service Center at http://www.accesskansas.org/employee/ . Select "Employee Self Service Center."

The Help Desk in Topeka (1-785-296-1900) can assist with questions regarding signing in to the Employee Self Service Center but the staff cannot answer questions about benefit options. Those questions should be directed to the K-State Human Resources Office at 785-532-6277. The turquoise "State of Kansas Open Enrollment 2004" booklet mailed to all employees with state benefits contains details regarding the various health plans.

21ST CENTURY EXTENSION SERVICE: OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES
Dr. Sharon Anderson, North Dakota State University Extension Director, presents an Excellence In Extension Seminar tomorrow, October 22, 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 

LEADERSHIP LITERATURE THAT CAN GUIDE EXTENSION WORK
Dr. Sharon Anderson, North Dakota State University Extension Director, will provide an interesting, informal book review on Wednesday evening, October 22, at 7 p.m. in the K-State Alumni Center. The review will focus on Jim Collin's "Good to Great" and other literature she finds useful and interesting for Extension workers. Hope you will join us for this special event. Refreshments will be provided. --Daryl Buchholz dbuchhol@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 as 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

COMMUNITY FOOD SYSTEMS WORKSHOP--USING FOOD TO BUILD HEALTHY LOCAL COMMUNITIES
This workshop will be held in Salina, November 17 and 18, 2003, at the Commission on Aging Senior Center, 245 N. 9th Street, Salina, KS 67401.

At the workshop you will learn about innovative ways farmers and consumers are producing and distributing food today, see how to create coalitions to support farmer-consumer connections, and see how local food programs can assist farmers, local businesses, and consumers in rural communities.

The cost is $50 (includes workshop materials and 2 meals). The registration deadline is November 7, 2003. Travel scholarships are available.

The workshop is co-sponsored by Kansas Center for Sustainable Agriculture and Alternative Crops (KCSAAC), Jana Beckman; University of Missouri Food Circles Networking Project, Mary Hendrickson; and K-State Research and Extension – Saline County, Sherrie Mahoney.

Contact Sherrie Mahoney, 785-309-5850, to get a copy of the agenda and a registration form. --Sherrie Mahoney smahoney@oznet.ksu.edu 

KAE4-HA KATCH PHRASE
Now is the time to join the Kansas Associate of 4-H Agents. KAE4-HA offers many opportunities to network, share ideas and get re-energized. Different membership options are available. For more information about joining, contact Shawna Mitchell, KAE4-HA treasurer. --Gwen Spade gspade@oznet.ksu.edu 

PUBLICATIONS/PRODUCTION SERVICES UPDATE
Order Form Duplication
Please note that both the January 2004 order form and the October 2003 order form included SRP-917 "Chemical Weed Control for Field Crops, Pastures, Rangeland, and Noncropland 2004." Orders for SRP-917 will be based only on the October order form. Please do not duplicate the order by ordering additional copies on the January order form.

The October order form also included a number of performance test publications: SRP-918 "2003 Kansas Performance Tests with Alfalfa Varieties," SRP-914 "2003 Kansas Performance Tests with Corn Hybrids," SRP-915 "Kansas Performance Tests with Grain Sorghum Hybrids" and SRP-916 "2003 Kansas Performance Tests with Soybean Varieties." The aforementioned publications will be available in November, December or January, but none will be ready for distribution in October. We regret the error. For more information, please contact Jane Gibbs, jgibbs@oznet.ksu.edu .

More Order Form Information
Please help us fill orders correctly by giving complete information on forms. Be sure to fill out the form completely, including name of the person placing the order, office location (including department, county, area or district, as applicable), complete address, billing information and preferred delivery method. If placing an order electronically -- via Web order form or e-mail -- be sure to note whether the item(s) ordered are listed on a current monthly or quarterly order form. Those orders take precedence over regular orders, so failure to note the order form may result in a delay. 
--Nancy Zimmerli nancyz@oznet.ksu.edu 

Wednesday, October 22
.... Excellence in Extension Seminar, Manhattan, Statewide, 3:30 p.m., Daryl Buchholz dbuchhol@oznet.ksu.edu
.... Sharon Anderson Book Review, Manhattan, Statewide, 7:00 p.m., Daryl Buchholz dbuchhol@oznet.ksu.edu

Wednesday, October 29, through Thursday, October 30
.... 4-H Afterschool Conference, Rock Springs, Statewide, 1:00 p.m., Diane Mack dmack@oznet.ksu.edu

Thursday, October 30
.... National 4-H Meats Judging Contest, Manhattan/KSU, Dave Schafer dschafer@oznet.ksu.edu

Monday, November 3
.... SW Area KAFCE Workshop, Cimarron/GY (Church of the Nazarene), SW Area, Kathy Frusher 620-623-2333

Tuesday, November 4
.... SE Area 4-H Update, Eureka/GW, SE Area, Beth Hinshaw bhinshaw@oznet.ksu.edu

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