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The Tuesday Letter
Agricultural Experiment Station & Cooperative Extension Service

  
Vol. 10, No. 1   November 11, 2003


IN THIS ISSUE...

...Northeast Kansas/Metropolitan Area Director
...4-H Events Coordinator and 4-H Program Leader Positions Update
...Retirement Reception for Dr. Gerry Kuhl
...Annual Conference Registration Update
...New K-State Research and Extension Ombudspersons Announced
...NELD: North Central 2004
...2004 Water and The Future of Kansas Conference
...Master Schedule

...Tuesday Letter Archives


NORTHEAST KANSAS/METROPOLITAN AREA DIRECTOR
After reviewing various administrative options in light of the budget challenges faced by K-State Research and Extension, we have decided to combine administrative leadership for our Northeast and Metropolitan counties. Jim Lindquist has agreed to assume the title of Northeast Kansas/Metropolitan Area Director on January 4, 2004, the date that J. D. McNutt assumes administrative leadership for the Southeast Area. Another change is that Lyon and Harvey will be added to the list of counties that Jim administers while Kingman and Harper counties will continue to be administered by J. D. McNutt. J. D. has administered Kingman and Harper since arriving in Kansas several years ago. These administrative changes do not affect the area boundaries (SE, SW, NE, NW) served by Area Specialists.

Implementing this model means that Jim will have administrative responsibility for 31 counties and 102 agents. We anticipate supporting efforts that strengthen the resources available to him in various ways so he can keep the workload manageable. We expect that he will increase his use of alternatives to frequent on-site visits by relying on teleconferences, e-mail, videoconferencing, and delegation. He will be visiting counties, just not as frequently in person. Delegation will likely involve sharing responsibility for some tasks with County Extension Directors and Administrative Assistants, a model that is being employed in other states. We foresee Jim continuing to have his office on campus in Umberger Hall while J. D. will be relocating to Chanute. These changes represent another example of how K-State Research and Extension continues to adjust to a variety of opportunities and challenges. Our on-going review of local delivery and other Extension strategic planning issues will help us determine future changes in organizational structure. It should be apparent that we are committed to doing what is necessary to retain our role as the unbiased, science-based information source of choice for Kansans. --Randy Higgins rhiggins@oznet.ksu.edu  and George Ham gham@oznet.ksu.edu 

 

4-H EVENTS COORDINATOR AND 4-H PROGRAM LEADER POSITIONS UPDATE
A top priority among 4-H specialists and agents has been one of filling the 4-H Events Coordinator position. This person provides the logistical support to committees, teams, agents, and specialists in helping to make all necessary arrangements and coordination for statewide and national program events and activities. The Events Coordinator position is an unclassified, non-tenure track position, similar to other infrastructure support positions in other K-State Research & Extension units (i.e., editors, web page designers, programmers, etc.). A position announcement for the 4-H Events Coordinator search will be released soon for immediate filling.

Filling of the tenure-track, faculty-level, 4-H program leader position will be initiated during the next calendar year, a delay that will provide more time for discussion of the new strategic plan recommendations. Daryl has voluntarily agreed to remain as our Acting Assistant Director/Program Leader for 4-H during the immediate future. --Randy Higgins rhiggins@oznet.ksu.edu and George Ham gham@oznet.ksu.edu 

 

RETIREMENT RECEPTION FOR DR. GERRY KUHL
It is time to honor Gerry Kuhl for his many years of service to Kansas State University. We hope you will be able to join us for an informal get-together on Friday, November 21, at the American Legion Hall in Manhattan. The evening will begin with a social at 6:30 p.m., followed by the buffet meal at 7 p.m. The cost will be $15 per adult and $7.50 for children under 12. To make reservations, contact Lois Schreiner at 785-532-1267, or lschrein@oznet.ksu.edu . Please spread the word and pass this information on to all interested individuals. --Lois Schreiner

 

ANNUAL CONFERENCE REGISTRATION UPDATE
The online registration form for the K-State Research and Extension Annual Conference is now available at https://www.dce.ksu.edu/cgi-bin/conf/research_extension.cgi . Due to technical problems, we are asking those who have already submitted online registrations to please register again. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. --Diana Pavlisko dpavlisk@ksu.edu 

 

NEW K-STATE RESEARCH AND EXTENSION OMBUDSPERSONS ANNOUNCED
Six K-State Research and Extension faculty have been named to serve four year terms as Ombudspersons, beginning January 1, 2004. These individuals are Jo Ellen Arnold, Franklin County; Jan Stephens, Southeast Area Office; Dale Fjell, Department of Agronomy; Mike Bradshaw, School of Family Studies and Human Services; Dean Whitehill, Finney County; and Cheri Nelsen, Wilson County.

The role of the Ombud is to listen to peers' concerns regarding employment related issues, to help peers understand the issues underlying their concerns, and to explore alternative courses of action to address the concerns. 

The six new Ombuds are joining these six individuals who have two years remaining in their term: Jodi Besthorn, Sedgwick County; Bill Bockus, Plant Pathology; Beth Hinshaw, Southeast Area Office; Pat Murphy, Biological and Agricultural Engineering; Chuck Otte, Geary County, and Charlotte Shoup Olsen, Family Studies and Human Services.

Our thanks to these individuals who will complete their four year term of service on December 31: Peg Condray, Ottawa County; Libby Curry, Northwest Area Office; Ray Lamond, Agronomy; Tom Maxwell, Saline County; Mark Ploger, Edwards County; and Gita Ramaswamy, Apparel, Textiles and Interior Design. --George Ham gham@oznet.ksu.edu 

 

NELD: NORTH CENTRAL 2004
Congratulations to Jodi Besthorn, Sedgwick County Extension Agent, 4-H; Dr. Alan Ladd, Riley County Extension Director; and Dr. Twig Marston, Extension Specialist in Animal Sciences and Industry. They were selected as 2004 National Extension Leadership Development: North Central (NELD: NC) participants. Their first seminar will be Leading Yourself First, January 21-24, 2004 in Tucson, Arizona.

This is class X for the program which consists of four three-day seminars designed to build leadership in Cooperative Extension at all organizational levels. This program is sponsored by the North Central states’ Extension Services and is coordinated by the University of Wisconsin-Extension.

Including Jodi, Alan, and Twig, 26 K-State Research and Extension faculty have participated in NELD: North Central. If you are interested in future classes or learning more about the program, contact Marie Blythe at 785-532-6775, or mblythe@oznet.ksu.edu . --Marie Blythe 

 

2004 WATER AND THE FUTURE OF KANSAS CONFERENCE
The 2004 Water and the Future of Kansas Conference will be held March 11, 2004 in Lawrence. This year's theme is "Competing Priorities: Resolving Conflicts." The conference is sponsored by the Kansas Water Resources Research Institute, U.S. Geological Survey, Kansas Center for Agricultural Resources and the Environment, K-State Research and Extension, and the Kansas Geological Survey. Registration will be available in January 2004. --Melinda Sinn, Continuing Education sinnpio@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 NOVEMBER 19, 2003, THROUGH NOVEMBER 25, 2003:

DATE CHANGE:

Thursday, November 13
.... NW KAFCE Workshop/Council Meeting, Quinter/GO, Libby Curry lcurry@oznet.ksu.edu


Thursday, November 20
.... KSU Swine Day, Manhattan, Statewide, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Jim Nelssen jnelssen@oznet.ksu.edu

Friday, November 21, through Sunday, November 23
.... Kansas Youth Leadership Forum (KYLF), Rock Springs, Statewide, Beth Hinshaw bhinshaw@oznet.ksu.edu

Saturday, November 22
.... National 4-H Conference Interviews, Rock Springs, Beth Hinshaw bhinshaw@oznet.ksu.edu

Tuesday, November 25
.... SE Agent Agronomy Update, Chanute, Gary Kilgore gkilgore@oznet.ksu.edu

 

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