The Tuesday Letter
Agricultural Experiment Station & Cooperative Extension Service

  
Vol. 10, No. 51   November 2, 2004

IN THIS ISSUE...

...Word from the Associate Director - Extension and Applied Research
...College of Agriculture Diversity Programs Office Kicks off with Diversity Luncheon
...Next TechBytes Technology Information Series Features Adobe Acrobat
...Last "Free" Grassroots Community Development Training Offered
...KSRE Basketball Game Sponsorships Next Week
...Citizenship Washington Focus
...State 4-H Curriculum Task Force
...Publications/Production Services Update
...November Kansas Junior Master Gardener Newsletter on Web
...Position Available: Research Assistant - Kansas Artificial Breeding Services
...Master Schedule

...Tuesday Letter Archives

In today's world of accountability, we have no choice but to communicate IMPACTS to all decision makers. Communicating IMPACTS is everyone's job, including "administrators." It is evident a need exists for improving on IMPACT reports, both receiving them and using them! The dialog suggested some frustrations on a lack of clarity with what constitutes IMPACT. Secondly, concern that even when done, an IMPACT report is not read or used. For the sake of clarity, PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENT reports are synonymous with IMPACT reports.

First off, an IMPACT report should focus on the participants. In simplest terms, after you have written a paragraph about the events and activities that took place, you add a statement that answers the "so what." 

"Fifteen youth attended the Kansas Youth Leadership Conference at Rock Springs. These youth learned how to enthuse and involve others through three group facilitation techniques. They also learned about irrefutable laws of leadership."

That's an IMPACT report. The IMPACT is a change in knowledge. The youth are more knowledgeable on facilitation techniques and on laws of leadership. Other examples of short term IMPACT include creating awareness, skills, aspirations, and motivation. More complex forms of IMPACT come through longer term programs that are expected to create changes in behaviors, practices, decision making, policies, or social change on the part of the participants.

In that same example, you might find another IMPACT. "As a result of attending the KYL Conference, four youth report they are now more interested and willing to take on community and school citizenship and leadership roles (motivation). Two youth have gained the confidence to organize a school event using the stills they learned at the conference (behavior)."

To write about IMPACTS, one first has to think about what you are looking for from those participants in your event or program. When looking for "creating awareness," evidence comes through how many participated. Evidence of "knowledge gained" comes from asking them what they learned from the conference, event, or program. "Motivations" would come from asking the participants if there was anything they would like to try or to do differently as a result of having participated in this educational program.

All of those steps involve YOU first having determined what IMPACTS you might expect and then asking participants to give you feedback on those IMPACTS.

After putting on a conference on alternative cropping systems, what might be the questions you'd want participants to answer?

-- Were there any systems discussed that might be of interest to you in your farming practices (motivation)?
-- What was the most useful to you (knowledge gained)?
-- What are your greatest barriers or concerns in making any change to your crop rotation system (aspirations)?

I would challenge you, whether a classroom teacher, researcher, specialist, or agent, to evaluate one event or one program with the participants. Aim to determine IMPACT. Summarize what you learn and send it to your administrative supervisor as evidence of the value of the event or program.

If K-State Research and Extension is going to effectively market the quality of our work of teaching, research, and extension, we must focus our attention on IMPACT. We must be about educating decision makers on the real value and IMPACT of our work. And, the IMPACTS we report must be about the participants for whom the project, program, or class was conducted. --Daryl Buchholz dbuchhol@oznet.ksu.edu

COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE DIVERSITY PROGRAMS OFFICE KICKS OFF WITH DIVERSITY LUNCHEON
Congratulations to MANRRS (Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences) and KSU College of Ag Diversity Programs Office (DPC) on their recent success with the diversity awareness training luncheon! The two organizations collaborated to sponsor the event in an effort to promote diversity awareness among student leaders.

A number of different representatives from the many campus multicultural organizations attended the seminar, which included a rewarding presentation by Mr. Robert J. Powell, Vice president of HR operations and workforce planning for ADM Company.

Tamara Mack, MANRRS activities director, reports, “The seminar was definitely a success; the attendance  exceeded our expectations by far! Our goal was to reach a broad range of students, which we accomplished.  Mr. Robert J. Powell provided the student leaders with an arsenal of information to relay back to the other members of their organizations.”

This event is just a precursor for similar events to come in the near future. Dr. Zeila Wiley Holloway, Assistant Dean for Diversity and Director of the College of Agriculture's Office of Diversity Programs, is celebrating her first year at K-State and looks forward to working with all to promote diversity in all that we do in K-State Research and Extension, as well as the College of Agriculture. Be on the look out in future newsletters submissions about the Office of Diversity Programs' upcoming open house. --Zelia Wiley Hollaway zwh@ksu.edu

NEXT TECHBYTES TECHNOLOGY INFORMATION SERIES FEATURES ADOBE ACROBAT
On Friday, November 5, Amy Hartman of IET will give a presentation on Acrobat 6. She will demonstrate how to convert documents to Acrobat for use on the Web. She will also show an interactive form, how to add interactive features to an application form, shrinking the size of Acrobat files, making minor changes to your document, and copying information from Acrobat files to make newsletters, etc.. Amy will also show how the new Acrobat 6 can even read documents out loud.

The program is at 1 p.m. at the KSU Hale Library Hemisphere Room (501). This program will be broadcast live and posted later at the TechBytes Website - http://www.ksu.edu/techbytes/ .

The TechBytes Website contains videos, handouts, and links to various technology resources from previous programs. I urge you to check out this great source of technology information.

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

LAST "FREE" GRASSROOTS COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT TRAINING OFFERED
USDA Rural Development and the Kansas Rural Development Council are offering the fourth round of "Grassroots Community Development" training. The training will take place on November 15-18, 2004, in Junction City at the new Courtyard by Marriott.

This conference, a four-day training opportunity to expand your skills in local and regional community development, is offered to you at no cost. The conference program, including presenters and training materials, will be provided by USDA Rural Development. You will only be expected to pay for your meals, lodging, and transportation for the conference. This is the last "free" training USDA Rural Development will offer in Kansas, so take advantage of this opportunity.

For more information about the conference, registration and lodging information, etc., please contact Harold Alford at the USDA Rural Development office in Topeka by e-mailing harold.alford@ks.usda.gov  , or by calling 785-271-2791. Registration and Room Block guarantees must be in by November 8. --Steven Graham sgraham@k-state.edu

KSRE BASKETBALL GAME SPONSORSHIPS NEXT WEEK
K-State Research and Extension is sponsoring the K-State women's basketball game against Emporia State on November 9, and the K-State men's basketball game against Pittsburg State on November 11. Both of these sponsorships give us great in-state recognition through gameday presentations and announcements, as well as mention on the radio and television broadcasts plus program and stadium publicity throughout the season.

As an added perk, we have 40 tickets available to K-State Research and Extension folks for these sponsored games, and season tickets for the women's team. So, if you'd like to attend either game next week and help represent our organization in front of a large Kansas audience, or if you'd be interested in game tickets throughout the season, please e-mail Linda Sleichter at lsleicht@oznet.ksu.edu .  --Steven M. Graham  sgraham@k-state.edu

CITIZENSHIP WASHINGTON FOCUS
Information about Citizenship Washington Focus has been posted on the state 4-H website at: http://4-H.k-State.edu . Look under "What's Hot" on the right side of your window. The dates will be June 8-19, 2005. The cost is $1,200. The deadline for agents to forward registrations to the State 4-H Office is January 14, 2005.

I will be at NAE4-HA in Oklahoma this week, but will be available to answer questions when I return. --Justin Wiebers jwiebers@ksu.edu http:// 4-H.K-State.edu

STATE 4-H CURRICULUM TASK FORCE
We're looking for a few good people to help establish a system to review and evaluate current and future 4-H materials. This would include criteria for the development of new material and 4-H Projects as well as criteria for use in removing material and projects that are no longer relevant to the Kansas 4-H Program.

Please indicate your interest by December 1!! We hope to have a gathering soon after the first of the year!  Jim Adams jadams@oznet.ksu.edu

PUBLICATIONS/PRODUCTION SERVICES UPDATE
Advertised Publication Undergoes Revision
Orders for S-143, "Citizen Science: Interpreting On-Farm Water Test Results," have been cancelled. The handbook, which appeared on the May 2004 order form, will be updated from its original form and published as a fact sheet series. Watch for the series on an upcoming order form. We regret any inconvenience.

Publications Deadfiled
The following publications have been deadfiled in both printed and electronic form:

C726, "A Caregiver's Guide For Alzheimer's and Related Disorders";
C737, "Parkinson's Disease Resource Guide";
MF1158, "Brown Recluse Spiders";
MF1160, "Elder Abuse";
MF2231, "Living With Parkinson's Disease, Fact Sheet";
MF2231a, "Living With Parkinson's Disease, Teaching Guide";
S48, "Your Wishes Made Known: The Living Will and Medical Durable Power of Attorney";
S48A, "Addendum to Your Wishes Made Known: The Living Will and Medical Durable Power of Attorney";
and MF-1141, "Information Guide for Abused Women."

All files and copies of these publications should be destroyed, since they may contain outdated or inaccurate information.

Also deadfiled in the printed version only is SRP912, "2003 Kansas Performance Tests with Winter Wheat Varieties." It is replaced by the current SRP930," 2004 Kansas Performance Tests with Winter Wheat Varieties," which was offered on a July order form and remains available in limited quantities. --Nancy Zimmerli nancyz@ksu.edu

NOVEMBER KANSAS JUNIOR MASTER GARDENER NEWSLETTER ON WEB
The November edition of the Kansas Junior Master Gardener newsletter is now available at
http://4-h.k-state.edu/Programs/JMG/Newsletters/Default.htm . --Evelyn Neier eneier@oznet.ksu.edu

POSITION AVAILABLE: RESEARCH ASSISTANT - KANSAS ARTIFICIAL BREEDING SERVICES UNIT Requires B.S. in Animal Sciences or related field and proficiency with MS Office Suite. Experience working with animal semen and experience in customer sales/service preferred. See complete position announcement at: http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/ansi . Review of applications begins November 10, 2004 and continues until position is filled. Kansas State University is an Equal Opportunity provider and employer and actively seeks diversity among its employees. --Darla Thomas dthomas@ksu.edu

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