The Tuesday Letter
Agricultural Experiment Station & Cooperative Extension Service

  
Vol. 11, No. 26  May 10, 2005

IN THIS ISSUE...

...Word from the Associate Director - Extension and Applied Research
...Reminder
...Status of Faculty Positions
...Notice Regarding Health Insurance for Nine Month Employees
...Electrical Safety at Fairs, Field Days and Other Public Events
...Retirement Celebration for Gary Gold
...Retirement Reception for Jean Paquette, 4-H Youth Development
...Tuition Assistance
...Two Upcoming Opportunities for Plant Diagnostic Information System Training
...Wallace Ray Kidd Memorial Diversity Award
...New Faculty Hires
...Order Forms
...Master Schedule

...Tuesday Letter Archives

WORD FROM THE ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR - EXTENSION AND APPLIED RESEARCH
Fifteen Extension agents are on campus this week in a program planning and development orientation training. This training represents a component of the overall orientation training provided to "new" Extension agents in their first year of employment with K-State Research & Extension. Other orientation training includes such topics as: Basic 4-H Youth Development Operations; Communications Skills; Interpersonal Relations; and Local Extension Unit Operations. We aim to provide some of the basic skills and understanding to help new Extension agents gain a foothold on a path of excellence in the future.

Program development is a basic skill EVERYONE can use, whether in research, teaching, or extension educational work. Program development employs analyzing the situation, setting forth objectives/outcomes, developing the outputs (materials and methods) for delivering the program, implementing, and evaluating to determine if the objectives/outcomes have been achieved. As paraphrased from The Extension Workers Code by T.J. Talbert, Extension Bulletin 33, 1922:

Having too much to do and so little time is a common occurrence for all of us. Yet, as this quote by Talbert tells us, unless we are willing to set our priorities and stick to them, our work will likely be mediocre at best.

Excellence in Extension work comes through a deep understanding of how our work over the years contributes to relevant, contemporary, important issues and needs within the community for which we have responsibility. In this case, community can be anything from our academic discipline, to a target audience, or to a geographic region.

Again from Talbert, 1922:

REMINDER
Just a reminder of the interview schedules for the three candidates interviewing for the Northeast Area Director position. Interviews will be held on May 16, and May 17, 2005. The candidates are:

Dr. Dale Fjell
Extension Specialist, Crop Production, and
Extension State Leader, Agronomy
K-State Research and Extension
2014 Throckmorton Hall
Manhattan KS

Dr. Emily Nolting
Multicounty Specialist, Commercial Ornamental Landscape Horticulture
K-State Research and Extension
1483 Johnson Road
Nortonville KS

Dr. Lawrence "L.J." Osborne
Youth Development/4-H Specialist, Family and Youth/4-H
South Dakota State University
Cooperative Extension Service
Brookings SD

Resumes, interview schedules and links for the Live Video Streaming for the candidates are available at http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/neareadirector .

Each candidate will present a seminar with time for questions and answers at the end of the seminar. The Search Committee cordially invites you to the seminars and seeks your input. Each seminar can also be viewed through Live Video Streaming, http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/neareadirector  for off campus individuals and those unable to attend in person.  --J. Pat Murphy, Search Committee Chair jmurphy@ksu.edu

STATUS OF FACULTY POSITIONS
To check the status of faculty positions that are currently in the search process, see the K-State Research and Extension Job Opportunities website at http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/main/jobs.asp . Click on "Employment Status of KSRE Faculty Positions." Search committee chairs - contact Dorothy Ireland in the Extension Operations Office at direland@oznet.ksu.edu , or 785-532-5787, to keep the information updated. --Stacey M. Warner swarner@oznet.ksu.edu

NOTICE REGARDING HEALTH INSURANCE FOR NINE-MONTH EMPLOYEES
During the spring months, Human Resources double deducts health insurance premiums to pay for the summer months of coverage.

Because of an anomaly in the pay calendar - academic calendar - employment contract periods, a double deduction premium will NOT be taken from the May 20, 2005 paycheck. Regular health insurance premiums will continue to be deducted from the May 20, 2005 and June 3, 2005 paychecks.

Collectively, nine month employees will have paid health insurance premiums from 24 paychecks during the 2005 health insurance plan year.

Questions should be addressed to the Division of Human Resources at 785-532-6277. --Joe Younger jyounger@ksu.edu

ELECTRICAL SAFETY AT FAIRS, FIELD DAYS AND OTHER PUBLIC EVENTS
Electrical safety is an important consideration at all public events, especially when these events occur outdoors, in damp conditions, or in facilities with unfinished floors. As you plan your summer events, please refer to our Electrical Safety Recommendations for guidance on how to eliminate electrical hazards at public events.

These recommendations can be found at: http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/agsafe/Manual/ElectricalSafety.htm . This website also has a Basic Electrical Safety Checklist that you can use to conduct an informal inspection before each public activity. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions about this or other safety issues. --Mitch Ricketts mrickett@oznet.ksu.edu

RETIREMENT CELEBRATION FOR GARY GOLD
The Stevens County Extension Council would like you to join them in honoring Gary Gold for 29 years as Agricultural Agent in Stevens County. They will host a celebration for Gary on Wednesday, June 1, from  10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Stevens County Extension Office. This will be a come and go reception with a special presentation at 11:30 a.m.

If you would like to send cards or letters of congratulations, please send them to the Stevens County Extension Office, 114 East Fifth, Hugoton, KS 67951 no later than May 27. --Nancy Sides nsides@oznet.ksu.edu

RETIREMENT RECEPTION FOR JEAN PAQUETTE, 4-H YOUTH DEVELOPMENT
Please join us on Thursday, June 9, 3:30-4:30 p.m., Umberger 125, as we honor Jean for her 28 years of service and dedication to K-State and K- State Research & Extension. If you would like to include a card or letter in the memory book being created for her, please send it to: Lori Baker, 4-H Youth Development, 201 Umberger Hall, Manhattan KS 66506-3404, so that she receives it by Friday, May 20. --Pat McNally pmcnally@oznet.ksu.edu

TUITION ASSISTANCE
Applications for Tuition Assistance for August Intersession and Fall Semester classes are due June 1. See the following website for additional information - http://www.ksu.edu/hr/benefits/tuition.htm . For questions regarding tuition assistance, call the Division of Human Resources at 785-532-6277. --Stacey M. Warner  swarner@oznet.ksu.edu

TWO UPCOMING OPPORTUNITIES FOR PLANT DIAGNOSTIC INFORMATION SYSTEM TRAINING
The next available PDIS training on campus will be May 26, from 9 to noon in Umberger 317. Please contact Diana, dpavlisk@ksu.edu , 785-532-1380, if you would like to sign up for this training. We are offering assistance with digital cameras as well. Just bring along your camera and the owner's manual.

We will also be offering training on the PDIS system during Discovery Days, June 2. The time will be 9 a.m. to noon and it will be held in 1027 Throckmorton. Participation is limited to nine users. Please contact Ward Upham, wupham@oznet.ksu.edu , if you would like to attend this session. They will include digital camera training as well. Please bring your camera and owner's manual with you. --Diana Pavlisko dpavlisk@ksu.edu

WALLACE RAY KIDD MEMORIAL DIVERSITY AWARD
During 2005, the K-State Minorities in Agriculture Natural Resources and Related Sciences (MANRRS) Chapter has had the opportunity to learn more about the history of the College of Agriculture. The story of the late Wallace Ray Kidd, whose hard work and persistence resulted in a successful business, inspired the Chapter to establish the Wallace Kidd Memorial Diversity Award. This award is to be given as recognition of an outstanding College of Agriculture faculty member who expresses an equal level of commitment to students and diversity.

At the first annual awards reception on Tuesday, May 3, Dr. Miles McKee, recently retired Animal Science Professor and Adviser, received the award.

The Chapter expresses thanks to the Wallace Kidd family and the Manhattan NAACP for sharing Mr. Kidd's story and allowing us the opportunity to honor him.

For more information about the K-State MANRRS or the Wallace Kidd Memorial Diversity Award, visit the College of Agriculture Diversity Programs Office in Waters Hall 138, telephone: 785 532-5793, or contact Dr. Zelia Holloway, zwh@ksu.edu . --Tamara Mack mack@ksu.edu

NEW FACULTY HIRES
Dr. Brian Olson has been hired as Assistant Professor in Agronomy and Extension Agronomist located at the Northwest Research and Extension Center. Beginning Monday, May 9, he assumed responsibilities for the 26 county Extension program area in northwest Kansas.

Brian Olson's title is "Extension Agronomist - Northwest Research Extension Center" or in short "Extension Agronomist - NWREC." The expectation is that he will begin working immediately with agents throughout the Northwest Extension Program Area on priority issues of ag producers and agribusiness. In the next 30-60 days, Brian will also work with agents to be sure that 2005 educational needs are met. Beyond that, he will continue to work with agents to establish demonstration / applied research crop plots throughout the Northwest Extension Program Area in 2005-2006.

Congratulations to Brian for being hired to fill this position. Previous to this position, Dr. Olson was multi-county specialist serving five counties in NW Kansas for 3 1/2 years. I encourage you to welcome him into his new position. --Daniel O'Brien Dobrien@pop.oznet.ksu.edu

ORDER FORMS
Your office should receive the August New Publications Order Form this week. Among items listed is a revision of MF2073, "Winter Grain Mites," which is available electronically, but not as printed material. It is listed to alert clients to the electronic update, but not to collect orders. Other items listed will be printed, so please order as needed.

Also, remember to place orders soon for next season's Agricultural Experiment Station publications. To eliminate waste, manage inventory and standardize accounting, these publications are no longer being delivered via "standing orders" and must be ordered each year. Those we expect to produce over the next fiscal year are listed on one order form, due July 1. Please circulate it among those in your office. Or, go to http://intranet.oznet.ksu.edu/ap_pub_preview/ . Quantities are limited, and orders not received by July 1 may not be filled. These items will be delivered over several months, so please note the expected publication dates on the form. --Nancy Zimmerli nancyz@ksu.edu

VIEW THE MASTER SCHEDULE OR ADD NEW ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS. 

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