The Tuesday Letter
Agricultural Experiment Station & Cooperative Extension Service

  
Vol. 12, No. 5  December 6, 2005

IN THIS ISSUE...

...Word from the Associate Director - Extension and Applied Research
...Status of Faculty Positions
...Update on Fred Cholick's and George Ham's Recent Surgeries
...First Aid and CPR Training
...Reflections on Extension Leadership
...Check Your Roster Information Now
...University and Oznet Server Maintenance December 27-29
...Tuition Reduction Program for Spouse/Dependent
...Reminder for Community Development
...FCS Scholarship for Professional Development
...E-mail Address Extension: Which to Use?
...Community Educational Development Course Offered Through K-State Online
...Save the Date for Watershed Management Conference
...2006 4-H Dog Judge and Leader Training
...4-H Discovery Days "IN" Need of Instructors
...4-H Citizenship in Action
...4-H Citizenship Washington Focus
...Some 2005 Legislative Reports Still Available
...National Extension Diversity Center Newsletter
...December Issue of Kansas Junior Master Gardener Newsletter Now Available
...Master Schedule

...Tuesday Letter Archives

WORD FROM THE ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR - EXTENSION AND APPLIED RESEARCH
Is asking faculty to declare areas of specialization the right direction for the Extension mission at K-State? From a program planning and implementation perspective, I believe it is.

The answer to that question weighs heavily upon how one interprets what it means to specialize. The dictionary defines specialize as to concentrate one's effort. In the context of planning, implementation, and making a difference through Extension programming, that is a pretty good definition. That is to say, every faculty member should look to concentrate his or her efforts towards two to four major initiatives. Those initiatives should utilize roughly 1/2 the faculty member's appointed Extension time in carrying out the program plan. One can concentrate the program plan towards a subject area and issue of importance across the audiences for which you are responsible. It's easier to explain by example.

In the area of nutrition and health, an agent might focus on the obesity issue in communities served. A program plan should be developed to outline all the proactive ways to accomplish a set of objectives around reducing obesity within target audiences. The agent declares the specialization to be in the general area of nutrition, food safety, and health, and should then work on a professional development plan with faculty in the areas of nutrition, food safety, and health to strengthen the programming and evaluation capacity of the agent in that area of specialization.

In the area of agronomy work, an agent might decide to focus on crop rotation systems and conservation. Again, a program plan should be developed to outline all the proactive ways in which to accomplish a set of objectives around increasing the use of production practices that increase crop rotations and soil and water conservation. In that plan, the agent declares agronomy as the area of specialization, and would work with specialists in the broad area of cropping systems to design a professional development plan to strengthen the programming and evaluation capacity of the agent in that area of specialization.

One can use that concept in all potential areas of specialization that were outlined last week. Declaration of an area of specialization does not suggest your expertise to be deep in that area, but does suggest your willingness to further your professional development in that area as a means to better serve the issues and needs of the audience.

Specialists should also focus their work on two to four initiatives at any given time. Those focus areas become the areas where one devotes greater effort in becoming familiar with the research, literature, educational programming approaches, and any other issues important in a programming strategy for the priority initiatives.

This focused programming is what we term proactive, and should represent about half of the Extension time commitment of a faculty member. The remaining time must be held open for coverage of all other responsibilities that are important, but not part of the priority plan. --Daryl Buchholz dbuchhol@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 K-State Research and Extension Faculty Positions."  --Stacey M. Warner swarner@oznet.ksu.edu

UPDATE ON FRED CHOLICK'S AND GEORGE HAM'S RECENT SURGERIES
Fred Cholick had total knee replacement surgery on November 21. He is doing well, doing his exercises and physical therapy, and working from home. To send a note to Fred, either e-mail him or send a card to:

Fred Cholick
4001 Snowy Reach
Manhattan, KS 66503

George Ham had laproscopic surgery on his colon November 29, and is doing well. He can be reached at: 

George Ham
1028 Brianna Ct.
Manhattan, KS 66503-9826

We wish both a speedy and complete recovery. --K-State Research and Extension Administration

FIRST AID AND CPR TRAINING
Do you know how to respond in the event of a medical emergency at work or at home? First aid and CPR training will give you the confidence to provide basic care until emergency services arrive. You will learn how to provide emergency assistance for infants, children, and adults in an easy-learning, low-stress environment. This course includes lots of confidence-building, hands-on practice and excellent printed support materials.

December 12, 2005
9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Waters 106

Please call Connie Emig at 785-532-6147 if you will attend this training. --Connie Emig cemig@ksu.edu

REFLECTIONS ON EXTENSION LEADERSHIP
The national Epsilon Sigma Phi Extension Professional's organization has planned a leadership development opportunity for all Extension professionals. "Reflections on Extension Leadership" is the title of a web-based seminar series that will be held in two parts on December 14, 2005 and March 8, 2006.

A web browser and speakerphone are all that is needed to participate in a live presentation featuring panel members representing county, state and administrative positions from all over the United States. Kansas will be well represented in the seminar with panelists Dick Wootton, former Associate Director; and Jim Lindquist, Assistant Director for Field Operations.

For additional information, see http://espnational.org/ReflectionsonExt.pdf . --Stacey M. Warner swarner@ksu.edu

CHECK YOUR ROSTER INFORMATION NOW
Please review your department/unit listing in the online K-State Research and Extension directory, http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/library/roster.htm , or use the link under Staff Corner on the K-State Research and Extension Website. If your listing is incorrect or will be changing soon, please notify your unit's office professional by December 20. It is more efficient to have changes compiled by unit than sent individually.

We will be printing new directories for distribution at the annual partnership meetings in mid-January. --Gloria Holcombe gloria@oznet.ksu.edu

UNIVERSITY AND OZNET SERVER MAINTENANCE DECEMBER 27-29
Websites, databases and e-mail will not be available from 6 a.m., December 27, through 2 p.m., December 29. The University will be installing a back-up power generator on the 27th. Most servers will be off-line to do this. IET will take advantage of this outage to upgrade and reconfigure OzNet servers. This process will take at least two days, possibly three, to accomplish.

IET will post a web notice explaining why access to websites is unavailable during this time. Concerning the holiday schedule... IET staff will not be available December 25-29 and January 1-2.

Please call IET, 785-532-6270, if you have questions about this information. --Roger Terry rterry@oznet.ksu.edu

TUITION REDUCTION PROGRAM FOR SPOUSE/DEPENDENT
A spouse or dependent of an employee who was approved for a tuition waiver for the Fall 2005 semester under the Tuition Reduction Program does not need to reapply for the Spring 2006 semester. The previous approval is valid for the entire academic year. Questions should be addressed to Student Financial Assistance at 785-532-6420. --Division of Human Resources

REMINDER FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Does the project/program you deliver impact communities? If the answer is yes, I would like to remind you to visit http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/community/  to complete the questionnaire on community development. We have reworked the site in an effort to make it more user-friendly. And if you answered yes, but are not sure where to fit the program, please e-mail Dan Kahl, dkahl@oznet.ksu.edu ; or Vincent Amanor-Boadu, Vincent@agecon.ksu.edu .

A "map" of community development programs will be produced in January 2006,  and we don't want to miss you if you should be on it! --Dan Kahl

FCS SCHOLARSHIP FOR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
A $500 scholarship is available to FCS Extension Agents who are enrolled in a master's degree program at K-State. To be eligible, you must have two years Extension experience, plan to continue your K-State Research and Extension employment for an additional two years, and be enrolled in Human Ecology or a closely related area.

Please contact Karen Pence, kpence@humec.ksu.edu , for more information. There is information about other scholarships available through her office also, or check the Human Ecology website, www.humec.ksu.edu . --Paula Peters peters@humec.ksu.edu

E-MAIL ADDRESS EXTENSION: WHICH TO USE?
(@oznet.ksu.edu or @k-state.edu or @ksu.edu??)
We recently switched our e-mail system from K-State Research and Extension servers to campus servers. As you were notified at that time, any e-mail address, (@oznet.ksu.edu or @k-state.edu or @ksu.edu), with your eID name will work equally well and will forward your e-mail to you. 

At this time, there is a discussion taking place on campus about whether it is preferred to use @ksu.edu or @k-state.edu. No final written policy decision has been issued. You are free to use your eID with any of the three e-mail address extensions. Please do not panic at this point and change printed materials, business cards, etc. If, at some future point, a policy decision is made to use one e-mail extension over another, we will inform everyone in the system.

As we go to press with our January 2006 Informal Report to the Kansas Legislature, we have decided to list all the e-mail addresses in the report using the same e-mail extension. We will use "@k-state.edu" as this mimics the "K-State" in K-State Research and Extension. If you have questions or concerns, please e-mail them to me. --Steven Graham sgraham@k-state.edu

COMMUNITY EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT COURSE OFFERED THROUGH K-STATE ONLINE
Extension agents and specialists work daily with community leaders and volunteers on community and economic development projects.  EDACE 815: Introduction to Community Educational Development is a comprehensive review of factors related to community change and the role of educational programs in dealing with it. Students will learn basic community development strategies that enable communities to identify and respond to problems created by by social and economic change.

SAVE THE DATE FOR WATERSHED MANAGEMENT CONFERENCE
K-State Research and Extension will join KDHE, the Kansas Water Office, State Conservation Commission, and other agencies in sponsoring the 2nd Annual Watershed Restoration and Protection Strategy (WRAPS) Conference, January 26, 2006 in Salina. The full conference program will be available in mid-December.

WRAPS was unveiled in 2005 as the new framework for watershed planning and management in Kansas. WRAPS is a locally-driven process of engaging watershed residents to determine the condition of water and other natural resources; identify sources impacting these resources; establish restoration and protection goals; identify restoration and protection measures (BMPs & other actions); and to develop an action plan to implement selected measures. The overall goals of a WRAPS are to restore and protect the health of water and other natural resources in a watershed; better coordinate local, state, and federal restoration and protection efforts; and to more efficiently target technical and financial assistance programs within watersheds. Many KSRE faculty, staff, and county agents are currently involved in supporting WRAPS projects around the state.

For more information, contact Robert Wilson at 785-532-7823 or rmwilson@agecon.ksu.edu . --Robert Wilson

2006 4-H DOG JUDGE AND LEADER TRAINING
This 4-H Dog Judge and Leader Training will be January 28-29, Johnson County Fairgrounds in Gardner. Registration information, including local motels and directions, are now posted under "What's Hot" on the State 4-H website, http://Kansas4h.org . --Jim Adams jadams@oznet.ksu.edu

4-H DISCOVERY DAYS "IN" NEED OF INSTRUCTORS
INtroducing and INcredible opportunity to INfluence a young INdividual's life! The theme for Discovery Days this summer will be "IN" and we are currently looking for INstructors to INtroduce INformation or INitiate tours. This is a great way to get kids INterested IN careers, hobbies, healthy activities and the INclusive K-State community!

There will be three separate 2 hour sessions: Wednesday afternoon, May 31; and Thursday, June 1, (morning and afternoon). Classes and tours may be offered once or multiple times, and Thursday has the option of offering a full 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. session.

To get details and the proposal form, please visit http://www.Kansas4-H.org , and look under "What's Hot," or contact Shelby Griffin IN the State 4-H Office at 785-532-5800; or Justin Wiebers, jwiebers@K-State.edu  --Justin Wiebers

4-H CITIZENSHIP IN ACTION
The State 4-H Youth Leadership Council will be hosting a legislative visit to Topeka, February 19-20. Details and registration information has been posted at: http://www.Kansas4-H.org . --Justin Wiebers jwiebers@K-State.edu

4-H CITIZENSHIP WASHINGTON FOCUS
The 4-H CWF trip to Washington D.C. will be June 7-18, 2006. Changes to this year's schedule include departing one day earlier from Salina; leaving at noon after a brief orientation. The additional night on the road will allow a visit to Philadelphia to see Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell.

Details of the trip and the application process are available at http://www.Kansas4-H.org . --Justin Wiebers jwiebers@K-State.edu

SOME 2005 LEGISLATIVE REPORTS STILL AVAILABLE
As you prepare for fall meetings with your boards, commissioners, and/or legislators, please think about sharing information from our January 2005 "Informal Report to the Kansas Legislature." The report contains lots of good short descriptions of many K-State Research and Extension activities underway across the state.

We still have reports available for distribution. If you would like one or more reports, please let me know by e-mailing sgraham@oznet.ksu.edu . --Steven Graham

NATIONAL EXTENSION DIVERSITY CENTER NEWSLETTER
The December edition of the National Diversity Center newsletter is now available for viewing at http://www.ediversitycenter.net/index.php . Note the article about Marilyn Corbin, winner of the National Diversity Award for Extension. Marilyn is now at Penn State University, but formerly served in several administrative roles with K-State Research and Extension. --Stacey M. Warner swarner@ksu.edu

DECEMBER ISSUE OF KANSAS JUNIOR MASTER GARDENER NEWSLETTER NOW AVAILABLE
The December issue of the Kansas Junior Master Gardener newsletter is now available on the Kansas JMG website, www.4-h.k-state.edu/JMG . --Evelyn Neier eneier@ksu.edu

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