The Tuesday Letter
Agricultural Experiment Station & Cooperative Extension Service

  
Vol. 12, No. 14  February 14, 2006

IN THIS ISSUE...

...Word from the Associate Director - Extension and Applied Research
...eXtension Online Proposal Workshop
...Kansas Mentors Program
...Cultural Competency, Building Community
...Upcoming Workshops on Market Farming Set for the Kansas City Area
...Update on 1099 Form
...The 2006 Camp Theme has Been Chosen
...Total Compensation Summary
...2006 Water and the Future of Kansas Conference
...Publications/Production Services Update
...Refresher Course for Foods Judges Offered
...Master Schedule

...Tuesday Letter Archives

WORD FROM THE ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR - EXTENSION AND APPLIED RESEARCH
Happy Valentines Day! A day of good deeds, not just for one romantic, special person in your life, but for all those special persons who help to fill your cup with happiness throughout life.

Sunday morning was an inspiration for me that I want to share. This isn't about religion, although it certainly works in that context. Instead the sermon was about skiing experiences! My thanks to the Reverend Michael Ide for the inspiration.

I often put reference in this column to the positive aspects of team work. Then someone makes a comment to me like "so, I guess you think teamwork is important." My answer is "yes, indeed."

Okay... on with the Reverend Ide relating the first time he went skiing in Colorado. First off, it was within the first couple weeks he was on the job at the church. He was going with a group from the church who, for most, he had never even met. The plans had already been made, but he didn't even know who was really in charge. He just knew he needed to be on the bus at a certain time and that all the rest of the arrangements had been made. So, here is an adult who has never skied, going with a group of strangers who he knows will become friends and cohorts in time. But, they are all experienced and surely pros at this. They've been there before. What goes through his mind is "what kind of fool will I be?"

He goes on to tell how when they got to the mountain that indeed someone had arranged a lesson for him. But, before the lesson, a couple individuals spent time showing him how to "suit up." Then some others took him outside to show him how to put on the skis and then how just to stand up! Then he took the lessons on the bunny slope. After the lessons, he had some others who stepped up and spent time with him going down that bunny slope and encouraging him with each little accomplishment, and with each set back (fall). At one point, a couple of his cohorts thought he was ready and encouraged him to ride the tram. So he did. They got to the first stop, which was quite far up the mountain, and then pointed to the next tram to go even higher. They took him all the way to the top of the mountain. What a glorious view at first, but then the reality of being there and the fear of knowing he had to get down the mountain set in. Then the others with experience coached and encouraged him each scary step of the way, all the way back down the mountain. They helped pick him up when he fell, explained to him ways to keep his balance, ways to stop when danger approached, and ways to fall to avoid injury. And, they stayed with him all the way down the slope.

Now a few years later, he finds himself in the experienced role of encouraging and coaching those individuals who are just learning, first on the bunny slopes, and later taking them to the view at the top. And, then coaching and encouraging through his experience to bring them successfully back down the mountain.

This is exactly what one hopes for in teamwork and mentoring. It's about encouraging, coaching, praising one another for the accomplishments made. It's about seeking out others who have different experiences or who need help to gain a special experience. It's helping pick someone up after a failure, letting them know how to take risks, and providing each other with the constructive criticism to show ways to become better. And, it's about going it together through teamwork, taking advantage of each others' knowledge, wisdom, and experience. It's not about competing with each other, but rather competing with oneself to get better. It's not about comparing, but rather encouraging and supporting. As one gains that experience, knowledge, and wisdom, it's not about boasting, but rather sharing what you learned to help others along the way.

No better time to start looking for ways to give to others through mentoring and teamwork than on Valentines Day! Have a great week! --Daryl Buchholz dbuchhol@ksu.edu

eXtension ONLINE PROPOSAL WORKSHOP
eXtension, the Internet-based land-grant university education and information project, will host a multi-media conference call for prospective Communities of Practice on Thursday, February 16. This workshop will be particularly helpful to groups planning to submit proposals to the eXtension Call for Engagement announced February 1. The training will be conducted by Craig Wood and Carla Craycraft, eXtension Associate Directors of Content Development.

These meetings will be held using Breeze, an integrated phone conferencing system. Participants need to have an Internet connection on their computer and a telephone. It is best if the phone has a speaker (hands free) option and a mute button. The session will be 90 minutes in length. Persons interested in participating in the eXtension Call for Engagement training should go to: http://breeze.extension.iastate.edu/cfe/ .

Thursday, February 16, 2006, 2:00 p.m. CST
When you go to the meeting space, use the "Enter as a Guest" option; type in your name and press "Enter."

After you enter the meeting space, you will see instructions for joining the audio conference.

For participants who have never used Breeze technology before, you can test your connection by going to the following address: http://breeze.extension.iastate.edu/common/help/en/support/meeting_test.htm .

Optionally, individuals who will be presenters or who would like to ensure their browsers go into full screen mode, can download and install the following Flash plugin -
Windows : http://www.macromedia.com/go/breeze_addin_install_win/ ;
Mac: http://www.macromedia.com/go/breeze_addin_install_mac/ .

For more information, contact Craig Wood, craig.wood@extension.org ; or Carla Craycraft, carla.craycraft@extension.org , Associate Directors of Content, eXtension Initiative, University of Kentucky, 236 Scovell Hall, Lexington, Kentucky, 40546-0064, telephone: 859-257-4736 x 495, fax: 859-323-1006. --Roger Terry rterry@oznet.ksu.edu

KANSAS MENTORS PROGRAM
In her State of the Union address last month, Governor Sebelius announced a new initiative, known as Kansas Mentors. Bill Snyder will serve at the helm of this effort which is in its formative stage at this time. Initial efforts are underway to form and launch a website as well as the formation of an advisory board consisting of representatives of different mentoring associations across the state.

The purpose of the website is to include general information about mentoring, where local mentoring groups or organizations are located and the contact information for those respective groups. Currently, the term "mentor" has not been defined by those giving leadership to the initiative; however, it is generally understood that a mentoring relationship is focused on certain long-term relationship expectations. Not all adult-to-child contacts are considered mentorships.

With that said, an opportunity exists for 4-H to submit contact information regarding your local mentoring programs. This database will consist of mentoring organizations for people to contact directly to express their interest in volunteering. Please submit the title of your mentoring program, contact's name, address, e-mail and phone number directly to:

Amy Link
Kansas Mentors
mentor@ksmentors.ks.gov
Dwight D. Eisenhower State Office Building, Room 280-West
700 SW Harrison Street
Topeka, KS 66603
785-368-8487

Time is of the essence. Please electronically submit your information by February 22.

As additional information regarding this new initiative is received, it will be distributed to you via the Tuesday Letter and the 4-H Tip Sheet. From the 2/8/06 Collegian article, a quote from Bill Snyder might be of interest to you: "The initiative that Governor Sebelius proposed would allow us to first of all to be able to define existing mentoring programs that are in the state of Kansas and then to determine the areas that they cover. By defining that, we will have a good idea of the areas within the state that are not covered by existing mentoring programs." --Pat McNally pmcnally@oznet.ksu.edu

CULTURAL COMPETENCY, BUILDING COMMUNITY
An excellent professional development seminar on cultural competency and building community is being offered on campus March 31. I am hopeful some of you, especially in counties with changing or already culturally diverse demographics, will think seriously of attending. For those in counties without the change in cultural diversity, it will help expand your mind and your understanding when the day comes that cultural diversity may be an issue within your community. The following is excerpted from a recent news release.

The one-day leadership seminar will be in the K-State Student Union. The cost to attend, $25, includes registration, seminar packet and lunch.

To facilitate this year's how-to conference, Kansas State University has invited two keynote speakers:

* Shah Hasan, Ph.D., is director of capacity development for Columbus State Community College in Columbus, Ohio, where his work focuses on providing leadership and professional development opportunities for faculty.

* Ata Karim, Ph.D., is president of Global Leadership Solutions, Seattle, Washington. His work focuses on inclusive leadership, intercultural competence and country-specific cultural training for organizations sending employees into the global marketplace.

The program will begin at 9 a.m. and conclude by 4 p.m.

Hasan and Karim are former K-State faculty members and Karim a founding director of K-State´s Leadership Institute.

For registration or more information, contact K-State´s Division of Continuing Education at 785-532-5569 or check: http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/leads/Seminars/seminars.htm . Space is limited and early registration is recommended. Deadline for registration is March 17. --Daryl Buchholz dbuchhol@ksu.edu

UPCOMING WORKSHOPS ON MARKET FARMING SET FOR THE KANSAS CITY AREA
The Growing Growers Training Program runs a series of monthly workshops throughout the growing season, addressing issues of importance to market farmers. The first workshop of the season will address soil building for vegetable crops, and will be held on Saturday, March 4, at the Leavenworth Extension office from 9 to 3:30. It will include lectures and a farm tour. Registration for this workshop and dates for additional workshops to be held throughout the season can be found at www.growinggrowers.org . For more information, contact Katherine Kelly, 913-488-1270; or Ted Carey, 913-645-0007. --Ted Carey tcarey@ksu.edu

UPDATE ON 1099 FORM
Since the Area 4-H Updates last December, additional conversations, inquiries and information have been gathered regarding the question of "taxable nature of livestock sales and other prize winnings of $600 or more."

Daryl Buchholz and I have shared this information with Denise Streeter, Chief Financial Officer for the National 4-H Council, who is working in partnership with National 4-H Headquarters to address the issue. It is our understanding that updated fact sheets will be distributed and discussions will take place at the National Meeting of the State 4-H Leaders, March 13-16, in Washington, D.C. More information will be forthcoming in the near future and we will keep you posted. --Pat McNally pmcnally@oznet.ksu.edu

THE 2006 CAMP THEME HAS BEEN CHOSEN
The winner of the contest is Emily Kelly from Riley County. The theme will be "Blast Off Into a New Century." Agents can watch for more details to come in the near future via the tip sheet and e-mail. Emily will receive a camp scholarship courtesy of the Kansas 4-H Foundation. --Lisa M. Long llong@ksu.edu

TOTAL COMPENSATION SUMMARY
Kansas State University makes available an annual Total Compensation Summary for each benefits eligible employee. These summaries are only available through the HRIS Employee Self-Service via the Web at https://www.as.ksu.edu/HRIS/ .

Sign in using your eID and password and then select “Sign In”. Navigate to Employee Self Service > Payroll and Compensation > View Total Compensation. The first page provides basic and useful information. Select “Total Compensation Summary” at the bottom of the page.

For additional information regarding HRIS Employee Self Service, see https://www.ksu.edu/hr/selfserv.htm .

For additional information regarding your eID, see https://www.ksu.edu/hr/eIDquickresource.htm .

If you need help regarding your eID, contact the IT Help Desk at 785-532-7722 or helpdesk@ksu.edu .

If you have questions or comments regarding your Total Compensation Summary, please contact the Division of Human Resources at 785-532-6277. --Division of Human Resources

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