The Tuesday Letter
Agricultural Experiment Station & Cooperative Extension Service

  
Vol. 12, No. 27  May 16, 2006

IN THIS ISSUE...

...Word from the Associate Director - Extension and Applied Research
...Classified Employee Recognition Ceremony
...Thank You from Mary Mathiot
...Congratulations Reception for Sharolyn Flaming Jackson
...Retirement Reception for Dale Eustace, Harvey Kiser and Paul Seib
...Scholarship of Engagement Seminar Announced
...Microsoft Contract Vendor Change
...Master Schedule

...Tuesday Letter Archives

WORD FROM THE ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR - EXTENSION AND APPLIED RESEARCH
Not too long ago, I received a very thoughtful message about how difficult it can be in our work when others don't share the vision, inspiration, and desire to move forward. Instead, they block creativity and solutions, and seem to desire to instead relish in all the problems. In our society it is much easier to gain someone's pity and sympathy with a "woe is me" attitude and to point at what others have done to cause my failures. It is much more difficult to gain respect for accomplishments. It is also difficult for persons to show honor, respect, and congratulations to co-workers for the advancements they achieve. Instead, we hear remarks like, "it was undeserved, anyone could have done it, that person is just trying to show us up, or look at who that person is stepping on in pursuit of notoriety or greatness."

A great illustration of such actions is in the "scholarly" book by Kirk Weisler, entitled "The Dog Poop Initiative."  The easiest thing in life is to point at the problems. Too few people want to take on the risk of being the solution! After all, if you solve the problem, those who find meaning in life by pointing at problems lose that meaning!

From all this, I believe if you let the external forces drive your interests, passions, and ultimate contributions, you won't get very far. It's your internal drive that is critical, especially in our work. To have the confidence of knowing you are doing the right thing, making a difference, and contributing in significant ways is a key to satisfaction and survival. That said, one can then be surprised and humbled when someone surprises you by stepping up and saying thank you for a job well done!

I sincerely value each and every one of you as a part of K-State Research and Extension through your service and contributions to improving the quality of life and standard of living for the people of Kansas. I ask that you take a personal challenge to be a part of the solutions and not the problems. I hope you can personally find satisfactions through the clientele you serve and creative work you do.

Further, I hope each of us will work to better appreciate the contributions others make through creativity and leadership. Watch for those who are making contributions and let them know in your own personal way that you noticed and appreciate them for what they have done, no matter how big or small.

After all that, it's tough, but when you know you have made an important contribution that no one noticed, you might just have to avoid comparing with, and instead take personal pride in knowing you made a difference, and figure a way to ignore those who just don't get it. --Daryl Buchholz dbuchhol@oznet.ksu.edu

CLASSIFIED EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION CEREMONY
The 29th Annual Classified Employee Recognition Ceremony will be Wednesday, May 24, at 2 o'clock in the K-State Student Union Ballroom.

Congratulations to these individuals who will be recognized with Classified Employee of the Year awards from K-State Research and Extension and the College of Agriculture:

County/Area Office Category (two winners):
Frieda Knitter, Office Professional in the River Valley District
Genelle Krehbiel, Office Professional in the Scott County Office

Agricultural Research Centers Category:
Wayne Schmidtberger, Animal Science Technician II at the Western Kansas Agricultural Research Center - Hays

College of Agriculture Department Category:
James Spurlock, Building System Technician, Department of Agronomy

Other individuals will be recognized for 5, 15, 25, and 35 years of service in addition to those who retired during calendar year 2005. For a complete list of these award winners see http://www.k-state.edu/class-senate/events.html .

The guest speaker for the event will be Dennis Kuhlman, Dean of the K-State Salina College of Technology and Aviation and former faculty member with K-State Research and Extension. --Fred Cholick fcholick@ksu.edu

THANK YOU FROM MARY MATHIOT
Thank you to everyone who remembered the Robert Mathiot Family with their sympathy cards, donations, contributions to the American Parkinson Disease Association and First Christian Church, as well as all your support and prayers. --Mary Mathiot mmathiot@oznet.ksu.edu

CONGRATULATIONS RECEPTION FOR SHAROLYN FLAMING JACKSON
The Riley County Extension office invites all to attend a reception in Sharolyn's honor on Tuesday, May 23, from 4-6 p.m. Join us as we thank Sharolyn for her 18 years of Riley County service and wish her well in her new endeavors as the Northeast Area Family and Consumer Science Specialist. The come and go reception will be held at the Riley County Extension Office. --Andrea Schmidt aschmidt@ksu.edu

RETIREMENT RECEPTION FOR DALE EUSTACE, HARVEY KISER AND PAUL SEIB
In honor of the retirement of Dr. Dale Eustace, Dr. Harvey Kiser and Dr. Paul Seib from the Grain Science and Industry Department, an ice cream social will be held at the International Grains Program building, 1980 Kimball Avenue, Suite A, Manhattan, KS, on Thursday, May 25, from 4 - 6 p.m.

So that we may obtain a final count, please RSVP Teresa Ivy by Friday, May 19, at teresai@ksu.edu  or call me at 785-532-4053, if you would like to join us. Please plan to attend. --Teresa Ivy

SCHOLARSHIP OF ENGAGEMENT SEMINAR ANNOUNCED
Two Michigan State University faculty will be on campus visiting and providing some consultation to the Provost on measuring, monitoring, and evaluation of engagement.

Additionally, they will present a seminar Thursday, June 15, at 3 p.m. in the Big 12 Room of the K-State Union. The seminar is open to all and will be followed by an open discussion time for anyone interested.

Title and presenters are:

"Scholarship Focused Outreach and Engagement: Models, Measurement, Metrics"

Hiram E. Fitzgerald
Associate Provost for University Outreach and Engagement
University Distinguished Professor of Psychology

Burton A. Bargerstock, Director
Communication and Information Technologies
University Outreach and Engagement

--W. L. Hargrove bhargrov@ksu.edu

VIEW THE MASTER SCHEDULE OR ADD NEW ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS. 

Tuesday, May 30, through Friday, June 2
.... 4-H Discovery Days, Manhattan/KSU, Statewide, Justin Wiebers jwiebers@oznet.ksu.edu
 

Top