The Tuesday Letter
Agricultural Experiment Station & Cooperative Extension Service

  
Vol. 12, No. 28  May 23, 2006

IN THIS ISSUE...

...Word from the Associate Director - Extension and Applied Research
...Next eXtension National Videoconference Scheduled for this Afternoon
...New Course Offering
...Opportunities in Organic Sweet Potato Production
...Congratulations to Robin Eubank
...Congratulations to Angela Abts
...Pick Up Orders from the Department of Communications During Discovery Days
...Soils Extension Specialist Position Filled in Agronomy
...Understanding our Role in Food Production
...The House Handbook Available
...Master Schedule

...Tuesday Letter Archives

WORD FROM THE ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR - EXTENSION AND APPLIED RESEARCH
I've had some individuals suggest that it would have taken less time to read Good to Great and the Social Sectors by Jim Collins than it has taken to read my reviews. Well, here is one more week of review, and I hope some will read the full book and the monograph as well!

The fifth (and final) issue that Jim Collins focuses on in Good to Great and the Social Sectors is about building momentum by building the brand (flywheel concept). Building brand equity is a responsibility of EVERY individual within the organization. Our brand equity is clearly defined by our public commitment to improving quality of life and standard of living for people living in Kansas through our ties to Kansas State University, quality research, and relevant, high-priority educational programs. We've more clearly defined our mission themes and long term intended outcomes which provide evidence of our Hedgehog Concept.

Collins states, "Consistency distinguishes the truly great--consistent intensity of effort, consistency in the Hedgehog Concept, consistency in core values, consistency over time." That translates to identifying those things that do not change, like core values and our Hedgehog Concept, and adhering to those principles while operating practices, cultural norms, and strategies might change. As we define what we do, we equally need to understand what not to do.

Through adherence to principles, stakeholders, clientele, and partners begin to understand a consistency of what to expect from K-State Research and Extension. Our challenge is to provide consistency across the system, whether coming from an administrator, a faculty member, an Extension agent, or an office professional wherever that person resides within the organization. Where is the consistency? Consistency lies within our "intensity of effort to serve,"  our understanding of the "mission areas represented across the organization,"  and our commitment to our "core values."  --Daryl Buchholz dbuchhol@ksu.edu

NEXT eXtension NATIONAL VIDEOCONFERENCE SCHEDULED FOR THIS AFTERNOON
The next eXtension national videoconference is scheduled for today, May 23, from 1:30 - 3 p.m. Central Daylight Time. The May program will feature a number of key updates for eXtension but will focus primarily on reports from three of the eight Pioneering Communities of Practice for updates on their progress and use of the eXtension collaborative tools.

There will be NO satellite broadcast for this video conference. Viewers will view the video conference via web streaming only at: http://real.unl.edu/extension .

DATE: May 23, 2006
TIME: 1:30 p.m. - 3 p.m. Central Daylight Time
Internet Streaming and Program Website: http://real.unl.edu/extension

AGENDA:
Welcome and introduction--Dan Cotton
eXtension Update--Dan Cotton
Call for Engagement Update--Carla Craycraft and Craig Wood
Community of Practice Updates--Carla Craycraft and Craig Wood
--Consumer Horticulture
--Financial Security for All
--HorseQuest
Questions and Answers--All

To phone in questions, call 1-800-755-7765
To FAX in questions, send them to 1-402-472-9724
To e-mail questions, send them to questions@extension.org

TECHNICAL TROUBLE NUMBER: 1-800-755-7765
--Roger Terry rterry@oznet.ksu.edu

NEW COURSE OFFERING
A new summer graduate course, "Nutrition and Aging Issues," is being offered for the first time this June. The course, HN 782: Topics/HN, is a two credit intensive experience with class sessions Monday through Thursday mornings, 8:30 - 12:00, for only two weeks, June 5-8 and June 19-22. The class has a clinical focus but will have no exams, uses a great textbook, includes complete development of a project of personal interest, interview of at least one older adult, and an in-class presentation of the completed project. The week between those dates allows for independent completion of the approved course project.

Student Learning Outcomes include:

* Identify and describe pertinent aging issues for settings available to older adults today;
* Discuss changing national demographics and health of older adults;
* Be able to suggest modifications which enhance dietary intake and quality of life of older adults;
* Propose and complete an approved project of personal interest; and
* Interview of an older adult about nutrition habits, food safety practices, functional capacity, and related determinants.

The course is geared for a mixed audience of enthusiastic participants. E-mail remig@ksu.edu  for additional information and permission to enroll. --Valentina M. Remig

OPPORTUNITIES IN ORGANIC SWEET POTATO PRODUCTION
Kansas was once a major producer of sweet potatoes, particularly on sandy loam soils in the Kansas and Arkansas river valleys. There is significant unmet demand for organic sweet potatoes. We have just received a small grant from the North Central Risk Management Education Center to assist producers to explore these opportunities.

Field days and seminars are planned for the coming year. The Kansas Organic Producers Association will assist with marketing. This is a rather late request for assistance from Agricultural and Horticultural Extension Agents who may know of growers potentially interested in participating in a group order of organic or conventional sweet potato slips for this year. I will be placing the order on June 2, with scheduled arrival date of June 7.

Prices for organic Beauregard (other cultivars are available) are $50/1000, and for conventional are $25/1000. Shipping will be extra, but should less than double prices. For more information, please contact Ted Carey, tcarey@ksu.edu ; or 913-645-0007. --Ted Carey

CONGRATULATIONS TO ROBIN EUBANK
Congratulations go out to Robin Eubank, Seward County Extension FCS Agent, for completing her Master of Science Degree in Adult and Continuing Education at Kansas State University. Robin has worked hard the past two years attending classes and working full time as she continued her educational and professional career opportunities. Robin believes in life long learning and we sincerely commend her for this accomplishment to further her professional development as a colleague and faculty of K-State Research and Extension. --Paul Hartman phartman@oznet.ksu.edu

CONGRATULATIONS TO ANGELA ABTS
Would you please join me in congratulating Angela Abts, Pottawatomie County Extension FCS Agent, for completing her Master of Science Degree in Youth Development, (Family Studies and Human Services), at Kansas State University. She has been working on this degree for three years while continuing full time in Extension.

Congratulations on this significant accomplishment and a job well done. --Dale Fjell dfjell@oznet.ksu.edu

PICK UP ORDERS FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNICATIONS DURING DISCOVERY DAYS
Remember to visit the Department of Communications during 4-H Discovery Days. Stop by the Distribution Center (new access into Room 16 in Umberger Hall!) to pick up your current publication orders, or visit Duplicating to arrange printing your fair book, newsletter, or brochure for an upcoming event.

To check on orders or place a new order, contact Distribution at orderpub@lists.oznet.ksu.edu , or 785-532-5830. Contact Duplicating at glevalle@ksu.edu  or 785-532-5816. --Nancy Zimmerli-Cates nancyz@ksu.edu

SOILS EXTENSION SPECIALIST POSITION FILLED IN AGRONOMY
The Department of Agronomy is pleased to announce that DeAnn Presley has accepted the position of Assistant Professor in Soil and Environmental Science/Soil and Water Conservation as an Extension Specialist. She will begin her duties sometime in the Spring of 2007, after she completes the requirements for her Ph.D degree. DeAnn will be replacing Dr. Kent McVay, who will be leaving KSU next month. --Gary Pierzynski gmp@ksu.edu

THE HOUSE HANDBOOK AVAILABLE
Midwest Plan Service, (regional University Publishing Committee), has a new house design informational handbook called, The House Handbook. This handbook discusses everything necessary to build or remodel a house that is affordable, attractive, convenient, efficient, healthy, and adaptable to changing needs throughout life. Cost of MWPS-16 is $30 and can be ordered on the website, http://www.mwps.org/ .

The website also gives a summary of all available information in the handbook. It is an excellent source of information to anybody remodeling or building a new house and will make an excellent housing reference handbook with a very useable index. --J. Pat Murphy jmurphy@ksu.edu

VIEW THE MASTER SCHEDULE OR ADD NEW ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS. 

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