The Tuesday Letter
Agricultural Experiment Station & Cooperative Extension Service

  
Vol. 12, No. 35  July 11, 2006

IN THIS ISSUE...

...Word from the Associate Director - Extension and Applied Research
..."What's New with Teens and Families? Research Update for Professionals"
...Kansas Youth Leadership Forum Still Needs Workshop Presenters
...Nominations Needed for Awards
...Heads Up about Resource Fair at Annual Conference
...Kansas State Fair Fashion Revue 2006
...Kansas Wheat Organizations Now in a New Location
...New Showmanship Class Introduced at KSU Swine Classic Event
...KSU Foundation: Bequests
...Way to Go Harvey County!
...Seepage in Soils Seminar August 1
...International Conference on the Future of Agriculture
...Master Schedule

...Tuesday Letter Archives

WORD FROM THE ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR - EXTENSION AND APPLIED RESEARCH
I've been told by some that my articles are often too long. I apologize for that, as here is another longer article. In a society that has developed a short attention span, sometimes one can't convey the full message. It takes truth, understanding, and knowledge in the business of Extension. Therefore, sometimes the message needs to be a little long. Bear with me, as this comes quoted out of Kirk Weisler's Thought for the Day, http://www.kirkweisler.com .

...The following T4D was posted on 05-03-2006 and is on the importance of recognition and was written by the hand of the husband of the Governor of Michigan, Daniel Granholm Mulhern.

Recognition energizes people, whether they are employees, peers, volunteers, children, or even spouses. Now, here's the challenge. Who hasn't noticed that "familiarity breeds contempt," or to be more kind, and more accurate: "familiarity breeds inattention?" In other words, when someone is often kind or smart or graceful, or tough or ignorant or dull; well, we just expect that from them. We assign them to those boxes in our minds: She's smart. He's tedious. She's a hard worker. And that's about it. Unless they do something wildly outside our expectations, their behavior routinely fulfills our historic expectations. We hardly notice them or their behavior.

This familiarity creates problems with our great folks, because we take them for granted, and fail to see their excellence. Familiarity also creates a problem with our challenging folks, because we continually expect them to mess up and don't even see when they are marginally improving. Think about that last point. I don't know about you, but when it comes to the stuff that matters to me these days: getting better as a dad, husband, leader, writer, son, guitar player, or runner, the vast majority of my improvement is just that: marginal. It's darned hard to see where I'm getting better. Hard even for me to notice improvement. And especially hard for someone outside (who's put me in their perceptual boxes) to see that change.

So, here's the point: To be good at recognition, you've got to pay attention! You can't say it to them, if you don't see it from them. With your good folks, you gotta wake yourself up and say, "Hey, I haven't told you this in a while, but you are awesome." Most of us "recognize talent" when we hire someone, but then we soon take them for granted. We cease to recognize just how extraordinary they may be. And better than that general recognition, pay very specific attention. Perhaps the most valuable specific recognition comes when you are paying attention to and speaking about something they are working on. It is such a powerful motivator when I am working at something that doesn't come naturally and someone says, "Wow, you're really getting good at that." That makes me want to get right in and work harder at it.

So, today re-cognize someone, literally: See them again, as for the first time. And pay close attention to their specific efforts to excel, so you can...

Lead with your best self.
Dan (Daniel Granholm Mulhern)

Hope this has inspired you to see what others are doing. --Daryl Buchholz dbuchhol@ksu.edu

What is normal teen development?  How do families change through the teen years?  These and other questions are addressed through a new online course titled, "What's New With Teens and Their Families? Research Update for Professionals."

Through this applied, research-informed course from the University of Minnesota, participants will be able to download note taking documents for PowerPoint presentations in Breeze, journal article summaries, resource list, and other resources.  Discussion boards and online learning activities are part of the course. 

Registration is $45 per person, which includes CEUs. Register online by going to www.parenting.umn.edu . Information is available under "Professional Development Opportunities."
Click here to register -  online registration . --Elaine Johannes ejohanne@ksu.edu

KANSAS YOUTH LEADERSHIP FORUM STILL NEEDS WORKSHOP PRESENTERS
This conference, designed for youth, ages 14-18, will include speakers, workshops, consulting groups and the election of the 2007 Kansas 4-H Youth Leadership Council. We are recruiting proposals for workshop instructors/presenters. Topics should center on leadership. Some ideas might include, but are not limited to, community service, citizenship, communication, conflict management, ethics, motivation, decision making, leading by example, time management, international citizenship, multi cultural studies, diversity, business etiquette and getting involved after high school.

The Kansas 4-H Youth Council members hope that you will be interested in sharing your expertise through this opportunity. All sessions will be on Saturday, November 18. You will find the letter and proposal form on the 4-H Web page, http://4-h.k- state.edu/Events/KYLF/Default.htm .

Deadline for proposals has been extended to July 17.  If you have questions or need more information, contact Beth Hinshaw, bhinshaw@ksu.edu  . --Beth Hinshaw

NOMINATIONS NEEDED FOR AWARDS
The K-State Research and Extension Awards Luncheon will be Tuesday, September 26. This is our annual opportunity to recognize outstanding colleagues. I encourage you to review the award categories below and nominate someone by Friday, August 4. Send nominations to me at 114 Waters Hall, or e-mail Ginny Claycomb at gclaycom@oznet.ksu.edu .

Nominations are to include the following:

1) Name, title, address and phone number of the nominee(s) and nominator.
2) Maximum 2 page justification for the award.

The award categories are:

BUILDER AWARDS - These awards recognize individuals who have exhibited extra energy and creativity over a number of years in building new programs, audiences or institutions within K-State Research and Extension.

DIVERSITY AWARD - K-State Research and Extension is committed to an emphasis on diversity in programming, workforce and relationships with other organizations. In order to recognize individuals who have embraced this vision, a Diversity Award will be presented.

TEAM AWARD - The Team Award acknowledges outstanding efforts by a group of individuals addressing one of the Core Mission Themes of K-State Research and Extension.

MENTORING AWARD - K-State Research and Extension faculty who have been employed for two years or less are encouraged to nominate a mentor who has helped them and others achieve higher performance and productivity. One award will be presented to a county/district faculty mentor and one to an area/state faculty mentor.

I look forward to receiving the nominations by August 4. --Fred Cholick fcholick@ksu.edu

HEADS UP ABOUT RESOURCE FAIR AT ANNUAL CONFERENCE
The 2006 K-State Research and Extension Annual Conference will be September 25-28. A resource fair is scheduled from 9:30 a.m. to noon on Wednesday, September 27. This offers an opportunity for K-State Research and Extension faculty and staff to set up posters and displays to promote their projects and programs.

We anticipate a good turnout for the resource fair because it follows a presentation by General Richard Myers.

To ensure adequate space, potential exhibitors will be asked to pre-register their displays. Registration information for the resource fair, as well as conference registration, will be posted to the K-State Research and Extension Website in August.

Stay tuned for more information about this year's annual conference. --Paul Hartman phartman@oznet.ksu.edu

KANSAS WHEAT ORGANIZATIONS NOW IN A NEW LOCATION
Kansas Wheat, the cooperative agreement between the Kansas Wheat Commission and the Kansas Association of Wheat Growers, has moved their office! The new address is 217 Southwind Place, Manhattan, KS 66503.

Phone numbers, fax, e-mail and web addresses remain the same:

Phone 785-539-0255
Toll-free 866-75WHEAT
Fax 785-539-8946
kswheat@kswheat.com
www.kansaswheat.org

You are invited to an open house at their new location, August 24, 2006, 3 - 6 p.m. --Steven Graham sgraham@k-state.edu

KANSAS STATE FAIR FASHION REVUE 2006
"A Fashion Makeover - 4-H Edition" is the theme for the 2006 Kansas State Fair Fashion Revue. Hosted by the Southwest Area, the event will take place on Saturday, September 16.

We are still in need of volunteers for Registration, Line-Up Committee and Dressing Room Assistants. If there are 4-Hers or parents interested in helping, please send us a note with their names and we will add them to the list.

We are also looking for old photographs of 4-H Fashion Revues of the past. We are preparing a slide show. The photographs will be returned, or if your office can scan and e-mail them, that would be much appreciated. --Andrea Wood awood@oznet.ksu.edu  and Lisa Long llong@ksu.edu

VIEW THE MASTER SCHEDULE OR ADD NEW ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS. 

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