The Tuesday Letter
Agricultural Experiment Station & Cooperative Extension Service

  
Vol. 12, No. 37  July 25, 2006

IN THIS ISSUE...

...Word from the Associate Director - Extension and Applied Research
...Nominations Needed for Awards
...'Empowering Community Leadership' Conference to Assist Community Leaders in Fort Riley Region
...Community Development Training for Extension Professionals Assisting Fort Riley Area Communities
...Epsilon Sigma Phi - Nominate Your Colleagues for Awards!
...Updates on Avian Influenza
...Reception for Al Davis
...Merle Eyestone Recovering from Broken Shoulder
...National 4-H Fall 2006 4-H Curriculum Jury Review Process
...Announcing the New Homepage for the RUPRI Center
...USDA Rural Development Announces Availability of More Than $6.2 Million for Rural Community Development
...National Extension Diversity Center Newsletter
...Master Schedule

...Tuesday Letter Archives

WORD FROM THE ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR - EXTENSION AND APPLIED RESEARCH
We are smack-dab in the middle of county fair season and the time when the local press captures lots of the sights and sounds, including 4-H.

I've had the good fortune through my experiences to gain perceptions of 4-H that are vastly different from my perceptions of maybe as few as six years earlier. I've come to understand how 4-H is both an organization AND a program. I have a greater appreciation for impacts that a 4-H experience has on persons, young and old. I know that the 4-H organization can operate vastly different across the U.S. And, I've come to appreciate the different forms of 4-H experiences and the influence such experiences have on expressions of positive youth development, citizenship, and leadership among those involved.

In Kansas, my perception is the public has an appreciation for the tradition and history of 4-H club work that gets media publicity primarily at fair time. Beyond that, the 4-H program and broader organization is much, much less known. If you agree with that, how can we gain greater participation of youth and volunteers in the broader 4-H club experiences? It's great that our 4-H youth get such great exposure for their projects and accomplishments, yet I believe the message leaves some of our potential advocates woefully short of understanding how the 4-H experiences foster development of all the positive outcomes for the youth involved.

I congratulate all the professional faculty and staff, the dedicated parents and volunteers, and all who provide the programs and projects behind the 4-H organization. I applaud those who encourage and assist young people in experiencing the elements of leadership, community service, caring for others, and contributing to the social infrastructure, in addition to perfecting a project to take to the fair.

The outcomes of 4-H are so much more than the purple ribbons at the fair, or other experiences that recognize a winner. The best part is that those young people who may never experience being a winner, will still reap the greatest share of the benefit of having belonged to the 4-H organization. For in the Essential Elements of 4-H , tried and proven to create those positive outcomes for youth, no where does it say that winning is necessary to gain those positive outcomes.

Thanks for all you do to keep the focus of our work on the youth and volunteers, and seeing that the 4-H club experience is designed in such a way to give EVERY youth in Kansas an opportunity to benefit by becoming involved. --Daryl Buchholz dbuchhol@ksu.edu

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

Clay Center / July 24, 2006:  1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m., Clay County Emergency Services Academy Building, 703 2^nd Street, Clay Center.
Wamego / July 25, 2006:  1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m., Kaw Valley State Bank & Trust Company, 1015 Kaw Valley Park Circle, Wamego.
Council Grove / July 26, 2006:  1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m., Morris County Court House (lower level), 501 W. Main, Council Grove.
Abilene / July 27, 2006:  1:30 p.m., City of Abilene Public Library (upstairs), 209 NW 4^th, Abilene.

Contact Dan Kahl, dkahl@oznet.ksu.edu  --Dan Kahl

EPSILON SIGMA PHI - NOMINATE YOUR COLLEAGUES FOR AWARDS!
Each fall, notification is sent to all Epsilon Sigma Phi - Alpha Rho members to nominate extension workers for recognition. Now is the time to think about co-workers (or yourself) and the innovative work that has made a positive difference in the lives of Kansans. Perhaps an individual has continuously inspired you by serving as a model extension worker. Maybe a newcomer to extension has been successful by using a new approach to address a challenging issue. Still, there may be others who have contributed what they do best to a team effort and have achieved great results.

Nomination forms for awards are on the www.oznet.ksu.edu/esp-AlphaRho/awards/awards.htm website. Download the forms anytime you have a couple of minutes. Then start filling in the blanks. Nominations are due to Danny Rogers, drogers@ksu.edu ,  Awards Committee Chair, by August 14, 2006.

2005 Award Winners:

State Friend of Extension – Jennifer Gerber
Mid-Career Award – Mary Lou Odle
Team Award – Master Food Volunteer
County Meritorious Service Award – Doris Welch, Pam Van Horn
State Meritorious Service Award – Danny Rogers
Distinguished Service Award – Jack Lindquist

Award Categories:

Meritorious Service Award
Distinguished Service Award
Team Award
Horizon Member Award
State Early Career Award
State Mid Career Award
International Service Award
Retiree Service Award
State Friend of Extension Award

--Danny Rogers

UPDATES ON AVIAN INFLUENZA
The K-State Research and Extension avian influenza risk communications team has released a new fact sheet, "Tips for Producers," which should begin arriving in county, district and area offices early this week. Please photocopy this to meet your clients' needs. This and many more materials are available at www.avianflu.ksu.edu . Counties soon will receive brochures targeted to consumers and producers, and a resource notebook. For more information on the avian flu risk communications plan, contact Pat Melgares at 785-532-1160 or melgares@ksu.edu . --Pat Melgares

RECEPTION FOR AL DAVIS
The Johnson County Extension Council, staff, and friends will host a reception for outgoing 4-H agent Al Davis on Tuesday, August 22, from 4 to 6 p.m. The reception will be held at the Johnson County Extension Office, located in the new Sunset Drive Office building, 11811 S. Sunset Drive, Suite 1500, Olathe. Please drop by at your leisure as we wish Al well in his new venture and celebrate his last 10 years with Johnson County K-State Research and Extension. 

Refreshments will be served.  Cards, letters and gifts/donations welcome. --Donna Tavener Donna.Tavener@jocogov.org

MERLE EYESTONE RECOVERING FROM BROKEN SHOULDER
Merle Eyestone, former Shawnee County 4-H Agent and Kansas 4-H Foundation President, is recovering from a broken shoulder he received during a fall on July 7.

He always enjoys hearing from Extension friends. Please take a minute from your busy summer schedule and drop him a quick note. Merle's address is: 2123 Meadowlark Lane, Miller Place #147, Manhattan, KS 66502-4569. --Phyllis Kriesel pkriesel@oznet.ksu.edu

NATIONAL 4-H FALL 2006 4-H CURRICULUM JURY REVIEW PROCESS
In 2006 National 4-H Headquarters, Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is piloting a new way of coordinating the national jury review process of 4-H curriculum. Curriculum will be reviewed at two specific times this year by panels of experts. The first review was conducted in April 2006. The fall review will be conducted the week of September 18, 2006 at the National 4-H Center, Chevy Chase, MD. Feedback will be provided to the principal investigators in mid-October.

The review process involves the following two steps:

* First, applications and curricula will be prescreened for minimum technical requirements by National 4-H Headquarters staff. Curricula submissions that meet the minimum technical requirements will be reviewed.

* Second, in September each curriculum will be reviewed by approximately seven (7) peer review team members who represent areas such as youth development, curriculum development, content areas, educational technology, print design and packaging, evaluation, volunteer development, and diversity. Review team members will use existing National 4-H Curricula Jury Review Criteria as well as Tips and Guidelines for Submitting 4-H Juried Curriculum (established after the April 2006 review process) for review and scoring standards.

National 4-H Headquarters recognizes and acknowledges the 4-H Cooperative Curriculum System (4-H CCS) Board, National 4-H Council, and the National 4-H Leadership Trust for collaborating in this pilot. The National 4-H Council is providing $40,000 to support travel and expenses for the review teams in 2006. The process will be evaluated after this year for potential continuation in 2007.

Call for 4-H Curriculum---August 1, 2006 Deadline: The process to submit curriculum for review will start with an Intent to Submit Curriculum Form for 4-H Curriculum Jury Review that is due by 5 p.m., Eastern Daylight Time, August 1, 2006 and is to be submitted electronically to: natl4hjury@csrees.usda.gov .

The intent to submit data is needed to organize review teams with the appropriate expertise to review curriculum, not to screen applicants. All curricula submitted by August 31 with the appropriate application forms and that meet minimum technical requirements will be reviewed.

August 31, 2006 Deadline: One electronic copy and eight (8) hard copies of the Application Form for 4-H Curriculum Jury Review and 8 copies of the curriculum (at least one full set in color; 7 copies can be in black and white as long as they are of high quality) are due to the National 4-H Headquarters by 5 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time, August 31, 2006. Submit the form electronically by attaching the application in an e-mail message to: natl4hjury@csrees.usda.gov .

See the application form for the shipping address for copies of the form and curriculum.

Call for 4-H Curriculum Jury Reviewers---National 4-H Headquarters, USDA is requesting applications from individuals interested in peer reviewing 4-H Curriculum from across the country. Teams will represent areas such as youth development, curriculum development, content areas, educational technology, print design and packaging, evaluation, volunteer development, and diversity.

Those interested should read the Call for Reviewers Announcement for further information and then submit an Application for Reviewers Form by August 1, 2006 or until positions are filled. Submit the form electronically by attaching the application to an e-mail message to: natl4hjury@csrees.usda.gov .

National 4-H Headquarters will start contacting reviewers in early August with the goal of having teams finalized by the third week in August.

Questions? Contact National 4-H Headquarters, USDA at natl4hjury@csrees.usda.gov . A jury review process team member will respond. Team members are:

* Nancy Valentine, National Program Leader: overall leadership for the review (202-720-5347)
* Maria (Parisi) Arnold, Program Specialist: logistics and curriculum coordination (202-720-  8857)
* Eddy Mentzer, Program Specialist: coordination of review teams (202-690-2086)

Jim Adams jadams@oznet.ksu.edu

ANNOUNCING THE NEW HOMEPAGE FOR THE RUPRI CENTER
The Center for Rural Entrepreneurship is pleased to announce that the RUPRI Center has a new homepage, http://www.energizingentrepreneurs.org . The companion site for its book with the Heartland Center, Energizing Entrepreneurs: Charting a Course for Rural Communities, is now the Center's homepage. You'll find all the Center's resources, organized in a way that will make them more accessible to folks new to the field of rural entrepreneurship.

To go straight to Center Resources, just click on About Us or the Center logo anywhere on the site. --Steven Graham sgraham@k-state.edu

USDA RURAL DEVELOPMENT ANNOUNCES AVAILABILITY OF MORE THAN $6.2 MILLION FOR RURAL COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
USDA Rural Development announced the availability of more than $6.2 million in grant funds through the Agency's Rural Community Development Initiative Program (RCDI). The RCDI program provides technical assistance and training funds to qualified intermediary organizations to develop their capacity to undertake housing, community facilities, and community and economic development projects in rural areas.

The $6,286,500 in RCDI grant funds are available to intermediaries and have a dollar for dollar matching fund requirement, intended to double the impact of the grants. Qualified organizations can be public or private (including tribal organizations) that have been legally organized for at least three years and have experience working with eligible recipients. Recipients of the funds from the intermediary can be non-profit organizations, low-income communities, or federally recognized tribes.

Complete information about the program is available in the July 12, 2006 edition of the Federal Register. Applications must be received by October 12, 2006. Late applications will not be considered for funding. Entities wishing to apply for assistance may download the application requirements from the RCDI Website, http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rhs/rcdi/index.htm . Application information for electronic submissions may be found at http://www.grants.gov . Applicants may also request paper application packages from William Kenney, Rural Housing Service, Room 0183, Stop 0787, 1400 Independence Ave., SW., Washington, DC 20250-0787, Telephone 202-720-1506, e-mail william.kenney@wdc.usda.gov .

For additional information regarding USDA Rural Development programs, individuals may call the Agency's state headquarters at 785-271-2700 or log onto the state's Agency website at www.rurdev.usda.gov/ks .  --Steven Graham sgraham@k-state.edu

NATIONAL EXTENSION DIVERSITY CENTER NEWSLETTER
The summer edition of the National Extension Diversity Center Newsletter is now available at http://www.ediversitycenter.net . Click on "Representing the Diversity Center's Finest Features" for highlights of featured articles from the past several years. --Stacey M. Warner swarner@ksu.edu

VIEW THE MASTER SCHEDULE OR ADD NEW ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS.

Top