The Tuesday Letter
Agricultural Experiment Station & Cooperative Extension Service

  
Vol. 13, No. 2  November 14, 2006

IN THIS ISSUE...

...Word from the Associate Director - Extension and Applied Research
...Distribution Mail Service Disrupted Week of November 27
...TechBytes: Smart Phones
...Information Technology Award Nominations
...Thank You From the Jeff Wilson Family
...Subject Librarians: Your Not-So-Secret Weapons
...Taking Charge of Your Financial Life
...Kansas Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom Position
...Master Schedule

                                                                                                           ...Tuesday Letter Archives

WORD FROM THE ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR - EXTENSION AND APPLIED RESEARCH
The Extension portion of K-State Research and Extension's overall budget includes in round numbers $18 million in local (county) appropriated funds, $20 million in state, and $5 million in federal. That is a SUBSTANTIAL PUBLIC INVESTMENT in our work. Stakeholders and taxpayers need to know they are making the right decision with the monies being appropriated to further the Extension mission. We need to let them know the PUBLIC VALUE K-State Research and Extension provides.

I am impressed with the Impact Reports I see from several of our counties and districts which convey value to our customers/clientele/audiences through focused educational programs and information. Marie Blythe has started to include success stories and impact/outcome statements from selected reports in The Tuesday Letter. I want to thank Marie for screening, editing, and putting those stories and statements out for all to read. You can read what colleagues have submitted in the past two weeks. If you haven't been reading those, I'd encourage you to do so by clicking on the "...Tuesday Letter Archives," and check out the last couple weeks.

I have received preliminary recommendations from a task force appointed earlier this year on ways in which to increase our skills and interest to communicate distinctive impacts and accomplishments. The focus of the task force was on increasing quality of our educational programs, and improved reporting of impacts/accomplishments to colleagues, stakeholders, and constituents. I will be discussing those recommendations in the coming weeks and months and conveying plans for implementation. --Daryl Buchholz dbuchhol@ksu.edu

DISTRIBUTION MAIL SERVICE DISRUPTED WEEK OF NOVEMBER 27
The Department of Communications distribution center is getting a new mail meter to improve customer-service capabilities and to meet year-end requirements set by the U.S. Postal Service.

Installation is scheduled for November 27. Postal and UPS customers are asked to plan mailing projects either before the Thanksgiving break or after December 1, when we expect to have the new meter running.

Clients who need immediate shipping services the week of November 27, should plan to use Central Mail in Dykstra Hall, Division of Facilities. If your office will need metering that week, please contact Central Mail directly to confirm or set up your unit's account number.

The new meter system will offer enhanced capabilities, including tracking of postal mail and better cost-comparisons between shipping services. While we regret the disruption, we look forward to being able to provide better customer service. --Nancy Zimmerli-Cates nancyz@ksu.edu

TECHBYTES: SMART PHONES
New technologies are emerging almost weekly and many of them are being targeted at the cell phone. This last TechBytes program of the semester will focus on the emerging professional smart phone class and will cover basic platforms, services, security and tips for finding recourses to get the most out of your smart phone or to help you decide which to purchase.

The program is Friday, November 17, 1:15 p.m., at the KSU Hale Library (Room 501). You can also watch this program "live" via video streaming from the TechBytes Website, www.ksu.edu/techbytes . The TechBytes site also offers videos, handouts, links, and other resources from previous programs (Web 2.0, E-learning with PowerPoint, Firefox Browser Add-ons, Computer Security, etc.).

For further information, contact Gerry Snyder, gsnyder@ksu.edu . --Gerry Snyder

IINFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AWARD NOMINATIONS
When University employees provide technical services above and beyond the call of duty, nominating them for IT Awards is a great way to say "thank you." Nominations are open November 6 - December 1, 2006. See http://www.k-state.edu/infotech/itawards/ . --Amy Hartman ahartman@oznet.ksu.edu

THANK YOU FROM THE JEFF WILSON FAMILY
Thank you all for the thoughts, prayers and generosity in the loss of my father. I have come to appreciate my Extension family even more during this difficult time. Thanks again. --Jeff Wilson and family jjwilson@oznet.ksu.edu

SUBJECT LIBRARIANS: YOUR NOT-SO-SECRET WEAPONS
Wading through 901 PubMed citations for research about legume allergies? Searching for an extension document published at Iowa State in 1973? Wish there was a more efficient way to find what you need? Ask your subject librarian!

Librarians are a lot like financial planners and extension agents: you can push through life without them, but you’re taking the hard road. K-State Libraries is home to over 20 librarians who work with almost 90 departments, colleges and programs. These librarians, known as subject librarians, collect resources, provide instruction and reference assistance and generally liaison with their assigned departments.

For instance, Mike Haddock is our Agriculture Librarian and he works with Agriculture/Extension Research Centers, Agriculture, Animal Sciences & Industry, Agriculture Communications, and Plant Pathology. He’s developed numerous web pages, called subject guides, with information about resources at K-State Libraries, K-State and around the world that will assist students and researchers. Regina Beard is our librarian who works with Agricultural Economics and Dietetics. Tara Coleman counts Geology and Human Nutrition among her departments. These librarians, and more, are available for you to contact with questions.

There are several ways to find a subject librarian. Visit the subject librarian page at: http://www.lib.ksu.edu/services/subjectspecialists.html . This page includes contact information for librarians and links to subject guides. If you aren’t sure which librarian can tackle your question, contact the General Reference Desk, http://www.lib.ksu.edu/reference/vref/index.html , and they’ll be happy to refer you to a subject librarian. By the way, if you go to the above link, you’ll notice that we now have Instant Messaging built into our website. Just type your question in the chat box and a librarian will respond shortly. --Sara Kearns, Library Instruction Coordinator, and Sandy Procter procter@humec.ksu.edu

TAKING CHARGE OF YOUR FINANCIAL LIFE
Read how a food company scientist, after a divorce and with finances in tatters, cleaned up a terrible credit record, bought a house, started an emergency fund -- and began to take charge of his financial life. The Fall edition of the American Saver newsletter is at: 
https://www.americasaves.org/downloads/www.americasaves.org/NewsLetters/fall2006.pdf .

Checked your credit report lately? The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) requires each of the nationwide consumer reporting companies — Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion — to provide you with a free copy of your credit report, at your request, once every 12 months; a fee is charged if you want the credit score. http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/edcams/credit/ycr_free_reports.htm/ 

Kansas Saves: Build Wealth, Not Debt. --Carol Young cyoung@ksu.edu

KANSAS FOUNDATION FOR AGRICULTURE IN THE CLASSROOM POSITION
Kansas Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom has issued a position for its Executive Director. This is a Full-time Temporary/Non-Tenure position with Kansas State University. Details may be found at the KFAC website, www.ksagclassroom.org . Screening of applications will begin November 22, 2006 and continue until the position is filled. --Jim Adams jadams@ksu.edu

Top