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IN THIS ISSUE... ...Word from the
Associate Director - Extension and Applied Research WORD FROM THE
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR - EXTENSION AND APPLIED RESEARCH I am pleased to note that K-State Research and Extension has now organized a "community of practice" around the core value of inclusion. An outcome of organizing that community of practice is in the development of a "Change Agent States" project application. If funded, that project will tie us into a network of Land Grant Cooperative Extension projects that are focused on building capacity to function inclusively and effectively in a multi-cultural world. Also, the project helps in setting standards and implementing a vision for supporting healthy, thriving, culturally diverse communities through Extension, research and academic programs. In other words, it is really about K-State Research and Extension becoming a leader in embracing and learning around issues of cultural diversity, an employment choice among minorities whose passions align with the opportunities created through Research and Extension, and a resource for learning opportunities tuned to the cultural needs of a diverse Kansas audience. --Daryl Buchholz dbuchhol@ksu.edu
KSU FOUNDATION UPDATE: DEDUCTIONS TODAY, INCOME
TOMORROW A deferred charitable gift annuity is simply a contract with the KSU Foundation in which you exchange cash or securities for a fixed income for life-starting in some future year that you designate. A large part of what is transferred represents an important gift to the future, which translates into a sizable charitable deduction. Deferring the start of the payments also increase the amount of income received. Through one gift you can receive current and future benefits. For more information, contact the KSU Foundation Gift Planning department at 1-800-432-1578. --Lori Rogge lorir@found.ksu.edu
LAST CHANCE TO SIGN UP FOR MARCH
13TH PRIDE WORKSHOP
IET TECH TIP: DAYLIGHT SAVINGS
TIME THIS WEEKEND
Starting this year, Daylight Savings Time moves up to the second Sunday in March (11th) and is extended to the first Sunday in November (4th).
If you are using the latest version of Windows XP with
Service Pack 2 with all the latest Windows updates installed
(including automatic updates), then your computer is OK and will
adjust to the new Daylight Savings Time period.
But if you are using an earlier version of Windows, or
if for some reason your computer is not set to automatically receive
updates, then your computer will not change to the appropriate time
this Sunday.
To determine if your computer is set properly or to
download software to accommodate these changes, visit this site:
http://support.microsoft.com/gp/cp_dst .
To manually change your time, simply (left button)
double-click the clock in the bottom-right corner of your screen,
click on the "time zone" tab, and then unclick "automatically adjust
clock for daylight savings changes." Then "spring forward" by
adding an hour under the "Date and Time" tab. You will also have to
"fall back" an hour on November 4.
For more information, visit TechWeb at
http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/techweb . And if you have problems
with or questions about this process, contact the IET HelpDesk at 785-
532-6270,
support@oznet.ksu.edu ,
for assistance. --Larry Jackson
ljackson@ksu.edu
K-STATE RESEARCH AND EXTENSION ANNUAL CONFERENCE
CALL FOR PROPOSALS The 2007 K-State Research and Extension Annual Conference is October 15-18, and the theme is "Planning for Impacts." The planning committee is asking for session proposals for the afternoons of Tuesday, October 16, and Wednesday, October 17. Most sessions will be 50 minutes; please specify if your topic needs additional time. Wednesday morning will feature the Communications Expo similar to the one in 2005 and a Resource Fair for posters and displays. More information and registration for the Resource Fair will be available later. --Bill Hargrove, program chair bhargrov@oznet.ksu.edu
KANSAS 4-H AMBASSADOR
TRAINING
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES OFFERS GRANTS FOR HEALTHY LIFESTYLES COMMUNITY PROJECTS
4-H VENTURERS RAFTING ON THE
GREEN RIVER IN 2007 On-line registration information can be obtained at
Registrations are due April 1. Adults who register after March 1 will be placed on a waiting list. Thank you for sharing this information with teens (14 years of age by January 1) who might be interested in a unique opportunity! Questions? Please contact the Kansas 4-H Venturers Trip Coordinator, Jo Ellen Arnold, 785-229-3529, or at jearnold@oznet.ksu.edu . --Pat McNally pmcnally@oznet.ksu.edu
NATIONAL EXTENSION
CONFERENCE ON VOLUNTEERISM The keynote speaker is Nancy Macduff. She is the president of Macduff/Bunt Associates. Nancy is nationally known as an expert in volunteer management. Her published works include: Volunteer Recruiting and Retention: A Marketing Approach, Building Effective Volunteer Committees, Designing Programs for the Volunteer Sector, Episodic Volunteering: Building the Short–Term Volunteer Program. For more information on Nancy, check out her website: http://www.volunteertoday.com/ . Specific workshop topics include volunteer training, episodic volunteering, character focus, multi-generational volunteers and building community partnerships. There will also be networking time to share new ideas and learn from other participants. --Rod Buchele rbuchele@oznet.ksu.edu
EMPLOYEE RESOURCES WEBSITE You can view the site at www.oznet.ksu.edu/employee_resources . --Stacey M. Warner swarner@ksu.edu
PERSONAL FINANCE MADE EASIER WITH LAUNCH OF
eXtension's FINANCIAL SECURITY FOR ALL Financial Security for All provides Internet visitors with reliable and up-to-date financial security information through online lessons for self-paced learning and a knowledge base of commonly asked questions with research-based, peer-reviewed answers to help users learn more about specialized areas of personal finance. "Financial Security for All is like having a personal financial educator, but even better. Publications and answers to Frequently Asked Questions on a wide variety of financial topics are available to consumers 24/7/365 at no cost," said Barb O’Neill, a certified financial planner and a financial resource management specialist at New Jersey’s Rutgers University. Financial Security for All features: Consumers can use online tools to maximize their payments on credit accounts to achieve debt reduction. Farm and ranch families can use this site to help answer questions about retirement. "This site also provides timely, unbiased and research-based learning modules to help consumers learn about everything from investing, retirement and estate planning to organizing their household records and teaching young people about money," said Dr. Debra Pankow, family economics specialist at North Dakota State University. Financial Security for All has been developed through the collaboration of Community of Practice members—Cooperative Extension Service professionals with expertise in financial planning and family economics. "Quality content developed in a virtual work place by an expert team is the formula for this exemplary, trusted, electronic learning environment. Participants will gain the knowledge, skills, motivation, and confidence to make their own financial decisions," said Jane Schuchardt, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s family economics program leader. eXtension is an educational partnership of more than 70 Land Grant universities helping Americans improve their lives with access to timely, objective, research-based information and educational opportunities. eXtension's interactive Website, http://www.extension.org , is customized with links to local Cooperative Extension Websites. Land-Grant universities were founded on the ideals that higher education should be accessible to all, that the university should teach liberal and practical subjects, and share the university's knowledge with people throughout their states. --Paula Peters peters@humec.ksu.edu
4-H AGILITY DOG SHOW RULE
CHANGE "In order to advance from Agility I to Agility II, or from Agility II to Agility III, the team must receive two (2) qualifying scores of 190 points or greater (purple ribbons) under certified Kansas 4-H Agility judges at local, multi-county, or state competitions. It is suggested that this move be made after the state fair and at the beginning of a new 4-H year." --Jim Adams jadams@oznet.ksu.edu
¿QUIERES TOMATES?
An ejido farm can be compared to a parking lot. When you go to a parking lot, you just know there will be a place for you to park. And as long as you do not abuse your parking privileges, you can continue to park in a spot in that lot. An ejido farmer does not own his/her "lot", but as long as he or she wants to farm there, and as long as it is used properly, the farmer can be on the land indefinitely. Like paid parking lots, there are only small fees to be paid, or food can be supplied to municipios. Last week, I talked about the machete-cut sugar cane sold to sugar companies. Another wonderful farm was a tomato operation in production only since last September. It took about one month to begin to produce significant quantities for sale. Before entering the facility, we had to step inside a sunken, concrete box holding chlorine bleach. Situated on approximately one-fourth hectare, which is about 2,500 meters, which is about .62 acres, is a screen-enclosed structure holding about nine-thousand tomato plants. The plants’ dirt and root systems sit inside heavy, pliable, black plastic bags, which are approximately 13 inches in diameter and 14 inches high. The stems of the plants are three to six inches in diameter. The plants vine up strings rising 12 feet above to horizontal wires running parallel to each row of plants. The tomatoes nearest the bucket-like bags, holding the dirt and root systems, ripen first. As tomatoes are harvested, the green tomatoes nearest the horizontal wires are lowered to run more parallel with the ground. Then the top of any given plant will be hanging over buckets 10 spaces away. Every 15 days, the strings are lowered, and the tomatoes nearest the ground ripen first. This Loreto-variety takes a lot of nitrogen, we were told. If you want to see pictures, please let me know. You have to see this operation. The plants take 20-thousand liters of water a day, which is about 5,265 gallons. The farmer harvests 200 boxes of tomatoes per week. The boxes held about two bushels, which is about 106 pounds. There is not much exporting, but this operation supplies several grocery stores (tiendas) weekly. The picked fruits are sold to the stores, and the fallen fruits are sold in the barrios (neighborhoods). The producer told us the next thing to be learned is composting so that something useful can be done with the organic waste, which is one other by-product of this operation. If any of you have suggestions, the farmers would be delighted to hear from us. Thanks to Epsilon Sigma Phi, SARE, and Daryl Buchholz for making this trip possible. --Debra Bolton dbolton@ksu.edu
WHEAT COMMISSION AWARDS FOR
COUNTY FAIR 4-H YEAST BREAD WINNERS One book per county will be available for pick up only after July 1 at the Kansas Wheat Office, 217 Southwind Place, Manhattan, Kansas. For more information, contact Marsha Boswell, 785-539-0255. Hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. --Steven Graham sgraham@k-state.edu
VIEW THE MASTER SCHEDULE OR ADD NEW ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS Submit corrections to previously submitted items to jzarger@ksu.edu . DATES TAKEN FROM THE MASTER SCHEDULE FOR MARCH 14, 2007, THROUGH MARCH 20, 2007: Wednesday, March 14 Thursday, March 15 Friday, March 16 Saturday, March 17 Sunday, March 18 Monday, March 19, through Friday, March 23
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Please Submit Items no later than Noon on
Monday to include in the following Tuesday Letter to: K-State Research and Extension is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
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