When making the choice, you should be aware of the special incentives Congress has created to encourage certain forms of private philanthropy, especially gifts of real estate. Benefits may include: estate and property taxes; lower insurance and upkeep costs, avoidance of capital gains taxes; financial security for loved ones, increased lifetime income and continued use of the contributed property during your life.

Gifts of real estate can be extremely satisfying, but require careful planning. We hope you will contact the KSU Foundation at 1-800-432-1578 to discuss the potential for individuals in your community to make a meaningful contribution to KSRE through real estate. --Lori Rogge lorir@found.ksu.edu

FULBRIGHT GRANT OPPORTUNITIES
The 2008-2009 U.S. Fulbright Scholar application cycle has just opened. There are many opportunities for scholars in the field of agriculture. We encourage agriculture faculty from Kansas State University to apply for an award. Included below are relevant opportunities in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Five countries - Cote d'Ivoire, Guinea, Mozambique, Rwanda and Zambia - have an award specifically for teaching courses and conducting research related to agriculture. Specializations requested range from biotechnology to forestry to agribusiness and include other farm management areas. Many other African countries have an "All Disciplines" award, for which applications are accepted in any area of study that is taught at a participating host institution. Likewise, South Africa has a broad "Science and Technology" award that encompasses agriculture.

Awards are available for lecturing, a combination of lecturing and research or research. For specific award information and to apply, please visit our Website, http://www.cies.org/us_scholars/us_awards/ .

Complete application materials are due at the Council for International Exchange of Scholars (CIES) by August 1, 2007. Please note that U.S. citizenship and a Ph.D. or equivalent terminal degree are required.

If you or your colleagues would like further information on U.S. Fulbright Scholar opportunities in Sub-Saharan Africa, we encourage you to contact us: Debra Egan, Assistant Director, degan@cies.iie.org , 202-686-6230; and James Heilman, Program Associate, jheilman@cies.iie.org , 202-686-4027. --Steven Graham sgraham@k-state.edu

STORM SHELTER FUNDING ANNOUNCED BY USDA RURAL DEVELOPMENT
USDA Rural Development State Director Chuck Banks announced that the Agency will offer 2007 funding for the state's Rural Storm Shelter Program. This Program provides low interest loans and/or grants to help finance storm shelters for very-low income homeowners living in eligible areas of Kansas.

USDA Rural Development's Rural Storm Shelter Program can also assist homeowners with other necessary improvements or repairs. Many households across Kansas have benefited with this USDA assistance.

Funds have been provided for energy efficiency improvements such as installing insulation, replacing windows or new heating systems, along with roof repair or replacement, siding replacement, and providing sanitary water and waste disposal systems.

Eligible program applicants must meet income guidelines for the county of residence, the home must be owned and occupied by the applicant, and the property must be located in a rural area or a community of less than 20,000 populations. Assistance is provided by a 1% fixed interest rate and/or a grant. The maximum loan is $20,000 with a repayment term not to exceed 20 years. Grants may be available for applicants 62 years of age or older who do not have repayment ability for a loan. Grants are sometimes combined with loans to increase the amount available for repairs.

State Director Banks encourages homeowners interested in the Agency's Rural Storm Shelter Program to contact their local USDA Rural Development office, or they may call the state headquarters at 785-271-2720. Applications will be accepted until funding is exhausted. For additional information regarding all USDA Rural Development programs, contact the Agency at 785-271-2700 or visit the Agency's Kansas website at www.rurdev.usda.gov/ks . --Steven Graham sgraham@k-state.edu

SWOT ANALYSIS: WHAT IS IT, AND WHY DO I NEED ONE?
SWOT analysis is a technique used in marketing communications (and many planning structures) to get an accurate overview of a situation’s background or history. By thinking through and identifying a situation’s SWOTS, step-by-step, a team can get a more complete and concise evaluation than if they just discuss it openly.

SWOT stands for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats. Strengths and weaknesses are “all about me” lists; in other words, they focus on what the organization currently has happening within itself. Opportunities and threats take a more external view, looking at what external factors could impact the organization.

SWOTs help develop the other components of a solid plan. Overcoming threats or taking advantage of opportunities often become objectives, and strengths are often incorporated into key messages. Next week’s Marketing Minute will discuss key messages.

For more information on this or any marketing communications related topic, please contact Linda Sleichter, lsleicht@ksu.edu ; or Pat Melgares, melgares@ksu.edu ; in the Department of Communications. --Linda Sleichter

MICRO-ENTERPRISE IN MEXICO
Thank you for reading my previous entries based on a study trip to Mexico in February. I still have much to say about the trip, and I thank you for your comments, questions, and suggestions.

From last week’s entry, you may remember that the Ejido (eh-hee-tho) farmer uses land that belongs to the community. The farmer depends on help from family and neighboring farmers to plant and harvest the crops. That is somewhat similar to the micro-enterprise system in the municipios (municipalities).

In the municipio de Ayala (city of Ayala), our guide was the third-term, municipal president. His large staff included the municipal biologist whose job is much like that of our own county agent. We also met staff from the Department of Integral Family Development (DIF). The municipalities have no welfare system. The families take care of the unemployed. The DIF works on the belief that a strong family unit relieves the government from having to care for families. The DIF provides free civil weddings every three years, and it directs part of the micro-enterprise funds.

In a tin-roofed, open-air auditorium, we met with about 15 city officials. They explained how families and individuals are able to begin businesses with their own money and matching funds from the municipal government. The entrepreneurs bring proposals and business plans, of sort, to the municipal officials. Together the potential business owners and the government heads work to make the proposals and business plans sound. The municipal government matches the entrepreneur’s funds (up to 50,000 pesos ≈ $5,000), and the enterprise opens its doors.

Before taking us to meet our entrepreneurs, we were treated to yogurt from a local dairy enterprise. Yogurt Mexicano is drinkable with wheat berries and small apple chunks. The puffed wheat berries were wonderfully chewy. I have never tasted better drinkable yogurt. I have been looking for it in our Mexican grocery stores, but have only found it with crushed fruits and ground wheat (frutas y cereals).

We visited three very distinct micro-enterprises. Interestingly, they were all run by women. Our first stop was to the small town square around a park dedicated to Zapata (see my second installment for explanation of Zapata). We met a young woman, about 35, with her 75- year-old aunt. The two own a blood and serum analysis laboratory. The lab could only fit three of us at a time. Upon entry, we had to squeeze by a gynecological examination table. The younger woman draws the blood specimens and does the gynecological exams. Her aunt helps her run the analyses on all specimens. Since the human papilloma virus is a great threat to women in Mexico, this lab provides an inexpensive way to get tested. For the lab, built in the younger woman’s mother’s house, the two invested 25-thousand pesos (about $2,500), and the municipal government matched the same funds. She is hoping to expand in the near future.

Down the block from the laboratory, we met Señora Bertha. The 78-year-old woman said, "I sacrificed, saved, and worked hard, and finally I’ve made it." She also received a 25,000 pesos matching grant from the municipal government to start her stationery business. Out of a small store front opened by a garage door, Ms. Bertha sells stationery, binds documents, and makes copies for local businesses. She also sells candy from her original candy vending business. She has been in business for two years, and she makes about $500 per month.

We ended the city tour at a very poor neighborhood. There we met four women running the sewing shop cooperative. They make the uniforms for the area Catholic schools. The red sweaters are made on the knitting machines. The trousers and skirts are made on the sewing machines. Altogether, there are five machines bought with matching funds from the municipal government. The ladies run the shop out of a small, 10 feet x 10 feet, structure with no windows. The shop is next to the home of one of the partners. I have wonderful pictures of what we saw.

The municipal president said they get about 165 applications for micro-enterprises per year, and they are only able to fund about 10. Other businesses include tortilla machines, computer centers, and other agri-businesses.

Next time, I hope to begin to describe the social systems of Mexico.

Thanks to Epsilon Sigma Phi, SARE, and Daryl Buchholz for making this trip possible. --Debra Bolton dbolton@oznet.ksu.edu

GRADUATE COURSES FOR K-12 EDUCATORS OFFERED THIS SUMMER
This summer Kansas State University is offering graduate courses for K-12 educators through the Kansas Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom. Two courses will be offered on the K-State campus in June, including "Exploring Internet Resources" and "Connecting Your Classroom to Kansas Agriculture," which will also be offered at the K-State Agricultural Experiment Station in Colby, KS in July. "Horticulture & School Gardens" will also be offered in July at the K-State Agricultural Experiment Station in Olathe, KS. These graduate-level courses provide techniques to enhance the quality of teaching.

For more information, visit www.ksagclassroom.org . If you have any questions, call 785-532-7946, or e-mail ksfac@ksu.edu . --Division of Continuing Education

Monday, April 9, through Tuesday, April 10
.... 4-H Basic Operations Training, KSU-Manhattan, Statewide, Beth Hinshaw bhinshaw@oznet.ksu.edu and Diane Mack dmack@ksu.edu

Monday, April 9, through Thursday, April 12
.... North Central Administrative Leadership Conference, Manhattan, Multi-state, Stacey Warner swarner@oznet.ksu.edu