The Tuesday Letter
Agricultural Experiment Station & Cooperative Extension Service

  
Vol. 13, No. 38  July 31, 2007

IN THIS ISSUE...

...Word from the Associate Director - Extension and Applied Research
...Nominations for Annual Conference Awards
...Mounting 4-H Photos for State Fair
...Employee Resources Website
...Kansas Environmental Leadership Program (KELP), Class 9
...Thank You from Larry Erpelding
...Publication Price Change
...Polycom Videoconferencing
...Marie's Pick of the Week
...Marketing Minute: On-Line Calendars, Newsletters are Popular with Kansans
...Park 4-H Program Combines Fun and Learning
...Master Schedule

                                                                                                           ...Tuesday Letter Archives

WORD FROM THE ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR - EXTENSION AND APPLIED RESEARCH
I often hear the terms, "extension work" and "outreach" used as if they have the same meaning. I don't believe that to be the case. Extension work to me implies an active, planned educational strategy with a target audience to impose some change or improvement. Outreach implies technology or knowledge transfer, but usually falls short with it engaging the target audience in such a way to impose change or improvement.

And when it comes to "change," I really like this quote. "One of the greatest pains to human nature is the pain of a new idea. It.... makes you think that after all, your favorite notions may be wrong, your firmest beliefs ill-founded.... Naturally, therefore, common men hate a new idea, and are disposed more or less to ill-treat the original man who brings it."
                                                                                       --Walter Bagehot Physics and Politics

But, when given the role of "Extension," it's my expectation that one is always looking for new ideas and ways to improve upon life through the knowledge and technology advancements that come through learning. As such, we are all truly "change agents." And, E. M. Rogers, in his book "Diffusion of Innovations," points to the roles of a "change agent." And they are as follows:

Develop a need for change on the part of the clients.
Establish an information-exchange relationship.
Diagnose problems.
Create an intent to change in the client.
Translate an intent into action.
Stabilize adoption and prevent discontinuance.
Achieve a terminal relationship with clients.

As someone who has an extension responsibility, are you engaged in "extension work," or are you merely doing "outreach"? --Daryl Buchholz dbuchhol@ksu.edu

NOMINATIONS FOR ANNUAL CONFERENCE AWARDS
Remember to recognize your colleagues by nominating them for one or more of the awards to be presented at Annual Conference. Review the award categories below and nominate someone by Friday, August 17. Send nominations to me at 114 Waters Hall or e-mail them to Dorothy Doan at ddoan@ksu.edu .

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.

Nominations should include the following:

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

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.

Nominations should include the following:

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

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.

Nominations should include the following:

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

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.

Nominations should include the following:

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

I look forward to receiving the nominations by *Friday, August 17*. --Fred Cholick fcholick@ksu.edu

MOUNTING 4-H PHOTOS FOR STATE FAIR
The 4-H Photography Action Team has just posted a resource to help 4-H families with mounting photos for entry and display for the Kansas State Fair. It is posted on the Photography Action Team website: http://www.kansas4-h.org/actionteamPhotography/ .

The demonstration is available in PowerPoint for viewing or pdf for printing. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask any member of the Photo Action Team. --Rod Buchele rbuchele@ksu.edu

EMPLOYEE RESOURCES WEBSITE
Melinda Daily, Sunflower District Family and Consumer Sciences Agent, is featured in the "Do You Know...." section of the Employee Resources website for August. The article can be viewed at www.oznet.ksu.edu/employee_resources . --Stacey M. Warner swarner@ksu.edu

KANSAS ENVIRONMENTAL LEADERSHIP PROGRAM (KELP), CLASS 9
Recruitment is under way for the Class of 2008, Kansas Environmental Leadership Program (KELP). This will be the ninth class since 1999. Over 191 local leaders throughout Kansas have participated in the program, with 24 in the Class of 2007.

Emphasis is placed on including representatives from all facets of Kansas life: agriculture, industry, government, urban, and rural communities.

KELP focuses on training participants in leadership skills and in water-related issues. Five, 3-day sessions are held, with the first session occurring in January and the final session in October. The five session locations and dates for 2008 are:

Hays ( January 9-11)
Topeka (February 27-29)
Garden City (April 16-18)
Independence/Ft. Scott (August 13-15)
Wichita/Hutchinson (October 29-31).

Each session begins at noon on Wednesday and ends before noon on Friday.

Tuition is partially underwritten by a 319 grant, leaving $850 the responsibility of the participant. All meals, lodging (double occupancy), bus trips, activities, and materials are covered. Each person is only responsible for getting to and from each meeting and for time away from work to attend.

Academic credit and continuing education credits are available. More information is available on the KELP website, http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/kelp/ , or by calling Judy Willingham or Morgan Powell at 785-532-5813. --Judy Willingham judymw@ksu.edu

THANK YOU FROM LARRY ERPELDING
Thanks to everyone who sent or related expressions of sympathy upon the death of my father, Lawrence H. Erpelding, Sr.

It was very much appreciated and helped to ease the burden at a difficult time. --Larry Erpelding lhe@ksu.edu

Orders are due by July 31. If you need to change an order already placed, please call the Distribution Center at 785-532-5830 or e-mail orderpub@lists.oznet.ksu.edu  with your changes. Please note that the publications were on the October order form. --Nancy Zimmerli-Cates nancyz@ksu.edu

POLYCOM VIDEOCONFERENCING
Technical problems that had been plaguing the Polycom system earlier this month were resolved late last week. The problems had resulted from equipment changes by KSU Computing and Telecommunications Services.

If your office has one of the Polycom units, it is important that you turn it on at least once a month, to keep it current with MOREnet services that facilitate the connections.

Should you need to participate in a video conference using Polycom, please call IET at 785-532-6270 to schedule it at least one week before the event, and 2-3 weeks before if multiple sites are involved. --Larry Jackson ljackson@ksu.edu

PARK 4-H PROGRAM COMBINES FUN AND LEARNING
More than 60 students at Park Elementary are maintaining their academic skills during Park Panther Pride 4-H Summer Day Camp. The camp is designed to sharpen K- 5 students' academic and personal skills with fun hands-on activities. The day begins with recreational activities for two hours followed by different math, science and language arts activities for three hours.

“Everything is academic intervention; they just don't know it," said Beth Dresher, Sedgwick County 4-H Youth Development.

The 4-H camp is supported by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, Learjet Care Fund, Catholic Charities and Foster Grandparents, Kansas Department of Education After-school Enhancement and the Sedgwick County Extension Council.

This is the first year the 4-H program has been held at Park. The school held an open house on July 6 to allow sponsors and parents to see the students participating in the activities. Fifth-grade students provided tours for the guests.

Also during the summer, Park has continued its Toyota Family Literacy Program, which is designed to boost the literacy skills of ESOL children and their parents. One of the key components is that parents and their children spend time in the classroom together. The school provided opportunities for them to work together during the 4-H program. Source: http://www.usd259.com/news/headlines/4-H.htm .  

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