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The Tuesday Letter
Agricultural Experiment Station & Cooperative Extension Service

 
 

  
Vol. 13, No. 40  August 14, 2007


IN THIS ISSUE...

...Word from the Associate Director - Extension and Applied Research
...Last Call for Nominations for Annual Conference Awards
...Thank You from Jim Lindquist
...Get It - Do It! Partnerships for Healthier Kansas Grant Trainings Scheduled
...Kansas Schools, Healthy Schools Conference - October 1-2
...Marie's Pick of the Week
...Your Ideas, Please...
...Help Us Help You!
...Basic 4-H Operations Training Set for September 24 and 25
...Volunteers Requested to Help in Our Booths at the Kansas State Fair
...
CHARACTERCOUNTS!
...Recipient of an Endowment Fund Grant
...Do You Have a Webcam?
...Marketing Minute: Demographics of K-State Research and Extension Users

...Master Schedule

                                                                                                           ...Tuesday Letter Archives


WORD FROM THE ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR - EXTENSION AND APPLIED RESEARCH
The last couple weeks, my focus has been on defining "extension work," or maybe better how to know it when you see it. So, what does it take to be successful in "extension work" as a "change agent?" According to E.M. Rogers, in his book Diffusion of Innovations
, there are some factors to be positively related to the success of a change agent:

1.) Extent of change agent effort in contacting clients.
2.) A client orientation, rather than a change agency orientation.
3.) Degree to which the program is compatible with clients' needs.
4.) Change agent's empathy with clients.
5.) His or her homophily with clients.
6.) Credibility in the clients' eyes.
7.) Extent to working with opinion leaders.
8.) Increasing clients' ability to evaluate innovations.

If you really want to be successful in extension work, have you invested the time and your personal development to effectively accomplish all eight of the above? More on this in the coming weeks. --Daryl Buchholz dbuchhol@ksu.edu

 

LAST CALL FOR NOMINATIONS FOR ANNUAL CONFERENCE AWARDS
Remember that Friday, August 17, is the deadline 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. 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

 

THANK YOU FROM JIM LINDQUIST
Thank you to everyone for the cards, flowers and memorial donations for Mary. It means a great deal to me for Mary to be honored and remembered with your expressions of kindness. --Jim Lindquist jlindqui@oznet.ksu.edu

 

GET IT - DO IT! PARTNERSHIPS FOR HEALTHIER KANSAS GRANT TRAININGS SCHEDULED
Community PRIDE organizations, with local K-State Extension and youth partners, are invited to apply for grants to plan, implement and celebrate local intergenerational health promotion projects.

Through the "Partnerships for Healthier Kansas" (PHK) project, PRIDE committees can apply for grants of up to $3,000 each to participate in a statewide initiative to implement intergenerational health promotion projects. Those projects could include trail development, physical activity promotion, establishing walking clubs or TV/screen-time reduction campaigns.

PRIDE members and Extension partners interested in applying for the PHK grants are encouraged to attend one of the "Get It - Do It!" training sessions for PHK grant submission:

August 30, 1 - 3 p.m. - K-State Alumni Center, Manhattan, KS

September 18, 3 - 5 p.m. - Polycom locations in Lawrence, Wichita, Colby, Chanute, Garden City

September 29, 11 a.m. - 12 p.m. - Kansas PRIDE Day, Junction City

The request for grant proposals will be released August 24 with proposals due November 26, 2007. Not only will selected grantees receive funds to implement local projects, but there will be three trainings to help communities in their work. Those trainings will include information and techniques for effective community health promotion through youth and adult partnerships. "Partnerships for Healthier Kansas" (PHK) is a unique opportunity for PRIDE committees to inspire effective health improvements with the next generation of Kansas leaders.

To register for one of the grant training sessions, contact Elaine Johannes, 785-532-7720, ejohanne@ksu.edu ; Carol Fink, 785-532-5800, cfink@ksu.edu ; or Connie Hoch, 785-532-5840, choch@ksu.edu . --Elaine Johannes

 

KANSAS SCHOOLS, HEALTHY SCHOOLS CONFERENCE - OCTOBER 1-2
Kansas Coordinated School Health, a collaborative program between the Kansas Department of Education and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, will be hosting a conference, “Kansas Schools, Healthy Schools,” on October 1st and 2nd at the Wichita Airport Hilton.

Sessions focus on the link between academics and health in addition to body mass index, advocacy, oral health, and physical activity in the classroom.

To register for the conference, go to http://conferences.ksde.org/kcsh . Online registration is the only way to register! For more information, please go to the Kansas Coordinated School Health website at www.kshealthykids.org  and click on upcoming events. --Elaine Johannes ejohanne@ksu.edu

 

MARIE'S PICK OF THE WEEK
While continuing to review the Project Accomplishments database for items that are especially effective at helping us understand how our work can be highlighted to share outcomes, impacts, and success stories, this week I’m sharing a success story from Andrea Karcher.

One of the parenting class participants had her daughter returned on a trial basis during the class. She has since given birth to another child. She has called me occasionally to keep me informed of her progress, and she is doing very well! –Marie Blythe mblythe@ksu.edu

 

YOUR IDEAS, PLEASE...
At Annual Conference 2007, the Department of Communications introduced Event-in-a-Box, a communications tool kit for the K-State Research and Extension system.

Please take a minute or two to let us know how you are using EIB. Also, what communications tools would you like to see added?

Please send comments and suggestions to Nancy Peterson, News, nancyp@ksu.edu , 785-532-1161; or Gloria Holcombe, Publications, gloria@ksu.edu , 785-532-7133. --Nancy Peterson

 

HELP US HELP YOU!
In recent years, News has asked agents and others in the state who either work or volunteer at county fairs to please keep an eye out for unusual 4-H projects that will be going to the Kansas State Fair -- and/or human interest stories that may have developed during 4-H project work. Sending a quick heads-up to News may result in a news story that will highlight your 4-H’er, as well as county and state 4-H programs.

Pre-fair news coverage attracts visitors and future 4-H members to 4-H Centennial Hall. How do we know that?

In 1998, Steve Fisher, 4-H specialist who is now retired, happened to mention that Linsey Gordon, a Pottawatomie County 4-H’er, had fashioned a suit similar to one worn by Kate Winslet in the movie, "Titanic."

News arranged to follow up with an interview and set up a photo shoot. The resulting release and photo were widely used and fair visitors came into the building looking for the suit!

Since then, we’ve had responses from many counties and have written about a variety of people and projects, including a 4-H’er who turned a downed tree turned into a flag box for a veteran’s widow, robot that mimicked a cockroach, decorated bicycle that could have graced the cover of Country Living Magazine, country quilt pieced by a he (instead of a she), wooden monkey, and future engineer who out-sewed his sister to capture the top ribbon in the Fashion Revue.

The current front-page 4-H story in Grass & Grain – "4-H market lamb corners market to help neighbor" – came from a recent news tip from Mike Holder in Chase County.

If you see a great project or human-interest story, please contact Nancy Peterson at nancyp@ksu.edu or 785-532-1161. --Nancy Peterson

 

BASIC 4-H OPERATIONS TRAINING SET FOR SEPTEMBER 24 AND 25
We invite you to attend this training where we share critical information for handling 4-H managerial issues that may arise.

Basic 4-H Operations training begins at 1 p.m. on Monday, September 24, and goes through 5 p.m. on Tuesday, September 25. All sessions will be held in Pottorf Hall on the Riley County Fairgrounds. This training is part of new agent training, but anyone in the system who would like a refresher course is welcome.

Topics to be addressed include: Understanding 4-H Youth Development, financial management, working with volunteers and VIP, and risk management. For detailed information, go to http://4-h.k-state.edu/Agents/basicops07.pdf .

Diane Mack, Extension Specialist, 4-H Youth Development, NE, and Beth Hinshaw, Extension Specialist, 4-H Youth Development, SE, are co-presenters for this training. If you have questions, please contact Diane or Beth. Cost to attend is $20 payable to the Kansas 4-H Foundation. Please contact Diane Mack at dmack@ksu.edu  by September 7 if you plan to attend. --Diane Mack dmack@ksu.edu and Beth Hinshaw bhinshaw@ksu.edu

 

VOLUNTEERS REQUESTED TO HELP IN OUR BOOTHS AT THE KANSAS STATE FAIR
The College of Agriculture and K-State Research and Extension will once again have booths in the Pride of Kansas building at the Kansas State Fair in Hutchinson, KS. The Kansas State Fair runs from Friday, September 7, through Sunday, September 16, 2007.

We would appreciate faculty and staff from campus, area offices, counties/districts, Agronomy Fields, and Research-Extension Centers coming to the fair and working a few hours in one or both of the booths. Also, we would really appreciate agents and/or faculty, who are coming to the fair anyway, signing up to work a couple of hours in the booth before or after your activities.

Days and times that our KSRE/COA fair booths are open are:

Friday, September 7 - 11a.m. - 10 p.m.
Saturday, September  8 - 9 a.m. - 10 p.m.
Sunday, September 9 -  9 a.m. - 9 p.m.
Monday, September 10 - 9 a.m. - 9 p.m.
Tuesday, September 11 - 9 a.m. - 9 p.m.
Wednesday, September 12 - 9 a.m. - 9 p.m.
Thursday, September 13 - 9 a.m. - 9 p.m.
Friday, September 14 -  9 a.m. - 10 p.m.
Saturday, September 15 - 9 a.m. - 10 p.m.
Sunday, September 16 - 9 a.m. - 7 p.m.

If you would like to work in the K-State Research and Extension booth, please contact Steven Graham, sgraham@k-state.edu , by August 29th.

If you would like to work in the College of Agriculture booth, please contact Sharon Thielen, sthielen@ksu.edu , by August 29th.

We will be in touch in late August to finalize days, times, entrance tickets, etc. Thank you. --Sharon Thielen and Steven Graham

 

CHARACTERCOUNTS!
Full information and registration materials for The 2007 Kansas 4-H Volunteers Forum, November 16 - 18, 2007, Rock Springs 4-H Center, have been posted on the State 4-H web site at  http://4-h.k-state.edu/Volunteer/Forum/Default.htm .

The Forum will focus on CHARACTERCOUNTS!.  Participants will learn about and do experiential activities from each of the six pillars of Character.  There will also be sessions on Ethical Decision Making and implementing CHARACTERCOUNTS! in the club.

Forum registration deadline is October 15, 2007.  Online registration is encouraged.  Check www.Kansas4-H.org , (What’s Hot, Volunteer Forum) for full information and forms or click on this link:  http://4-h.k-state.edu/Volunteer/Forum/Default.htm . --Rod Buchele rbuchele@oznet.ksu.edu

 

RECIPIENT OF AN ENDOWMENT FUND GRANT
The Little Balkans Clover Foundation in southeast Kansas was a recipient of an Endowment Fund Grant from the Alpha Rho chapter of Epsilon Sigma Phi and purchased a Swine Learning Lab Kit from Ohio State University for use in the area and by counties. We appreciate being chosen and know the youth of southeast Kansas will increase their knowledge of the swine project.

We also encourage other members of Epsi to participate in the grant process to aid in their educational Extension programming.

Once again we say, THANKS, to Epsilon Sigma Phi. --Phyllis Kriesel pkriesel@oznet.ksu.edu

 

DO YOU HAVE A WEBCAM?
This fall IET is testing Adobe Connect as a possible webconferencing solution. We need to find people around the state who have working webcams and would be willing to help with occasional short tests. If you have a webcam and would be willing to assist, please contact Gerry Snyder at gsnyder@ksu.edu  or 785-532-1179. --Larry Jackson ljackson@ksu.edu

 

MARKETING MINUTE: DEMOGRAPHICS OF K-STATE RESEARCH AND EXTENSION USERS
Last week we looked at the demographics for all Kansans. This week we are comparing that information with the results of our recent statewide telephone survey. Nearly 30 percent of the survey participants were clients or users of K-State Research and Extension programs or services. That is the group we will be looking at first.

 

Location. According to the summer, 2007 survey, 44.1 percent of users consider themselves to live in a rural area. Urban areas accounted for 27 percent of the users, and 28.9 percent considered their home to be a suburban area.

 

Age. According to the same survey, our users tend to be older than the general population. The age classification breaks down as follows:

4 percent - 19-23 years old

19 percent - 24-44 years old

32 percent - 45-54 years old

43 percent - 55-64 years old

49 percent - 65 and older

 

Ethnicity: Among current users of our programs and services, 99.3 percent of those who responded to this survey classify themselves as white, non-Hispanic. The remaining 0.7 percent of survey participants refused to answer the question. If we look at the demographics of all participants in the survey (which includes the 70.3 percent who have never used K-State Research and Extension), they classify themselves as 93.2 percent white, non-Hispanic; 3.1 percent black or African American; 1.4 percent Hispanic or Latino; 1.0 percent Asian; 0.6 percent American Indian or Alaska Native; 0.2 percent two or more races, and 0.6 percent refused to answer the question. We realize that, in fact, not all of our users are white, non-Hispanic. As with the state demographics, there are pockets of diversity among our users.

 

By comparing the 2000 U.S. Census data on all Kansans to the data we have about our users, there are a few glaring trends. Our users skew more rural, older, and less diverse than Kansas as a whole. K-State Research and Extension's five-year marketing plan will target residents of urban areas, young adults age 24 to 44, and ethnic minorities, while continuing to work with our traditionally-strong audiences.

 

If you need more information, please contact Linda Sleichter at 785-532-5804, or e-mail lsleicht@ksu.edu . If you’d like to comment on this or any Marketing Minute discussion, we encourage you to visit our Marketing Minute blog at http://ksremarketingminute.blogspot.com/ .  --Linda Sleichter lsleicht@oznet.ksu.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 AUGUST 22, 2007, THROUGH AUGUST 28, 2007:

Wednesday, August 22
.... State Fair Work Day, Hutchinson, Statewide, Justin Wiebers
jwiebers@ksu.edu

Wednesday, August 22, through Friday, August 24
.... Coaching Skills, Rock Springs 4-H Center, PFT Leaders, 6:00 p.m., Daryl Buchholz
dbuchhol@ksu.edu

Thursday, August 23
.... Fall Field Day - KSU Ag Research Center, Hays, Statewide, 9:00 a.m., Bob Gillen
gillen@ksu.edu

Saturday, August 25
.... State Livestock Judging Contest, Manhattan, Statewide, Julie Voge
jvoge@ksu.edu and Pat McNally pmcnally@ksu.edu
.... State Horticulture Judging Contest, Manhattan, Statewide, Beth Hinshaw
bhinshaw@oznet.ksu.edu
.... State Meats Judging Contest, Manhattan, Statewide, John Unruh
junruh@ksu.edu and Jim Adams jadams@ksu.edu

Monday, August 27, through Wednesday, August 29
.... New Extension Agent Orientation, KSU-Manhattan, Statewide, 12:30 p.m., Stacey Warner
swarner@oznet.ksu.edu

Monday, August 27, through Thursday, August 30
.... FCS Agent Update, Manhattan, Statewide, Paula Peters
peters@humec.ksu.edu

Tuesday, August 28
.... Feedyard Negotiation Skills Conference, SW Research & Extension Center, Garden City, Statewide, Chris Reinhardt
cdr3@ksu.edu

 

 

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