The Tuesday Letter
Agricultural Experiment Station & Cooperative Extension Service

  
Vol. 13, No. 41  August 21, 2007

IN THIS ISSUE...

...Word from the Associate Director - Extension and Applied Research
...Civil Rights Compliance Review
...Professional Development Support for Agents
...Password Change Reminder!
...Correction on Reimbursement Rate
...Volunteers Requested to Help in Our Booths at the Kansas State Fair
...New National 4-H Photography Manuals Just Released!
...Department of Homeland Security Releases New Preparedness Resources for Seniors, People with Disabilities and Pet Owners
...Epsilon Sigma Phi - Nominate Your Colleagues for Awards!
...Date Change - Galaxy III
...Marie's Pick of the Week
...2008 National Extension Leadership Development-North Central (NELD-NC)
...Upcoming Webinar to Highlight Innovative Community Engagement Tool
...FFA/4-H Land Judging Opportunities
..."Living the High Life"
...Correction in Last Week's Marketing Minute
...Master Schedule

                                                                                                           ...Tuesday Letter Archives

WORD FROM THE ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR - EXTENSION AND APPLIED RESEARCH
This past week K-State Research and Extension had the pleasure of hosting congressional assistants for two days to highlight some of our work that has connection to national priorities and of interest to our congressional leadership. We had assistants attending from each of Senator Brownback's and Robert's offices, and from Representative Boyda's, Moore's, and Moran's offices. Unfortunately, no one from Representative Tiahart's office was able to attend this year. This update and tour is always a highlight for me, as I learn first hand about a number of projects and programs across our system. This year was no exception.

In carrying on my recent Tuesday letter focus on defining "extension work," I found our tour to Johnson County to be exceptionally relevant. The congressional assistants were shown multiple research projects at the Olathe Horticulture Center, and how that work was being conveyed to and used by target clientele, including industry, consultants, agencies, organizations, general public, extension agents, and volunteers.

We then moved on to the Johnson County Extension office where the faculty highlighted several programs of importance to the clientele served in the Johnson County area. They emphasized their work in engaging with the clientele to first understand their needs and interests with respect to setting priorities and gaining focus with educational program planning and implementation. And then went right on telling of how the research and technology transfer work coming from various sources throughout the University including the Olathe Horticulture Center provided the foundation of research evidence for the educational programs they conducted.

The continuum and linkages of fundamental research, applied research, technology transfer, engaging with clientele, and creating educational experiences around that knowledge and information was clearly evident in helping to positively change communities, families, adults and youth. I think all of us had the "ah hah" moment that afternoon as we were shown those connections and linkages that make Kansas State University truly a land-grant University. --Daryl Buchholz dbuchhol@ksu.edu

CIVIL RIGHTS COMPLIANCE REVIEW
K-State Research and Extension is scheduled for a CSREES Civil Rights Compliance Review from October 1 to October 5, 2007. The review will be conducted by several members of the CSREES staff from Washington DC. This is a routine review conducted periodically to assure compliance with federal laws and policies regarding employment and programming by both the Cooperative Extension Service and the Agriculture Experiment Station. Our last review occurred in September 1999.

The CSREES staff will identify several county, district, research centers and department offices that they will visit during the review. These locations have not yet been identified. We will notify offices as soon as we know who has been selected.

Steven Graham, Stacey Warner and Marie Blythe will be giving leadership to the reviews. In preparation they will be contacting county and district extension offices, research centers and campus department offices for information and documentation. Thank you in advance for your timely response to requests for information. --Fred Cholick fcholick@ksu.edu

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SUPPORT FOR AGENTS
There have been some questions recently about when the professional development scholarship money will be available to agents. The money will become available after the agent performance appraisal process this fall when the agent has completed their professional development plan for 2008 and the county/district board and area director have approved the plan. Details will be communicated in the next few weeks on how the local council/district should invoice their area office for professional development expenses. --Jim Lindquist jlindqui@oznet.ksu.edu

PASSWORD CHANGE REMINDER!
THE UNIVERSITY'S eID PASSWORD CHANGE DEADLINE IS SEPTEMBER 12.

Please change your K-State eID password before September 13.  On September 13, all eID accounts with unchanged passwords will be deactivated.

Remember the new password rules!  The minimum number of characters for a password is 7 and the maximum is 8. Also passwords must contain characters from three of the following categories:

      1.     Uppercase letters
2.     Lowercase letters
3.     Numbers
4.     Special characters (such as !,@,#,$,%,^,&,*, etc.)

To change your KSU eID password, log in to your eID profile at http://eid.k-state.edu . For more detailed instructions on changing your passwords go to http://accounts.oznet.ksu.edu/password .

As always, you can call IET at 785-532-6270 for additional help. --Kat Burton kburton@ksu.edu

CORRECTION ON REIMBURSEMENT RATE
There was an error on recent communications on FY 2008 reimbursement rates for State of Kansas employees. Under "Reduced Meal Allowance" the correct rate for out-of -state, special designated high-cost geographic area is $19.50 (not $19.75) for dinner. Further information on reimbursement rates can be found at www.oznet.ksu.edu/employee_resources . Click on Travel on the left. --Stacey Warner swarner@ksu.edu

NEW NATIONAL 4-H PHOTOGRAPHY MANUALS JUST RELEASED!
You can order this month via the November 2007 New Publication Order Form just released from Extension Distribution due back August 31. Orders can come from your county allocation. We will submit our State order to National 4-H Supply and should receive the pubs by the end of September for you to pick up at Annual Conference! To get more information about the new curriculum, go to: www.4-hmall.org/photography.aspx .

This is the pre-press sale price offered on the order form. Photography Action Team will soon be considering training opportunities to help your leaders use the new curriculum. --Jim Adams jadams@ksu.edu

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY RELEASES NEW PREPAREDNESS RESOURCES FOR SENIORS, PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AND PET OWNERS
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Ready Campaign has released three new demonstration videos designed to highlight the specific steps older Americans, individuals with disabilities and special needs, and pet owners should take to prepare for emergencies.  

The Department of Homeland Security developed these new emergency preparedness videos, which are available online at www.ready.gov/ , to remind individuals to get an emergency supply kit, make a family emergency plan and be informed about the different types of emergencies while considering the unique needs of these individuals, their families and caregivers. The videos recommend seniors include any necessary prescription medications in their emergency supply kits. They encourage Americans with disabilities or special needs to create a personal support network that they can rely on during an emergency. Pet owners are advised to learn which emergency shelters in their area and/or along their evacuation route will allow pets.

The new videos are released in time for National Preparedness Month 2007, a nationwide effort held each September to encourage Americans to take simple steps to prepare for emergencies. The goal of National Preparedness Month is to increase public awareness about the importance of family preparedness and to encourage individuals to take action in their homes and schools. The U. S. Administration on Aging encourages everyone to take steps now in order to be prepared in the event of a disaster or national emergency. --Daryl Buchholz dbuchhol@ksu.edu

EPSILON SIGMA PHI - NOMINATE YOUR COLLEAGUES FOR AWARDS!
Please consider nominating one of your colleagues for an Epsilon Sigma Phi award. The nominations are due September 24, 2007. The nomination forms for awards are on the www.oznet.ksu.edu/esp-AlphaRho/awards/awards.htm  website. Download the forms anytime you have a couple of minutes. Send your nominations to Danny Rogers, drogers@ksu.edu , ESP Awards Committee Chair. An electronic submission is preferred. Thank you for taking time to recognize the good work of your extension colleagues.

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