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The Tuesday Letter
Agricultural Experiment Station & Cooperative Extension Service

  
Vol. 13, No. 42  August 28, 2007


IN THIS ISSUE...

...Word from the Associate Director - Extension and Applied Research
...K-State Research and Extension Annual Conference Awards Lunch
...Crops and Soils Specialist Interviews
...Password Change Reminder!
...Retirement Dinner for Dr. Clifford Spaeth
...Volunteers Requested to Help in Our Booths at the Kansas State Fair
...Date Correction for Land Judging Contest
...Eight Weeks to a New CMS Website
...Epsilon Sigma Phi - Nominate Your Colleagues for Awards!
...Epsilon Sigma Phi Endowment Fund Grant Proposals Accepted
...Silent Auction Opportunity at Annual Conference
...Recent Change in Shipping Regulations for Insect Samples
...Marie's Pick of the Week
...Professional Development - Helpful Links
...Steps in Preparing Your Professional Development Plan
...2008 4-H Camping Dates at Rock Springs
...K-State Extension Specialists Work with Kansas Bankers Association to Develop New Awards
...Position Announcement
...Extension Professionals are Leaders in KAFCS
...Save the Date for United Associations Conference
...Marketing Minutes: Target Audiences of Metro Areas and Young Adults
...Master Schedule

                                                                                                           ...Tuesday Letter Archives


WORD FROM THE ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR - EXTENSION AND APPLIED RESEARCH
The Professional Development Catalog, linked off the K-State Research and Extension home page, is now chocked full of upcoming trainings, workshops, conferences, and learning experiences among the core competencies and subject matter areas. I hope you will look through those lists, and if you discover an obvious omission, you will contact the person(s) who should take leadership in posting up that training or professional development offering. From that list of offerings, you should be able to create your personal list of subject matter and professional development commitments through 2008.

I was visiting with a faculty member this weekend, and in the course of that conversation he commented on how he gets very good subject matter training and development. He then went on to add that a real need he had was in learning how to be better at working with people, on improving his "extension worker" skills. I challenged him to commit to at least one workshop or learning experience each year that focused on personal professional development, how to build relations, work with others, create great volunteers, communicate, or maybe just understanding yourself and how you are seen by others. My expectation is that every person who works with and develops relations with people in order to be successful should seek professional improvement opportunities every year that will build upon those competencies.

And lastly, I saw this quote recently on leadership, and really liked the message:

To lead people, walk beside them ...
As for the best leaders, the people do not notice their existence.
The next best, the people honor and praise.
The next, the people fear;
and the next, the people hate ...
When the best leader's work is done the people say,
"We did it ourselves!"

- Lao-tsu

Have a great week, provide great leadership, and make them believe "We did it ourselves!" --Daryl Buchholz dbuchhol@ksu.edu  

 

K-STATE RESEARCH AND EXTENSION ANNUAL CONFERENCE AWARDS LUNCH
This year's 2007 Annual Conference Awards Lunch will be Tuesday, October 16, from 11:30 a.m.-1:15 p.m. Faculty who have received awards during the last 13 months will be recognized by including their names, position title, unit, and award(s) in an awards brochure.

By or before Friday, August 31, please e-mail the form with names of your unit's or association's faculty who received awards sometime during the period of August 1, 2006 to September 1, 2007 to mgarner@ksu.edu . The form can be accessed by going to http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/employee_resources/ . Click on Nominations for Awards in the center of the page.

In addition, please send the names of personnel within your unit who served as mentors to new faculty members or unit heads during the last 13 months. This form can also be accessed by going to http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/employee_resources/  and e-mail to mgarner@ksu.edu . Click on Nominations for Awards in the center of the page. --Michelle Garner mgarner@ksu.edu

 

CROPS AND SOILS SPECIALIST INTERVIEWS
The Search and Screen Committee members for the Crops and Soils Extension Specialist located in the Southeast Area Office, Chanute, invites you to participate in the candidate interviews scheduled for September 5 in Throckmorton Hall, KSU; and September 6 in the Southeast Area Office, Chanute. For interview schedules, resumes and to link to the live seminar videos (Manhattan, September 5) link to: http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/seminars/SEAO/ .

For additional information, contact Gayle Price, Search Committee Chair, 620-431-1530 or gprice@ksu.edu . --Gayle Price

 

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

 

RETIREMENT DINNER FOR DR. CLIFFORD SPAETH
It is time to honor Cliff Spaeth for his 40+ years of service to Kansas State University and the Kansas Sheep Industry. We hope you will be able to join us for an informal dinner in his honor on Friday, September 14, 2007 at Pottorf Hall, at the Riley County Fairgrounds in Manhattan, Kansas. The evening will begin with dinner at 6 p.m., followed by a short program.

The cost will be $20.00 per person. To make reservations, contact Lois Schreiner at 785-532-1267 or lschrein@ksu.edu . Please spread the word and pass this information on to all interested individuals.

If you would like to send a letter and/or card to be included in a memory album, please send to: Dave Nichols, 133 Weber Hall, Manhattan, KS 66506. --Lois Schreiner

 

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 and that we really need help are:

Friday, September 7 - 11a.m. - 1 p.m.
                                 3 p.m. - 6 p.m.
Saturday, September  8 - 9 a.m. - 10 p.m.
Sunday, September 9 -  9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Monday, September 10 - 9 a.m. - 12 noon
                                     6 p.m. - 9 p.m.
Tuesday, September 11 - 6 p.m. - 9 p.m.
Thursday, September 13 - 9 a.m. - 9 p.m.
Friday, September 14 -  1 p.m. - 10 p.m.
Saturday, September 15 - 12 noon - 3 p.m.
                                       6 p.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

 

DATE CORRECTION FOR LAND JUDGING CONTEST
The east central district FFA/4-H land judging contest will be held on September 19, 2007 by Lebo High School.  (The wrong date was listed in last week’s Tuesday Letter).  Contact Luke Matile, Lebo HS ag teacher, or Cade Rensink, Coffey County Ag Agent, for information.  --DeAnn Presley deann@ksu.edu

 

EIGHT WEEKS TO A NEW CMS WEBSITE

With Annual Conference just around the corner, we’ve got about 8 weeks until our goal of having your CMS Website live. For some, that may seem overwhelming, but if we break it down into eight small assignments, your site will be ready in no time. All the assignments are posted, along with the training guide, on the tech website at http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/techweb/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabid=776 .

 

This week's assignment is to add content to your homepage. To help refresh your memory, we have included a step-by-step guide at http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/techweb/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabid=785 .

 

Each week, we’ll be sending out another assignment for you to tackle on your site. Each assignment should take no more than an hour, and we’ll be here to help if you run into problems or questions. IET Help Desk can be reached by phone at 785-532-6270. David Dunn, Steve Spencer, and Gary Kepka are also available to help. In addition, we will be having three more face-to-face trainings in the next month: September 14 in Chanute; September 19 in Garden City; and September 21 in Colby.

 

Good luck, and thanks for all your hard work! --Linda Sleichter lsleicht@oznet.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.

Award Categories:

Meritorious Service Award
Distinguished Service Award
Team Award
Horizon Member Award
State Early Career Award
State Mid Career Award
International Service Award
Retiree Service Award
State Friend of Extension Award

--Danny Rogers

 

EPSILON SIGMA PHI ENDOWMENT FUND GRANT PROPOSALS ACCEPTED
Do you have an innovative educational program that you always wanted to offer or great professional development opportunity that you have never had the funds to participate in? If so, here is your opportunity to put your dreams into action for the educational benefit of the residents in Kansas.

All extension agents, specialists, and administrators who are current ESP members are eligible to submit a grant proposal to the Alpha Rho Chapter of Epsilon Sigma Phi Endowment Fund Board. Grant proposals are being accepted for professional development opportunities or innovative educational programs. The application is currently available online at the following website: http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/esp-AlphaRho/welcome.htm . Click on the Endowment button and you will be able to access the application and our history of funding requests.

Applications are due by September 28, 2007. They should be sent electronically to Trudy Rice, trice@oznet.ksu.edu . You can attach a note of approval from your Board Chair, Area Director or Unit Head in lieu of their signature. --Trudy Rice

 

SILENT AUCTION OPPORTUNITY AT ANNUAL CONFERENCE
The Alpha Rho Chapter of Epsilon Sigma Phi will be hosting a silent auction at our ESP Banquet during Annual Conference this year. At this time we are in need of donations for the silent auction. If you are interested in donating, please contact Trudy Rice at trice@oznet.ksu.edu . Items can be anything that you might be interested in purchasing at such an event. If you are not interested in donating an item, please do not forget to attend the silent auction during annual conference and bid on an item or two. This is being sponsored by the ESP Endowment Fund Board and proceeds will support professional development and innovative programming requests from Extension professionals. --Trudy Rice

 

RECENT CHANGE IN SHIPPING REGULATIONS FOR INSECT SAMPLES
We have just been notified that recent changes in DOT shipping regulations require that we revise our SOP for shipping insect specimens. We have generally recommended putting fragile and immature insects in alcohol filled vials for shipment to the diagnostic lab. However, since alcohol is flammable and considered a hazardous material, one now must have special training and/or use specialized shipping containers to ship even small quantities of this or similar materials. Thus, until we can obtain the appropriate shipping containers and develop new shipping instructions, insect samples must no longer be shipped in alcohol filled vials.

For large, fairly common insects, the first option may be to send digital images. However, for smaller insects, physical samples are often required to make accurate determinations. For adult insects, specimens should be killed by placing them in the freezer overnight. They should then be placed between layers of tissue paper or a plastic bag, and packaged so that they will not be crushed,  but yet not be damaged from bouncing around in the shipping container. For soft bodied insects you may want to consider splitting the sample if  possible and saving part of the sample in an alcohol filled vial in case a more accurate determination is needed later. The rest of the sample can then be placed in a plastic bag with some tissue paper and frozen. The tissue paper will absorb any moisture as the insects defrost.

Another option for larger soft bodied insects such as grubs or caterpillars would be to gently boil the sample for 30 seconds before wrapping them in tissue paper for shipping. These types of samples will need to be shipped by next day or express mail to have much hope of arriving in any shape to be identified and descriptions or pictures to show the original color patterns may be helpful.

We are sorry for the inconvenience that these new shipping rules are going to cause, but we will try to obtain new approved shipping containers as soon as possible. --Phil Sloderbeck psloderb@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 an outcome reported by Jenell Smith.

Medicare denials are often reversed by providing additional information to Medicare, with the potential of saving the individual between $500 and $700. In Sedgwick County, 560 individuals learned how to appeal a Medicare denial of an Emergency Medical Services transport. This translates into really big savings for Seniors in Sedgwick County! --Marie Blythe mblythe@ksu.edu

 

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT - HELPFUL LINKS
Professional Development website: http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/Employee_Resources/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabid=164 

  • Professional Development Plan form is linked from this site. It is available in pdf and wpd format.
  • Professional Development System:

  • My Home https://intranet.oznet.ksu.edu/prof%5Fdev/
  •  
  • Catalog: https://intranet.oznet.ksu.edu/prof%5Fdev/default.aspx?catalog=1

  • Proposal Entry: https://intranet.oznet.ksu.edu/prof%5Fdev/default.aspx?proposal_entry=1  
  • You may have to copy the addresses into the url line if link does not take you there. --Margaret Phillips margaret@ksu.edu

     

    STEPS IN PREPARING YOUR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN

  • Download the Professional Development Plan form of your choice:
    linked from Professional Development website: http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/Employee_Resources/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabid=164 
    • Prepare to plan experiences for next year that will strengthen:
       
      • your primary area of program focus
  • additional core competencies
     
  • Set goals for next year
    • Develop professional development plans for coming year.
  • Search the Catalog for Focus Areas and Core competencies in your goals

  •  
  • Use other sources of professional development that are not listed in the catalog to complete your goals.
    • Submit Professional Development Plan with other documentation for Performance Review.
    --Margaret Phillips margaret@ksu.edu

     

    2008 4-H CAMPING DATES AT ROCK SPRINGS
    The long await for the 2008 Camp Schedule has ended. Thanks to Ozsome’s quick response to move to May, the schedule gained some flexibility. In addition, negotiating with Rock Springs and the 4-H Foundation, we’ve alleviated some stress following Discovery Days for the Heart of Kansas group.

    The 2008 Camping Schedule:

    Camp Group                           Dates
    Ozsome                                 May 28-31   
    Heart of Kansas                      June 8-11
    Dirty Dozen                            June 11-14
    Fantastic Four                        June 14-17
    Northwest                              June 17-20
    Pioneer Trails                         June 20-23
    Sunny Hills                            June 23-26
    Far Points                              June 26-29
    Purple Power Pack                 June 29-July 2

    These dates are when campers arrive. Counselors may come in the day earlier for training. Friends of 4-H is June 13. --Pam Van Horn pvanhorn@ksu.edu

     

    K-STATE EXTENSION SPECIALISTS WORK WITH KANSAS BANKERS ASSOCIATION TO DEVELOP NEW AWARDS
    Have you ever seen the green metal signs hanging on fences and gates around the countryside?  They might read “Soil Conservation,” “Wildlife Habitat,” or “Windbreak” award winner?  Well, get ready to see some new ones! 

    This year the Kansas Bankers Association is proud to present three new awards in the areas of Water Conservation, Water Quality, and Energy Conservation (in addition to the existing categories already mentioned). 

    Extension specialists Charlie Lee, Morgan Powell, DeAnn Presley, and Dan Rogers worked with the KBA to develop the criteria for the awards.  Awardees are determined on a county-by-county basis, with extension agents serving as the county’s committee chairperson.  Nominations should be submitted to the county chairperson no later than November 1, 2007, and the names of the recipients selected must be submitted to the Extension Agronomy office no later than December 1, 2007.  Please check out the following website for forms, award criteria sheets, and more information:  http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/agronomy/extension  or call the Extension Agronomy office at 785-532-5776.  --DeAnn Presley deann@ksu.edu

     

    POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT

    Kansas State University, 4-H/Army Youth Development Project, seeks applicants with a Bachelor's degree to serve as Project Coordinator.  Responsibilities include marketing and communications coordination, staff development training, and other responsibilities as needed to support the 4-H/Army Youth Development Project.  Experience with Cooperative Extension/Land Grant University is strongly preferred.  Experience working with Military youth programs is an advantage. 
     
    Excellent written, electronic and verbal communication skills are required.  Strong organizational skills and an ability to manage multiple tasks are preferred. Must be able to travel if necessary. 
     
    Call Marlene Glasscock, 785-532-1484, for information.  E-mail a letter of application, resume and three references to glass@ksu.edu .  Go to http://www.humec.ksu.edu/employment for position description and application procedures.  KSU is an equal opportunity employer and actively seeks diversity among its employees.
     
    Screening of applicants begins September 7, 2007 and continues until the position is filled. --Marlene Glasscock

     

    EXTENSION PROFESSIONALS ARE LEADERS IN KAFCS
    New officers for Kansas Association of Family and Consumer Sciences recently assumed their duties and several of those elected are Extension professionals. Marie Blythe, Planning and Reporting, just finished a term as president and is currently serving as counselor. Jan Stephens, Multi-County Specialist, Greenwood, Chautauqua, and Wilson, is president for 2007-08; and Anna Mae Brown, Crawford FCS, is president-elect. Gayle Price, SE area FCS, is District J president; and Nada Thoden, retired, is vice president for operations.

    KAFCS is the professional organization that unites teachers, researchers, administrators, extension educators, professionals in business and industry and others in the field of Family and Consumer Sciences. --Jan Stephens jstephen@oznet.ksu.edu

     

    SAVE THE DATE FOR UNITED ASSOCIATIONS CONFERENCE
    United Associations Conference (which includes Epsilon Sigma Phi, Kansas Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences, Kansas Association of Family and Consumer Sciences, and Kansas Association of Teachers of Family and Consumer Sciences) will be February 28-29, in Wichita at the Sedgwick County Extension facility. Sessions are being planned for all professionals who work with Kansas families to help improve the quality of their lives in many ways.

    Hold the date and plan to attend; registration materials will be available around the end of December. If you would like to be involved in helping plan the conference, contact Connie Hoch, Nadine Sigle, or Jan Stephens. --Jan Stephens jstephen@oznet.ksu.edu

     

    MARKETING MINUTES: TARGET AUDIENCES OF METRO AREAS AND YOUNG ADULTS

    The saying goes, “You can’t be all things to all people,” but for the past 10 years, K-State Research and Extension’s marketing effort has tried to be just that.  

     

    Since 1996, we’ve focused on reaching all Kansans statewide, and that effort has shown some success. Awareness of our program statewide has improved, with 70 percent of Kansans familiar with “Extension.” Also, our usage numbers are high in the western half of the state. We want to continue to sustain our efforts statewide, to reach all audiences.

     

    However, with our new five year marketing plan, we are establishing some target audiences. Clearly defining target audiences helps promote the aspects of K-State Research and Extension that are most relevant to each group. We don’t change our programming; we just change how and what we highlight about our programming.

     

    For us, the greatest opportunity for growth lies in the metro areas. These are the areas with the lowest percentage of its residents aware of and/or using K-State Research and Extension. These areas also have the highest population density and are experiencing the most population growth. Thus, if we aren’t reaching as many of the current residents as we could and the number of current residents continues to increase, then we are missing the opportunity to reach new clientele in the metro areas.

     

    Another reason to focus on the metro areas relates to legislative influence. The Wichita and Kansas City metro areas alone house 19 state legislators and cover at least part of all four congressional districts in Kansas. Shawnee County, too, provides significant opportunities to reach the Kansas legislative bodies. In these key areas, if we can make constituents our advocates, we will stand a better chance of maintaining or even increasing our funding support.

     

    In a similar way, young adults also provide us an opportunity to grow. According to the Census Bureau, approximately 29 percent of Kansans are 24-44 years old. That’s about 769,000 Kansans. Of our current clientele, only 13 percent of our current users are in this age bracket. Also, we have information and programs that interest this age bracket, with materials relating to health and nutrition and environmental preservation topping their list. We have an opportunity to reach out to the young adults and, not only gain current users but, hopefully, future users, as well.

     

    These two audiences are our primary targets for marketing K-State Research and Extension in 2008. How we will reach them is still to be determined. We are working on and testing a marketing campaign, as well as some new features for the K-State Research and Extension homepage. We are not ignoring our current users; we are just trying to reach out to some untapped audiences.

     

    If you need more information, please contact Pat Melgares at melgares@ksu.edu or Linda Sleichter at 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 SEPTEMBER 5, 2007, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 11, 2007:

    Friday, September 7, through Sunday, September 16
    .... Kansas State Fair, Hutchinson, Statewide

    Friday, September 7, through Thursday, November 1
    .... Grant Writing: Finding the Elusive Dollar, Telenet 2 https://intranet.oznet.ksu.edu/prof%5Fdev/default.aspx?view_proposal=1&id_proposal=159 , Statewide, Margaret Phillips
    margaret@ksu.edu

    Tuesday, September 11, through Wednesday, September 12
    .... Applied Reproductive Strategies in Beef, Billings, MT, Statewide, Sandy Johnson
    sandyj@ksu.edu

     

     

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    Please Submit Items no later than Noon on Monday to include in the following Tuesday Letter to:
    tuesday@oznet.ksu.edu . Put the word "Tuesday" in the subject line.

    K-State Research and Extension is an equal opportunity provider and employer.