KANSAS WATER OFFICE ANNOUNCES BASIN ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETINGS
Kansas Water Office announced the following Basin Advisory Committee meetings, scheduled for May 13-22. This includes a special public meeting regarding the logjam above John Redmond Reservoir on the Neosho River at Jacob's Creek. Agendas and press releases are or will be available at the KWO website: www.kwo.org/Calendar/calendar.htm  or by calling 888-KAN-WATER (526-9283).

13 - Marais des Cygnes Basin Advisory Committee Meeting, 1 p.m., Public Wholesale Water Supply District No. 13, 8483 Jennison Road, Mound City

14 - Alternative Remedies for Jacob's Creek Logjam Meeting, 6:30 p.m., Anderson Building on the Lyon County Fairgrounds at Highway 50 and Industrial Road, Emporia

15 - Neosho Basin Advisory Committee Meeting, 1 p.m., Emporia Public Library, 110 E. 6th Avenue, Emporia

16 - Cimarron Basin Advisory Committee Meeting, 9 a.m., Meade Lake Visitor Center, 12172 S. Highway 23, Meade

19 - Lower Arkansas Basin Advisory Committee Meeting, 9 a.m., DWR - Stafford Field Office, 300 S. Main Street, Stafford

20 - Solomon Basin Advisory Committee Meeting, 7 p.m., DWR - Stockton Field Office, 820 S. Walnut, Stockton

20 - Walnut Basin Advisory Committee Meeting, 6:30 p.m., Ridge Restaurant, Garden Room, 3727 Quail Ridge Road, Winfield

21 - Verdigris Basin Advisory Committee Meeting, 1 p.m., City Commission Room, Coffeyville City Hall, 2nd Floor, 7th & Walnut Streets, Coffeyville

21 - Smoky Hill-Saline Basin Advisory Committee Meeting, 9:30 a.m., Commission Room, Hays City Hall, 1507 Main Street, Hays

21 - Upper Arkansas Basin Advisory Committee Meeting, 1 p.m., King Center, 1312 Main Street, Jetmore

21 - Missouri Basin Advisory Committee Meeting, 9 a.m., Seneca Public Library, 606 Main Street, Seneca

22 - Upper Republican Basin Advisory Committee Meeting, 9 a.m., Gateway Center, #1 Morgan Drive, Oberlin

22 - Kansas-Lower Republican Basin Advisory Committee Meeting, 10 a.m., USDA Service Center, 3705 Miller Parkway, Manhattan

Summer Basin Advisory Committee meetings are scheduled for July 14-24 for 3/4 of the basins

--Morgan Powell mpowell@ksu.edu

LLAMA YOUTH FUN DAY ON MAY 17
Kansas 4-Hers and others interested in llamas are invited to a special, first-ever Llama Youth Fun Day, cosponsored by the Golden Plains Llama Association and K-State Research and Extension – Pottawatomie County, on Saturday, May 17, 2008.

The Llama Fun Day will include educational sessions on raising and showing llamas, the use of llamas in hiking, the use of llama fleece in weaving, a demonstration of a llama obstacle course, and more. The fun day will be from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the home of Ron and Chris Wilson near Manhattan.

Registration is $10 with lunch included. Youth, families, extension agents and others are invited to come and learn about this unusual and interesting project. For more information or to register, contact Chris Wilson at 785-844-0274 or chris@agadvocate.com .  --Ron Wilson rwilson@ksu.edu

THANK YOU FROM EVELYN AND BOB NEIER
Thank you for all the cards, e-mails and memorials that we received following my mother's death. Your support and encouragement helped lift us up during a difficult time, and we appreciate your kindness. --Evelyn and Bob Neier eneier@ksu.edu

REGEHR RETIREMENT OPEN HOUSE MAY 23
To celebrate Dave Regehr’s retirement after 26 years of service, K-State Research and Extension is invited to an informal open house at the Regehr’s country home on Friday, May 23, from 3 to 6 p.m.

Driving directions: Follow US-24 (Tuttle Creek Blvd) westbound towards Clay Center to the Short Stop at the north edge of Riley. At that intersection (Short Stop/Schurle Signs), turn north following US-24 (Falcon Road) one mile to Homestead Rd (rock road). Turn right (east) and go 0.4 mile to 12051 Homestead Rd (mailbox under the big transmission lines). Take the long driveway right (south) to the red brick house and Morton building.

Please call or e-mail Britney Green, 785-532-0184, or bdgreen@ksu.edu , by Wednesday, May 14, if you plan to attend. Car pooling is encouraged!

If it rains or if Regehr’s driveway and yard are muddy on the 23rd, the event will be postponed until Friday, May 30, same time and place. Keep in mind that weather conditions at Riley may be different than in Manhattan. If in doubt, call Britney for an update. --Britney Green

ASLIN RETIREMENT RECEPTION JUNE 2
After 33 years of leadership and service, Ray Aslin, State Forester, will be retiring from the Kansas Forest Service effective July 1, 2008. 

The staff of the Kansas Forest Service invites you to a reception honoring Ray on Monday, June 2nd, from 1:30 to 4 p.m., at the Kansas Forest Service State Office, 2610 Claflin Rd, Manhattan, KS. The reception will begin with a tree dedication ceremony on the State Office grounds.

You are also invited to express your gratitude and congratulations to Ray by letter and in the form of a tax deductible donation to the Kansas State University Gardens on behalf of Ray. Checks for the donation should be made payable to KSU Gardens and indicate they are for Ray Aslin’s Retirement Fund. Checks and letters should be mailed to the Kansas Forest Service, 2610 Claflin Rd, Manhattan, KS 66502, by May 23rd.  If you have any questions please contact Patricia McCaffrey or Sandy Chandler at 785-532-3300. --Patricia McCaffrey pmccaffr@ksu.edu

4-H VOLUNTEER IMPACT SURVEY
Beginning this week, the Southwest Area Office will be calling counties and districts to obtain e-mail addresses of 4-H Volunteers to be sent an invitation to participate in the 4-H Volunteer Impact Survey (see last week’s Tuesday Letter). The survey will be done on the web, (zoomerang), and will be voluntary and anonymous.

When we contact the offices (in the order determined by the random sample process), we will ask “Will your office participate?” If the answer is yes, then “How many e-mail addresses for 4-H Volunteers can you provide?” We need to collect 800 e-mail addresses of 4-H Volunteers to send the invitations to participate in the survey.

The goals for the survey are:

* To identify (in a general way, surveys will be anonymous) who volunteers for 4-H,
* The ways people volunteer within 4-H,
* The scope of that effort (time and personal resources) and
* To document what individuals feel they gain from their experiences as a 4-H volunteer.

Thanks in advance for your help. If you have any questions, please contact me. --Rod Buchele rbuchele@ksu.edu

MARKETING MINUTE: COMMUNICATING DURING CRISIS
Every organization or business is susceptible to a crisis. In addition to its numerous workings with the public, K-State Research and Extension has facilities, personnel, livestock and other resources statewide that carry the risk of something going wrong.

Thinking ahead of crisis is crucial for managing a crisis. While detailed plans are the best way to make sure everyone in your office or unit know what they should do in a crisis, here're some guidelines for forming a crisis response:

* When a crisis occurs, gather the following information:

1) What happened?
2) Who does this affect?
3) Is danger still present?
4) Who is responding to the incident (local authorities, other?)
5) Are there injuries or fatalities?

* Contact your immediate supervisor immediately. He or she will need the above information, and should also know what additional steps should be taken.

* Communicate immediately. If you don't know all the facts of a situation, let people know what has happened and what you are doing - even if to say that you don't have all the facts but are working to get complete information. You will immediately be recognized as an organization that is being open and accessible.

Crisis communications guidance, templates and consultation is available through the K-State Research and Extension Department of Communications. For more information, contact Pat Melgares, 785-532-1160, or melgares@ksu.edu . --Pat Melgares

MARIE'S PICK OF THE WEEK
While reviewing the 2007 Project Accomplishments for items that are especially effective at helping us understand how our work can be highlighted to share outcomes, impacts, success stories, and public value, this week my picks are outcomes reported by Richard Fechter and Evelyn Neier.

-As a result of JMG leader/volunteer training and group support, 16 new JMG groups were registered in 2007. --Marie Blythe mblythe@ksu.edu

APRIL EXTENSION AGENT PERSONNEL CHANGES
Marsha Weaver, Family and Consumer Sciences Agent in Dickinson County, retired on April 1, 2008.

James Hoobler, Agriculture and Natural Resources Agent in Haskell County, began employment on April 20, 2008. His e-mail address is jhoobler@ksu.edu .

Barbara Roths, Family and Consumer Sciences Agent in Butler County, began employment on April 20, 2008. Her e-mail address is broths@ksu.edu .

Valeria Edwards, Family and Consumer Sciences Agent in Johnson County, began employment on April 20, 2008. Her e-mail address is vedwards@ksu.edu .

--Stacey Warner swarner@ksu.edu

To view the complete Master Schedule online or as a pdf, go to http://129.130.72.154/MasterSchAdd/

DATES TAKEN FROM THE MASTER SCHEDULE FOR MAY 15 THROUGH MAY 21, 2008:

Thursday, May 15, 2008, SE Area FCS Program Update/Planning at 9:30 a.m. through 4:00 p.m. at The Peaceable Inn in Chanute, Gayle Price gprice@ksu.edu

Thursday, May 15, 2008, "Grass and Gain" Field Day, at 3:30 p.m. at just south of Miller, Brian Rees brees@ksu.edu

Friday, May 16 and Saturday, May 17, 2008, Kansas State University Commencement

Monday, May 19 through Tuesday, May 20, 2008, Co-Product Storage Conference in Mead, NE, Sandy Johnson sandyj@ksu.edu

Monday, May 19 through Monday, July 28, 2008, Starting Your Investment Program, from 3 to 4 p.m. M at Kansas State On-line, Esther Maddux emaddux@ksu.edu

Tuesday, May 20, 2008, South Central KS Experiment Field Spring Field Day, 7:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at South Central Experiment Field, Hutchinson, Bill Heer bheer@ksu.edu

Tuesday, May 20 through Friday, May 23, 2008, Natural Resource Extension Professionals Annual Conference, in Madison, WI, Robert Wilson rwilson@agecon.ksu.edu