TOP 10 REASONS FOR ATTENDING GALAXY III
The top 10 reasons for attending the Galaxy III conference in September, 2008 in Indianapolis are:

(1)   Dr. Farrah Gray and Dr. Will Miller,
(2)   more than 150 concurrent sessions,
(3)   more than 350 posters,
(4)   educational tours,
(5)   community service opportunities,
(6)   health and fitness activities,
(7)   exhibits (professional and commercial),
(8)   Ruby luncheon,
(9)   silent and live auction proceeds toward scholarship and professional development activities, and
(10) networking time with fellow Extension co-workers--all during the conference and at States' Night Out.

Learn more at http://tinyurl.com/3dvfl3 . --Marie Blythe mblythe@ksu.edu

Written by Elaine Johannes, Youth Development Specialist, the purpose of the module is to help members of K-State Research and Extension boards to:

- Better understand the field of youth development
- Acknowledge their contributions to youth development
- Lead efforts toward community programs and partnerships that support youth and focus on positive youth
  development.

The lesson includes a presenter's guide, and a PowerPoint presentation.

Board leadership modules are developed to be used at a regular board meeting and can be presented by a member of the board or an extension agent. Most modules can be presented with minimum preparation and are about 15 minutes in length.

Board leadership modules are located at http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/boardleadership/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabid=1 . Select Board Leadership Modules from one of the boxes in the center of the Board Leadership home page. There are currently 12 modules available. --Margaret Phillips margaret@ksu.edu

MARK YOUR CALENDAR TO ATTEND 2008 KANSAS LEADERSHIP FORUM ANNUAL CONFERENCE
The Kansas Leadership Forum (KLF), a statewide organization for professionals and volunteers involved in providing youth and adult leadership development and education, will host it's annual conference on September 24-25, 2008 in Wichita.

Dr. Ronald Heifetz, Founder of the Center for Public Leadership at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government, will be the keynote speaker. Known for his seminal work during the last two decades on the practice and teaching of leadership, Heifetz's research focuses on how to build adaptive capacities in societies, businesses, and nonprofits.

His books include "Leadership Without Easy Answers" and "Leadership on the  Line: Staying Alive through the Dangers of Leading." His teaching methodology is profiled in the book, "Leadership Can Be Taught."

As Co-Founder and Principal of Cambridge Leadership Associates, Heifetz consults extensively in the United States and abroad. He is a graduate of Columbia University, Harvard Medical School, and the Kennedy School, and is also a physician and cellist.

The conference is being expanded to a two-day format this year, including sessions at Wichita State University on day one, followed by an open house at the Kansas Leadership Center offices. Day two will feature Heifetz and other speakers.

Updated information about the conference will be available soon - watch The Tuesday Letter or access the professional development catalog for more information. --Robert Wilson rmwilson@k-state  and Ron Wilson rwilson@ksu.edu

KANSAS TO HOST NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION CONFERENCE
The interest and need for environmental education has been growing in recent years. Effective environmental education does not advocate any particular viewpoint on environmental issues. Rather, environmental education promotes a full understanding of environmental issues through educational processes that enhance critical thinking, problem solving, and effective decision making.

Extension educators will have an excellent opportunity to learn more about incorporating environmental education into their programming at the 37th Annual Conference of the North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE), October 15-18, 2008 in Wichita.

Two tracks of conference sessions will be of special interest to Extension educators:

1) Conservation Education — sessions focusing on connecting people to the land by providing them with the tools they need to take informed actions related to sustaining natural and cultural resources.

2) Food, Agriculture, and Environmental Education — sessions focusing on building awareness, knowledge, and skills about how food, agriculture, and environmental issues impact personal and environmental health.

Other conference highlights include a field trip to learn more about "green" rebuilding efforts in Greensburg, a panel discussion about farm to school programs, and workshops on service learning and planning special events and festivals for conservation. Participants can also learn more about an exciting array of environmental education programs, curricula, and other resources that they can take home to use with youth and adult audiences.

NAAEE offers a variety of affordable registration options, including single-day registration. More information about the conference and online registration can be found at www.naaee.org/conference . --Robert Wilson rmwilson@k-state.edu

BOOKLET OFFERS WAYS TO HELP FRIENDS WITH CANCER
It's hard to know what to do or say when a friend is diagnosed with cancer. You know you shouldn't act any differently, but you're at a loss. A group of local cancer survivors and health professionals has created a booklet of ideas to help.

When A Friend Has Cancer, created by the Cancer Resource Network of Manhattan, offers ways to help and show love and concern for friends facing cancer or other life-threatening illnesses.

"Some of us have been on both sides of cancer, as patients and caregivers, and people ask us for advice," said Mardi Denell, a cancer survivor and wife of a cancer survivor.

"A couple of us were able to use our nursing experience with cancer patients and their families to give some ideas," said Beth Wilcox, a registered nurse at Mercy Regional Health Center.

The booklet's three main sections on emotional support, practical help, and gift ideas include insight on patients' emotional and physical circumstances that friends might not be aware of.

It stresses that specific offers of help, such as caring for a pet, transporting children, or organizing medical documents or meal deliveries, are easier to accept than are vague, general offers to help.

"We wanted to make a beautiful piece that people could keep and turn to whenever the time came, as it does for all of us sometime," said Janet Kiser, a retired registered nurse and a cancer survivor.

The award-winning design was donated by New Boston Creative Group, Manhattan. The full-color booklet unfolds accordion-style and can be read from either end.

The printing costs were donated by K-State's Johnson Center for Basic Cancer Research, which also distributes the booklet. When A Friend Has Cancer is available for free by contacting the center at 785-532-6705 or www.k-state.edu/cancer.center . Charges may apply for large shipments. Some doctors' offices, pharmacies, churches and greeting card shops also stock the booklet.