Vol. 15, No. 2  November 11, 2008

IN THIS ISSUE... 

...Word from the Associate Director - Extension and Applied Research
...Lunch & Learn
...Kansas 4-H Portfolio Premiers: Introduction to the KAP
...Photographs from the Awards Lunch
...State 4-H Program Rally
...Strengthening Clubs 1 and 2 Planned for December
...Common Landowners' Questions on Wind Lease Contracts: Developing New Tools for Landowners
...Orientation for New Extension Council Board Members
...Distribution Center Offers Flat-Rate, Trackable Express Mail Shipping for $16.50
...Bulk Mail Labeling Available
...Distribution Services Limited in December
...Publications Always Available
...KELP Accepting Applications for 2009 Class
...2nd Kansas Natural Resources Conference - January 29-30, 2009
...4-H Day with Wildcat Women's Basketball
...K-State News Delivered to Your E-mail
...Master Schedule

                                                                                                           ...Tuesday Letter Archives

WORD FROM THE ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR - EXTENSION AND APPLIED RESEARCH
In today's world of accountability, we have no choice but to communicate IMPACTS to all decision makers. Communicating IMPACTS is everyone's job. A need exists for continuously improving on IMPACT communications. A lack of clarity with what constitutes IMPACT will likely always exist. My thanks to everyone throughout the system for entering accomplishment/impact reports into the new reporting system. Today I want to focus on COMMUNICATING impact, which tends to be as much verbal to boards, stakeholders, and clientele, as it is to putting it into the reporting system.

First off, an IMPACT communication should focus on the participants. In simplest terms, after telling about the events and activities that took place, you add a statement that answers the "so what?".

In this example, IMPACT is a change in knowledge. The youth are more knowledgeable on facilitation techniques and on laws of leadership. Other examples of short term IMPACT include creating awareness, skills, aspirations, and motivation. More complex forms of IMPACT come through longer term programs that are expected to create changes in behaviors, practices, decision making, policies, or social change on the part of the participants.

In that same example, you might find another IMPACT. "As a result of attending the KYL Conference, four youth report they are now more interested and willing to take on community and school citizenship and leadership roles (motivation). Two youth have gained the confidence to organize a school event using the skills they learned at the conference (behavior)."

In communicating IMPACTS, one first has to think about what you are looking for from those participants in your event or program. When looking for "creating awareness," evidence comes through how many participated. Evidence of "knowledge gained" comes from asking them what they learned from the conference, event, or program. "Motivations" would come from asking the participants if there was anything they would like to try or to do differently as a result of having participated in this educational program.

All of those steps involve YOU first having determined what IMPACTS you might expect and then asking participants to give you feedback on those IMPACTS.

Another example might come from a conference on alternative cropping systems. What might be some questions you'd want participants to answer?

It is your responsibility as an Extension professional to determine and communicate IMPACT. Summarize what you learn and communicate it to your supervisor(s) as evidence of the value of the event or program.

If we are going to effectively market the quality of our work, we must focus our attention on IMPACT. We must be about educating stakeholders and decision makers on the real value and IMPACT of our work. And, the IMPACTS we communicate must be about the participants for whom the project or program was conducted.

Have a great week! --Daryl Buchholz dbuchhol@oznet.ksu.edu

LUNCH & LEARN
What is my kid doing on the computer? Come find out as we explore the world of social networking, from a tween and teen vantage. This 30 minute session will be held in Union 209, at 12:15 p.m., Wednesday, November 12. --Andrea Schmidt aschmidt@ksu.edu

Audience: Extension Agents, Program Assistants and Certified Master 4-H Volunteers (with 4-H Recognition Assignments only!)

When: November 19, 2008

Time: 9:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Place: Douglas County Extension Office
           2110 Harper
           Lawrence, KS

PHOTOGRAPHS FROM THE AWARDS LUNCH
Photographs from the awards lunch at the K-State Research and Extension Annual Conference are available for ordering. To view the photos, go to http://www.k-state.edu/ksrephoto/extawards08 . Contact Dan Donnert at ddonnert@ksu.edu  with the number of the photo you would like to order. Photos are $1.25 each. Invoices will be sent later. --Stacey M. Warner swarner@ksu.edu

The program will include Dr. Barbara Stone from National 4-H Council, workshops on 4-H livestock identification, working with PDC’s, technology, volunteer management  and more, updates on the Kansas 4-H Program, an opportunity to network with colleagues across the state and a celebration of Kansas 4-H Youth Development.

Find agendas, ordering information and registration information on the 4-H Online Registration system - http://www.kansas4-h.org/ . Registration should be made by November 17, 2008.  Beth Hinshaw bhinshaw@ksu.edu  and Melinda Daily mdaily@ksu.edu .

STRENGTHENING CLUBS 1 AND 2 PLANNED FOR DECEMBER
We will be offering Strengthening 4-H Clubs 1 and Strengthening Clubs 2 as a Pre 4-H Program Rally Professional Development opportunity on December 10 at Rock Springs 4-H Center. You need to have already participated in SC 1 to enroll in SC 2. Any staff member or Key Volunteer is welcome on SC 1. 

Registration for each workshop will begin at 9:00 a.m. and the workshop will begin at 9:30 a.m. Registration is available for either of these workshops through the 4-H Online Registration system. If it would be convenient for you to have an over night stay on the 9th, that is available as well. When you sign up for the SC1 or SC2 through the 4-H system, you will see this lodging option. 

If you have questions about SC1 contact Diane Mack, dmack@ksu.edu; or Beth Hinshaw, bhinshaw@ksu.edu . For questions about SC2, contact Pam Van Horn, pvanhorn@ksu.edu ; Deryl Waldren, dwaldren@ksu.edu ; or Rod Buchele rbuchele@ksu.edu . 

Registration is due on November 17.  --Beth Hinshaw bhinshaw@ksu.edu

COMMON LANDOWNERS' QUESTIONS ON WIND LEASE CONTRACTS: DEVELOPING NEW TOOLS FOR LANDOWNERS

To participate on November 21, from 11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. CST,  simply click on the following link or copy and paste it into your browser to enter the meeting: http://connect.extension.iastate.edu/nebraska/  . 

At the login page, click on “Click to Enter” under the “Enter as a Guest” heading. You will then be prompted for your name. Enter your name and click “Enter”. Session will be recorded for later access. --Dan Kahl dankahl@ksu.edu

ORIENTATION FOR NEW EXTENSION COUNCIL BOARD MEMBERS
County Extension Councils are in the process of selecting executive board members for the next year. As new board members are elected, consider scheduling an orientation for the new members prior to the January meeting. There is a Board Member Orientation module on the Board Leadership website. Go to www.oznet.ksu.edu/boardleadership . Click on Board Leadership modules. --Stacey M. Warner swarner@ksu.edu

New shipping forms will soon be available to provide customers with better tracking capability. See the Distribution Center staff for more information or review postal regulations at http://www.usps.com/prices/express-mail-prices.htm . --Nancy Zimmerli-Cates nancyz@ksu.edu

BULK MAIL LABELING AVAILABLE
Did you know that bulk mail processing and labeling services are available from the Distribution Unit in the Department of Communications?

Mailing costs can be wasted if your newsletters and other mail pieces don’t reach their destinations because of improper or outdated addresses. At an internal rate of just $12 per 100 names, your bulk mail will be processed and your labels checked against our database for addressing accuracy. Our affordable fee covers the cost of mail labeling equipment and software that maintains and updates an address verification component, as approved by the U.S. Postal Service. 

For more information about this service, contact Jane Gibbs in the K-State Research and Extension Distribution Center at 532-5830 or jgibbs@ksu.edu .

For more information about services from the Department of Communications, see http://www.communications.ksu.edu/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabid=488 . --Nancy Zimmerli-Cates nancyz@ksu.edu

DISTRIBUTION SERVICES LIMITED IN DECEMBER
Please plan ahead for upcoming holidays and service limitations. The Distribution Center publication fulfillment service will be closed for inventory and a software update from December 15 until January 5, 2009. No publication orders will be entered, filled, or shipped during that period.

Although staff will be available (except for university holiday closures) for shipping services, focus will be placed on annual inventory December 15 - 19. Staff members will be involved in database clean-up and training to use updated software December 22 - January 2. --Nancy Zimmerli-Cates nancyz@ksu.edu

Each publication in our inventory is listed on one of the four quarterly order forms sent each year. New and revised publications are listed on monthly order forms. And don't forget to check the Web for print-on-demand publications, which are shown on the library site, http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/library , and printed as needed, with print runs scheduled twice each week.

One caution: When ordering, we encourage clients to order enough copies of each publication to fill their office needs for the following year. Those orders allow us to compare the quantity in stock (if any) with the quantity needed, then print additional copies based on that need. If you order when the publication is NOT on a current order form, we may be out of stock and may not have printing scheduled in time to meet your needs. (In a pinch, you can get a PDF from the library site shown above.)

We are always ready to fill in-stock orders placed by e-mail, orderpub@lists.oznet.ksu.edu ; fax, 785-532-7938 ; or phone, 785-532-5830. If the item you need is unavailable, or if you need a large quantity for an upcoming event, please contact Nancy Zimmerli-Cates to discuss a special print run. Publications provided through such print runs require special handling and exceed the catalog price shown. We can provide an estimate for special runs. --Nancy Zimmerli-Cates nancyz@ksu.edu

KELP ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR 2009 CLASS
The Kansas Environmental Leadership Program (KELP) is accepting applications for the 2009 class. This will be the tenth class of this program that examines water issues on a state-wide basis and fosters leadership skills.

The KELP website offers a look at the activities and focus for each of the five sessions. The proposed 2009 schedule is as follows:

Session 1 - January 7-9, 2009, at Hays
Session 2 - March 11-13, 2009, at Topeka
Session 3 - May 6-8,2009, at Garden City
Session 4 - August 12-14, 2009, at Independence/Ft. Scott
Session 5 - Oct 28-30, 2009, at Hutchinson/Wichita

Sessions generally begin at or shortly before noon on Wednesday and end at or shortly before noon on Friday. With 18-20 contact hours each session, the days are long and filled with activities, field trips, speakers, and discussion. Academic credit or CEUs are available.

Tuition is $950, which covers costs for lodging (2/room), meals, materials, and field trips for all five sessions. Participants are responsible for their own transportation to and from each meeting place, and for arranging the time to attend without work obligations. Applications can be submitted online at http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/kelp/application.htm .

Questions can be addressed to Judy Willingham at 785-532-5813 or via e-mail, kelp@ksu.edu . --Judy Willingham

2ND KANSAS NATURAL RESOURCES CONFERENCE - JANUARY 29-30, 2009
On January 29-30, 2009, six professional societies and several other organizations that promote the wise use and management of Kansas' natural resources, are sponsoring the second Kansas Natural Resources Conference at the Airport Hilton in Wichita. The theme of the conference is "Renewable Energy-Renewable Resources." Early registration is open until January 8, 2009.

"The conference is unique," said Harold Klaege (e-mail hklaege@kaws.org ), chair of the tradeshow committee, "as it is the only conference where all of these professional natural resource specialists in Kansas get together and discuss natural resource issues. There is no better place for your organization to display your products or services. Professionals attending the conference can learn about your products or services and then in their normal contacts with Kansas landowners and operators suggest your product or services."

Conference brochure, registration form, concurrent session topics, tradeshow exhibiting information, committee chairs, and hotel information is available on the Internet at the Website, www.kansasnrc.com , or, contact Dan Meyerhoff, at 785-625-2588 or e-mail at KNRC@kaws.org . --Steven M. Graham sgraham@k-state.edu

4-H DAY WITH WILDCAT WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Families, Alumni, future 4-H members and 4-H enthusiasts are invited to attend the women’s basketball game on Saturday, January 17, when K-State takes on Iowa State. Tip off time is set for 2 p.m. Registration information is coming to extension offices this week.

Cost for each person to attend is $15. The registration fee includes a t-shirt, game ticket, hot dog and beverage. Kansas 4-H will be announced on the jumbotron during the game. Registration is due to the Meadowlark District Seneca office by December 19.

For more information contact Ann Religa, areliga@ksu.edu ; Andrea Schmidt, aschmidt@ksu.edu ; or Megan Cassidy, mcassidy@ksu.edu . --Andrea Schmidt

K-STATE NEWS DELIVERED TO YOUR E-MAIL
You can keep up with general happenings on the K-State campus via a daily e-mail release from the K-State Media Relations office. Topics include breaking news, cultural event notices, student recognition, science news, feature stories and more.

To get the daily e-mail news releases, go to http://www.k-state.edu/media/listserv.html . Please note that this is different news than you receive from the K-State Research and Extension News Unit. --Stacey M. Warner swarner@ksu.edu