Vol. 15, No. 22  April 7, 2009

IN THIS ISSUE... 

...Word from the Associate Director - Extension and Applied Research
...Thank You from Dana Belshe
...2009-2010 Study Topics
...State Extension Advisory - May 2 - McPherson
...Scholarships, Friend of Extension FCS and First Timers Stipend Due May 1
...American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Funding Opportunity for Innovative Green Infrastructure Projects
...PRIDE Program Community Development Focus Groups Scheduled
...Kansas Gold Books Available for County Fair Bread Winners
...March Extension Agent Personnel Changes
...Master Schedule

                                                                                                           ...Tuesday Letter Archives

WORD FROM THE ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR - EXTENSION AND APPLIED RESEARCH
Communication is more important than ever. We are all looking at ways to reduce our spending to balance budgets and still provide the vital communication to clientele. In fact, I believe communications is even more important when under fiscal pressure.

I visited recently with Greg LeValley, Coordinator for Duplicating in Communications. He relayed several conversations he had been having with many of you as you look for ways to reduce costs and yet continue to provide the vital communications used through your newsletters and other print media.

I recognize your local newsletters and other communications vehicles are great ways to spread the word about programs, as well as help people understand the value of your work. While your office is probably challenged by the cuts in postage, I encourage you to think about new ways to deliver that newsletter.

Several local Extension units are working to deliver newsletters via e-mail. Others are working with the local paper to include the newsletter with it. You might also think about other great locations for your newsletters that don't require it to go through the postal service including: physician's offices; quick shops; hardware stores; feed, seed and fertilizer dealers; garden centers; cafes, and any other offices, shops, or locations where the public spends time. These are just a few ideas. Additionally, never forget about those potential donors who might provide the financial support to see that every family received the 4-H newsletter. And, remember that such donations to the Extension Council or 4-H Council are tax deductible.

I encourage you to do a little brainstorming and come up with ways you can continue to effectively reach your audiences with the vital information in your newsletters. Who knows, you might even find a larger circulation than you had with the mailing list.

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

THANK YOU FROM DANA BELSHE
Laural and I really appreciate all the thoughts, prayers, cards and memorial gifts in memory of my Mother. The thoughtfulness of our Extension friends is comforting. Thank you for being there for us. --Dana Belshe dbelshe@ksu.edu 

2009-2010 STUDY TOPICS
The 4-H FCS Action team identifies the educational materials the State 4-H FCS Contest will be based from a year in advance. This allows 4-H leaders to provide project lessons from the areas in which the state contest will be built throughout the year. With the tighter economy, the team has gone ahead and built the list for 2009 and 2010 to help counties order these educational materials from this quarter’s publication list due April 15th. If you have questions, please call Berny Unruh or me.

Following is the list of National 4-H (CCS) publications that will be used in the 2009-2010 FCS Study Topics:

Intermediates:

The Consumer in Me, Level I – 4H884
Staying Healthy, Level 2 – 4H919
Micro Magicians, Level B – 4H895
Bag of Tricks, Level A – 4H894

Seniors:

Consumer Savvy, Helper’s Guide – 4H887
Keeping Fit, Level III – 4H920
Consumer Roadmap, Level 3 – 4H886
Amazing Rays, Level C – 4H896
Presto Meals, Level D – 4H897

--Carol Fink cfink@ksu.edu

STATE 4-H ADVISORY - MAY 2 - McPHERSON
The spring meeting of the advisory will be Saturday, May 2, 9:30 – 2:00 at the McPherson County Extension Office. Agenda items should be sent to your area 4-H representative or to Jodi Besthorn at Besthorn@ksu.edu by April 20. --Jodi Besthorn

May 18 at 10:00 a.m. in Stockton;
May 19 at 10:00 a.m. in Stafford;
May 19 at 6:30 p.m. in Potwin; and
May 20 at 4:00 p.m. in Onaga.

Each session will last 90 minutes and you can pick the location most convenient for you. The Kansas PRIDE program will be 40 years old in 2010 and these focus groups will help us prepare for the next 40 years. It is important that your voice be heard. PRIDE is local people addressing local issues at the local level and the Extension agent is the local connection for K-State Research and Extension. Extension agents are encouraged to carpool with the leaders from their PRIDE communities to attend these groups.

A facilitator will be meeting with the local PRIDE volunteers and Trudy Rice will be meeting with the agents. The purpose is to find out what is working in the PRIDE program and identify opportunities for improvement in Extension Community Development PRIDE programming.

For more information or to make reservations please contact Trudy Rice at trice@ksu.edu or the Kansas PRIDE office at 785 532 5840. --Trudy Rice

KANSAS GOLD BOOKS AVAILABLE FOR COUNTY FAIR BREAD WINNERS
The Kansas Wheat Commission will again provide two copies per county of the Kansas Gold book for county fair bread winners. Please make arrangements to pick these books up at their office - Kansas Wheat Office, 217 Southwind Place, Manhattan, KS; Phone: 785-539-0255. --Steven Graham sgraham@k-state.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.

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