Vol. 15, No. 24  April 21, 2009

IN THIS ISSUE... 

...Word from the Associate Director - Extension and Applied Research
...Employee Self Service
...Graduate Scholarship Available to Extension Agents
...Informational Sessions on Forming a District Scheduled in Southwest Kansas
..."4th Friday Youth Development Conversation: Youth and Electronic Networking"
...Updated Fiscal Conditions & Trends Reports Now Available
...21st Annual Kansas Economic Development Conference
...Communication Minute: Saving Money on Print Newsletters
...Master Schedule

                                                                                           ...Tuesday Letter Archives

WORD FROM THE ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR - EXTENSION AND APPLIED RESEARCH
If you are interested in seeing what outcomes the Extension administrative team has envisioned for the KSRE Extension educational program planning process, you can go to the KSRE Action Plan website and take a look at the logic model entitled Planning Strong Extension Programs. That logic model is a work in progress as a result of the input received through dialog with Extension agents and specialists and the Spring Action Conference process.

The issue, as I have envisioned it, is that Extension educational planning is a dynamic action step that requires engaged teams of specialists and agents with a shared interest in addressing a common set of clientele-based issues, needs, and interests. A dialog on those issues must lead to an agreement of the programming team on the clientele desired outcomes if those issues, needs, and interests are addressed. Then, the team can construct an educational plan that identifies all appropriate educational steps, strategies, and resources to help the target clientele move towards the desired outcomes. It is the team and its personal ownership to the plan that becomes critical to the ultimate success of any educational plan.

I hope you will note that a very important outcome is in the on-going work of the programming teams that were initiated at Spring Action Conference. In order to communicate the work of the program teams, a series of action plans posted within the KSRE Action Plan website are necessary. Those "team plans" then become valuable to everyone within the system as Extension agents work with their PDCs and local Boards in setting priorities for strong local, focused educational programs for the coming year.

I am certain there will be additional programming teams that will want to organize, and you need to know that the Extension Administrative team is working so that we can provide the appropriate support to these self-directed program teams. Have a great week! -Daryl Buchholz dbuchhol@ksu.edu

EMPLOYEE SELF SERVICE
K-State employees may now update their home address, phone numbers, emergency contacts, marital status and ethnic group in HRIS Employee Self Service.

This new functionality empowers K-State employees to have direct ownership of their personal data in the Human Resource Information System and less reliance on HR and department staff. After an employee updates his or her personal information, the change will become effective immediately or on the date specified and will automatically flow to other pages in HRIS. Also, an e-mail will be sent to the employee and to the department personnel specialist after updating an address to confirm the change.

Personal Information Summary Instructions:
http://www.k-state.edu/hr/selfserv.htm
Path: Employee Self Service > Personal Data > Personal Information Summary

Questions may be directed to the Division of Human Resources at hr@ksu.edu  or 785-532-6277. --Division of Human Resources

GRADUATE SCHOLARSHIP AVAILABLE TO EXTENSION AGENTS
I want to remind any Extension Agents who will be enrolled in graduate study at K-State in Fall 2009 that the Kansas State University - Paul W. Griffith Memorial Scholarship is available.

Following are some specifics:

Amount: $500 tuition assistance (must be approved by Area Extension Directors)

Deadline: May 15

Purpose: For assistance to outstanding educators pursuing graduate study (either on campus or via distance education) at Kansas State University.

Criteria: Extension agent pursuing an advanced degree at Kansas State University.

Criteria to be considered in ranking competing applications:

1. Program of study leading to advanced degree has been developed.
2. Sabbatical leave has been approved.
3. If not on Sabbatic, enrolled in a multi-course program where at least two or more courses are being taken at the same time.
4. Other tuition assistance programs are not covering the cost.
5. Has not previously been awarded the Griffith Scholarship.

Contact: Send letter of interest and supporting materials to address the above criteria to:

Dr. Daryl Buchholz
Associate Director for Extension and Applied Research
K-State Research and Extension
123 Umberger Hall
Manhattan, KS 66506-3401
Phone: 785-532-5820

Further financial assistance information can be found in the Professional Development website under Educational Assistance. --Daryl Buchholz dbuchhol@ksu.edu

INFORMATIONAL SESSIONS ON FORMING A DISTRICT SCHEDULED IN SOUTHWEST KANSAS
Informational meetings for Extension agents on forming a Extension District are scheduled for May 14 in Southwest Kansas. The first session will be at the Southwest Research Extension Center from 9:30 to noon. The second session will be at the Haskell County Extension Office from 2:00 to 4:30 p.m. Those attending will have the opportunity for information sharing, questions and answers, and dialog with Paul Hartman, Jim Lindquist and Daryl Buchholz.

These are opening meetings for any Extension Agents statewide who wish to attend. Extension specialists who are interested in further understanding of the Districting process and staffing models for improved Extension educational delivery are welcome to attend. Contact Paul Hartman, phartman@ksu.edu  if you plan to attend. --Daryl Buchholz dbuchhol@ksu.edu

UPDATED FISCAL CONDITIONS & TRENDS REPORTS NOW AVAILABLE

The Office of Local Government is pleased to announce the release of the tenth annual county Fiscal Conditions and Trends reports. Reports are available for each Kansas county and contain detailed revenue and expenditure information drawn from county budget documents. The reports are designed to aid county commissioners as they complete the budget planning process but may be of interest to anyone concerned with county government finance.

Copies of the report are now being distributed to each county’s extension office and clerk or administrator. Additional print copies are available in limited quantities. Reports are also available for download at www.oznet.ksu.edu/olg .

For additional information, contact the Office of Local Government at 785-532-2643. --John Leatherman jleather@agecon.ksu.edu , Katie Morris katielea@agecon.ksu.edu

ECONOMIC GARDENING: GROWING LOCAL OPPORTUNITY - MAY 20-21, 2009 

Registration is now available for the 2009 Kansas Economic Development conference at http://www.ipsr.ku.edu/conferen/kcced/2009 . Registration is $50 for the two-day event with an additional $50 exhibitor fee for the May 20 evening networking reception.

Chris Gibbons, Director of Business/Industry Affairs in Littleton, Colorado and co-inventor of “Economic Gardening,” an entrepreneurial approach to economic development, will deliver the opening address. Darcy McGrath, Dean of Workforce Development Operations with Johnson County Community College, will welcome the participants. Burt Chojnowski, with Fairfield (IA) Entrepreneurs Association, will talk about how to turn your whole town into an incubator.

The two-day event will also include concurrent sessions on “New Industries: Digital, Clean, and Green Technology,” “Broadband: Making a Difference in Rural Kansas,” “Capacity for Growth: Creating and Building Wealth,” “Creating, Sustaining, and Attracting a Workforce,” and “How to Capitalize on Renewable Energy Manufacturing Opportunities.”  The conference will close with Dr. Vincent Amanor-Boadu from Kansas State University talking about “Strategic Thinking for Economic and Community Development during Uncertainty.” --Dan Kahl dankahl@ksu.edu

COMMUNICATION MINUTE: SAVING MONEY ON PRINT NEWSLETTERS
The print newsletter continues to be an effective communication piece for local offices. The good news is that local offices should still be able to provide a quality print newsletter within budget. Here are some money-saving tips:

* Look for creative ways to distribute your newsletter. Save postage costs by putting the newsletter in racks at the local supermarket, café, hardware store, Co-op, or other public area.

* Use K-State Research and Extension's print shop to produce your newsletter. Because of quantity pricing, the Duplicating Center can produce your newsletter for less, and local offices don't have to pay the lease cost, copy charge and supplies for your own machine.

The Duplicating Center also is looking into the feasibility of providing distribution racks to counties at no charge. Learn more about the Duplicating Center's services by visiting www.communications.ksu.edu , or call Greg LeValley at 785-532-1158. --Greg LeValley glevalle@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.