Vol. 15, No. 32  June 16, 2009

IN THIS ISSUE... 

...Word from the Associate Director - Extension and Applied Research
...Interviews for Pesticide Safety and Integrated Pest Management Coordinator
...2009 Kansas 4-H and FFA State Wheat Show in McPherson
...2010 Kansas 4-H and FFA Wheat Variety Plot Enrollment
...Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Improvements
...Young People Needed for Kansas DropINs Youth Council
...Kansas Rural Health Works Seeking Community Applications
...Communication Minute: Branding K-State Research and Extension
...KSRE Master Calendar
                                                                                          

                                                                                                ...Tuesday Letter Archives

WORD FROM THE ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR - EXTENSION AND APPLIED RESEARCH
In last week's Tuesday Letter the announcement was made for nominations for several recognition awards within K-State Research and Extension. Be mindful that this is a great opportunity for a colleague or co-worker to gain special recognition for excellence in their work. It depends on YOU to see that person is nominated. Please take the time to nominate. Know that such an action will speak volumes to the individual you are nominating! If you are not sure of the recognition categories, check out the Award Nominations Web Site  within the KSRE Employee Resources Web Site .

And, following are a couple quotes that I enjoy from Eleanor Roosevelt:

(Don't for a minute believe that anyone can, or should operate in the "great mind" mode all the time. I just like this quote because it reminds me of the triviality of gossip, which by definition is talking about people.)

(Wouldn't the world be better if we all operated with this ethic?)

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

INTERVIEWS FOR PESTICIDE SAFETY AND INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT COORDINATOR
Two individuals will be interviewed on-campus this week for the position of Pesticide Safety and Integrated Pest Management Coordinator. This position oversees two very important federally funded programs in KSRE relevant to all of our stakeholders. The first candidate to interview will be David Jefferson on June 17, and the second will be Frannie Miller on June 19.

An intranet link to more information about the position and these two candidates, along with links to live streaming and recorded videos of their presentations, is as follows: http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/seminars/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabid=33 .

For further information about this position, or to participate directly in the interview process, please contact Tom Phillips in Entomology at 785-532-6154, or twp1@ksu.edu . --Tom Phillips

Resource information for the wheat variety project includes:  (1) Wheat Variety Plot Brochure, 4-H 565 Rev., April 2000, http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/library/4h_y2/samplers/4H565.asp ; (2) Wheat Variety Plot--Youth Participant Handbook, 4-H 566, Aug. 1996, http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/library/4h_y2/samplers/4H566.asp ; and (3) 4-H Wheat Variety Plot Record, P1099, http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/library/4h_y2/samplers/P1099.asp .

This year's participants who are getting ready to harvest their plots should be planning their county fair display for possible qualifying for the Kansas State Fair entry in the Showcase Building (new location in 2009).  For more information about these wheat programs, contact Deryl Waldren at 785-462-6281 or e-mail dwaldren@ksu.edu .  --Deryl Waldren

RENEWABLE ENERGY SYSTEMS AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY IMPROVEMENTS
Rural Business-Cooperative Service is accepting applications for fiscal year (FY) 2009 to purchase renewable energy systems and make energy efficiency improvements and to conduct feasibility studies for renewable energy systems for agriculture producers and rural small businesses in eligible rural areas. Funding will be available in the form of grants and loan guarantees. In addition to grants and loan guarantees, applicants may apply for combination loan guarantee and grant funding (combination package).

DATES: Complete applications under this Notice must be received by the appropriate USDA Rural Development State Office no later than 4:30 local time, July 31, 2009. Neither complete nor incomplete applications received after this date and time will be considered, regardless of the postmark on the application.

ADDRESSES: Application materials may be obtained by contacting one of Rural Development's Rural Energy Coordinators or by downloading through http://www.grants.gov . Submit electronic applications at http://www.grants.gov , following the instructions found on this Website. To use http://www.grants.gov , all applicants (unless the applicant is an individual) must have a Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number, which can be obtained at no cost via a toll-free request line at 1-866-705-5711 or online at http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform .

Submit completed paper applications to the Rural Development State Office in the State in which the applicant's proposed project is located. Rural Development Rural Energy Coordinator in Kansas is:
David Kramer, USDA Rural Development, 1303 SW First American Place, Suite 100, Topeka, KS 66604-4040, 785-271-2744, david.kramer@ks.usda.gov . --Steven M. Graham sgraham@k-state.edu

The Kansas DropINs Youth Council provides Kansas youth (ages 12-21) a voice in the dropout prevention discussion. The Council is composed of 16 youth who represent eight regions of the state.

Applications to be selected as a Kansas DropINS Youth Council delegate are being accepted up to June 30. Selected delegates will meet on August 8 in Junction City for training, will help plan regional pre and post-summit regional meetings and will help the state team conduct the Kansas Dropout Summit on October 20 in Wichita.

For more information about Kansas DropINS Youth Council, to apply or to learn more about the October 20 Dropout Summit, contact Jessica Noble, KDHE-DropINS Coordinator, 785-296-1521, jnoble@kdheks.gov ; or Elaine Johannes; 785-532-7720, ejohanne@ksu.edu . --Elaine Johannes

KANSAS RURAL HEALTH WORKS SEEKING COMMUNITY APPLICATIONS
The Kansas Rural Health Works program is soliciting proposals from communities interested in the next round of Community Engagement outreach programs. The Community Engagement Process provides a way in which community members can evaluate their health care system through the analysis of information reports. The process is community-driven with input from health care providers. It helps the community identify, brainstorm and solve problems related to the health care sector. As a result, the process leads to the increased use and expansion of the local health care sector, ensuring its existence in the future.

As part of the Community Engagement Process, communities will receive four information reports: Health Services Economic Impact Report; Comprehensive Community Health Services Directory; Local Health Data and Information Briefs; and a Community Survey of Local Health Needs and Usage. Through the examination of the information generated, health-related issues emerge. At program culmination, program participants identify action strategies to address locally-determined priorities.

Participation in the program is through competitive application. Communities must demonstrate their commitment and preparedness to make the most of the opportunity. The program is valued at $20,000 per community, but there is no cost to the communities selected. Typically, only two communities are selected in each round of outreach.

The Kansas Rural Health Works program is a collaborative effort of the Kansas Rural Health Options Project in partnership with the Office of Local Government, K-State Research and Extension. Support for Kansas Rural Health Works is provided by the Office of Rural Health Policy through the Kansas Rural Health Options Project. To learn more about the program, visit the Kansas Rural Health Works Website at www.krhw.net , or contact Dr. John Leatherman, 785-532-4492, jleather@ksu.edu . --John Leatherman

COMMUNICATION MINUTE: BRANDING K-STATE RESEARCH AND EXTENSION
This week's tip focuses on branding, and we start with a multiple-choice question.

The K-State Research and Extension brand is focused around:
a. Our logo
b. Our slogan
c. Our mission
d. A valued promise we make to our target audiences.

K-State Research and Extension has built brand equity over many years, based on providing value to people of Kansas. Regardless of the county in which they live, Kansas citizens have come to expect a certain level of service from our faculty and staff.

As an organization, we "promise" to deliver services that are valuable to Kansans. So, if you chose "d" above, you are right.

Branding is about making and keeping promises with customers. Nothing more. Nothing less. And everyone in the organization contributes to the brand by how well they represent the qualities that are important to the K-State Research and Extension brand.

Some of the valued promises K-State Research and Extension makes is to be practical, unbiased, trustworthy, knowledgeable and focused on customers.

You'll be hearing more about branding in the months to come. At this Fall's annual conference, the Department of Communications will be introducing a branding guide along with the newest version of an organizational style guide. --Pat Melgares melgares@ksu.edu