Tuesday Letter

The Tuesday Letter
Agricultural Experiment Station & Cooperative Extension Service

Vol. 15, No. 38 July 28, 2009

IN THIS ISSUE...

...Word from the Associate Director - Extension and Applied Research
...KSRE to Launch "Wellstream" Online Personal Health Assessment
...MiTTNet Launches July 30; National Web Conference Through eXtension
...Diversity Programs Office Update
...Youth Leadership Forum Workshop Presenters Needed
...Growing Growers Training Program
...Epsilon Sigma Phi Alpha Rho Awards
...Epsilon Sigma Phi Alpha Rho Travel Study Grant
...How to Supervise People Seminars
...Communications Minute: Print and Electronic Newsletters
...KSRE Master Calendar

...Tuesday Letter Archives

WORD FROM THE ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR - EXTENSION AND APPLIED RESEARCH
I posted much of the following message about 3 weeks ago, and have realized it might be worth re-running. I'll make 5 key points with respect to development of Action Plans by Extension faculty:

1) Where to find the State/Team Action Plans.

2) Where the on-line system is for posting action plans.

3) Target of 2 or 3 action plans for your focused work.

4) Teamwork!

5) County/District Action Plans are due for approval by your administrative supervisor / Board on or before October 1, 2009.

Program Focus Teams and subcommittees have been actively developing, writing, and posting action plans to the web since the Spring Action Conference for all Extension faculty. These action plans are to assist Extension agents in development of their local plans. To view these plans, go to Employee Resources website. Click on Program Development and Reporting link on the left side of the page. Then you will see in the center of that page the Strategic Opportunities and Team Action Plans link. Click it, and you will find a listing of state/team action plans within each of the strategic opportunities for K-State Research and Extension.

If you have other questions about writing action plans, several other resources are available through that Program Development and Reporting WebSite .

Action plans can be posted, reviewed, edited, and submitted through the Action Plan System . Instructions are given within that system.

Remember, to focus your action plans towards two or three major educational initiatives you plan to advance within your local unit in 2010 and beyond. They should be high priority, and something you are intending on devoting considerable time and energy. Recognize that they aren't going to represent all you do. Instead, they represent that special focus and attention to certain initiatives that you'd want to talk about with stakeholders.

Teamwork should always be a priority. As appropriate, working together within your local unit, and across unit boundaries is welcome and encouraged. Such teamwork can be easily documented within an action plan.

Most all team action plans are posted. If you find something missing that you thought should be there from a Program Focus Team, communicate with the leadership of that team to determine the status of that action plan.

I bring you all this information on behalf of the Extension Administrative Team. If you have specific questions, don't hesitate to contact Paula Peters, Pat Murphy, Pat McNally, and Marie Blythe for further information. --Daryl Buchholz dbuchhol@ksu.edu

KSRE TO LAUNCH "WELLSTREAM" ONLINE PERSONAL HEALTH ASSESSMENT
K-State Research and Extension will officially launch "Wellstream," a Personal Health Assessment, on Monday, August 3. Any regular part time, reduced full time or full time employee of KSRE can participate. There is no cost to you for the assessment and the process is completely confidential.

Later this week, you will receive a message with an attached document explaining the process. On Monday, August 3, you will receive a message from WELCOA with the subject "Welcome to Wellstream PHA" which will include instructions for completing the survey online, including your unique identifying number (username) and password.

If you are eligible to participate and do not receive the messages mentioned above, please contact Sharolyn Jackson, sharolyn@ksu.edu , or Penny Adams, padams@ksu.edu . We will make sure you are added to the listserve. Please check with co-workers to make sure they receive these messages as well.

The KSRE Worksite Wellness Leadership Team is excited to launch this initiative to help get you the information about your well-being that you need to live a healthier, happier life. --Sharolyn Jackson sharolyn@ksu.edu

MiTTNet LAUNCHES JULY 30; NATIONAL WEB CONFERENCE THROUGH eXtension
You may have seen this message from different sources in the last 24 hours. I want to emphasize this opportunity, as it comes through our National Extension network and a team effort of USDA, Extension Committee on Organization and Policy (ECOP, that's the national leadership for Extension), and Extension specialists across the system who are working in the areas of financial resource management for individual, family, farm and ranch, community, and business content areas. The training and resource materials are coming together from among the best in our Extension network. The system message follows. I hope several of you will take the opportunity to participate in this critical issue and need for our clientele. --Daryl Buchholz dbuchhol@ksu.edu

Colleagues:
With economic challenges facing Americans every day, the Cooperative Extension System is providing a new source of relevant, community-based educational programs from across the nation to complement what is available at http://www.extension.org and in every state.

The ECOP Programs Sub-Committee is pleased to announce the launch of MiTTNet (Managing in Tough Times Network), a directory of existing educational programs and materials relevant to managing in these difficult times. The directory will be available through eXtension for use by Extension educators across the country. MiTTNet includes content for individual and family financial and stress management, farm and ranch financial and risk management, community economic development, and youth stress management and positive actions.

Based on these categories, the most critical issues now facing Extension clients were identified and existing, high-quality Extension resources to address them were sought and added. The directory provides easy access to materials Extension educators can download and use, saving them time and resources while accelerating the Extension response to clients. Embedded evaluation tools will help gauge the effectiveness of this model and help us perfect the process as we address this and future issues.

A national web conference to launch MiTTNet and to introduce this directory to Extension professionals will be held on Thursday, July 30, at 1 p.m. EASTERN, Noon CENTRAL, 11 a.m. MOUNTAIN, and 10 a.m. PACIFIC. The web address for the conference is: http://connect.extension.iastate.edu/teammeeting/ .

* No registration is necessary.
* Five (5) minutes before the announced time of a session, go to the URL listed above.
* Enter as a Guest.
* When prompted, enter your name followed by your institution. (ex: Mary Smith, Penn State)
* Due to the large turnout anticipated only the presenters will have telephone connections. You will be able to ask questions via the Connect chat function.
* We will record this session so if you cannot attend the recording will be available for viewing at another time.

Moderators for the web conference will be Lyla Houglum, Director of Special Initiatives and Western Region Extension Executive Director; and Jane Schuchardt, National Program Leader, Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service, USDA. Individuals representing each of the four programmatic areas will offer features of content included in the directory. A demonstration of how to use the directory will also be featured.

To learn more about "Managing in Tough Times" contact Lyla Houglum at lyla.houglum@oregonstate.edu , Jane Schuchardt at jschuchardt@csrees.usda.gov , or Tom Coon, ECOP Programs Sub-Committee and Michigan State University Extension Director, coontg@msu.edu . --Terry Meisenbach, Communications & Marketing, eXtension tmeisenbach@extension.org

DIVERSITY PROGRAMS OFFICE UPDATE
Over the last two months the Diversity Programs Office has welcomed students in the Multicultural Academic Program Success (MAPS) program and the KSRE Multicultural Undergraduate and Graduate Research Fellowship to the Kansas State campus.

The MAPS students are incoming freshman students who are preparing for the academic rigors necessary to be a successful student by taking summer classes, attending program events and completing research about Biofuels. The participants presented their completed research to an audience which included President Kirk Schluz. The program will draw to a close this Thursday evening with a Closing Ceremony in the International Grains Program Conference Center at 6:30 pm. We would like to invite anyone interested in meeting the students to attend. At present we have Cargill Representatives, University officials and community individuals confirmed as attending.

The KSRE Multicultural Research Fellows will also be wrapping up their visit to K-State this week by giving individual presentations of their summer including their completed research. The presentations will be held Thursday, July 30, at 1:30 pm in Waters Hall Room 137. If you would like to attend we ask that you please RSVP to Dr. Zelia Wiley at zwh@ksu.edu or by phone at 785-532-5793.

If you would like more information on these programs or their activities for the week, please do not hesitate to contact your Diversity Programs Office at 532-5793. --Zelia Wiley

YOUTH LEADERSHIP FORUM WORKSHOP PRESENTERS NEEDED
The 2009 Kansas Youth Leadership Forum will be held at Rock Springs 4-H Center in November. Teens, ages 14-18, are the audience.

Currently we are recruiting one hour workshop presenters for Saturday, November 21, 2009 at 8:30 a.m., 2:15 p.m., and/or 3:45 p.m. Workshops should focus on some aspect of leadership.

Proposals are due to the State 4-H Office on August 1. A letter with details and a proposal form can be found on the 4- H website, http://www.kansas4h.org/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabid=48 . Please contact Beth Hinshaw with questions, bhinshaw@ksu.edu . --Beth Hinshaw

GROWING GROWERS TRAINING PROGRAM
Monday, August 10, 2009
4 - 7 p.m., Lawrence, Kansas
Growing Growers Workshop and Farm tour
Topic: Taste and Nutrition of Local Foods
For more information call 816-805-0362 or go to: http://www.growinggrowers.org/WorkshopInfo/Taste%20and%20Nutritionflyer.doc . --Laura Christensen growers@ksu.edu

EPSILON SIGMA PHI ALPHA RHO AWARDS
Applications due August 15, 2009
The Epsilon Sigma Phi - Alpha Rho Chapter is seeking applications for the 2009 chapter awards. Kansas extension professionals are extremely talented and should have their skills and programs acknowledged at the state and national levels. I encourage ESP members to apply or nominate your colleagues, administrators, or mentors for one of the following awards:

Distinguished Service
Distinguished Team
Early Career
Mid Career
International Service
Retiree Service
Friend of Extension
Horizon- County (2); Area (1); State (1)
Meritorious Service- County (2); Area (1); State (1)

Application process for awards may be downloaded at http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/esp-AlphaRho/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabid=11 .

Applications for awards are due August 15, 2009. Applications should be sent electronically to M. Gayle Price, awards committee chair, Southeast Area Office, gprice@ksu.edu . If you have questions, please contact me at 620-431-1530. --Gayle Price

EPSILON SIGMA PHI ALPHA RHO TRAVEL STUDY GRANT
Applications due August 15, 2009.
ESP members considering a professional development travel opportunity this year, may apply for a travel study grant to help meet your goal. Grant funds in the amount of $1,090 have been set aside this year to be used for international travel, attendance at a professional meeting, or another opportunity related to your professional development. Depending on the applications, the amount may be divided among more than one applicant.

The application form for the Travel Study Grant can be found in the "forms" section of the Alpha Rho ESP website at http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/esp-AlphaRho/DesktopDefault.aspx . Applications are due August 15, 2009, and may be sent electronically to Fran Richmond, Professionalism Committee Chair, frichmon@ksu.edu . If you have questions, please contact Fran at the Osage County Extension Office, 785 828-4438. --Fran Richmond

HOW TO SUPERVISE PEOPLE SEMINARS
"How to Supervise People" is the topic of some upcoming events sponsor by Fred Pryor Seminars. Those in attendance will learn about hiring new employees, delegating responsibilities, delivering discipline, building a workplace team, motivating and praising and many other topics.

The workshops will be held in the following cities:

October 13 - Wichita, Event #88934
October 14 - Topeka, Event #88935
October 15 - Overland Park, Event # 88936
October 16 - Springfield MO, Event #88939
October 20 - Kansas City, Event #88930
November 19 - Denver, Event # 89762

For additional details on these seminars and others go to www.pryor.com . Use the Event # listed above to search the website. --Stacey M. Warner swarner@ksu.edu

COMMUNICATIONS MINUTE: PRINT AND ELECTRONIC NEWSLETTERS
In a telephone survey conducted for K-State Research and Extension in mid-2007, 4 in 5 Kansans interviewed said they consider newsletters to be "effective" or "very effective" ways for them to receive information from our organization.

Print newsletters are still affordable. The KSRE print shop also has pre-prints that can help counties maintain a professional look. For information, contact Greg LeValley at 785-532-1158.

In some cases, electronic versions may be preferred by your target audience or demographic.

Regardless of which version you are using, here are some tips to help you effectively communicate with your target audience:

Write short articles. People want to get the message and get on to other items. And, write in short sentences because it's much easier to read on paper and screen.
Use pictures. It's still true: A picture is worth a thousand words!
Keep your information updated. Related, plan ahead 2-3 months; for readers, there's nothing more frustrating than finding out an event is happening in a few days when you've already got something
scheduled.
Adhere to deadlines. Plan to release the newsletter on a regular schedule so that people know when it's coming. Over time, they'll expect it.
Maintain the same format in every issue. You are "branding" your look and feel with the format. People recognize this and will associate your newsletter with you.
And, create awareness of the organization by using the correct
logos for KSRE and your office.

--Pat Melgares melgares@ksu.edu

KSRE MASTER CALENDAR
Go to: http://www.ksre.ksu.edu/MasterCalendar

It is Fair Season! So be sure to check out the Master Calendar for fairs and related events. Select "Upcoming Events" to review events and professional development offerings for the next two weeks.

Make sure that your events are listed and correct. Dates can easily be added from the "submit event" tab. You can edit events that you have submitted; it is your responsibility to maintain your entries. To correct previously submitted items, contact Marie Blythe.

Note: Professional Development entries are automatically added to the new Master Calendar system and do not require separate/duplicate entry! --Marie Blythe mblythe@ksu.edu

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