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Agricultural Experiment Station & Cooperative Extension Service |
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Vol. 16, No. 3
November 17, 2009 ...Word from the
Associate Director - Extension and Applied Research WORD FROM THE
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR - EXTENSION AND APPLIED RESEARCH Excellence comes through a commitment to being the best you can be both in the subject area and development of the core competencies it takes to most effectively carry out the work as an educator, whether in the classroom or in the field. This Wednesday, November 18, Dr. Shannon Washburn, Associate Professor of Agriculture Education, will be presenting a special Excellence in Extension Seminar. I hope you will participate in this seminar, as it provides opportunity to inspire development of the core competency of information and educational delivery. You can read about the seminar later in this Tuesday Letter. In addition to information and educational delivery, Core competencies of an Extension Professional include such things as educational programming, engagement, community and social action processes, etc. To give yourself a refresher on all 11 competencies that when mastered should move you from being a good extension educator to a great one, click on the above hot link to professional development, and then click the link in the center of that page to core competencies. Think about those individuals within the Extension network who do truly great work, and think about how they have mastered certain core competencies. If you'd like help in finding training or opportunities to grow and develop your mastery of certain core competencies, talk with your administrative supervisor, and we will look for those types of learning opportunities within the Extension network in Kansas and beyond. Have a great week! - Daryl Buchholz dbuchhol@ksu.edu
ENGAGING
LEARNERS: EXCELLENCE IN EXTENSION SEMINAR Dr. Shannon Washburn, Associate Professor of Agricultural Education in the K-State Department of Communications, will present the seminar on "Engaging Learners with Effective Instructional Strategies." This interactive session will introduce you to educator-tested, research-based techniques that will help you more effectively deliver educational programming in a way that engages your audience. Participants should attend with an idea for an upcoming educational program that they can develop during the session. Dr. Washburn enjoys assisting educators in refining their educational approaches to maximize learning. A Kansas native, he was at the University of Florida for six years before returning to Kansas. During that time he facilitated numerous workshops on effective teaching with domestic and international Extension audiences. --Daryl Buchholz dbuchhol@ksu.edu KCARE INTERNAL FOCUS GROUP - TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 24 The following message went out to the system yesterday. If you are not able to participate next Tuesday, and would like to respond the the questions below, please feel free to do so at https://surveys.ksu.edu/TS?offeringId=152527 . We would prefer you sign your responses to the questions so that if we wanted to come back for further understanding or clarification you can provide it.
As you know, Dr. William Hargrove left us in August for a position
with the University of Texas at El Paso. Bill Hargrove had led the
Kansas Center for Agricultural Resources and the Environment (KCARE)
for a total of 12 years. Over that time, the influence and impact of
KCARE grew, expanded, and eventually encompassed many research and
extension activities on campus and across the state. Thanks. --Daryl Buchholz dbuchhol@ksu.edu and Ernie Minton eminton@ksu.edu
WEBINAR--UNDERSTANDING
WIND ENERGY LEASES Program Summary: Presenter: Dr. Shannon Ferrell will present this webinar. Dr. Ferrell is currently an assistant professor in the OSU Department of Agricultural Economics where he specializes in agricultural law. He has presented more than 30 wind energy leasing seminars with a total attendance in excess of 6,000 as part of the energy education programming provided by OSU's Cooperative Extension Service. How to Connect: On November 18, start connecting 5 minutes prior to the start time of 11 a.m. CST. You need to have a computer with Internet access with speakers. At the meeting time, copy and paste this URL into your browser to enter the meeting: http://connect.extension.iastate.edu/unl/ . At that URL you will find a 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" to enter the meeting space. The audio portion of the meeting will be come through your computer speakers. --Ed Brokesh ebrokesh@ksu.edu
4-H UPDATES - REGISTER NOW AND
SUBMIT PICTURES FOR THE GOING GREEN CELEBRATION
EAST
4-H Update – Emporia - December 8, 2009
WEST 4-H Update - Scott City -
December 10, 2009 The cost for the update is $15 and will include lunch. Checks should be made to the Kansas 4-H Foundation and are due at the update. Gathering time for both days will be 9:30 a.m. and the wrap up will be at 3:30 p.m. The agenda is available on the State 4-H Web page. Registration is due by December 1 and is available through 4-H online registration, https://4hyp-ts.oznet.ksu.edu/wconnect/ace/home.htm . As part of the background for 4-H Updates we will be producing a slide show featuring 4-H in action. To produce the slide show, we (the Update Planning Committee and the Photo Action Team) are requesting each Extension Unit send us up to five photos of 4-Hers and/or your 4-H Program in action. Please send the photo files to rbuchele@ksu.edu . Remember, the key word is action, think camp, project work, demonstrations, etc. Please make sure you have participation forms with signed photo releases in your office. We plan to post the slide show to the web for counties/districts to use. Please send the files by December 1. You also may bring them on disk and give to Rod or Beth at the Kansas Leadership Forum this weekend at Rock Springs. --Rod Buchele and Beth Hinshaw
NEW
APPROACHES TO RECRUITMENT
"Are you spinning your wheels trying to attract new volunteers by
publicizing service opportunities in speeches or on flyers, Internet
sites, and bulletin boards -- only to gather a handful of interested
candidates who don't really fit your needs? In this seminar, Susan
Ellis
emphasizes the fundamentals of successful recruiting and offers 7
systematic steps for creating more effective and targeted actions that
will generate the right volunteers.
Susan then examines both traditional and much newer recruiting
techniques, including how to maximize outreach online: making sure
your
own Website is a recruitment draw; capitalizing on Internet
registries
of volunteer opportunities; the options offered by social networking
sites; and the potential of technology such as blogs, podcasts, and
video. The techniques of recruitment change (especially since the Web
introduced new ways to communicate), but the principles do not. So,
once
you understand Susan's approach, you'll be ready for all sorts of
recruitment tools that none of us can yet imagine. If you're a new
volunteer program coordinator, you'll appreciate this extremely
practical, step-by-step advice. If you are an experienced leader of
volunteers, you'll benefit from evaluating your current recruiting
techniques and finding ways to improve on or add to what you are
doing." To sign up, go to
http://nextgeneration.4-h.org/volunteerism/
.
Click on
and complete the registration form. You will be sent your log in
information. Then log in and start the seminar.
Go to:
http://4-h.org/b/Assets/pd/ER-WelcomeGuide-4H-brief_091409.pdf
for general information on Everyone Ready.
If you have questions or problems, please contact me at
rbuchele@ksu.edu . --Rod
Buchele WATER ISSUES
FORUMS SLATED FOR DECEMBER IN WICHITA AND HAYS The meetings are open to the first 150
members of the public to pre-register for each location. A nominal
charge of $10 will be made. Registrations and payment must be received
by November 25. A copy of the program and the registration form are
posted on the Kansas Water Office's website,
www.kwo.org . Click on the "Water and
Energy Forum" hot button. If you have questions, please call (888)
KAN-WATER (526-9283). "Our objective is to raise the awareness
of the possible effects a changing climate might have on water resources
and the related economic impacts on cities, industry and agriculture,"
says Tracy Streeter, Director of the Kansas Water Office. Program
co-hosts are Kansas State University's Kansas Center for Agricultural
Resources and the Environment (KCARE), the state's 12 river basin
advisory committees and the Kansas Water Office. --Steven Graham
sgraham@k-state.edu BIOECONOMY
CONFERENCE DECEMBER 1, 2009 Anyone interested in this conference has
the option of attending a remote participation site at KSU Biological
and Agricultural Engineering Department or can view the conference on
your own personal computer for $50. Specific information about this
conference is available at
http://www.bioeconomyconference.org/registration . The conference will follow a typical “in
person” format. It will begin at 9 a.m., break for an hour lunch at 12,
and end at 5 p.m.. Two separate afternoon session topic tracks are
available. Faculty, agents and specialists wishing to view the
conference on their personal computer can register through the web link
above. Individuals wishing to participate more fully are invited to join
a viewing group in Manhattan. Attendees to the Manhattan site will have
the opportunity to submit questions to conference presenters via a
moderated internet connection. There is no charge for viewing at the
Manhattan site, but space may be limited. This conference appears to be
the best one day conference on this subject in the US for any price. To
register by November 20, to attend at the Manhattan site, or if you have
questions, contact Cindy Casper, 785-532-5813, or
ccasper@ksu.edu . --Ed Brokesh
ebrokesh@ksu.edu OMK "AWARENESS TO
ACTION" COMMUNITY CAMPAIGN CONTINUES THROUGH NOVEMBER
Kansas OMK's "Awareness to Action" community
engagement campaign continues to support civic organizations as they
plan and conduct projects during November, national Month of the
Military Family. "Awareness to Action" campaign materials
can be downloaded, free-of-charge from
www.KansasOMK.org . The
web-resources are to be used for activities that result in support and
actions on behalf of military youth and families. For more information about Kansas
Operation Military Kids' "Awareness to Action," contact Ann Domsch,
adomsch@ksu.edu ; Elaine Johannes,
ejohanne@ksu.edu ; or Diane Mack,
dmack@ksu.edu . --Elaine Johannes ESSENTIALS
FOR HEALTHY HOME PRACTITIONERS COURSE REGISTRATION Course Description: For more information go to
http://www.healthyhomestraining.org/Mercy.htm . Cost of this two day
course is $75 and includes the course manual. The price also includes
continental breakfast and lunch on both days, and refreshments.
For more information on the course,
contact: Erica Forrest, CMH Environmental Health Program, 816-983-6806,
or e-mail eforrest@cmh.edu .
--Bruce Snead bsnead@ksu.edu
MARIE’S PICKS .
. . **Fifteen farmers and landowners
increased their decision-making skills related to the 2008 Farm Bill,
specifically Average Crop Revenue Election (ACRE). The training, in
cooperation with the Farm Service Agency, provided participants an
opportunity to work through a sample farm decision tool. **An estimated fifty Kansas citizens
in Cherokee, Crawford, and Montgomery counties are better able to
produce homegrown fruit due to their increased knowledge about proper
care and pest management of food producing garden crops. **On Earth Day, 80 youths learned
about Vermicomposting and how it benefits plants and the environment.
They learned how to use rain barrels to catch water from rooftops and
use the water to irrigate vegetable gardens and landscape plants.
**38 Walton Rural Life Center
students learned about Worm Composting, Compost Tea, and Composting in
the Back Yard. --Marie Blythe
mblythe@ksu.edu
REBUILDING GREEN IN GREENSBURG, KANSAS -- RESOURCES FOR KSRE AGENTS --Bruce Snead
bsnead@ksu.edu FACULTY
SENATE MEETING HIGHLIGHTS - NOVEMBER 10, 2009 2. Committee Reports were
given/action taken: b) Faculty Affairs - passed changes
in University Handbook related to evaluation of department heads/chairs
and deans; a thorough review and revision of the University Handbook is
underway. c) Faculty Senate Committee on
University Planning - synthesis of more than 1,300 submitted ideas was
challenging, results of that synthesis are available on the budget
initiative Website; Chair Tom Vontz outlined current status of
university budget process and encouraged input from personnel and
students at the forums in Manhattan and Salina; additional forums for
input will be scheduled during January, February; update was provided on
the Energy Ed., Inc. energy reduction proposal for the university and it
seems that most of the energy conservation measures can be undertaken
without the services of the external consulting firm. 3. Announcements: Next Faculty Senate Meeting:
December 8, 3:30 p.m.
COMMUNICATION MINUTE: MAKE PDFS EASY TO FIND Use real text.
A scanned document turns text into a picture of text. Search engines
need real text. If you're not sure whether a file has real text, try to
copy-paste the PDF text into a word-processing document. If it works,
you have real text. Keep it under
1MB: Smaller is better. Try
Acrobat's "Document/Reduce File Size" feature, or split the document
into sections. Google will not find files greater than 10MB. Eliminate
spaces in file names. The
Firefox Web browser stops reading the file name when it hits a space. If
someone downloads the file with a partial name, it may be difficult for
the user to recognize. Use the document’s most memorable or important
words: ScenicCntyNws, 4HEnrllmnt, WheatVarieties2009. Add titles to
Document Properties. Search
engines display the title in results. Use Control D in the full Acrobat
application to add a title to a PDF document. --Amy Hartman
ahartman@ksu.edu
KSRE MASTER
CALENDAR
K-State Research and Extension is an
equal opportunity provider and employer. |