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The Tuesday Letter
Agricultural Experiment Station & Cooperative Extension Service

Vol. 16, No. 4  November 24, 2009


IN THIS ISSUE... 

 

...Word from the Associate Director - Extension and Applied Research
...2009 Discretionary Day
...Water Issues Forums Slated for December in Wichita and Hays
...Nebraska Organic Wheat Conference, December 11, 2009
...Thank You from Susan Krumm
...Marie's Picks
...Retirement Reception for Cheryl Klingensmith
...Kansas Environmental Leadership Program (KELP), Class 10
...Creating Engaging Learning Environments
...Diversity Programs Office Update
...Kansas Selected for National Youth Development Partnership
...Communication Minute: How to Spot a Malicious E-Mail (and What to Do About It!)
...KSRE Master Calendar
 
                                                                                        

                                                                                                ...Tuesday Letter Archives


WORD FROM THE ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR - EXTENSION AND APPLIED RESEARCH

Happy Thanksgiving! Travel safely, especially with night travel and deer in the headlights. And, take a moment and spread the thanks to others in your workplace, home, and community during this special holiday time. We all have far more for which we are blessed and for which to be thankful. Those thoughts should overshadow any doubts.

 

Just a reminder that last week we did have Dr. Shannon Washburn give a great workshop on engaging learners that is now archived on our seminar website . Not sure how well the workshop will come across through webstreaming, but the content was excellent and reminds us all of some simple, effective techniques for engaging learners in your educational presentations. Taking pride in how well we involve learners in the educational processes will only improve the learning, and improve your relationship with that clientele for your excellence as an educator. Dr. Washburn challenged each of us to make use of a technique with an upcoming meeting, and I am pleased to let him know that I did use a couple techniques successfully at a joint meeting of Chase and Morris County Executive Boards as they discussed the potential to come together in organizing an Extension District. Thanks Shannon for a great workshop!!

 

Also, be reminded that we will be having a focused discussion on the future of the Kansas Center for Agricultural Resources and the Environment (KCARE) today, Tuesday, November 24, beginning at 1:30 p.m. in 137 Waters Hall. If you'd like to join in that discussion via phone connection, please contact Dorothy Doan, ddoan@ksu.edu , by e-mail or phone (785-532-7137) to get the phone connection instructions.

 

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

 

 

 

2009 DISCRETIONARY DAY
The last day an employee may use their 2009 Discretionary Day is Saturday, December 26, 2009.

 

Employees may determine if they have an available Discretionary Day by accessing the View Leave Balances page in Employee Self Service. If the words "Discretionary Day" appear on the View Leave Balances page, they have a Discretionary Day available.

 

For future reference, the 2010 Discretionary Day may be used any day from December 27, 2009 through December 25, 2010.

 

Questions should be addressed to the Division of Human Resources at 785-532-6277. --Division of Human Resources

 

 

 

WATER ISSUES FORUMS SLATED FOR DECEMBER IN WICHITA AND HAYS
"Climate and Water: Planning for Change" is the theme of the third annual Kansas Water Issues Forum scheduled for December. The dates and locations for the forums are Wednesday, December 9, at the Sedgwick County Extension Center, 7001 West 21st Street North, Wichita; and Thursday, December 10, at the Kansas State University Agriculture Research Center, 1232 240th Avenue, 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

 

 

 

NEBRASKA ORGANIC WHEAT CONFERENCE, DECEMBER 11, 2009
Please mark your calendar and register for the Second UNL Organic Wheat Conference to be held at the Gray Goose Lodge at Ogallala, Nebraska, Friday, December 11. Quality test results by industry and UNL labs for 37 organic wheat varieties grown at four Nebraska research stations will be presented. Responses from grain buyers and millers will provide direction for the UNL wheat breeding program and seed industry and for farmers deciding how to contract and market their wheat.

 

This part of the Western Sustainable Ag and Livestock conference is a unique and unprecedented look at what the organic milling industry wants and how breeders, seedsmen, grain sourcers, millers and manufacturers can work together to insure a reliable supply of quality grain. The Western Sustainable Ag Conference will draw farmers from throughout Nebraska and the region.

Find more information at http://ckb.unl.edu/home . --Richard S. Little, Organic Wheat Breeding Specialist and Coordinator, UNL

 

 

 

THANK YOU FROM SUSAN KRUMM
The “untold truth” of working in a system where we sincerely care about each other was apparent beyond belief recently during the loss of my dad. The tremendous outpouring of cards, e-mails, gifts, thoughts, and prayers from my K-State Research and Extension family was overwhelming. Thank you for your heartfelt concern, genuine words of encouragement and support, and acts of kindness. --Susan Krumm skrumm@ksu.edu

 

 

 

MARIE’S PICKS . . .

This week my picks (outcomes and impact (what the clientele have done [NOT the agent—i.e., NOT "I offered / I provided / I taught . . . "], success stories, and public value [benefit to non-participants]) were reported by Bruce Chladny, Wyandotte County; Delta George, Bourbon County; and Aliesa Woods, Post Rock District; and John Stannard, Russell County.

 

**One of our most important funding sources and supporters is the Unified Government (UG) of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas. As such, our office is continually trying to identify new ways of connecting with the administration to promote our successes. Each Wednesday, the UG administration holds an operations meeting for department heads. This is an opportunity for departments to share events and happenings of interest. Leigh Wagner, our Summer Intern, was the featured guest at a weekly operations meeting in July. She discussed her internship - a partnership between the Community Health Foundation, Juniper Gardens (a housing unit in Wyandotte County), The Kansas Center for Urban Agriculture, and K-State Research Extension - Wyandotte County. She spoke about her role and the materials she brought and developed with that community. As a result, 26 UG administrators learned about the impact K-State Research and Extension has made in our community. They gained a better understanding of our ability to create positive change and the programs we have to offer.

 

**With the 4-H awards program changing, it was vital to provide our local members with an opportunity to learn and ask questions on the new KAP. Because finding one time that works for all families is impossible, Allen, Bourbon, and Neosho Counties had "Come Get Cozy with the KAP" trainings that were open to families from all three counties. This training allowed participants to hear from a member of the team who created the new process and to better understand the logic behind the changes.

 

**Bourbon County Junior Leaders learned how to give to the community, have fun, and help a cause that affects us all in some way. This was their first year to have a Relay for Life team, and for many, the first year to attend a Relay event. The group worked hard to raise more than $1200 and became more aware of the effects of cancer and ways to prevent it. They had wanted to have an overnight activity, so Relay night satisfied that desire.

 

**Thirty-seven 4-H members from Post Rock District participated in the Junior Leader trip to Colorado Springs. Through participation in the trip, members learned and implemented life skills such as sound decision-making and healthy interpersonal relationships. Members were responsible as a team for fundraising and activity planning.

 

**More than fifty homeowners participated in the rain barrel project in Russell County. This allows these individuals to trap rainwater and use it to water flowers and gardens with a resource that would otherwise have been wasted. --Marie Blythe mblythe@ksu.edu 

 

 

 

RETIREMENT RECEPTION FOR CHERYL KLINGENSMITH
We are having a retirement reception for Ms. Cheryl Klingensmith, December 15, at the Southeast Area Extension Office, 308 West 14th, Chanute, KS from 1 to 5 p.m.

 

Ms. Cheryl has provided 45 years of dedicated service to the staff of our Southeast Area. Please take time out of your schedule to drop by and show her the same support that she has provided to all of us for so long. Come and join us as we celebrate this great lady's contribution to K- State Research and Extension. Any retirement cards, letters, etc. may be sent c/o Karen here at the office - 308 West 14th, Chanute, KS 66720.

 

In lieu of a gift, we will have a money tree for Cheryl since she and her husband plan to do some traveling. --J.D. McNutt jdmcnutt@ksu.edu

 

 

 

KANSAS ENVIRONMENTAL LEADERSHIP PROGRAM (KELP), CLASS 10

Some last minute cancellations have been received for the Class of 2010, Kansas Environmental Leadership Program (KELP). Openings are now available, so check it out.

 

This will be the tenth class since 1999. Over 220 local leaders throughout Kansas have participated in the program, with 23 in the Class of 2008. Emphasis is placed on including representatives from all facets of Kansas life: agriculture, industry, government, urban, and rural communities.

 

KELP focuses on training participants in leadership skills and in water-related issues. Five, 3-day sessions are held, with the first session occurring in January and the final session in October. The five session locations and dates for 2010 are:

 

Session 1 - January 6-8, 2010 - Hays

Session 2 - March 10-12, 2010 - Topeka

Session 3 - May 19-21,2010 - Garden City

Session 4 - August 11-13, 2010 - Independence/Ft. Scott

Session 5 - October 6-8, 2010 - Hutchinson/Wichita

 

Each session begins at noon on Wednesday and ends before noon on Friday. Tuition is partially underwritten by a 319 grant, leaving $950 the responsibility of the participant. All meals, lodging (double occupancy), bus trips, activities, and materials are covered. Each person is only responsible for getting to and from each meeting and for time away from work to attend.

 

Academic credit and continuing education credits are available. More information is available on the KELP website, http://www.ksre.ksu.edu/kelp/  or by calling Judy Willingham at 785-532-5813. --Judy Willingham

 

 

 

CREATING ENGAGING LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS

Approximately sixty extension faculty learned about creatively and actively engaging their audience in learning during the Excellence in Extension seminar held on Wednesday, November 18. If you were not able to attend or view the seminar via the web while it was being presented you can now view the archived session and download the handout at www.ksre.ksu.edu/seminars .

 

Dr. Shannon Washburn, Associate Professor of Agricultural Education, led the group in discovering principles of teaching and learning, identifying strategies for engaging audiences and developing approaches to generate audience interest. --Stacey M. Warner swarner@ksu.edu

 

 

 

DIVERSITY PROGRAMS OFFICE UPDATE

The Diversity Programs Office would like to wish everyone a Happy Holiday season! With Thanksgiving only a few days away, let us take the time to be thankful for all the joy and beauty that diversity can bring. At the same time I hope that you will all keep in mind that the holiday season includes more than just Thanksgiving and Christmas. Cultures across the world are celebrating Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, El-Hijra, and many other holidays in the upcoming month. To celebrate the upcoming holidays, the Diversity Programs Office will be participating in the Giving Tree program. Please stop by the tree outside Waters 138 in December to pick up an ornament and share the holiday love.

 

If you would like more information on any Diversity Programs events, please contact your Diversity Programs Office or Dr. Zelia Z. Wiley, Assistant Dean for Diversity, at zwh@ksu.edu or 785-532-5793. --Zelia Wiley

 

 

 

KANSAS SELECTED FOR NATIONAL YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIP

Kansas is one of the six states selected to participate in the 2010 National Building Partnerships for Youth, a program of National 4-H Council, HHS/Centers for Diseases Control and the University of Arizona, to promote positive youth development across the sectors of education, health, youth programming, and the faith community. More than 29 states and international groups submitted applications for the competitive selection.

 

The Kansas delegation consists of:

Elaine Johannes, Team Leader - FSHS/KSRE

Peggy Berrier Boyd - Wyandotte County Extension

Ella Todd - Kansas Mentors

Jane Stueve - Kansas Department. of Health and Environment

Mallisa Martin-Wilke - Kansas Communities in School

Lyndsie Oathou, student - Southwestern College

Ariel Anib, student - Kansas State University

Teams from the chosen states will begin their work at the Kickoff Event in Chevy Chase, MD, February 3-5, 2010 and will receive follow up networking, support and online professional development as they engage in their respective plans of action to further the reach of positive youth development approaches statewide. Learn more about the national Building Partnerships for Youth Development and its relevance to Kansas by contacting Elaine Johannes, ejohanne@ksu.edu . --Elaine Johannes

 

 

 

COMMUNICATION MINUTE: HOW TO SPOT A MALICIOUS E-MAIL (AND WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT!)
According to Symantec, 87 percent of the e-mail sent last month was either spam or malicious in some way. Even though spam filters are becoming more robust, it can still cause problems. Recently, there were several K-State computers infected with a virus that spread through e-mail attachments, which could have been avoided by users knowing how to spot a malicious e-mail and what to do with it.

Here are a few simple rules you can use to test whether an e-mail is spam or malicious:

It has many misspellings or bad grammar.

It is full of broken graphics or lines of text.

There is no personally-identifiable information, or it does not state who the e-mail is sent to.

It includes unexpected attachments.

It asks you for your account information or passwords, especially information the supposed sender should already have. (K-State will never ask for your password.)

It comes from a company, bank or organization you don’t do business with.

The included links do not go where it looks like they should go (see below).

Just use your common sense!

To check the links in your e-mail, hover over them with your mouse and look at the status bar at the bottom of the window. In most e-mail programs and web browsers, it will show the actual web address that link will take you to. Look at it closely, since many scams will include parts of the real web address in it. For example:

Malicious: www.capitalone.com.survey.dept.wekfgrg.com/

Actual Site: www.capitalone.com/

Notice how the malicious link has more information at the end. That means that this site is really hosted at wekfgrg.com, which definitely isn’t a legitimate site.

Finally, there are a few things you can do to minimize your risk of falling for one of these e-mails:

Question every strange e-mail you receive. (Why did I get this? Is this legitimate?)

Make sure your e-mail filter is turned on and configured.

Always double check any links, phone numbers or e-mail addresses with known sources.

Contact the sender directly by phone and ask them about the message. They may not be aware of these messages at all.

Forward the e-mail as an attachment to support@ksre.ksu.edu and let IET’s technical support staff look at it.

If you are interested in learning more, feel free to look at the K-State IT Security Threats block at http://threats.itsecurity.k-state.edu/  frequently. It is updated almost daily with the latest scam e-mails targeting K-State. Also, you can test your knowledge by taking the Sonicwall phishing e-mail quiz at http://www.sonicwall.com/phishing/  and see how many scam e-mails you can spot.

 

As always, if you have any questions, please feel free to contact IET’s technical support staff at 785-532-6270. --Russell Feldhausen russfeld@ksu.edu

 

 

 

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

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