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Agricultural Experiment Station & Cooperative Extension Service |
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Vol. 16, No. 6
December 8, 2009
...Word from the Associate Director - Extension and Applied Research ...University Holiday Schedule ...KCARE Input ...Insect Zoo Gift Shop in Waters Hall December 9-11, from 12 to 4 ...Retirement Reception for Cheryl Klingensmith ...Janice Buchman Retirement Reception ...Michael Christian Retirement
Reception ...4-H Day with Wildcat Women's
Basketball
WORD FROM THE ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR - EXTENSION AND APPLIED RESEARCH Greetings to all. I find that many of you are more desirous of watching things rather than reading. So, I will give you a combination again this week.
As we carry out our public work through K-State Research and Extension, we have a compelling Land-Grant University responsibility to see that our work helps to lift up all of society within Kansas, and especially those who may find themselves within the realm of being underserved in whatever way that gets defined. There were two video clips that were presented at the KSRE Annual Conference with the session on diversity and inclusion that tell a compelling story. Based upon shrinking the earth to 100 people, what would we look like. That is the demographic story within the video below.
Then, to appreciate the demographic story of Kansas, we've done the same thing of shrinking this state down to 100 people. That slide show, without music, is linked through the K-State Research and Extension Catalyst Team for Diversity and Inclusion . Just go to that website and click on that top link Miniature Kansas No Sound.ppt to watch that PowerPoint presentation.
As we consider our future, K-State Research and Extension must become relevant, important, and able to address those critical issues and needs of audiences across the state who make up that underserved. And, this won't just happen. It requires our attention and difficult work to see that we understand the needs and issues of these audiences on THEIR TERMS, not ours. I hope you will reflect and commit to seek ways to become more inclusive in the educational initiatives that you design and lead on behalf of KSRE. I hope you will find the evidence that the programming you are engaged in does in fact make a difference in reaching a new, diverse, and more inclusive audience.
Have a great week! --Daryl Buchholz dbuchhol@ksu.edu
During the 2009/2010 Holiday Season, the University will close its normal operations from Friday, December 25, 2009, through Friday, January 1, 2010, and will reopen for business on Monday, January 4, 2010. Following is further information pertaining to this period of reduced university activity.
USE OF LEAVE Officially observed state holidays during the holiday period are Friday, December 25, 2009, and Friday, January 1, 2010. The normal workdays affected during this period of campus closing are December 28, 29, 30 and 31, 2009.
Classified and unclassified non-exempt employees not required to work during this period may use a combination of the following types of leave: a) 1-1/2 days of holiday time earned for working the Veterans Day holiday b) calendar year 2010 discretionary holiday, or c) accumulated vacation or compensatory time. If no leave is available, or if the employee prefers, he/she may use leave without pay with supervisor's approval.
Twelve-month unclassified employees who do not perform their duties during this period may use vacation, 2010 discretionary holiday, equivalent time earned for working the Veteran's Day Holiday or leave without pay.
County and district offices will follow the holiday schedule that they adopted at their joint board meeting. Questions about classified and unclassified employee leave should be directed to the Division of Human Resources at 532-6277. --Daryl Buchholz dbuchhol@ksu.edu
Just repeating, if you were not able to participate in the November 24th Internal Focus Group where we took input on the future of KCARE and would like to provide input, please feel free to do so at https://surveys.ksu.edu/TS?offeringId=154946 . 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.
The survey will be open until midnight on Wednesday, December 16. We look forward to hearing your ideas. --Daryl Buchholz dbuchhol@ksu.edu and Ernie Minton eminton@ksu.edu
INSECT ZOO GIFT SHOP IN WATERS HALL DECEMBER 9-11 FROM 12 TO 4 The KSU Insect Zoo will be selling items from their gift shop outside of the Entomology department office at 123 Waters Hall. Your purchase supports our educational display that is located in the KSU Gardens. We will have many nature-themed children's books, educational DVDs and posters, insect jewelry, locally produced honey, and insect t-shirts available.
A select group of our captive bred baby tarantulas will be available for just $10 each. If you have any questions, please call Sharon Schroll at 532-5891/532-6154 or e-mail to kiffnie@ksu.edu . --Kiffnie Holt
RETIREMENT
RECEPTION FOR CHERYL KLINGENSMITH
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
JANICE BUCHMAN RETIREMENT RECEPTION You are invited to join Riley County Extension staff in celebrating the work of Janice Buchman, 4-H Office Professional, during a reception in her honor on Thursday, December 17; 4-6 p.m. at the Riley County Extension Office.
The reception is a come and go format, with a special presentation at 5:30 p.m. We will be recognizing Janice for her 21 years of service to Riley County K-State Research and Extension. --Andrea Schmidt aschmidt@ksu.edu
MICHAEL CHRISTIAN RETIREMENT RECEPTION You are invited to join the Northeast Area Extension Office Staff and the K-CARE Office Staff in celebrating Mike's retirement with a reception on Wednesday, January 6, from 2 - 5 p.m. at Pottorf Hall, Riley County Fairgrounds/Ci-Co Park area.
Mike's Extension service of 33 1/2 years has been at Dickinson County, Riley County and serving as a Watershed Specialist, Lower Blue River. --Dale Fjell dfjell@ksu.edu
EQIP/WHIP APPLICATION CUTOFF DATE - JANUARY 15, 2010 An application evaluation cutoff date of January 15, 2010, for the Environmental Quality Incentives Programs (EQIP) and Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP) under the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (2008 Farm Bill) has been announced by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). Applications may be submitted anytime; however, applications will be gathered for ranking at that point.
EQIP is available for treating natural resource concerns on organic systems. Organic producers, or those transitioning to organic, may apply for EQIP to address their natural resource concerns during this period.
As information becomes available, it will be placed on the Kansas NRCS Website, http://www.ks.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/eqip/2009 , or be available at the local USDA Service Center from the NRCS or conservation district staff. --Steven Graham sgraham@k-state.edu
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 Mary Lou Odle, Central Kansas District; Linda Beech, Carol Ann Crouch, Belinda Oldham, and Becky Wallace, Southwest teaching block of Finney, Scott, Wichita, and Hamilton Counties; and Fran Richmond, Osage County.
**Drug companies offer free medications to people who qualify. After receiving information about how to apply, one client is receiving $350 a month/$4,200 a year of free medication. Another client who has very expensive life sustaining drugs received an allowance of $7,000 for the drug that his Medicare drug plan did not cover.
**Sixty-eight individuals on Medicare saved almost 75% on their drug costs after they became aware - of Medicare "Extra Help" - because of an Extension program. Several of the individuals had stopped taking their medications before they received Extra Help because they could not afford them.
**Before "Preventing Cancer With Your Knife and Fork," only 23% of the 122 participants could correctly identify the eight leading types of cancer in Kansas. Only half of the participants could name three or more foods that could help to prevent cancer.
- By the end of the program, all participants had learned the top eight cancer types in Kansas, as well as diet and lifestyle recommendations to help prevent cancer.
This series of four Extension educational programs included the top eight types of cancer in Kansas, as well as cancer death statistics for each of the four counties in the Southwest teaching block. Diet and lifestyle recommendations for preventing cancer were discussed, accompanied by a lunch of cancer-preventing foods. Sponsors provided meals, educational materials, and cancer screening test kits.
**Osage County Extension is an active member of the Drug Free Osage County coalition that strives to help prevent youth substance abuse. If a community can identify the factors that influence problem behaviors, then specific strategies can be used to help prevent those behaviors. Since the implementation of Drug Free Osage County, the survey has shown that some statistics for youth have declined, namely, lifetime use of alcohol and cigarettes. The current substance abuse prevention capacity within the county is best described in terms of partnerships and collaborative relationships. In January, 2009, the Drug Free Osage County, Inc. Coalition entered the second year of the underage drinking grant and is now working on the implementation phase. Sector representatives began by attending a series of three, two-day training CMCA (Communities Mobilizing for Change on Alcohol) events. As a result of the training, the group refined and finalized an action plan to reduce youth alcohol use by changing community policies and practices. The impact of the plan will be to implement evidence-based environmental prevention and community organizing strategies to reduce youth access to alcohol, create lasting and sustainable change, and improve the health and well-being of the Osage County community. --Marie Blythe mblythe@ksu.edu
4-H DAY WITH WILDCAT WOMEN’S BASKETBALL The Kansas 4-H Agents Association is hosting the second 4-H Day with Wildcat Women’s Basketball on Saturday, January 9, 2010. Tipoff time is set for 11 a.m. against KU. Cost to attend this event is $15. The registration fee includes a t-shirt, game ticket and concession stand voucher. Registration is due on December 10. Download a copy of the form at www.kansas4h.org under the “What’s Hot” section. Spread the word – and let’s pack Bramlage Coliseum with 4-H GREEN!!!! Go CATS! --Andrea Schmidt aschmidt@ksu.edu
UPCOMING WEBINARS ON GREEN ENERGY 1) Public Involvement and Land Issues
Relating to Wind Projects This webcast presents an overview of successful strategies for involving the public when siting of utility projects like transmission lines and renewables are undertaken. Topics to be covered include: planning, public engagement, maintaining momentum, environmental challenges, and negotiation. This presentation will give participants the tools they need to educate the public and expand wind generation capacity in their region.
Presenters: Randy Cantrell, University of Nebraska; Marc Nichols, Omaha Public Power District; Alison Rider, Omaha Public Power District; Stephanie White, HDR Architecture, Omaha.
Dr. Cantrell is a professor and rural sociologist working with the University of Nebraska Rural Initiative. He has followed conflicts associated with transmission lines in Minnesota and Nebraska. Mr. Nichols is Sustainable Energy and Environmental Stewardship Manager, Omaha Public Power District. Ms. Rider is Division Manager of Facilities Management for Omaha Public Power District. Her areas of responsibility include transmission line routing and acquisition of the associated rights of way to construct the lines. She coordinated the effort to develop OPPD's public involvement process and has led the effort to route several large power lines through urban and rural areas in the OPPD territory using that process. Ms. White is Vice President of Public Involvement at HDR where she specializes in energy transmission. She has led public involvement efforts on projects in Nebraska, North Dakota, and Minnesota, many of which were designed to accommodate the growing generation of wind energy in the region.
How To Connect: On December 18, prior to the start time of 11:00 CST, copy and paste this URL into your browser to enter the meeting: http://connect.extension.iastate.edu/unl/ .
2) DOE Webinar December 15: Greensburg, Kansas, and Beyond The U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Building Technologies Program is offering a webinar on Tuesday, December 15, 2009, from 12:00-1:30 p.m. EST titled "Greensburg, Kansas, and Beyond." This webinar is the second in a series on Greensburg, Kansas, a town that has been pursuing a vision of a model green community since recovering from a massive tornado in May 2007. This webinar focuses on the town's efforts to rebuild green and features:
* A detailed look at Greensburg's built environment in a 100% renewable city: tools, design strategies, and successes.
* Greensburg's approach to wind-generated electricity, successes in other rural communities, and the impact community wind is having in America.
* John Deere's plans for green dealership buildings throughout North America and the company's partnership with DOE and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory on a Commercial Building Energy Alliance to reduce energy use in retail buildings.
* This webinar is free of charge, but you must register in advance at https://www.mymeetings.com/emeet/rsvp/index.jsp?customHeader=mymeetings&Conference_ID=2493935&passcode=1272598 to obtain a URL for the presentation and call-in phone number.
Learn more at http://www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/webinars.html about the webinar. --Bruce Snead bsnead@ksu.edu and Dan Kahl Dankahl@ksu.edu
RECOGNIZING EXTENSION'S ROLE AS CONNECTOR AND CATALYST: IMPORTANT UPCOMING OPPORTUNITIES As Extension Professionals planning for ways to improve our work and productivity in 2010, several upcoming opportunities are worth your consideration.
1) The Kansas Environmental Leadership Program has just undergone significant updating. There is no better program to link leadership skill development and water resource information anywhere. 2010 classes begin soon. Register at www.ksre.ksu.edu/KELP . Click on Registration link.
2) Community Coaching will INCREASE your value to community groups and planners while (potentially) REDUCING your time investment. How? Through the structure of Community Coaching, you will be able to schedule a couple of reflection/planning meetings with the group you work with. This is a great way for Extension to provide important assistance to community groups. SE, SC, and SW agents should sign up now for the Independence Community Coaching Institute at www.ksu.edu/cecd/cda . Community coaching is open to extension, Economic Development professionals, or other interested coaches.
3) Facilitating Public Issues Forums workshop will help you gain the skills and confidence to organize and host public conversations about important topics. In a recent article by the Kettering Foundation, Alice Diebel asked the question, "What if the work of extension helped citizens learn how to find the answer within their communities before looking outside?" The Facilitating Public Issues Forums workshop will help you to test a response to that question. Register at www.ksu.edu/icdd .
And for Communities in the South West/South Central Area of the state: The Community Development Academy is a way for community teams to learn together about ways to plan and implement participatory community planning. This USDA/Commerce/Extension workshop introduces communities to process planning and federal and state community development resource partners. Please encourage community teams to register now at www.ksu.edu/cecd/cda . --Dan Kahl dankahl@ksu.edu
KSRE TO HOST AGROSECURITY PLANNING WORKSHOPS IN SEDGWICK, SEWARD COUNTIES K-State Research and Extension will host two Strengthening Community Agrosecurity Planning (S- CAP) workshops in late March. Sedgwick County Extension will host the two-day workshop March 22-23 in the Sedgwick County Extension office for Sedgwick and surrounding counties, and Seward County Extension will host another March 25-26 at Seward County Community College for Seward and surrounding counties.
The workshops are for agents, county emergency management officials, first responders (fire, police, etc.) veterinarians, public health officials, volunteer organizations and agribusiness and ag producers. Questions about the two workshops? Contact Mary Lou Peter, mlpeter@ksu.edu or 913-856-2335 Ext. 130. More information will be coming over the next weeks and months. --Mary Lou Peter
COMMUNICATION MINUTE: THINKING ABOUT
YOUR CALL TO ACTION
Call to actions: We use them every day, especially when packaging our marketing and program information. We work hard to develop our messages and try to figure the best way to deliver them. If we don't provide our target audience with a next step to take: our messages may never cause change, increase understanding, gain support or even just get a response.
Calls to action can help us market the educational information from K-State Research and Extension and make our messages more persuasive. Anytime you decide to produce a marketing campaign or offer information, make a call to action available for the target audience. For example:
Call this phone number
Use calls to action in your newspaper columns, websites, displays, radio programs, thank you notes, brochures, fact sheets, social media, and on cloth shopping bags, pencils, and electronic presentations.
In all cases, make sure our clients receive something of value by taking the next step and answering our call to action. It's up to you as K-State Research and Extension staff to make sure answering the call is worth their time. --Elaine Edwards elainee@ksu.edu
KSRE MASTER
CALENDAR
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