The Tuesday Letter
Agricultural Experiment Station & Cooperative Extension Service
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
(Vol. 16 No. 40)
IN THIS ISSUE...
WORD FROM THE ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR - EXTENSION AND APPLIED RESEARCH
Keeping up with technology, social media, and communication is a continuing challenge for me. I wonder when the changes in communication technology will ever slow down? Probably not going to happen. I was recently reviewing the news information website for K-State Research and Extension and was impressed by its providing a one stop for all the various media outlets they provide: print, radio, audio-slide show, video, facebook, twitter, YouTube, and RSS feeds. I'd encourage you to go spend some time on that site, check out the stories, send a news idea that you may have from your great work, and link to all the appropriate and pass along the great work of K-State Research and Extension!
Stay cool and have a great week! --Daryl Buchholz dbuchhol@ksu.edu
JOIN 4-H PSA
Each local office received a disc of the new Join 4-H PSA. A cover letter and the disc were sent through the weekly KSRE mailing on July 30. Please note, that you will need to have the VLC media player on your computer to play the PSA.
Russell Feldhausen, Computer Support Specialist, Department Of Communications, lists these instructions for down loading the free VLC media player:
1) Visit http://www.videolan.org and download the installer. For Windows, click the top Download link. You can also use the link below to directly download the file: http://sourceforge.net/projects/vlc/files/1.1.2/win32/vlc-1.1.2-win32.exe/ download.
2) After the program is done downloading, navigate to the file and double-click it to start installing. Use all the default options when installing and just click the equivalent of "next" until it is finished.
3) Once the program is installed, navigate to where the video file is stored, right click, and then choose "Play with VLC" and you are good to go. In this case, it will be on the disc itself, so go to My Computer, then choose the CD/DVD drive, and then right click the video file on the disc.
4) If you are having problems with playing the video directly from the disc, such as really choppy video, I highly recommend copying it to your computer's hard drive and playing it from there. On many computers, the disc drive simply cannot keep up since that file is such high quality.
If you are having any problems playing the video, please contact IET Tech Support at 785-532-6270 or support@ksre.ksu.edu for assistance. --Diane Mack dmack@ksu.edu
NEW MEMBERS INVITED TO JOIN EPSILON SIGMA PHI
As president-elect, I invite K-State Research and Extension faculty to become new annual members of the Alpha Rho (Kansas) Chapter of Epsilon Sigma Phi. Membership is open to faculty who work in local, county, district, area or campus offices.
Epsilon Sigma Phi, the Extension Professional’s Organization, is dedicated to fostering standards of excellence in the Extension system, developing the extension profession and the professional. Why join? As with any organization, the benefits are directly related to your involvement. The benefits for me include: networking with others, receiving funds for innovative programming, and recognizing others for their dedication to their profession.
A letter with details and a membership form can be found at http://www.ksre.ksu.edu/esp-AlphaRho/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabid=16.
Beth Hinshaw, chair of the Recruitment and Retention Committee, needs responses from new members by September 1. If you have questions, please contact Beth, bhinshaw@ksu.edu –-Diane Mack dmack@ksu.edu
4-H GEOTECH PRIMER WEBINARS
Curious how GPS and GIS can engage youth in community service? Looking for ways to grow 4-H? The 4-H GeoTech Community Service Learning program will kick off November 9-11. Registration will open August 27. Learn more about this pilot program by participating in a GeoTech Primer. These repeat, identical Primers will be conducted as online webinars. Invite potential partners to participate in any one of them as well. Ask questions. See examples. Get the details of the program requirements before deciding if your community wants to participate.
One hour repeat Primers will be held:
Friday, August 27, 9 a.m.
Wednesday, September 22, 4 p.m.
Friday, September 24, 1 p.m.
To participate in a Primer webinar, log into http://connect.ksre.ksu.edu/geospace at the preferred date and time. Additional Primers may be arranged based upon interest. Contact Beth Hecht, bhecht@ksu.edu, to schedule.
Additional 4-H GeoTech details are available online at http://www.kansas4h.org/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabid=303. --Beth Hecht
UPCOMING FALL FIELD DAYS
Irrigation Experiment Field Fall Field Day
Scandia, KS
August 17, 2010
5:30 p.m.
Contact: 785-335-2836
North Central Experiment Field Fall Field Day
Belleville KS
August 26, 2010
5:30 p.m.
Contact: 785-335-2836
South Central Experiment Field Field Day
SC Experiment Field
August 31, 2010
6:00 p.m.
Contact: 620-662-9021
--Troy Lynn Eckart sprite@ksu.edu
2011 NATIONAL EXTENSION LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT-NORTH CENTRAL (NELD-NC) PROGRAM
Applications are due September 10, 2010 for the 2011 class.
The purpose of NELD-NC is to provide current and future Extension leaders with the vision, courage, and tools to lead in a changing world. The NELD-NC program is approximately a year in length and consists of four sessions. NELD-North Central is sponsored by Cooperative Extension in the 12 North Central States and Penn State University. The 2011 program, http://www.neld.extension.umn.edu/, will be delivered by the University of Minnesota Extension, working with the University of Wisconsin Extension.
Session dates, locations, and themes: Session One: Understanding My Role as Leader - January 19-22; Colorado Springs, CO Session Two: Entering the Realm of the Other - April 2-9; Mexico City, DF, Mexico Session Three: Leading in a Shared Power World - June 12-16; Washington, D.C. Session Four: Integrating Leadership for Change - September 21-24; St. Paul, MN
Information about the current program is available at http://www.ces.purdue.edu/neld/. If you have questions or desire additional information, call Marie Blythe at 785-532-3066, or current class members: Linda Beech, 620-272-3670, lbeech@ksu.edu; Jason Griffin, 316-788-0492, jgriffin@k-state.edu; Lisa Long, 620-532-5131, llong@ksu.edu; and Jeff Whitworth, 785-532-5656, jwhitwor@ksu.edu. You can also view the PowerPoint developed by 2008 class members, Barbara Lilyhorn and Sandy Procter. On our Website, http://tinyurl.com/2363nh, select "Are you NELD material?"
Participation costs for county faculty will be fully funded through the Leadership budget; tuition for specialists will be covered through the Leadership budget and all travel-related expenses will be the responsibility of their departmental or area unit. Applicants must be able to fully participate in all four sessions.
If you would like to submit an application for the 2011 program, the form is available on our Website, http://tinyurl.com/2363nh. Under Resources, select NELD-NC Application. You can also view all of the previous participants by clicking on Leadership Programs Participant Directory. Completed application forms should be returned to Marie Blythe, 104 Umberger Hall, by September 10, 2010. Selected agents/faculty members will be notified by September 27. --Marie Blythe mblythe@ksu.edu
VOLUNTEERS REQUESTED TO HELP IN OUR BOOTHS AT THE KANSAS STATE FAIR
The College of Agriculture and K-State Research and Extension will once again have booths in the Pride of Kansas building at the Kansas State Fair in Hutchinson. The Kansas State Fair runs from Friday, September 10, through Sunday, September 19, 2010.
We would appreciate faculty and staff from campus, area offices, counties/districts, Agronomy Fields, and Research-Extension Centers coming to the fair and working a few hours in one or both of the booths. Also, we would really appreciate agents and/or faculty, who are coming to the fair anyway, signing up to work a couple of hours in the booth before or after your activities.
Days and times that our KSRE/COA fair booths are open are:
Friday, September 10 - 11 a.m.-9 p.m.
Saturday, September 11 - (KFMA taking this entire day)
Sunday, September 12 - 9 a.m.-9 p.m.
Monday, September 13 - 9 a.m.-9 p.m.
Tuesday, September 14 - (Sedgwick County taking this entire day)
Wednesday, September 15 - 9 a.m.-9 p.m.
Thursday, September 16 - 9 a.m.-9 p.m.
Friday, September 17 - 9 a.m.-9 p.m.
Saturday, September 18 - 9 a.m.-9 p.m.
Sunday, September 19 - 9 a.m.-7 p.m.
If you would like to work in the K-State Research and Extension booth, please contact Maria Sweet, marswe@ksu.edu, by August 27.
If you would like to work in the College of Agriculture booth, please contact Sandy Klein, sandy@ksu.edu, by August 27.
We will be in touch in late August/early September to finalize days, times, entrance tickets, etc. -- Sandy Klein and Steven Graham sgraham@k-state.edu
SAVE THE DATE - SHARPENING WORKPLACE SKILLS
Much of our time at work is spent interacting with other people. This workshop is designed to help Extension Agents focus more purposefully on basic interpersonal skills from an individual, inward perspective. These skills will help each of us get the most out of ourselves as we work with other professionals and volunteers.
"Sharpening Workplace Skills" workshop will be held Wednesday, September 29, at the Sedgwick County Extension Education Center, Wichita. Cost will be approximately $15 and run from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Speakers will include:
Dr. Rusty Andrews, K-State, discussing dealing with emotions, establishing clear boundaries, using and abusing interpersonal “triangles,” handling conflict, and figuring out appropriate roles. Beth Hinshaw, SE area 4-H Specialist, will focus on establishing relationships with office professionals and Dr. Gayle Doll, K-State, will talk about multigenerational interactions and supervision.
This workshop is being sponsored by the Leadership PFT. Watch for final registration forms. --Jodi Besthorn besthorn@ksu.edu
OMK CAMP INVOICES
If you had a military connected youth attend camp this past summer and have not sent us an invoice, please do so. OMK camp reimbursement information is found at http://www.kansas4h.org/DesktopDefault.aspx. Or contact Ann Domsch at adomsch@ksu.edu, 785-532-2276.
Unfortunately, the OMK grant WILL NOT allow us to offer these funds to help youth attend 2010 KYLF or any 2011 4-H events including Discovery Days or camp. --Diane Mack dmack@ksu.edu
WATER EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES AVAILABLE
The Arizona Cooperative Extension, through a grant with the National 4-H, Coca Cola Foundation, and the Southwest States & Pacific Islands Regional Water Program, has developed a guide for 4-H Leaders and Teachers on rainwater harvesting. This collection of hands-on, interactive activities is designed to engage youth in understanding purposes, uses, applications, and designs of rainwater harvesting systems. Together, the activities promote a culture of conservation through the development of rainwater harvesting demonstration and use projects, encouragement of community awareness and action, and optimally the reduction of surface water and groundwater use.
The activities were developed with grades 5-8 in mind. Topics include:
. Water Cycle
. Conservation
. Watersheds & Aquifers
. Rainwater Harvesting Basics
. Passive Rainwater Harvesting
. Active Rainwater Harvesting
. Rainwater Harvesting Outreach
To order individual copies of the publication on line, go to http://pubs1.cals.arizona.edu/sales/listspecial.cfm?PID=ACE710. Cost is $15 per copy plus shipping. Or call CALSmart to order bulk copies toll free, 877-763-5315 or send a faxed order, 520-795-8508. --Sherry Davis sbd@ksu.edu and Dan Kahl dankahl@ksu.edu
WATER AND THE FUTURE OF KANSAS CONFERENCE - CALL FOR POSTERS
Sustainable Water Resource Management: Assuring the Future
October 26, 2010, Topeka, Kansas
Call for Posters
The Water and the Future of Kansas Conference planning committee invites you to submit titles and abstracts for non-commercial poster papers for the conference. Online submission is available at www.dce.k-state.edu/conf/waterfuture.
Topics are open to any water resource-related issues such as policy, standards, management areas, surveys, municipal, industrial or
agricultural projects, basic water science, and educational programs. Emphasis on the conference theme,“Sustainable Water Resource Management: Assuring the Future,” is encouraged.
Student posters will be judged and awards will be presented at the conference. Submission deadline is October 1, 2010.
Poster presenters must also register for the conference and pay the registration fee. A reduced registration fee is offered to students. For more information, please visit to the conference website at www.dce.k-state.edu/conf/waterfuture. --Steven Graham sgraham@k-state.edu
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