The Tuesday Letter
Agricultural Experiment Station & Cooperative Extension Service
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
(Vol. 17 No. 29)
IN THIS ISSUE...
WORD FROM THE ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR - EXTENSION AND APPLIED RESEARCH
From Minneapolis, MN through Reading, KS and on to Joplin, MO, the devastation of intense storms and tornadoes was felt. This spring has seen a very deadly tornado season across the south. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families and friends of all who have been affected by the devastation, death, and destruction. My thanks to the agents and office staff in Lyon County (Emporia) for making your office available for staging of volunteers to go assist with the cleanup in Reading. And, today is to be another potentially stormy day across the state. Stay informed and keep safe.
Last Thursday the Extension administrative team met with the Kansas Extension Agents Association Board and the Epsilon Sigma Phi officers. The representatives in attendance from all the associations included Aliesa Woods, chair, Carla Nemecek, Michael Vogt, Sarah Maass, Beth Drescher, Diane Mack, Sandra Wick, Laurie Chandler, Sarah Laib, Glenn Brunkow, Linda Beech, John Beckman, and Diane Nielson. This was a time to discuss several important issues and opportunities of interest to the future strength of K-State Research and Extension. I have great appreciation and respect for the work of the professional associations representing Extension agents. Through all of academia, professional societies and associations provide an effective means for professional exchange of discoveries, new knowledge, and experiences. These professional organizations encourage an exchange and learning for continuous improvement. It is my expectation that every faculty member be an active member with appropriate professional organizations.
I hope by next week to have more information to share on the KSRE budget outcome for FY2012 which begins July 1, 2011.
Have a safe and productive week! --Daryl Buchholz dbuchhol@ksu.edu
NURSERYWORKS - JUNE 15-16, 2011
It is with great pleasure that I announce a brand new nursery production conference for the Great Plains. Called NurseryWorks, K-State's first conference for nursery crop producers, retailers, and educators will debut June 15-16. Participants can attend either on campus or online from their own computer.
Either way, they'll be able to see and hear the same speakers, plus vote electronically. Social media (Twitter, Facebook, Google Moderator) will allow distant participants to ask questions and join conversations. Their real-time comments will show up on large screens in the campus conference room.
Learning about and trying social media will make the conference unusually interactive. But, that's only part of the program, for these media are the new frontier for nursery sales, marketing, customer service, and networking.
The conference is also bringing in nationally known experts (Ed Gilman, University of Florida; Charles Gilliam, Auburn University; Ted Bilderback, NC State; to name a few) to discuss current best management practices and techniques in terms of production, business and marketing. Plus, on campus participants' program will include hands-on workshops, tours, exhibits, a plant auction and a catered barbecue dinner in the KSU Gardens.
For those who sign up during May, registration is $75 for attending in Manhattan and $30 for participating online. Registration after June 3 is $15 more. (Businesses registering five-plus people and student participants get a discount.)
A full description of the conference, its activities and speakers, and the available options for registering are on the NurseryWorks website at http://dce.k-state.edu/conf/nursery-works/. --Cheryl Boyer cboyer@ksu.edu
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