The Tuesday Letter
Agricultural Experiment Station & Cooperative Extension Service
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
(Vol. 18 No. 10)
IN THIS ISSUE...
INTERACTION OF K-STATE FACULTY AND STAFF WITH STATE/FEDERAL OFFICIALS
As the Kansas Legislature convenes, I would like to take this opportunity to remind you of the Board of Regents and University policies regarding interaction with the Kansas Legislature, Kansas State Agencies, and the Kansas Federal Delegation.
Kansas Legislature
If contacted and asked to provide information to legislators; provide testimony to legislative committees; want to invite a legislator(s) to attend a meeting; want to request the Legislature for funds, programs, changes in legislation or new legislation affecting your program, the Board of Regents and /or Regents institutions, please contact either:
Steven Graham, Assistant to the Dean and Director, at 785-532-6147 or by email at sgraham@k-state.edu , Or
Dr. Susan Peterson, Assistant to the President/Director of Governmental Relations, at 785-532-6221, 785-532-4791 (voice mail), or via email at skp@k-state.edu.
The Kansas Board of Regents policy states:
"Faculty and administrators are encouraged to provide expert testimony on proposed legislation which may, or may not, affect the Regents and higher education. Faculty and administrators should make every effort to accommodate such requests, and shall notify the institution’s Chief Executive Officer, who, in turn, will notify the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Board."
Any information forwarded to Steven Graham will immediately be sent on to Dr. Peterson. Dr. Susan Peterson has been designated by President Schulz to notify the Board of Regents on his behalf.
It is important to state this is NOT a prohibition from any employee of the University to visit with a Legislator in the normal course of daily life.
State Agencies
Requests by other state agencies or branches of government are expected to be transmitted via Sue Peterson through the Board of Regent's office. If the information is a University specific request, these items may be handled by the University with a copy to the institution's CEO for transmittal to the Board office.
Kansas Federal Delegation
All requests to the
Kansas Federal Delegation are reviewed and approved by the University Federal
Relations Committee. Should you want to request a project, please submit the
pertinent material to our Dean and Director. If a member of the Kansas Delegation contacts you for
information, please contact Steven Graham or Dr. Susan Peterson immediately, so
we may remain consistent with our institutional priorities. --Steven M. Graham
sgraham@k-state.edu
PASSWORD CHANGE DEADLINE IS FEBRUARY 8
K-State's eID password change deadline is February 8. If you have not
changed your password since January 1, you must do so before the deadline
or you will lose access to your K-State resources.
To change your eID password, visit https://eid.ksu.edu and
log in with your eID and password. Your password must now be at least 10
characters long, and needs to include three of these four categories:
uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and special characters. It must also not
be based on an identifiable word, acronym or name.
We highly
recommend making your passwords longer than the 10 character minimum. One
way to do this is to use a pass phrase, or several words put together
or separated with spaces or other symbols. Those words must not be
identifiable as defined above, but the phrase itself can be
remembered much better than a short, complicated password.
While
on the eID site, you will also be prompted to update your password reset
options. We encourage you to keep that information current, especially
the alternate email address, since that can be used to reset your
password if needed. You can also sign up for K-State Alerts on the eID site to receive emergency email and text message notifications as needed.
Once you have changed your eID password, make sure you quickly update it in any email clients or mobile devices that you use to check your K-State email. If it is not updated quickly you may be locked out of K-State Zimbra for a few hours due to multiple failed login attempts. If you have multiple devices I advise turning them off when you change your password, then one by one turning them on and updating the password to help prevent being locked out.
Also, if you use a computer or mobile device on campus that connects to the "KSU Wireless" network you will have to update the password there as well. Simply visit http://wireless.k-state.edu/connect/ on your device and follow the instructions to connect to the network with your new password.
If you have any questions or problems getting
your password changed, feel free to contact KSRE Support at
785-532-6270. You can also contact the K-State Helpdesk for assistance
with password issues at 785-532-7722 or 800-865-6143. --Russ Feldhausen russfeld@ksu.edu
2012 KANSAS 4-H YOUTH LEADERSHIP COUNCIL
The following young people will serve on the Kansas Youth Leadership Council in 2012:
Northeast Area Representatives
Spencer Dennis - Johnson CountyKatie Connor - Johnson CountyMatthew Kelso - Douglas County
Northwest Area Representatives Marta Payne - Walnut Creek District Michaela Long - Graham County Justin Turner - Phillips Rooks District
Southeast Area Representatives Anna Setter - Southwind District Ben Yarnell - Southwind District Haley Bauer - Cowley County
Southwest Area Representatives Jacqueline Clawson - Meade County MaKala Orler - Pratt County Katie Bailey - Greeley County
2012 National Conference Representatives Leah Kimzey - Wilson County Julia Shields - Johnson County Jill Seiler - Sedgwick County Steven Buchele - Finney County
2011 National Conference Representatives Leigh Ann Maurath - Golden Prairie District Cooper Clawson - Meade County Cain Fouard - Central Kansas District Garrett Kays - Wildcat District Kimberly Doman - Barber County --Justin Wiebers jwiebers@ksu.edu
KSRE CONNECT WEBINAR TRAINING - JANUARY 12, 19
Training is being offered on Thursdays, January 12 and 19, at 9 a.m.
This session is a
good overview for both new and experienced Connect users. No
registration is necessary. Simply go to http://connect.ksre.ksu.edu/connecttraining/ during the training time.
If you are new to Connect, this free program is a great communication tool. It is used for on-line
webinars, research, educational classes, collaboration, and even KSRE District meetings.
For more information, visit the TechWeb site, www.ksre.ksu.edu/techweb/, or contact Gerry Snyder, gsnyder@ksu.edu,
IET, 785-532-6270. --Gerry Snyder
4-H DISCOVERY DAYS CLASS INSTRUCTORS NEEDED
Kansas 4-H Discovery Days is coming up and we are looking for class sessions to help youth discover new interests, passions and careers. This college experience on the K-State campus gives youth, ages 13-19, the opportunity to learn in a variety of classes, tours and activities. Discovery Days is an excellent opportunity for our young people to explore potential careers, degree programs, personal development, hobbies, sports, and other interests. Examples of last year's classes included: Career Possibilities in Law Enforcement, A Career for 'U' in Agriculture, Introduction to Basket Weaving and Rugby 101. The time you invest has great potential to impact these young people for their entire lives!
We are now accepting class proposals to ensure we have enough spaces for more than 800 delegates we expect to attend this summer! This event has grown from 550 people in 2009 to 650 in 2010 to 750 in 2011! We need your help!!!
The dates will be May 29 - June 1, 2012 with 2 hour class sessions scheduled for Wednesday, May 30 and Thursday, May 31 from 9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m., and 1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. You can choose to teach one, two, three or even four class sessions.
We would love to have you lead a class session this year! If you, or anyone else you know, are interested in teaching a class, hosting a tour, or leading a service project, please fill out the online class proposal form. You don’t have to be a master teacher to teach a class at Discovery Days. Just share your passion for what you do.
We would like to have all proposals no later than Friday, February 10, so information can be compiled and sent to Extension staff to begin marketing. We plan to open on-line registration March 1.
If you know anyone else who might have something fun to share with these youth, we would appreciate your forwarding this message to them! If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.
Thank you so much for considering the opportunity to share your expertise with youth from across Kansas. --Justin Wiebers jwiebers@ksu.edu
HEALTHY YOU WELLNESS TIP
 With the start of a new year, many of us are looking forward to making 2012 as good a year as it can be and resolve to do things that will improve our personal health such as eating better, moving more, and generally living a healthier lifestyle.
Deciding what you want to change and setting a goal is the best place to start. Set a SMART goal – one that is Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and has a Time line. Breaking a long-range goal into short-term goals or steps can be very helpful. For some people, setting a weekly action plan works. Templates for setting SMART goals and a weekly action plan are available at www.healthyyou.ksre.ksu.edu.
Several KSRE wellness team members are excited about a new interactive program, Today I Will, offered by the Cooper Institute (CI). Based on the concept that small changes can lead to big results over time and that every day is a chance to change, Today I Will will inspire you to make choices that will lead to better health in 2012. To be notified of the program launch, go to www.todayIWill.com and enter your email address. The launch will also be highlighted in the Tuesday Letter. More about Today I Will can be found at http://blog.standupandeat.org/post/2011/12/Today-I-Will.aspx.
Healthy You has a community page on Facebook! --Sharolyn Jackson sharolyn@ksu.edu
KANSAS RADON UPDATE
The Kansas Radon Program (KRP), housed at Kansas State University in the
College of Engineering's Extension Programs Department, provides statewide
technical assistance, public education, and professional education related to
radon and its health effects on Kansas residents. The
following update is designed to assist Extension agents to meet the needs of
their clients related to radon with the most current information available. A
session on radon is currently scheduled for Tuesday February 7, 1-3 p.m., during the
February Agent Update at K-State.
General
information:
The KRP currently provides
informational services to Kansas residents on radon via distance delivery at www.kansasradonprogram.org and
directly through the state radon hotline at 1-800-693-5343.
The hotline is answered live Monday through Friday during business
hours. Our website has multiple fact sheets available for download
(http://www.kansasradonprogram.org/factsheets)
that cover a variety of topics from general information to do-it-yourself radon
mitigation.
Radon test kits:
The KRP has low-cost radon test
kits available for the county extension offices to purchase for resale to their
clients. The cost for kits to the extension offices is
$4.50 per kit, with most county offices reselling the kits to the public for
between $5 and $7. You can order any number
of test kits to meet your needs. Any
extension offices not currently offering kits for sale that wish to do so can
contact Brian Hanson, bhanson@ksu.edu; or
Joyce McDiffett, jmmcdiff@ksu.edu; and
make a request.
Kansas Radon Action Month
(KRAM):
January 2012 is both Kansas
Radon Action Month (KRAM) (sponsored by the KRP and KDHE) and National Radon
Action Month (NRAM) (sponsored nationally by the EPA). The KRP
will be airing both television and radio public service messages localized with
the state radon hotline and website. The PSAs are scheduled to
air January 15 through March 15, 2012 in association with the Kansas Association
of Broadcasters (KAB). These television
and radio spots lead to increased interest in residential radon testing by
Kansas residents. The KRP has test kits available for order if
offices need to replenish their supply. Winter is an excellent time for
Kansas residents to test their homes for radon.
The KRP encourages all
Extension agents to include a newspaper column, radio show, newsletter article,
or other awareness efforts about radon in their January
activities. If you would like to have us on a radio call in
show or other program please contact Brian Hanson.
Kansas radon
legislation:
Kansas currently has two
statutes related to radon in effect statewide. Information on
these is available at http://www.kdheks.gov/radiation/radon.htm.
The first statute is K.S.A. 58-307a. Effective July 1,
2009, this statute required the insertion of a specific paragraph related to
radon into all state-wide residential real estate contracts. The paragraph strongly suggests that home buyers have homes they are
considering purchasing tested for radon gas as part of their home inspection
process.
The second statute is K.S.A.
2010 Supp. 48-16a01. Effective July 1, 2011, this statute
requires all individuals or companies in Kansas that provide professional radon
services (radon measurement services, radon mitigation services, or radon
laboratory services) be certified by KDHE. This statute left
intact a home owner's right to test their own property, and if they choose to
perform their own do-it-yourself radon mitigation on their own
property. This statute also included specific data reporting
requirements that has significantly altered how statewide residential radon
measurement and mitigation data is collected. Homeowners however
are excluded from the data reporting requirements on tests they perform on their
own property.
In addition to the above state
statutes, three communities in Kansas have by code adoption required all new
single- and two-family homes built in those communities be built with a passive
radon reduction system installed. These communities include
Manhattan, Topeka and Lawrence. The KRP is available to provide
local code officials, planning boards and elected commissions/councils with
presentations on radon resistant new construction (RRNC) code options. --Brian Hanson bhanson@ksu.edu
LOCAL UNIT DIRECTOR WORKSHOPS
Extension agents
who serve as the director of their county or district office, or those
who would like to learn more about the director role, will be interested
in these workshops to be held in 2012:
A Local Unit Director Workshop focusing on budgets and other financial topics will be held on the following dates and locations:
March 13, 2012 in Colby
March 14, 2012 in Garden City
March 15, 2012 in Pratt
April 5, 2012 in Manhattan
April 18, 2012 in Iola
A
Local Unit Director Workshop focusing on human resource topics,
primarily boards and office staff, will be held on the following dates
and locations:
October 25, 2012 in Iola
October 30, 2012 in Garden City
October 31, 2012 in Colby
November 1, 2012 in Manhattan
November 6, 2012 in Pratt
Additional details and registration will be available soon. --Stacey Warner swarner@ksu.edu and Jim Lindquist jlindqui@ksu.edu
LOOK FOR ANSWERS IN KSRE STYLE GUIDE
Several readers had questions about the "Holiday Pop Quiz" in the December 20, 2011, Tuesday Letter.
The Communications Minute segments are intended to familiarize
K-State Research and Extension staff members with services and instruction offered by the Department of Communications. This segment was intended to focus on the KSRE Style Guide.
The style guide - and companion KSRE Branding Guide - were developed as references especially for employee use. The style guide addresses issues that are unique or might conflict in
The Associated Press Stylebook or Chicago Manual of Style - other great references for common writing questions. Having style and branding guides helps the organization maintain consistency and accuracy in appearance, usage, punctuation, and references to people and places in written materials.
The link takes users to the main page of the style guide. The "pop quiz" was intended as a fun way to use the guide to check writing style, punctuation, proper word use, and other questions that arise when writing newspaper columns, newsletters, fact sheets, and other consumer-oriented material.
Thanks for the questions! The sentences below follow recommended style.
We have been eating cookies every day for the past month.
Our Christmas tree is at least 20 years old.
The university is closed from the end of the day Dec. 23, 2011, until 8 a.m. Jan. 3, 2012.
We'll ring in the new year at midnight Dec. 31.
New Year's resolutions often include plans for healthful eating and increased activity.
--Nancy Zimmerli-Cates nancyz@ksu.edu
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