The Tuesday Letter
Agricultural Experiment Station & Cooperative Extension Service
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
(Vol. 18 No. 39)
IN THIS ISSUE...
WORD FROM THE ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR - EXTENSION AND APPLIED RESEARCH
Each week I pull together some thoughts or information for this lead article. Believe it or not, I try to hone in on topics that relate in some way to building strong local programs, or increasing the professional competencies of the work force, or finding ways to be more accepting and inclusive of people who are different.
This week, I'd begin by reminding everyone that Dr. John Floros will begin his new role as Dean of the College of Agriculture and Director of the Ag Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service at Kansas State University on Wednesday, August 1! You can send him a word of welcome. His email address is floros@ksu.edu.
And, our very heart-filled thanks to Gary Pierzynski, gmp@ksu.edu, for his leadership over the past 2 1/2 years as interim Dean and Director. Gary did an awesome job with his full attention and energy. He did not allow K-State Research and Extension to slow its pace one bit over that time. He heads back to the department of Agronomy where he will resume his role as Department Head. And, I know that Gary would want people to recognize Bill Schapaugh, wts@ksu.edu, for his great leadership as interim Head of Agronomy during this same 2 1/2 years. Bill moves back into his faculty role.
It's exciting times, even with the enduring heat. At times one might wonder if your individual work is really important. I was reminded of that question in a recent speech I heard. Cooperative Extension has a presence in all 50 states and 6 territories, some over 3000 counties. How can your individual work matter? Cooperative Extension needs each and every one of its workforce and volunteers contributing in positive ways, for it is the collective work across the nation that lifts the hope and desire for positive change among farmers, families, youth, and communities. Cooperative Extension accomplishes its great work, not with one great vocalist, but with everyone who can contribute their expertise to create a much greater choir!
Stay focused, stay positive, and stay the course of contributing your creativity, expertise, and positive influences as you deliver relevant, reliable, responsive, and remarkable programs towards the mission of K-State Research and Extension. Together, we will continue to make positive difference in this state and nation through the great educational programs and information used by the clientele we reach.
Thanks for all you do, and have a great week! --Daryl Buchholz dbuchhol@ksu.edu
KSRE AWARD NOMINATIONS SOUGHT
The K-State Research and Extension Awards Lunch will be on Wednesday, October 17, during Annual Conference.
This
is our annual opportunity to recognize outstanding colleagues. I
encourage you to review the award categories below and nominate someone
by Tuesday, August 7.
The
nomination should include a maximum of two pages of information
summarizing the criteria for which the individual is being nominated.
Include the name, title, address, phone number and email of both the
nominee as well as the nominator(s).
Previous recipients of the awards are listed on the Employee Resources website. Go to www.ksre.ksu.edu/employee_resources. Click on Nominations for Awards in the center of the page.
BUILDER AWARDS
- These awards recognize individuals who have exhibited extra energy
and creativity over a number of years in building new programs,
audiences or institutions within K-State Research and Extension.
DIVERSITY AWARD
- K-State Research and Extension is committed to diversity in
programming, workforce and relationships with other organizations.
Nominees for this award will be individuals who have embraced and
demonstrated this vision.
TEAM AWARD - The Team
Award acknowledges outstanding efforts by a group of individuals
addressing one of the Strategic Opportunities of K-State Research and
Extension.
MENTORING AWARD - K-State Research
and Extension faculty are encouraged to nominate a mentor who has helped
them and others achieve higher performance and productivity. One award
will be presented to an extension agent mentor and one to an area or
campus-based faculty mentor.
LOCAL UNIT OFFICE PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR
County
and district offices are encouraged to nominate an office professional
who demonstrates initiative, productivity, creativity, adaptability,
teamwork, and service.
UNCLASSIFIED EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR
(for the College of Agriculture and all divisions of K-State Research
and Extension on and off-campus). This award recognizes individuals
who are in unclassified non-tenure track positions. The nomination
should include information about special efforts and accomplishments.
For questions about the nominations or awards contact Stacey Warner, Awards Lunch Chair, at 785-532-3080, or swarner@ksu.edu.
I look forward to receiving the nominations by August 7.
Send all nominations electronically to Dorothy M. Doan, ddoan@ksu.edu, and include in the subject line: KSRE Award Nomination: <and name of award>.
Thanks! --Daryl Buchholz dbuchhol@ksu.edu
AUGUST 15 DEADLINE FOR ESP RECOGNITION APPLICATIONS/NOMINATIONS
It’s time
to recognize the outstanding Extension work you and your colleagues are doing.
Please apply or nominate someone for an Epsilon Sigma Phi (ESP) recognition
award by August 15.
This year a new process is being used to more closely align with national ESP
requirements. The form and full details, including recognition category
descriptions, are available on the ESP/Alpha Rho website, www.ksre.ksu.edu/esp-AlphaRho.
The 12 recognition categories are listed below:
Administrative Leadership
Horizon: County/District (2), Area (1), State (1)
Early Career
Mid-Career
Visionary Leadership
Meritorious Service: County/District (2), Area (1), State (1)
Distinguished Service
Distinguished Team
International Service
Diversity
Multicultural: Individual, Team
Retiree Service
Friend of Extension
To be eligible for recognition, individuals must be current members of ESP and
meet the guidelines for the recognition category. Email the completed form to
the ESP Recognition Chair, Libby Curry, lcurry@ksu.edu, by the August 15 deadline.
--Marie Blythe mblythe@ksu.edu
NORTH CENTRAL REGION VOLUNTEER FORUM
Please share the following with local 4-H Volunteers and consider attending yourself. The Forum is going to be the best 4-H Leadership learning experience you can imagine; don't miss it.
All Kansas 4-H Volunteers and staff working with 4-H are invited and encouraged to attend the upcoming North Central Region Volunteer Forum, October 11 – 14, Wichita. Early Bird registration will be closing soon, so register now at http://www.kansas4-h.org/p.aspx?tabid=314.
Full information on the Forum and links to registration and hotel reservations are all on the web at http://www.kansas4-h.org/p.aspx?tabid=314
or go to Kansas4-H.org and click on the Forum logo, “There’s No Place
Like 4-H.” Registration early bird is $200, (a 20% discount off the
registration fee. and the hotel room (Hyatt Hotel, Wichita, is $99 per
night). The Early Bird registration deadline, which was July 31, has
been extended to August 15 so all may make the
deadline. We know folks have been busy with fairs and want to make it
possible for them to get the discount. All Kansas 4-H Volunteers are
eligible for a $100 scholarship; application and information are on the
web just under the Forum information page.
Thanks for the scholarships go to the Kansas 4-H Foundation, Kansas Youth Council and the Monsanto Volunteer Development Initiative. They want you to attend; the application is very easy and if you send it in you will get a scholarship.
Forum will feature 50 workshops for participants in a wide variety of subjects relating to 4-H. Workshops will cover the range from technology to sewing, to 4-H Club management, to putting science in livestock projects, to photography, to rabbits, to service learning, to growing 4-H Science, to 4-H on the web, to games and activities to involve members, to there’s an app for that, to cake decorating, to foods, to robotics and on and on and on, so much more and workshops for everyone.
Three outstanding speakers will entertain and inspire Forum participants. Michelle Cummings will share Building Trust, its importance and how to do it. Dr. Barbara Stone, Kansas 4-H Program Leader, will share the Promise and Practice of Positive Youth Development and excite volunteers to implement Positive Youth Development practices in their leadership of youth. Dr. Lisa Lauxman, Director 4-H National Headquarters will remind listeners that there is “No Place Like 4-H” as she tells stories of 4-H successes. --Rod Buchele rbuchele@ksu.edu
MARIE'S PICKS . . .
This week my picks are the public value statement and outcomes from the 2011 Serving Food Safely--ServSafe--Nutrition, Food
Safety, and Health PFT; and a success story from David Coltain, River Valley Extension District.
The public value of food safety education and training programs is that Kansans are provided a safer dining environment, as well as the potential for fewer hospitalizations, reduced medical cost, fewer days of work missed due to illness, and increased productivity.
**In 2011, ServSafe Manager Classes reached more than 296 foodservice workers statewide. These classes resulted in 269 foodservice employees receiving Food Safety Certification. In 2011, 764 participants completed the ServSafe Starter Food Handler class.
Participants indicated that they increased knowledge and skills of food safety best practices. More than 90% of the participants indicated they plan to use what they learned at work and/or at home. Participants reported they intend to wash their hands, check food temperatures, and use food thermometers more often, and to be more cautious of cross contamination and food left out at room temperature.
**Clay
Center's business district had 20 planters in 2011 that River Valley Extension District Master
Gardeners helped plant. In 2012, 36 planters will be in the business
district. Business people enjoyed the flowers in the planters and
wanted to increase the number. --Marie Blythe mblythe@ksu.edu
HELP WANTED AT THE KANSAS STATE FAIR IN OUR BOOTHS AND AT ENTRANCE GATES
K-State Research and Extension and the College of Agriculture will once again have booths in the Pride of Kansas Building at the Kansas State Fair in Hutchinson from Friday, September 7, through Sunday, September 16, 2012.
In addition, K-State is planning the first annual "K-State Day at the Kansas State Fair" on Sunday, September 9. For this event, each of the 9 colleges as well as other K-State units and groups, including 4-H Youth Development, will have booths all together on the south side of the 4-H Centennial Building.
As part of "K-State Day at the Kansas State Fair," the Fair would like to have volunteers (agents, specialists, students, and alumni) work a couple hour shifts at the various entrances to the Fairgrounds. These volunteers will pass out maps of where the various K-State booths and events are on the Fairgrounds. Everyone should wear purple K-State shirts, khaki pants or shorts, and comfortable shoes.
If you are coming to the fair anyway, we invite you to sign up to work a couple of hours in a booth before or after your activities or hand out maps at an entrance gate. Any volunteers who work in a booth or at an entrance gate will be provided with free
tickets into the fair for the entire day.
Days and times that the KSRE/COA fair booths are open are:
Friday, September 7 - 11 a.m. - 9 p.m.
Saturday, September 8 - 9 a.m. - 9 p.m.
Sunday, September 9 - 9 a.m. - 9 p.m.
Sunday, September 9 - 9 a.m. - 9 p.m. (Fair Gate hours for us to work)
Monday, September 10 - 9 a.m. - 9 p.m.
Tuesday, September 11 – 9 a.m. - 9 p.m.
Wednesday, September 12 - 9 a.m. - 9 p.m.
Thursday, September 13 - 9 a.m. - 9 p.m.
Friday, September 14 - 9 a.m. - 9 p.m.
Saturday, September 15 - 9 a.m. - 9 p.m.
Sunday, September 16 - 9 a.m. - 7 p.m.
If you would like to work in the K-State Research and Extension booth or at an entrance gate, please contact Maria Sweet, marswe@ksu.edu, by August 24.
If you would like to work in the College of Agriculture booth or at an entrance gate, please contact Sandy Klein, sandy@ksu.edu, by August 24.
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
PART 3 FINNEY COUNTY HEALTH/WELL-BEING ASSESSMENT AND SOCIAL CAPITAL STUDY
This is the third installment of information about a study just completed in Finney County called, Community Assets Project. Data was on about 10% of the population through surveys and focus groups conducted in four languages better to understand the assets, needs, and social relationships of this human and ethnically diverse population.
Reporting the demographics to you will take one more installment beyond this. To begin, of those who completed written surveys, there were 131 males (28%) and 321 females (69%). Twelve (12) survey respondents did not list gender (2.6%). In analyses, we recognized that females dominated completion of the surveys. The 2010 U. S. Census showed Finney County with a 50% female population. Citing a larger population than was reported, City of Garden City leaders appealed the Census results. That yielded seven (7) more people (Garden City Telegram, March 30, & April 4, 2012). For this study, we did not feel that it made a significant difference, mathematically, in terms of results, so no measures were taken to give extra weight to males. We analyzed numbers as they were presented.
Household Size
The most common household size of respondents was two people (26%). The next most common household size was one and four (18% each). Three in a household was 16%, Five: 9%, Six: 6%, and 5% of respondents have 7-10 in the household.
Years Lived in Finney County
About 37% of respondents have lived in Finney County for more than 20 years. The majority of respondents have lived in the county for 16 or more years. So, about half of the representative populations identified in this study have lived in Finney County for fewer than 16 years and the other half have lived in the county for more than 16 years. The overall population of Finney County appears to be rather stable when you consider the number of people who were not born in the United States. The table illustrates primary language at home and if U.S. is country of origin.
|
Primary Language at Home |
Other languages spoken in home |
Born in U.S. |
|
English 69% |
English – 21.0% |
Yes 47.2% |
|
Spanish 23.3% |
Spanish – 35.3% |
No 51.1% |
|
Somali 2.2% |
Somali – 2.1% |
|
|
Karen/Chin/Burmese 3.0% |
Burmese/Karen/Chin – 1.7% |
|
|
Chinese .6 % |
|
|
|
Vietnamese .9 % |
Swahili – (1) .2% |
|
Interestingly, 69% of people list English as the primary language spoken at home, yet more than half of respondents said they were not born in the United States. The online survey was offered only in English. Three respondents listed two languages other than English as primary home-spoken languages: 2 – Spanish, and 1 – Burmese/Chin. Other languages include Afrikaans, Japanese, Punjabi, Hindi, French, Ethiopian, and Swahili. 24% said they read and write their adopted English language. Next week, I’ll report more demographics. --Debra Bolton dbolton@ksu.edu
|