The Tuesday Letter
Agricultural Experiment Station & Cooperative Extension Service
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
(Vol. 18 No. 50)
IN THIS ISSUE...
WORD FROM THE ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR - EXTENSION AND APPLIED RESEARCH
KSRE Annual Conference 2012 is officially underway with Tuesday being predominately meetings of the associations for Extension professionals. Looking forward to a great week with loads of networking, informative sessions, updates, and an inspiring keynote address on the significance of the Morrill Act and being a land-grant University.
I had a great time last Friday, October 12, providing welcome to the North Central Region 4-H Volunteer Forum attendees. Volunteers were present from all 12 states in the North Central Region from North Dakota to Michigan to Ohio and back to Kansas. In my remarks, I described how it was that 4-H was totally connected to the land-grant university system. I was surprised by the remarks of a couple individuals after my presentation that they had never understood the connection of 4-H and the land-grant University!
I also talked of a study we did this past spring at the request of a state legislator to provide information on the leveraging of the public funds for 4-H through the use of approved volunteers. In 2010, we reported a total of 7,563 volunteers working with 62,628 youth through 4-H experiences. Through a north central region study, it was determined that the "average" 4-H volunteer gives 566 hours of service annually. That adds up to over 4 million hours of volunteer service provided to KSRE 4-H work annually. Another way to look at that is in full time equivalents (2080 work hours per year). That would add up to over 2000 FTE's of volunteer work, compared to an estimated 84 FTE's of paid professionals working on 4-H within KSRE, or that each FTE of paid 4-H professionals would have 24.5 FTE's of 4-H volunteers working with them or on their behalf!! What's more, if we paid all these volunteers the going hourly wage rate for such a position (~$17.80 / hour), that would have been a total payroll of $76 million (roughly 1.5X the total budget of Cooperative Extension in Kansas)! Amazing numbers that truly emphasize the value of the volunteer, and that's just 4-H.
Volunteers in Extension programming are critical. We benefit from their involvement. They benefit from their involvement. 4-H volunteers model the way for the future of people participating in the experiences. Professional development HAS to be a part of a volunteer's commitment and of the organization benefiting from the volunteer needs to see that appropriate professional development is available to volunteers. The Volunteer Forum was a great professional development experience. Congratulate and thank any volunteers from your Extension district or county who participated in the forum.
My specials thanks and congrats to the volunteer co-chairs, Jan Keim, River Valley District; and Donna Maskus, Ellis County; for their great work, and to all members of the planning committee and all who helped to make the event such a great success for all the participants. Rod Buchele also gets my kudos!
In Kansas, I challenge each of you to motivate and involve ever increasing numbers of trained volunteers to help carry forward the Extension mission! Have a great week! --Daryl Buchholz dbuchhol@ksu.edu
KANSAS HEALTH FOUNDATION PROFESSOR OF COMMUNITY HEALTH CANDIDATE INTERVIEWS ANNOUNCED
On behalf of the search committee for the Kansas Health Foundation Professor of Community Health position, I invite you to meet the candidates for the position on October 22 (Monday) and October 24 (Wednesday). This
position is intended to be a liaison and resource between K-State
Research and Extension, KU Medical Center, community health partners,
Kansas citizens and funders.
You and your colleagues are invited to attend the candidate seminars, meet the candidates
and provide feedback as to their qualifications and potential. The candidates and the times/locations
for their seminars to present their "Vision for community health, to
include culturally and ethnically diverse populations, through [Kansas]
Cooperative Extension" are:
Dr. Londa
Nwadike (currently at
University of Vermont, Extension Food Safety)
Seminar: Monday, October 22,
10-11 a.m. in Justin Hall 167
In addition to her seminar time,
an opportunity for all University faculty to meet Dr. Nwadike is Monday, October
22, 2:30-3:30 p.m. in Justin Hall 167.
Dr. Roberta
Riportella (currently at
University of Wisconsin, Department of Consumer Science)
Seminar: Monday, October 22,
1:15 - 2:15 p.m. in Justin Hall 167
In addition to her seminar time,
an opportunity for all University faculty to meet Dr. Riportella is Monday, October
22, 3:45-4:45 p.m. in Justin Hall 254.
Dr. Brenda
McDaniel (currently at
Kansas State University, Department of Psychology)
Seminar: Wednesday, October 24, 10-11 a.m. in Justin Hall 167
In addition to her seminar time,
an opportunity for all University faculty to meet Dr. McDaniel is Wednesday,
October 24; 3:45-4:45 p.m. in Justin Hall 167.
Candidate
seminars will be live web-streamed and will be posted for viewing at the K-State Research and Extension
Seminars/Interviews website at http://www.ksre.ksu.edu/Seminars/p.aspx?tabid=370. Curriculum
vitae and interview
feedback forms and Axio Survey links will also be available along with the candidates'
seminars. Feedback forms and survey
responses are due not later than Friday, October 26, at 5 p.m.
Please contact me or a search committee member if you have questions.
Search Committee members include:
Dr. Sandy Procter, Human Nutrition
Debra Bolton, SW Area Extension Office
Trudy Rice, Community Development
Lisa Martin, Shawnee County Extension
Anthony Wellever, Department of Family Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center
Dr. Elaine Johannes (Chair), School of Family Studies and Human Services
--Elaine Johannes ejohanne@ksu.edu
2012 FALL FORESTRY FIELD DAY
On
Friday, October 19, Kansas Forest Service
is sponsoring a Fall Forest Field Day at the Kickapoo Pow Wow Grounds in
Horton. Since the 19,200 acre reservation sits on a rock formation that
blocks access to groundwater, a large focus of the field day will be
the important role trees play in sustaining water quality and quantity. Topics
include: Identifying Kansas trees, tree planting demonstration and
tips, rehabilitating stream corridors, assessing wildlife habitat, tips
on selling Kansas timber, and a sawmill demonstration.
Registration
is $12, and includes lunch. Although registration was due October 15, there's still time! Contact Leslye Haller, at 785-532-3300, or email lahaller@ksu.edu if you have questions or need more information. Or you can visit our website to see a copy of the brochure at http://www.kansasforests.org/resources/news/calendar/FFD%20Brochure%202012.pdf. For a news release, visit http://www.kansasforests.org/resources/news/calendar/FFD%202012%20-%20News%20Release.pdf. Hope to see you all there! --Leslye Haller lahaller@ksu.edu
MOBILE APPS FOR BETTER HEALTH
 Smartphones are changing our culture and they could help facilitate better health in new, more convenient ways.
Research
has shown that when we track habits, such as physical activity and
foods we eat, we are more likely to stay on target. We become more
mindful of our behavior and it can be very motivating. Staying on target
toward health goals for days, weeks and months will lead to a more
healthful lifestyle for years.
The
key is to find a method of tracking that works best for you. It could
be as simple as making notes on a calendar or keeping a log. Mobile apps
offer more sophisticated tracking ability, and they can also provide
feedback. There are currently about 40,000 mobile health apps for
tablets and smartphones. Many areas of health are covered including
diet, exercise, sleep and blood pressure.
While
younger adults are more likely than older people to have a smartphone,
health apps can be helpful to people of any age. A recent study at
Stanford University focused on Americans ages 45 - 77 and showed that
smartphone apps motivated more than two-thirds of the participants to
make healthful changes in their lifestyle. The smartphone apps delivered
nudges aimed at one target behavior -- walking more, sitting less or
eating better -- and continued for 8 weeks.
Are
you tracking personal lifestyle habits (food, exercise, sleep, etc.) or
health information (blood pressure, cholesterol, etc.? Take a few
moments to think about what would work best for you -- a simple calendar
or log, a mobile app, a spreadsheet? For more information on mobile
apps for health, go to www.healthyyou.ksre.ksu.edu. --Sharolyn Jackson sharolyn@ksu.edu
MARIE'S PICKS . . .
This morning as I listened to NPR and learned of the huge number of people who overspent
on their prescriptions through Medicare Part D, I was reminded of the
work of KSRE personnel involved with Senior Health Insurance Counseling
for Kansas (SHICK).
During Medicare open enrollment for 2011-12, 16 agents/specialists reported:
•
Helping guide 6125 Medicare beneficiaries to compare insurance company
plans and reevaluate their Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage.
• The number of counseled beneficiaries increased by 2589 from fall 2010.
•
With savings based on the cost difference from 2011 to 2012 plans: More than $3 million was saved by Kansas Medicare beneficiaries--an
average of $840 per person who switched to a more cost effective Part D
plan.
The following success stories were reported by Mary Lou Odle, Central Kansas District:
**A woman had stopped taking her diabetic medicine as it was expensive
and she could not afford it. We discussed her options and how she could
apply to the manufacturer to possibly get it free. She called a few
weeks later to report she was approved and will get over $3200 a year in
free medicine, and she is relieved to know she can again control her
diabetes.
**Elderly couple was eating oatmeal at most meals as
they did not have money to buy food after paying for their drugs. They
were too proud to ask for help from the food bank and did not want to go
on Medicaid. After learning about options for Extra Help with their
drug plan and possible payment for their medicare premiums, they agreed
to apply. They received assistance and report they are now able to eat
better.
**Elderly man received assistance from SHICK counselor to apply
for extra help and select his drug plan. After being approved for the
extra help, he became very ill with a dangerous bacteria. His doctor
prescribed a medication that cost $1000 a month. The doctor said he had
to take the medication or he would die. Fortunately his drug plan
covered the medication, and because he qualified for extra help, the
medication only cost him $6.30. His wife said they did not have $1000 to
buy the medication if it had not been covered by his drug plan and
extra help. So basically, because he came to see a SHICK counselor, his
life was saved.
**Asian man who recently had heart surgery needed
assistance and information on how to get needed drugs. Because he reads
very little English, he did not respond to a letter requesting
information and his drug and other assistance for health care lapsed.
After phone calls to Medicare and SRS, and his drug plan, he was
reinstated so he once again has coverage for drugs and other assistance
with health care costs. --Marie Blythe mblythe@ksu.edu
PART 13 FINNEY COUNTY HEALTH/WELL-BEING ASSESSMENT AND SOCIAL CAPITAL STUDY
The impetus for this study not only included the need to
know about the health of this community (Finney County), there was also the
desire to re-visit the idea of the social well-being. A previous study marked Finney County as
ranking lowest in Social Capital when compared to Dickinson County and some
urban populations. Naturally, a highly
homogeneous population, such as the aforementioned county, is going to rank well in levels of social
interaction and community engagement.
Homogeneity suggests shared values, shared ideas, shared identity, and
shared beliefs. Finney County, with its
52% non-Anglo population, is a Minority-Majority, greatly heterogeneous. People living in such a diverse population
are going to have to work a bit harder to connect with one another to build
social capital.
Most of us gauging social capital in communities tend to
borrow the measurement tool from Robert Putnam, its contemporary champion, who
brought forth the ideas first promulgated by French political thinker, Alexis
de Tocqueville in the late 19th century. Putnam’s measures tend to
favor a White middle class. Therefore,
if one is going to reach a highly heterogeneous population, a more deliberate
process is necessary to reach an under-represented populace. The previous study
omitted at least half the population in Finney County by surveying respondents
who only spoke English and had land-line telephone access. Qualitative
interviews reached 13 people who were asked about community engagement of the
county’s “minority” populations. It was
second-hand information.
With that said, it is important to know that it was a
deliberate choice to learn about the health, educational, and social
relationships of more than the English-speaking population of Finney
County. The multi-lingual,
culturally-appropriate study did, in fact, find evidence of community
engagement and inter-social connections in and among Anglo and non-Anglo
populations. Measurements of social
capital include formal and informal social interactions, community
participation, trust of people in general, trust of law enforcement
representatives, faith-based involvement, political participation (including
voting), and financial donations. Putnam’s
line of questioning is considered biased, because political participation
excluded, for example, public demonstrations and leaned toward formal
activities like voting, holding an elected office, and supporting a political
candidate. For instance, when a
respondent, born in Mexico, was asked about his/her political involvement in the
United States, questions were answered to the negative. However, when asked about political involvement
in the home country, the answer was, “yes”. Qualitatively, we found that political demonstrations were a way of life
as collective action to meet basic needs such as heating in the schools,
updated school text books, and the acquisition of school lunch programs. That is involvement in the political process,
but it is informal, so it is a measurement missed by Putnam. Financial donations and volunteering are two
other measures of social capital. When
questioning went beyond donating to or volunteering for formal institutions, we
heard answers like, “we help our neighbors with some money when they are having
a hard time.” Institutions that our
under-represented respondents always donated to were their churches. Qualitatively, we found that giving to the
church ranked high in importance. Informal volunteering included walking the
neighbor’s children to school and walking them back home as a safety measure. Those examples demonstrate reciprocity and
community involvement, both hallmarks of social capital.
These explanations now set the stage for better
understanding of results of our social capital measurements, which will be
reported next week. Thank you for
reading my entries, and if you would like references, please don’t hesitate to
ask. --Debra Bolton dbolton@ksu.edu
DIVERSITY PROGRAMS OFFICE UPDATE
Happy Tuesday from the Diversity Programs Office! The past couple weeks have been eventful for us. MANRRS students have had several opportunities to connect with some of our corporate sponsors, including Cargill and Horizons. They are currently preparing for the MANRRS Region V Cluster Meeting, which is October 19-21, and is hosted by University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana this year.
The Diversity Catalyst Team had a successful meeting at the end of September and is preparing for the Navigating Differences Training that will be held on November 13-15. The training is designed to assist professionals in expanding their skills in working with diverse audiences. The agenda and sessions are currently being solidified and the team is very excited and thankful for the Extension professionals who have registered. Further Navigating Differences Training sessions will be offered in 2013. The dates and locations are listed below:
March 12 – March 14, 2013 in Wichita
April 15 – April 18, 2013 in ChanuteMay 21 – May 23, 2013 in Colby
November 12 – November 14, in Salina
More information regarding these sessions, including how to register, will follow in future Tuesday Letters. Thank you for your participation and support in these training initiatives.
The DPO has also celebrated several birthdays over the past two weeks, including Undergraduate Assistant Simone Holliday, Graduate Assistant Daja Menfee, and Assistant Dean of Diversity, Dr. Zelia Wiley! Happy birthday!
Finally, as many of you may know, Dr. Zelia Wiley is currently dealing with an ankle injury. She is thankful for the kind gestures and care that many of you have shown and is still on the mend. We hope you have a wonderful week! --Zelia Z. Wiley zwiley@ksu.edu
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