The Tuesday Letter
Agricultural Experiment Station & Cooperative Extension Service
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
(Vol. 19 No. 8)
IN THIS ISSUE...
WORD FROM THE ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR - EXTENSION AND APPLIED RESEARCH
I found this video to be thought provoking when it comes to the awesome task ahead and into the next generation. Gives a very good visual perspective on the challenge of producing enough food within the world we live.
Found it interesting as well to take a look at the Best Food Facts Website. You can follow this link to find a list of experts, many of whom I know professionally from across Land-grant universities. More background information about The Center for Food Integrity and the development of this website can be found following those links. I like how they have created a platform for the public to raise questions and get knowledgeable responses to their questions. Thought you might enjoy browsing through the websites.
My thanks to Gayle Price and Paula Peters for pointing me to this video and ultimately the websites.
Partnership meetings around the state are coming up in January. You can see information about registering for these meetings below. I really want you to invite and encourage your executive board members to attend one of the meetings. We will be engaging everyone in some strategic planning processes as we think about how Research and Extension can contribute to achieving the goals of being the best among Land-grant universities. This will be a great opportunity for your board members to share their vision, hope, aspirations, and action steps for Kansas State to best serve the people of Kansas through Research and Extension.
You'll note that our meeting locations for Partnership Meetings 2013 are different. We hope to create new connections and networks among board members that cross those imaginary boundaries we call administrative areas. This will be a great way to share and receive new thoughts and ideas on how best to pursue the mission of Cooperative Extension across this great state.
This is the final Tuesday Letter for 2012. As you, your families, and your friends travel to be with one another in this holiday season, I wish you all a safe and joyous holiday. May you find peace and joy in this time where people of Christian faith celebrate Christmas and we all look forward to entering into a new year! The next Tuesday Letter will be published on January 8, following a K-State football victory in the Fiesta Bowl on January 3.
Be safe, have fun, and find some time to relax, reflect, and enjoy the blessings that have come to you in 2012. Have a great 3 weeks, and I'll look forward to seeing you all again in 2013! --Daryl Buchholz dbuchhol@ksu.edu
TECHNOLOGY UNIT UPDATE - DAVID DUNN
We would like to bring you up to date on issues affecting
the Technology unit and support to counties throughout the state.
As you may be aware, there have been some medical issues that
legally prevent Dave Dunn from driving for a period of 6 months. We are
working on several ways that Dave can still perform his duties and we can
provide you with essential service during this period time.
Here is our plan:
1. When support issues arise, the first step is to call
either Dave, 785-261-1795; or tech support, 785-532-6270, and attempt to identify
and resolve the issue remotely. If tech support or Dave determine the issue
cannot be resolved remotely, arrangements will be made to send the equipment to
an area office, to Dave's home, or to campus for repair. If the equipment
cannot be removed from the county, on-site repair will be scheduled with Dave,
Gary Kepka, or Steve Spencer.
2. A part-time driver will be hired to drive Dave 1-2 days
per week. We are requesting that computers that need repair be taken to the
area office where Dave can travel and work on equipment there or pick it up to
take back to his home to repair. Having the computers in fewer spots to service
will help make effective use of the driver's time. Dave will also be able to
travel to counties when necessary. It is also acceptable for county personnel
to send a driver to pick Dave up and drive him to the office where repairs are
needed if the county office prefers.
Unfortunately, our IT support staff is hindered with Russ
Feldhausen leaving the unit on December 7. A majority of Russ's duties have been
reassigned to Gary Kepka.
We appreciate your patience and understanding while we
attempt to continue to provide the level of support that you expect from our
unit.
If you have any questions about the proposed support plan or
any suggestions or issues for the technology unit, please feel free to contact
me via email or at 785-532-6270. --Joe Lear learj@ksu.edu
DIVERSITY PROGRAMS OFFICE UPDATE
Season’s greetings from the Diversity Programs Office! The past week has been very successful for the DPO. The December Giving Tree that MANRRS sponsored and coordinated has been very successful. Thank you to all of those who donated and supported the cause. The items that were donated benefit children attending the Kansas State University Center for Child Development.
Additionally, this past week Dr. Wiley traveled to Tuskegee to attend the 70th Annual Professional Agricultural Workers Conference (PAWC). At this conference, Dr. Wiley accepted the L.A. Potts Success Story award on behalf of the Diversity Programs Office’s success with the KSRE Multicultural Fellow Program. Chassity Wright, who was a participant of the 2011 KSRE Fellow cohort and also returned this summer as a participant in the SUROP program, won first place in the undergraduate oral research contest for her research conducted during her participation in the KSRE Fellow program.
The Transfer BRIDGE Program closing ceremony was held December 6, 2012. This program was established to assist with the retention and graduation of transfer students. Transfer students who participate in this program, enroll in a course designed to help students become multiculturally competent; they are also paired with faculty mentors who will guide them through the research process. Dr. Zelia Wiley and Dr. Anita Dille are the coordinators of this program, and it has currently hosted two cohorts. The two participants (Katelyn Salmans and Gilberto Mendoza) from this second cohort presented their findings from research conducted with their faculty mentors (Dr. Teresa Douthit and Dr. John Gonzalez).
As some of you may know, three College of Agriculture students participated in the 14th Annual Ms. Black and Gold Scholarship Pageant; Jocelyn Clemons, Allison Diederich, and Egypt Edwards. Jocelyn Clemons (Senior- Ag. Tech. Mgt.) won first place, and was crowned Miss Black and Gold 2012-2013.
As the year comes to a close, we are happy to see our students graduate or move on to new endeavors. Our practicum student, Maggie Roque, will be leaving at the end of the semester to continue her education. Maggie will be graduating in May 2013 with her M.S. in College Student Development. It has been a pleasure having her in the office and we are sad to see her go!
Happy Holidays to you all and have a wonderful break! --Zelia Z. Wiley, Ph.D – Assistant Dean of Diversity, Daja Menfee – Graduate Assistant, Maggie Roque – Practicum Student, Simone Holliday – Undergraduate Assistant, Gabe Ojeda – Undergraduate Assistant, and Tyler Warta – Undergraduate Assistant.
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