The Tuesday Letter
Agricultural Experiment Station & Cooperative Extension Service
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
(Vol. 19 No. 12)
IN THIS ISSUE...
WORD FROM THE ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR - EXTENSION AND APPLIED RESEARCH
Partnership meetings across the state are on-going this week. The series of meetings are happening in Ottawa, Abilene, Great Bend, and Scott City. We chose this configuration to bring board members from across administrative area lines (i.e., NW and SW together in Scott City). Our Extension Advisory Council wanted to encourage different discussions. The theme is "K-State 2025: A Vision for Research and Extension." How will Research and Extension function in 2025 if it is to flourish and be of greater value to the people of Kansas? We are asking board members and agents "Why will Research and Extension be valued in 2025?" and "How will Research and Extension be better in 2025 than we are today?"
One consideration to ponder is that most advancement comes through change. In the past 20 years we've seen a transformation of 40 local units into 14 Extension Districts. In July 2013, Ellsworth and Russell Counties will become Midway Extension District #15. Is this model working? In November 2011 we asked Extension district board members and directors that very question. Their responses were as follows:
Outcomes in Districting. Outcomes and themes emerged with respect to what it has meant to have organized into an Extension district.
• Unanimous agreement (both board members and employees of districts) that the district structure is an improvement over what they had previously in the individual county council structure. When asked if they believed they were better off in this structure, the unanimous response was “yes.” When asked if they wanted to return to a county council structure, the unanimous response was “no.”
• New programming - Extension agents have been able to expand offerings of educational programs over what the capacity had been in a county structure previously and audience participation has improved.
• Specialization - Extension agents have reduced duplication of responsibilities which has allowed for specialization and greater focus and depth of expertise in responding to the interests and educational needs of clientele.
• Expanding audience - With specialization and new programming, Extension agents are experiencing a growth in audiences served as compared to their county-based capacity. In some examples, these audiences are totally new to Extension educational programming within the district because of the new focus and expertise of an agent in the district.
• Financial stabilization - The Extension district board has an improved ability to stabilize the financial resources resulting in a more efficient, effective use of resources and the resulting programming. Long-term planning can now occur and that results in greater savings, more responsiveness of emerging educational opportunities, and financial efficiencies.
• Workforce stabilization - Through long-term planning and resource stabilization, a greater ability to reduce uncertainties occurs such that a high performing workforce is being achieved. Some belief that the district structure in the long run will reduce workforce turnover. Some expressed pleasure in how collegial the district team of agents and staff have become.
• Hiring to Needs - New staffing has offered opportunity to hire for needed specialization. Opportunities are now achievable in hiring for ethnic, culture, or language diversity. New agents seem to assimilate quickly and with seemingly less effort into the district structure.
• Improved community relations - Improved communication and relations were noted with the county commission as compared to when in a county structure. Additionally, specialized agents are able to be more responsive to community-based issues and needs.
• Youth experiences - Districts have increased the opportunities for positive youth experiences through increased project opportunities, district-wide events for youth in meeting others outside their local community, and improved participation in regional/statewide events. When left to the youth, the district model is working very effectively in increasing the opportunity for positive growth and learning.
With 14 experiments currently running across the state and more being developed, Extension Districts are certainly an option to consider in visioning the future of Research and Extension in Kansas. How can that model be improved? Are there other considerations that will make Research and Extension even stronger in its mission, relevance and value by 2025? If you'd like to read more about the Districting Summit, follow to this link, and scroll to bottom of the page to find these reports. Also, check out the success stories in Districts by following this link.
Have a great week! --Daryl Buchholz dbuchhol@ksu.edu
2013 KANSAS 4-H AMBASSADOR TRAINING - LAST CALL FOR REGISTRATION
The 2013 Kansas 4-H Ambassador Training will be February 22-23 at the Rock Springs 4-H Center. It is open to all county/district 4-H Ambassadors, Ambassador advisors and Extension staff. The theme is: “Revolution of Leadership.” There will be an all new “60 Seconds to Win It” activity. Exciting workshops include: True Colors Revolution, The Revolution of Leadership, The Revolution of Recruitment, The Revolution of Games and Initiatives, and The Vibrant Video Revolution with Greg Peterson whose video, “I Farm and I Grow It,” was a smashing viral success on YouTube in 2012. We’ll also have special workshops for all county/district advisors and Extension staff. Workshop numbers are capped, so don’t delay in registering. Check for local Extension deadline and participation requirements.
For full details visit: http://www.kansas4-h.org/p.aspx?tabid=421. Registration is due February 1, with late registrations accepted until February 6. To register visit: http://www.kansas4h.org/p.aspx?tabid=317. For more information, please call Deryl Waldren at 785-462-6281, or e-mail at dwaldren@ksu.edu.--Deryl Waldren dwaldren@ksu.edu
'MASTER OF MEMORY' PROGRAM TRAINING WEBINAR SCHEDULED FOR FEBRUARY 1
People of all ages forget, but older people tend to worry
more about forgetting and memory loss. The Master
of Memory program encourages participants to recognize how they can identify,
evaluate, and impact their memory function. The six-lesson series includes
presentations on memory and learning, memory strategies, nutrition,
medications, medical conditions, and exercise for the body and mind.
The Master of Memory program has been used in Texas for several years and was developed by Andrew B. Crocker, M.S., Extension
Program Specialist II, Gerontology and Health, Texas A & M AgriLife Extension
Service. Program evaluation
results indicate that generally, participants show a reduction in negative
attitudes related to memory and aging and demonstrate an increased
understanding and higher confidence levels in their ability to take action
regarding their memory functioning.
Any agent interested in
offering the Master of Memory program
in their local communities is required to attend the webinar training offered
by Mr. Crocker on February 1 at 10:00 a.m. CT. This training will introduce agents to the
subject of memory and aging, provide a review of the program structure, and
generally prepare agents to deliver and evaluate the Master of Memory program. You do NOT have to register to attend the live webinar.
The training will be recorded and available for viewing for agents unable to attend on February 1. You must email Deb Sellers at dsellers@ksu.edu AFTER February 1 for the link to the recording.
Please test your computer before entering the meeting room at http://connect.ksre.ksu.edu/common/help/en/support/meeting_test.htm
To enter the meeting room, simply
click on the following link on February 1 at 10 a.m. CT. http://connect.ksre.ksu.edu/pftada1/
For further information, help
and resources, go to the TechWeb site at www.ksre.ksu.edu/technology --Deb Sellers dsellers@ksu.edu
INVITATION TO ATTEND SOCIAL EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT FORUM DURING AGENT UPDATE - FEBRUARY 12
During the February Agent Update, agents are invited to participate in a community forum (share fair, meal and
presentation) on February 12, 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. about social emotional development in childhood and adolescence.
Susan
Jack, national consultant with the US Department of Education - Technical Assistance Center on Social Emotional Intervention for Young
Children (TACSEI) - is presenting at the Agent Update the morning of February 13, and will make a community presentation the evening before
on February 12 (Tuesday) from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Frith Conference Room, Jardine Apartment Complex, Manhattan. A light dinner will be
served at 5:30 p.m. Jack's presentation will highlight Vanderbilt University's CSEFEL Pyramid Model which promotes social emotional
competence and prevents challenging behavior (e.g., bullying, conflict) among children in childcare and afterschool settings.
Contact Jackie Cox, cox1@ksu.edu, by February 4, to register for the community forum on February 12. Contact Elaine Johannes, ejohanne@ksu.edu or Bronwyn Fees, fees@ksu.edu if you have questions about this valuable opportunity. --Elaine Johannes ejohanne@ksu.edu
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