The Tuesday Letter
Agricultural Experiment Station & Cooperative Extension Service
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
(Vol. 19 No. 18)
IN THIS ISSUE...
WORD FROM THE ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR - EXTENSION AND APPLIED RESEARCH
Farm Bill Update. As some of you may be aware, Senator Roberts has proposed
changes/savings in SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) funding, including
elimination of the educational work that directly impacts KSRE nutrition
education programs. You can read about
Senator Roberts’ proposal by clicking on this hot link. KSRE has had the
benefit of roughly $2.4 million in grant funding annually through the SNAP
education program. That educational work has demonstrated great impact in Kansas and nationally
across the Cooperative Extension system. Here are links to those impact reports:
Kansas Impact Report; National Impact Report. With
the assistance of Dr. Sue Peterson, Director of Government Relations at
K-State, Paula Peters, Sandy Procter, and I have had the opportunity to be in
communication with Senator Roberts' office to understand what is happening and to
be able communicate appropriately with all of you.
We have also been in dialog with our national Association of Public and Land-grant Universities contacts,
and here are some most important points to keep in mind at this time:
1. Since SNAP-Ed is part of SNAP, it was our understanding
that SNAP-Ed will be exempt from the FY 2013 across-the-board cuts
(sequestration) that took effect on March 1. Unfortunately, however, the 28%
reduction that already took place in the American Taxpayer Relief Act (ATRA)
for FY 2013 has not changed.
2. Although SNAP-Ed funding levels for FY 2014 and beyond
were also set in ATRA and do not continue the 28% cut, we must prepare for the
possibility that the funding levels will be revisited in the Farm Bill. SNAP-Ed - and nutrition programs in general - are under intense scrutiny and remain at
risk for further cuts.
3. Senator Pat Roberts (R-KS) introduced a bill last week
(S. 458) that would completely eliminate the SNAP-Ed program, among other cuts.
However, S. 458 is only intended to begin discussion on Farm Bill
reauthorization regarding nutrition. We are encouraged to NOT overreact to the
mere introduction of this bill.
4. The Association of Public and Land Grant Universities
(APLU) and their advocacy group are carefully monitoring developments and have
already reached out to Senator Roberts and others. In addition, we have provided information to Senator Roberts after learning about his
bill, regarding the deleterious effects of SNAP-Ed elimination. As you might
guess, this issue is complicated from both a political and policy standpoint.
Nationally, we will be engaging members from both sides of the aisle as it
moves through the legislative process.
5. What we are doing at this time is continuing to
communicate the impact we are having with the limited resource families and
individuals in Kansas through the SNAP-Ed (FNP) program. We are also working to
connect with Senator Roberts in further dialog. We ask that you continue to
serve Kansas families with strong FNP educational programs and communicate your IMPACT at
the local level with your director, your board, commissioners, other community
stakeholders and local legislators.
Remember, that as state employees we are not permitted by
state laws and university policy to lobby. We will keep you informed of any further developments as they occur. If you have questions, please ask.
Thanks, and have a great week! --Daryl Buchholz duchhol@ksu.edu
COMM TIPS: NEWSLETTER CONTENT BASICS - MARCH 13
Comm Tips Next Program: Newsletter Content Basics - Wednesday, March 13, 9 a.m.
Presented by - Susan Berhow, KSU Foundation
This
week’s CommTips features Susan Berhow, assistant director of
communications for the KSU Foundation. This year, Susan has been
offering newsletter trainings for campus departments. She reviewed
several of our agent newsletters and will provide some insight on how
K-State Research and Extension staff can improve our newsletters.
Join us for Comm Tips every Wednesday at 9 a.m. between February 20 and April 17. This online series provides you helpful
information with your communication and technology skills. Each program is 20 minutes with 10 minutes for Q&A.
Other
topics for the Comm Tips Spring 2013 series include iPad Productivity
Tools, Smart Shopping with Smartphones, Newsletter Content, Where to Get
Social Media Content, and much more....
This is a "live" online program. Simply log in to http://connect.ksre.ksu.edu/commtips as a guest with your name. These programs will be recorded in case you miss them.
For the Comm Tips schedule, program descriptions and previous programs, visit the Comm Tips webpage at http://www.communications.k-state.edu/communication-services/comm-tips/. --Gerry Snyder gsnyder@ksu.edu
FROM THE LAND OF KANSAS SEMINAR - OLATHE, MANHATTAN
As many of you have heard, the Kansas Department of Agriculture has developed and re-vamped our state trademark program for KS companies to reap benefits much greater than in the past. We will be discussing the new trademark program for Kansas companies, known as From the Land of Kansas – this will be replacing the old Simply Kansas program, and how it can benefit you and your business in expanding your markets and taking full advantage of all the resources out there available to you.
Friday March 22, we will be hosting an informational seminar at the K-State Olathe campus, Great Plains Banquet Room 145A, 9 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. RSVP to Becky Sullivan by March 11 at becky.sullivan@kda.ks.gov. Monday, March 25, we will be hosting an informational seminar at the Kansas Farm Bureau Building in Manhattan, from 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. RSVP to Becky Sullivan by March 11 at becky.sullivan@kda.ks.gov. Tuesday, March 26, we will be hosting an informational seminar at
the Hays Welcome Center from 9 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. RSVP to Annarose Hart by March 15 at
Annarose.hart@kda.ks.gov.
The format for this seminar will be unlike all the other From the Land of Kansas seminars held across the state. From 9:30 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. the seminar will be focused on the National Association for Specialty Food Membership. We will have special guest speakers present all the way from New York City to discuss membership in NASFT, their new association member benefits roll-out and participation in the Fancy Food Shows across the U.S. twice a year.
From 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. The seminar will focus on the new From the Land of Kansas program and membership level benefits. This applies to ALL company types listed below. Please RSVP with whether you will be at both portions of the seminar or just the 11 a.m. portion (refreshments will be provided).
What type of companies does this impact? The following:
Kansas producers/growers
Kansas manufacturers/processors (specialty food processors especially in the morning session to learn about NASFT and the fancy food shows)
Kansas agritourism businesses
Kansas owned and based restaurants
Kansas value-added agricultural businesses (non-food Ag items, for example - soy candles or goat milk lotions)
Why should you learn more about the From the Land of Kansas program?
Offers a unified “brand” for Kansas agricultural and food products so consumers can identify Kansas made goods and make purchasing decisions to buy local
Offers discounted advertising for your company via radio and TV
Marketing promotions for your business via a wide range of earned promotions (social media and more)
Participation in Kansas Pavilions at international food and agricultural shows
Free food label testing and shelf-life testing for food products through K-State Food Science Labs
And much more…
We hope to see you March 25 in Manhattan! We will have staff members from the Kansas Department of Agriculture present to answer any questions you may have. At the conclusion of the seminar if you would like a more personalized one-on-one meeting with our staff we are more than happy to do that as well. --Becky Sullivan Becky.sullivan@kda.ks.gov, 785-296-6080; Karen Blakeslee kblakesl@ksu.edu
WEEK 3 – GET FINANCIALLY PREPARED – TAKE STEPS AHEAD OF DISASTER CHALLENGE
Review Insurance Coverage. The purpose of insurance is to cover major losses. Experts recommend that you review your insurance coverage at least annually. You may want to conduct a face-to-face review with your insurance agent every other year. Make sure you have adequate coverage on your home, vehicles, and possessions. If possible, set aside emergency funds to cover the policy deductibles. Keep the name of the agent(s) and policy numbers in your grab-and-go kit. Several types of insurance coverage may protect you in a disaster.
- Homeowner’s Insurance protects your home and its contents in the event of damage or loss.
- Renter’s Insurance protects your belongings against theft or destruction when renting an apartment or house.
- Auto Insurance. Collision coverage insures your car against damage caused by a collision. Comprehensive coverage pays for damage to your auto resulting from other circumstances, such as windstorm, fire, and hail.
- Liability coverage protects against loss from or legal liability for damages arising out of ownership, maintenance, or operation of a motor vehicle. This minimum insurance requirement will not help repair or replace your vehicle in the event of a natural disaster or traffic accident.
- Disability Insurance. Individuals may be injured during a disaster and no longer able to work. When a person becomes disabled and can’t work, income stops but expenses continue. Disability insurance can help cover the cost of these continuing expenses.
- Life Insurance. Some people die as a result of disaster. If that should happen, the family would cease to have income, but the bills still need to be paid. A life insurance calculator can be found at www.choosetosave.org/calculators.
Join fellow K-State Research and Extension staff in participating in the Get Financially Prepared Challenge being held by the Family Resource Management PFT. Throughout the month of March, complete activities to prepare your home or workplace ahead of a disaster.
It is not too late to register for the challenge! Click here to register for the challenge. Or, use this link https://kstate.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_6Pw25VNcKvmJGfP.
Challenge tasks are listed below. Details for completing each task are posted on our blog, https://blogs.ksre.ksu.edu/getfinanciallyprepared/. We will also post updates and other useful information on the blog throughout the month.
You have the entire month to complete the Challenge. To help you stay on track, review your progress weekly.
Week 3 Activities:
- Review your homeowner’s or renter’s insurance coverage.
- Inventory at least 1 room in your house.
- Add at least 3 items to your grab-and-go kit. If your kit is complete, help someone start one.
- Have a plan in place for pets, in the event of a disaster.
--Family Resource Management Program Focus Team – Elizabeth Kiss dekiss4@ksu.edu & Jamie Rathbun jrathbun@ksu.edu
THE BEST IS YET TO BE: FULL CIRCLE AN AGING CONFERECE APRIL 26 IN OAKLEY
All of us are aging and many of us are taking care of
aging family members as well. Meeting
the challenges of those inevitable changes often brings questions and
opportunities. Focusing on making the
most of this new life stage, with its theme “The Best is Yet to Be,” the 2013
Full Circle: an Aging Expo, offers a full day designed to aid you in this new
direction.
The
Gateway Fellowship Church and Impact Center in Oakley is the site for this
year’s conference on Friday, April 26, and offers a comfortable venue for the
event.
Several
notable speakers will be present: Karen
Ridder, of the Kansas Humanities Council, will speak on “Bucket Lists and
Looking Back,” Dr. Debra Sellers, K-State Research and Extension, will focus on “Adapting to Life’s Challenges,”
and Michael Irvin from Kansas Farm Bureau, will speak on Legal Issues and Farm
Succession. There are many other
breakout sessions for participants to choose from, including a session on
intimacy and aging and getting financially prepared for a disaster. There is both a professional track which
offers CEU’s for continuing education and a public track which offers slightly
different options.
Cost to
attend the event is $25 for a single, $40 for couples. Cost to attend the professional side to receive
CEU’s is $75. All registration fees
include the noon meal. To register
online or for more information, please go to www.northwest.ksu.edu or call Diann
Gerstner, K-State Research and Extension Family and Consumer Science agent in
Thomas County at 785-460-4582. --The Full Circle Advertising Committee: Amy Lorenzen, Melinda Daily, Julianne Shoup
DIVERSITY PROGRAMS OFFICE UPDATE
With the month of February at a close, the Diversity Programs Office (DPO) supported Black History month by attending several events. The 2013 Big XII Conference for Black Student Government was held at K-State, and the DPO had a presence in this conference. Dr. Wiley presented a workshop aimed at professional development for students in fraternities and sororities. Key events were the career fair, informational workshops, the gospel extravaganza and the step show. There were many student representatives from the College of Agriculture in attendance and participating in various aspects of this conference.
The Diversity Programs Office will be busy during the month of March preparing for the National MANRRS conference. The Conference will be held March 21 – March 24, 2013 and our chapter will be taking 18 representatives. Students will participate in various workshops, research competitions, and have many networking opportunities.
Additionally, please note that the March 2013 Navigating Difference training is postponed. We ask that those of you interested please contact the DPO or Dr. Zelia Wiley at 785-532-5793 for registration at future training. The next training is scheduled in Chanute, KS, April, 2013.
This year marks the Diversity Programs Office 10th year anniversary!! Be on the lookout for a celebration of excellence display in the student union which will run from April 1 - 6. We appreciate your continued
support of the DPO and MANRRS chapter here at K-State. --Zelia Wiley zwiley@ksu.edu
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