The Tuesday Letter
Agricultural Experiment Station & Cooperative Extension Service
Tuesday, July 30, 2013
(Vol. 19 No. 38)
IN THIS ISSUE...
WORD FROM THE ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR - EXTENSION AND APPLIED RESEARCH
I was reminded again of the importance of “why,” watching
the movie, “42 - The Jackie Robinson Story.” If you haven’t seen the movie, I’d
strongly encourage it. I believe you
will understand why.
I believe that we, as Extension professionals, sometimes expect others to understand the “why,” of our work when in fact those listening or reading may
not know, or may have the wrong idea. Do you explain to your board, commissioners, business leaders, and civic groups why you conduct the
educational programs that you do? Why should they be priority programs for you? I'd urge you to work on beginning by telling why your educational programs are important. Maybe it's because this pest is known to cause extensive damage, or maybe it's because of increased incidence of a chronic illness among our children, or maybe it's because certain research points to the value of this change in the social or economic strength of a community. After explaining why this work is important to the community or clientele with whom you are working, then you can tell them what you did, how you got the program delivered, and be sure to finish with the impact that the program has on the target audience and why that impact has public value. Takes practice, but I believe it will pay dividends for your work.
Check out the Difference Makers Blog below as Jake Weber points to the importance of clear communication, making sure the client
understands. I believe that means
understanding the “why.”
Hope the county fairs are going well, and the summer is
shaping up as a success. Thanks for all
you do, and have a great week! --Daryl
Buchholz dbuchhol@ksu.edu
TRADITION OF EXCELLENCE CONTINUES IN BAE!
During the awards ceremony at the 2013 ASABE Annual International Meeting held in Kansas City, MO July 20-24, the following were recognized:
- BAE Robotics Student Design Team - 1st Place (for the seventh year in a row). Dr. Naiqian Zhang, faculty advisor.
- BAE Fountain Wars Student Design Team - 2nd Place. Dr. Phil Barnes, faculty advisor.
- Biological Systems Engineering Student Professional Club - 2nd Place in the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) Student Engineering Branch, Group A Award.
- Quarter-Scale Tractor Student Design Team - A Team and X Team both placed first in competition held May 30-June 2 in Peoria, IL. Faculty advisors are Ed Brokesh, Pat Murphy, John Kramer (emeritus), along with Jon Zeller, Jim Schmidt, Lou Ann Claassen.
- Ms. DeeAnn Turpin (BSE SP2013) received the 2013 Pharos of Alexandria Global Learning Award for her exemplary leadership skills, humanitarian service, and dedication to the promotion of sustainable and environmentally sound engineering practices.
- Dr. Danny H. Rogers was elected ASABE Fellow, and was also selected as the 2013 ASABE Kansas Section Member of the Year.
- Rumela Bhadra, BAE Research Associate, was selected as the 2013 ASABE Kansas Section Young Member of the Year.
- Dr. Donghai Wang, along with BAE co-authors Karnnalin Theerarattananoon and Feng Xu (former doctoral students of Dr. Wang) were recognized for a ASABE Superior Paper Award.
The Department also appreciates the efforts of Pat Murphy, Phil Barnes, and Arlene Jacobson in coordinating student volunteers--50 student volunteers working almost 400 hours in assisting with hosting the annual meeting. --Joe Harner jharner@ksu.edu
MARIE'S PICKS . . .
My picks
this week are outcomes from Leah Robinson, Central Kansas District; and Lori
Wuellner, Wyandotte County:
*
As our population continues to age, the incidence of chronic diseases such as
arthritis, fibromyalgia, heart disease, and diabetes continue to rise. By
teaching the Kansans Optimizing Health Program (KOHP), a research-based
chronic disease management program, participants learned several coping methods
to ease symptoms of their conditions. Clients gained knowledge in several
self-managing coping strategies such as guided imagery for pain management,
effective communication skills to use with loved ones and physicians, physical
health benefits of proper nutrition and exercise, and how to maintain mental
and emotional health.
* In
January, ServSafe was conducted three times - (1) At the Extension Office in
which four organizations were represented: Tots & Tales Montessori School,
Hillview Christian Children’s Center, Panarama Day Care, and 7th
Street Casino; (2) Delaware Highlands Assisted Living - On-site training; and (3)
Cabela’s - On-site training.
In response
to the question, "How do you plan to use the information and resources
from this training?". . . most indicated they will apply what they learned
to their work situations. Others included . . . take it back to my center and
train not only kitchen staff, but teaching staff; help keep our food
preparation area clean and sanitized, and make sure our dishwashing area is
clean and sanitized. I plan on using skills and knowledge I learned today at
home, not only at work; . . . to make our deli as safe and clean as possible;
and wash hands more. Some responded that having the ServSafe credentials will
assist in finding employment in foodservice. -–Marie Blythe mblythe@ksu.edu
THE STATEHOUSE COUNTY MAP PROJECT MOVING AHEAD!
Restoration of the Kansas Statehouse
is nearing completion. A special
feature of the new Visitor Center is a marble map of Kansas and its individual
105 counties that will be inlaid into the floor and will allow all people who
pass through to identify counties and see their relationships to others in the
State. The Governing Board of the Kansas
Association of Counties officially adopted the Statehouse County Map project,
with the intention of raising $1,000 in donations from within each of the
Kansas counties to finance construction and installation of the floor map.
Randall Allen, Executive Director of
the Kansas Association of Counties, reports that people are having fun with the
project. In Pawnee County, 4-H Clubs are selling potatoes to raise
monies. In Marion County, 4-H Clubs had a dunk tank and are
planning a chili feed in a few weeks! Coffey County 4-Hers are inviting
contributions to determine which lucky person will get to kiss a pig! Just a few examples of community engagement to move a good project forward!
The County
Commissioners from each county are responsible for making the decision to
participate. Please consider contacting
them and offering the assistance of K-State Research and Extension through 4-H,
Master Gardeners, or another venue to raise the funds. This represents a measure of pride in Kansas
counties and is a reminder to future generations about the importance of Kansas
counties.
For more
information, visit Http://www.kansascounties.org/DocumentCenter/View/1243
or contact Trudy Rice, KSRE Associate Specialist Community Development, at trice@ksu.edu
. --Trudy Rice
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