The Tuesday Letter
Agricultural Experiment Station & Cooperative Extension Service
Tuesday, May 13, 2014
(Vol. 20 No. 27)
IN THIS ISSUE...
NATIONAL 4-H LEADERSHIP COMMITTEE GETTING ORGANIZED
A 4-H
National Leadership Committee has been established to provide a structure for
convening the three organizations that partner to provide 4-H positive
youth development: the United States Department of Agriculture-National
Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA-NIFA), Cooperative Extension and
National 4-H Council.
This committee will foster proactive communication and collaboration in order
to focus on issues of national importance to 4-H, including:
- Expanding
the 4-H to reach more urban and rural underserved audiences
- Recruiting
a more diverse 4-H workforce
- Increasing
the cultural competency of existing paid staff and volunteers, and
- Developing
sustainable, new resources to support the expansion of the 4-H program.
Cooperative
Extension, USDA-NIFA and National 4-H Council showed united support of positive
youth development, which clarifies the roles and responsibilities of each
party, by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for this 4-H National
Leadership Committee, during the Extension Centennial Convocation on May 8, 2014.
ECOP
Chair-elect Delbert Foster, South Carolina State University, signed the MOU on
behalf of ECOP Chair Jimmy Henning, University of Kentucky, along with
USDA-NIFA Director Sonny Ramaswamy and National 4-H Council President and Chief
Executive Officer Jennifer Sirangelo.
The
Memorandum of Understanding is designed to establish a structure for
identifying and openly communicating about issues of importance to the 4-H
program by all partners. Policies, issues and actions of national importance for 4-H will be brought forth through this committee and acted upon by the National Extension Committee on Organization and Policy (ECOP). --Daryl Buchholz dbuchhol@ksu.edu and Barbara Stone bjstone@ksu.edu
4-H VOLUNTEER SCREENING Q AND A
We are receiving some similar questions regarding the revised 4-H Volunteer Screening process. So, we are posting the Q and A to the questions for all to see.
Q: What are the components of the background screening starting
August 1, 2014?
A: There are two
components, A National Criminal Background Check (CBC) and a check of the
Kansas Department for Children and Families, Child Abuse and Neglect Central
Registry. Both checks are required.
Q: What will be the costs?
A: The National Criminal Background Check (CBC) cost is $22.50 for the
first time it is conducted on a volunteer, $16.50 for all subsequent checks
(every three years). The Child Abuse and
Neglect Central Registry check is free, the $10 fee is waived because Kansas
4-H is a Kansas Mentor Organization.
Q: When do we need to run the National Criminal Background
Check?
A: The new process starts August 1,
2014. All new volunteers and volunteers
currently serving who have not been screened will need to be screened using the
new process. A volunteer will need to be
rescreened every three years.
Q: “I understand the state will pay for the CBC for the first
year. Is that right?”
A: Not entirely. The state will pay for the CBC
for all NEW Volunteers for the first year (August 1, 2014 – August 31,
2015. The cost for the CBC for
Volunteers who have been serving but have not completed the screening will be
the responsibility of the local Extension Unit.
--Barbara Stone bjstone@ksu.edu and Rod Buchele rbuchele@ksu.edu
SUMMER INTERNS FOR 2014 SELECTED
Fourteen students have been selected to participate in intern programs with K-State Research and Extension this summer. The interns will assist extension professionals
in planning and implementing educational programming for Kansas residents.
The interns, in alphabetical order by last name, followed by
major, school, hometown and (in parentheses) office in which they will work,
are:
- Priscila
Aguero, Accounting - K-State, Dodge City, KS (Barton and Pawnee Counties);
- Katelyn
Barthol, Agribusiness – K-State,
Wellsville, KS (Leavenworth County);
- Tayla
Cannella, Animal Science – Ft. Hays State, Calhan, CO (Scott County);
- Billie
Chesney, Animal Sciences and Industry - K-State,
Woodston, KS (Community Development);
- Seth
Diehm, Animal Sciences and Industry - K-State;
Parker, KS (Golden Prairie District);
- Anne Jo
Elpers, Family and Consumer Science Education - K-State; Cheney, KS (Linn
County);
- Alicia
Hampton, Agricultural Education - K-State,
Osawatomie, KS (Wildcat District);
- Rachel
Juenemann, Nutrition and Health/Dietetics - K-State, Colby, KS (Thomas
County);
- Patricia
Lujan, Social Work - Ft. Hays State,
Lewis, KS (Edwards and Stafford Counties);
- Stephanie
Mendoza, Elementary Education - K-State,
Holcomb, KS (Southwest Area);
- Margaret
Nisly, Family Studies and Human Services - K-State, McPherson, KS (Reno
County);
- Shannon
Rogge, Animal Sciences and Industry - K-State,
Salina, KS (River Valley District);
- Mandy
Schroeder, Agriculture Leadership/Extension Education - Oklahoma State, Hillsdale, OK (Johnson County); and
- Sarah
Young, Ag Business - State Fair
Community College in Sedalia, Windsor, MO (Atchison County).
Contact Stacey Warner at swarner@ksu.edu for more information. --Doris Merrill, dmerrill@ksu.edu
HEALTHY YOU - WELLNESS IN THE WORKPLACE
 It's a late May afternoon and a tornado watch has just been issued. Your office has a major outdoor event scheduled. What are the pro-active steps that you would take in this situation? Some questions to consider: Who will monitor the weather forecast? Who will make the decision to cancel the event? What criteria would necessitate canceling the event? If a tornado warning is issued during the event, what is the plan for moving participants to safety? Does the office staff know where they are to go in case of a tornado during work hours?
The Healthy You Workplace Wellness Team encourages each office to consider these questions. Question #30 on the Healthy You Recognition form states: "Employees are aware of risk management practices and emergency evacuation/shelter plans." Each office is encouraged to review and complete the recognition form by August 1. Those workplaces that incorporate at least 25 wellness recommendations will be honored at Annual Conference. --Stacey Warner swarner@ksu.edu
DIVERSITY PROGRAMS OFFICE UPDATE
As finals week begins, the Diversity Programs Office (DPO) would like to share past and upcoming events in the month of May:
• MANNRS supported Black Student Union (BSU) by sponsoring a table for the 19th Annual BSU Awards Ball held in the Kansas State Student Union Ballroom on Sunday, May 4, 2014.
• MANNRS and the DPO office held its 2014 Study hall, during the week of May 5 - 9, which had snacks sponsored by CHS Inc., the nation’s leading agricultural co-op.
• Navigating Difference Training class VI will be held at the Western Kansas Agricultural Research Center in Hays, KS May 21 - 22.
• Commencement for the College of Agriculture will take place May 17, inside the Bramlage Coliseum at 2:15 p.m.
Please continue to look for more diversity events as we continue to advertise. We appreciate your support. For more information about upcoming events or to collaborate with the DPO, please call 785-532-5793 or contact Dr. Zelia Wiley, Assistant Dean of Diversity, zwiley@ksu.edu. --Zelia Wiley
MARIE'S PICKS . . .
This week's pick is a report from Sheryl Carson, Kearny
County, about the Lakin PRIDE program:
In 2012:
- A strategic planning process
began which required development, dissemination, and analysis of a community
survey. This led to formation of a new vision, mission statement, and
goals.
- Monthly meetings led toward
plans to put in new benches and a new playground at one of the city parks,
Frisbee golf and horseshoe pits at a different park, and increased
membership.
Applications were written for the Community of Excellence
award and a Partners in PRIDE grant
Lakin PRIDE: A year later,
- Community of Excellence status
was achieved and awarded along with an $1800 grant;
- the Partners In PRIDE grant
proposal was accepted and Lakin PRIDE received $2000;
- using those
funds, in partnership with the City of Lakin. . .
- the
playground equipment was purchased and
installed,
- two benches
were purchased and installed,
- the Frisbee
golf equipment was purchased and
installed,
- the
horseshoe pits were dug.
- And two new, younger members
joined Lakin PRIDE. --Marie Blythe mblythe@ksu.edu
APRIL EXTENSION AGENT PERSONNEL CHANGES
Belinda Oldham, Family and Consumer Sciences Agent in Wichita County, retired effective April 12, 2014.
Megan Westerhold, Agriculture and Natural Resources Agent in Miami County, began employment effective April 13, 2014. Her email address is mwesterhold@ksu.edu .
Jake Renner, Agriculture and Natural Resources Agent in Pawnee County, began employment effective April 13, 2014. His email address is jwrenner@ksu.edu.
Olivia D. Moore, 4-H Youth Development Agent in Wyandotte County, began employment effective April 13, 2014. Her email address is omoore@ksu.edu.
Cody Barilla, Agriculture and Natural Resources Agent in Reno County, resigned effective April 25, 2014.
--Stacey Warner swarner@ksu.edu
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