The Tuesday Letter
Agricultural Experiment Station & Cooperative Extension Service
Tuesday, July 01, 2014
(Vol. 20 No. 34)
IN THIS ISSUE...
WORD FROM THE ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR - EXTENSION AND APPLIED RESEARCH
July 1, 2014 Update on Extension Districts. Congratulations to the creation of the Marais Des Cygnes Extension District #16 with its staffing of 5 Extension agents working together as it begins operation today in what was formerly Miami and Linn Counties! And, congratulations to Anderson County and the Frontier Extension District #11, as they come together to bring Frontier up to 3 counties (Osage and Franklin, also) and now 7 agent positions working together in that district. A great deal of planning, discussions, and hard work has led to these changes. I appreciate the determination in communicating the vision and opportunities that will exist in the future with these counties organizing into districts. No structure is ever perfect, but I believe the Extension district offers the greatest potential for continued growth in program capacity and bringing the knowledge and experience of Research and Extension and all of Kansas State University to the people in those counties. I wish all the best for the Boards and Extension employees in these transitions.
Research and Extension Annual Conference "Honoring the Past, Forging the Future" taking shape. I remind you of the call for nominations to various award opportunities. Don't pass up opportunities to recognize excellence!
I am also excited and pleased with how our general session on Wednesday morning, October 22, is taking shape for celebrating the Centennial for Cooperative Extension. In addition to inspirational remarks from Provost April Mason and Director John Floros, we have two keynotes coming to conference to inspire and challenge all of us through our history and the future opportunities. Mr. Jim Richardson, freelance photo journalist, and Dr. Marshall Stewart, NC State University, will help us to focus on our purpose, strengths, and opportunities to shape a strong future for Research and Extension at Kansas State University.
Keep safe and have a great 4th of July holiday with family and friends. --Daryl Buchholz dbuchhol@ksu.edu
DECLARE YOUR FINANCIAL INDEPENDENCE
Independence, the freedom from
control: the control from other people, organizations or other states. Yes,
even the freedom from the control of money. Money dictates many aspects of our
lives, where we live, what kind of car we drive, and even where we shop. As our
nation celebrates its independence, it’s time to declare our financial
independence. Here are some ways to get started:
- Set financial goals.
You’re never going to get what you want unless you know what it is.
Establish short, mid, and long-term goals so that you have something to
work towards.
- Pay more than the minimum payment. Many people are surprised to learn that by paying even
a little bit more than the minimum payment on their credit card, how much
it could save them in time and interest.
- Spend less than you earn. Create a monthly spending plan where you have a
listing of all monies going in and out. Then, make a plan to pay yourself
first. Have a set amount taken directly from your paycheck and deposited
into a savings account. Be realistic when determining how much you are
going to save so that you are not withdrawing it before the next paycheck.
As the fireworks rise high in the sky this July 4th, break
free from the control of money, declare your financial independence. --Anna
Schremmer, on behalf of the Family Resource Management Program Focus Team
acschrem@ksu.edu
MARIE'S PICKS . . .
This week
my pick is a success story from Bob Neier, Sedgwick County:
Cultivating Environmental Literacy along the Riparian
Woodland Nature Trail
On Saturday, November 24, five members
of the Northwest HS basketball team showed up to help Extension Master
Gardeners to mulch the Riparian Woodland Nature Trail in the Sedgwick
County Extension Arboretum. While spreading the mulch, they were
regularly stopped by trail walkers who thanked them for developing and
maintaining the trail.
After the mulching was done, the Master Gardeners led the mulching team on
a tour of the trail. As they were starting the tour for the NW guys, a family
showed up to walk the trail.... Dad, Mom and couple of smaller kids, followed
by a young-teen boy (~12-14), who was lagging about 15 feet behind the family,
looking like he would rather be home playing video games or something. The
family went through our group and on out of sight. The NW guys and the Master
Gardeners went up the west trail to the classroom area and headed back down the
east loop. Just before we reached the south junction, the boy from the family
came around a curve, pointing and talking in a very excited voice to the tour
guide. Turns out they had just seen a family of deer--buck, doe and young'n.
The "bored" boy looked like he had just seen Santa Claus! . . .Just might have been a moment of
enlightenment for him--Developing Environmental Literacy--one contact at time. -–Marie
Blythe mblythe@ksu.edu
JUNE EXTENSION AGENT PERSONNEL CHANGES
Anastasia Johnson, Agriculture and Natural Resources Agent in Marshall County, began employment effective June 1, 2014. Her email address is anastasia@ksu.edu.
Christopher Petty, Livestock Production Agent in Southwind District, began employment effective June 1, 2014. His email address is cgp@ksu.edu.
Molly Trausch, 4-H Youth Development Agent in Ford County, resigned effective June 13, 2014.
Anna Mae Brown, Family and Consumer Sciences Agent in Wildcat District, retired effective June 20, 2014.
Nancy Honig, Family and Consumer Sciences Agent in Stevens County, returned from sabbatical leave effective June 22, 2014.
Angela Jones, Director in Sedgwick County, began employment effective June 22, 2014. Her email address is angelajones@ksu.edu.
Jeri Sigle, Crop Production Agent in Wildcat District, began employment effective June 22, 2014. Her email address is jlsigle@ksu.edu.
--Stacey Warner swarner@ksu.edu
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