In the past few weeks, I’ve had the fortune of listening and engaging with panels of Extension professionals (some of you!) who have demonstrated change, focus, and specialization in their work. I think they would all agree it is a work in progress. I’m proud and pleased with what I see and hear from these professionals. Most pleasing is their having found balance between the daily demands of great customer service with the broad interests of the public, and yet taking the time and needed initiative to deepen their area of specialization. They seem to be finding a new satisfaction and confidence that through their proactive, in-depth programming, they are truly making a difference for the citizens reached through their programs. My dream is for every Extension professional to achieve that kind of satisfaction, passion, and fulfillment in their work!

Change and movement within our system is clearly evident. More and more of you are actively pursuing greater focus and depth of knowledge in priority knowledge areas and engaging in high impact programming. You are leading change as Extension professionals. Kudos to you! Keep the momentum! Encourage your colleagues. Give praise to each other for taking the risks and extra effort to engage in focused programming that is making a difference for Kansas. And, again, keep the momentum and encourage colleagues!

Finally, I continue to hear the challenges within state legislature on bringing revenues and expenditures together. I’m concerned that higher education, including Research and Extension, may be challenged with reduced state funding in the upcoming fiscal year. This comes at a time when I believe we should be directing resources to our areas of strength and invest further in strengthening capacity to deliver on our vision, mission, and strategic goals. Regardless of state budget outcomes, my goal is to strengthen capacity to deliver through models encouraging specialization.

Have a great week! --Daryl Buchholz dbuchhol@ksu.edu

• Lawrence, Douglas County Extension Office, 2110 Harper, on Monday, March 16, 2015 – 9 a.m. Need 2 Judges
• Wichita, Sedgwick Co. Extension, 7001 W. 21st St. N, on Tuesday, March 17, 2015 – 9 a.m. Need 6 Judges
• Cimarron, Gray County Fairgrounds, on Wednesday, March 18, 2015 – 9 a.m. Need 7 Judges
• Stockton, Rooks County 4-H Building, on Thursday, March 19, 2015 – 9 a.m. Need 5 Judges
• Manhattan, Location TBD, Friday, March 20, 2015 – 9 a.m. Need 6 Judges

Skills and Knowledge and Requirements:

• Previous experience of evaluating 4-H awards
• Ability to be fair and objective
• Committed to applying the 4-H KAP criteria for the selection process
• Available to spend the day, approximately 9 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. to review
• Capability to work in teams and work in chaos
• Responsible for transportation to and from evaluation location
• A minimum of 10 judges (5 pairs) at each individual location required to conduct evaluation process

Department of 4-H Provides:

• Notification to selected 4-H scholarship evaluators
• Arrangements for meeting room, scoring forms, pens and pencils
• Lunch and snacks for evaluators
• An orientation for evaluating 4-H Kansas Award Portfolios

If you are willing to contribute to the KAP judging process this year, please complete the 2015 State KAP Judging Application on the link below as soon as possible. (Ignore the due date listed.)

Accessing Zoom 

October 4-7

Coeur d’Alene, Idaho

New this year - One conference registration fee reimbursement will be given to the lead presenter of a Concurrent Session if that presenter is a current ESP member and fulfills all requirements to receive a stipend.

In addition, based on judging scores, up to 10 exhibited posters by current ESP members will be selected to receive a $100 stipend.

For information about submitting proposals for concurrent sessions or posters: http://chapter.espnational.org/images/RFP/2015CSRFP.pdf