June 7, 2002

Go to the Web page located at http://ext.wsu.edu/marketing within the next 2 weeks and place your order.

The deadline for ordering is MONDAY, JUNE 24. Don't delay.

WSU BUDGET REDUCTIONS ANNOUNCED
The budget reductions by area were announced by the Provost this week. Cooperative Extension permanent budget line (PBL) for state funds beginning July 1, 2002, will be reduced 3.5%, which translates to $428,065. The reductions for the other areas of the college are 3.0% for Agricultural Research Center and 3.5% for Academic Programs. The total reduction for the college is $1,275,000 approximately. The Extension administrative team is meeting June 26 and 27 to finalize our response to the reductions. We will keep you informed of decisions as soon as we possibly can. Next week, the university will have posted on the WSU Web page the level of reduction and the statement of impact by area/college.

CAHE STRATEGIC PLAN and ARC ANNUAL REPORT
Look for these two important documents on the college Web site. The College of Agriculture and Home Economics (CAHE) Strategic Plan is being finalize this week and will posted to the web site cahe.wsu.edu . The recently released 2000 Annual Report of the Agricultural Research Center is also now on the Web.

TELEBRIDGE ISSUES
This week many of us experienced the inconvenience of an inoperable telebridge. The problem occurred because of aging equipment at WSU Information Technology (IT). Replacement parts brought the system back up to full operations later in the week. Cooperative Extension Events and Program Support (CEEPS) unit schedules many of the calls in which you participate. Here are a few statistics from CEEPS which illustrate the tremendous growth we've seen just in the College of Agriculture and Home Economics (CAHE) in the use of the telebridge for conference calls:

1997
Number of conference calls: 994
Number of participants: 8,345
Average number of conference calls per month: 82

1999
Number of conference calls: 1,231
Number of participants: 10,367
Average number of conference calls per month: 102

2001
Number of conference calls: 1,654
Number of participants: 13,480
Average number of conference calls per month: 138

We are exploring ways to partner with WSU IT to upgrade the equipment we all rely upon to conduct our business. In the meantime, we apologize for problems you encountered with the system this week.

SECOND NOTICE: 1-800 REVERSE TOLL NUMBER WILL END JULY 1ST
Beginning July 1, 2002, the WSU Cooperative Extension "Reverse Toll" (or 1-800 Wats line) will be discontinued. Traditionally, we have provided this "Reverse Toll" to allow people to read their email while traveling. Unfortunately, a 1-800 telephone number is not free. It simply reverses the toll charges so that someone else pays. This year, the "Reverse Toll" Wats line will cost Cooperative Extension over $45,000. Consequently, the decision was made to eliminate this general service.

As of now, alternative options include:

1. User or department obtain their own 800 number that can point to our ras dialup (509-335-8800). Toll numbers cost 25.00 to install and are billed 5.00/month. Domestic long distance rates for calling in are $ 0.14/minute. International connection to this service requires a calling card and the rates vary by location/country. Contact Kathy Vogeler, Information Technology representative for CAHE (509 335-0483) for this option.
2. Information Technology has established a discount contract with Aicent, a global Internet provider, to offer affordable remote on-line access to University personnel traveling to domestic or international locations.
   Aicent service provides cost-effective access for the occasional traveler or infrequent user of the Internet.
   The procedure for requesting Remote Internet Access Service is located in the BPPM 80.40, or contact the IT PhoneDesk (335-3663, ITB2088). For rates go to http://www.wsu.edu/IT/TeleCom.
3. Use a credit card number in the dialup networking setup.
4. User obtain their own local Internet Service Provider (ISP). Some ISPs offer nation wide or regional service.

For questions about this policy, contact Linda Fox.

IMPACTS WEB SITE CHANGES
We have refined the search mechanism for the IMPACTS database so that searches by county will turn up only those research, teaching and extension programs that specifically benefit that county as identified by the principals involved in the projects. Projects described as having "statewide impact" will no longer come up. These can be selected by making a menu choice on the advanced search page.

As a result of this change, some counties may not have any reports. Please call noteworthy projects that have actual or projected economic, social or environmental impact to Dennis Brown's attention, and he will draft impact statements to add to the report. Users will be able to select reports that have "statewide" or "multi-state impact." The URL is http://ext.wsu.edu/impact/.

Source: Dennis Brown, Information Specialist

SUMMER DOCTORAL FELLOWS IN COOPERATIVE EXTENSION
Cooperative Extension is hosting two Summer Doctoral Fellows during their 6 week experience at WSU this summer. Pursing a doctorate in human development, Ms. Tabitha Dell' Angelo is from the University of Pennsylvania. Ms. Meena Razvi is from Northern Illinouis University and studying adult education. We hope to have them interact with many of you through Extension events, such as the Provost tour of SE Dsitrict and the State 4-H Conference. The doctoral fellows arrive next week, June 12 and are engaged in their studies and WSU experiences through July 26.

VENEMAN SELECTS ELIZABETH JOHNSON AS SENIOR ADVISOR ON FOOD AND NUTRITION ISSUES
Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman announced the selection of Elizabeth (Beth) Johnson, M.S. R.D., as senior advisor on food and nutrition issues at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Prior to her appointment, Johnson served as vice president of Fleshman-Hillard, Inc., in Washington, D.C. where she worked with a variety of food and agricultural clients.

Before joining Fleshman-Hillard in 1998, Johnson was a senior professional staff member at the Senate Agriculture Committee where she coordinated policy in the areas of nutrition, farm credit and livestock. In addition, she was formerly associate director for food policy at the National Cattlemen's Beef Association. Her previous government experience includes positions at the Food and Drug Administration as a nutritionist for the food labeling division and as a research dietitian at the USDA Agricultural Research Service. Johnson, a Registered Dietitian, holds a Master of Science degree in Nutrition from the University of Maryland and a Bachelor of Science in Dietetics from Ball State University.

SCHEDULE - June 10-14
Next week, Wednesday, June 12 through Friday, June 14, both Mike and Linda will be in the NW District in Whatcom, Island, and San Juan counties. We will be in Pullman Monday and Tuesday.