July 19, 2002

We ask that you take 10 minutes to go to the EDEN website www.agctr.lsu.edu/eden/ and take the survey. The information you provide will be crucial not only toward the development of educational materials and programs for homeland security, but also for providing a closer look at the local concerns in this area.

ALL EXTENSION CONFERENCE 2002 PHOTOS NEEDED
Call for Photos: If you have photos that were taken at the WSU All Extension Conference in 2000, and are willing to share them with the planning committee for this year's conference, please contact Debra Kollock at (509) 684-2588.

CSREES "WHITE PAPERS" -- FORWARD THINKING, INNOVATIVE, AND TREND SETTING ISSUES
As CSREES continues to develop budget priorities and engage in long-term planning we have again called upon our national program leaders, program directors, and managers to develop "white papers" on themes that are forward thinking and innovative. Once again, CSREES staff have put together issue papers that look at topics important to CSREES, USDA, and the Land-Grant University community. These six documents respond to priorities; focus on relevant, real-world problems; and engage the research, education, and extension communities in activities that broadly advance knowledge and allow for interagency collaboration.

Titles of the "white papers" are:

• Global Opportunities and Partnerships
• Consumer-Driven Agriculture
• Developing Scientific and Professional Expertise
• Exploring New Opportunities for Extension
• Agricultural Biosecurity: Prevention, Diagnosis, and Control Strategies for Pathogens and Pests
• Cultivating Resilient Communities and Rural Prosperity in a Dynamic and Uncertain Environment

2002 CENSUS OF AGRICULTURE PROMOTION
CSREES is asking for your help in promoting the Nation's largest agricultural information gathering project, the 2002 Census of Agriculture, which will be mailed to almost 3 million potential farms and ranches this December. This means every farmer and rancher you work with or speak to should receive a census report form in December. We urge you to help the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) and the USDA in the 2002 Census of Agriculture effort by ensuring our county extension staff are aware of and ready to assist in promoting, answering questions, directing inquiries, and urging a response to the census.

As a forerunner to the census, NASS recently mailed a 2002 Farm Identification Survey (FIS) to 591,000 potential farms and ranches throughout the country. Many people who do not consider themselves to be farmers actually qualify as such and are important to the 2002 Census of Agriculture. This FIS is intended to help identify agricultural activity so all farms and ranches have the opportunity to be included in the 2002 Census of Agriculture. There will be a second mailing of the FIS in July to approximately 500,000 additional potential farms and ranches.

Information about the 2002 Census of Agriculture and the 2002 FIS are available at the NASS Web site by clicking on the 2002 Census of Agriculture button or going directly to http://www.nass.usda.gov/census/census02/.

Your help will ensure a quality 2002 Census of Agriculture, which will result in more reliable and complete data for all of us to use to better serve our constituents and the entire agricultural community. For more information or assistance, contact JakiMcCarthy, NASS, at (202) 720-7017, or contact the NASS State Statistician in your State. NASS field offices may be found online at www.usda.gov/nass/ and click on "State Information."

WESTERN REGION EXTENSION MIDDLE MANAGERS CONFERENCE A SUCCESS
This week in Big Sky, Montana, extension educators, district administrators, and program coordinators gathered to learn about "Balancing leadership and management for today and the future." Thanks to Wayne Madsen who served on the planning committee, and who will be replaced by Blair Wolfley on the committee to plan the 2003 conference. Mike was the keynote speaker addressing "Communicating with Decision Makers" and Jim Lindstrom presented "Sustaining Employees." WSU attendees at the conference in Big Sky included Jim Kropf, Jim Lindstrom, Dora Rumsey, Doug Stienbarger, Blair, Wayne, Mike, and me, Linda Fox.

It's not too early to mark your calendar for July 15-17, 2003 when the meeting will be held in Newport, Oregon, www.uidaho.edu/midmgrs. Who can turn down a dynamic conference on the Oregon Coast!

INVITATION TO WRHMFEE CONFERENCE IN OCTOBER
First, what is WRHMFEE? This stands for Western Region Home Management/Family Economics Educators. The Western Region is made up of: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming; and the Canadian provinces of Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba and Saskatchewan. As a professional organization, the purposes of Western Region are to provide professional exchange by family economics professionals through an annual conference and publication and dissemination of information and educational materials and to assist professionals in program development and evaluation.

This year's conference is hosted by WSU. We are booked into the Skyline Ballroom at the West Coast Grand Hotel in Spokane with wonderful views of the river and the city, starting with a reception and registration October 19th from 6:00 to 7:30 pm. We will end at 5:00 pm on Monday 21st, following the business meeting.

In addition to the presentation of papers and the curriculum showcase, we have lined up some exciting sessions. The first day, Ron Wall, Hawaii, will kick off with some thought-provoking questions and lead us in a discussion about the future of the family economics profession. The second day's keynote speaker is professor Don Dillman, WSU, known around the world for his work on survey methods. Don has agreed to talk to us about conducting surveys on the web. This is an exciting opportunity not to be missed. As if that wasn't enough, we also have professor Annabel Kirshner, WSU, to talk about the 2000 Census and what the changes in demographics may mean for us, and Debra Kollock, leader on one of Washington State University's Learning Centers, talking about the challenges and opportunities of distance learning.

An optional, but not-to-be-missed, evening event is a visit to the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture (a small, manageable and fascinating jewel of a museum - http://www.northwestmuseum.org/) followed by dinner at the Davenport Hotel, newly opened after 16 years following complete restoration to its original glory - www.thedavenporthotel.com.

Registration materials can be found at http://www.wrhmfee.org. Sally Horton and Linda Kirk Fox, co-chairs

WESTERN ACADEMIC PROGRAMS SYMPOSIUM
The Western Academic Programs group will hold their annual teaching symposium entitled Innovative Curricular Adjustments on September 13 & 14, 2002. This program is organized and hosted by Dr. Annie King at the University of California, Davis. Given the regional emphasis on integration, this year's agenda provides an excellent opportunity to incorporate new thinking and approaches into all aspects of our programs allowing us to better meet the educational needs of people we seek to serve.

Topics:

• Assessment
• Best practices in Cooperative Extension Education
• Core programs - innovative ways for teaching math, science, writing, physics
• Distance learning and continuing education
• Leading roles - new courses or minor programs on leadership
• Multidisciplinary courses
• Security - biosecurity, new programs for language, acquisition
• Tools for experiential learning

Please see http://caes.ucdavis.edu/events/wrts/ for information on registration, housing and submission of abstracts.

PERSONNEL
New hires:
Constance Parish, B.S., Instructor, Human Development
100% Teaching
Effective August 16, 2002

Sundae Anderson, Extension Coordinator, 4-H, Chief Leschi Tribal Schools, Puyallup
Administrative/Professional
Effective July 1, 2002

Title changes:
Nancy Sanders, Extension Coordinator, EFNEP, Spokane County
100% Extension, Administrative/Professional
Effective August 12, 2002

Carol Salusso, Associate Professor
Apparel, Merch., & Interior Design
Faculty
Effective August 1, 2002

David Muehleisen, PhD
Extension Educator, Small Farms & Asst. Research Prof., WSU Puyallup
80% Extension, 20% Research, Faculty
Effective July 1, 2002

Relocation:
Mary Dey, Publications editor, Information Department
Relocated to the WSU Extension Office-Spokane County
Effective August 1, 2002

Retirement:
William Symons, Associate Professor, Ext. Specialist, Biological Systems Engineering
Effective July 1, 2002

SCHEDULE
Next week, Mike will be attending ECOP in Salt Lake City, Monday through Wednesday.
July 22 through August 2 Linda is on vacation in Canada.

Mike Tate
Dean and Director
Linda Kirk Fox
Associate Director
Cooperative Extension
PO Box 646230
Washington State University
Pullman, WA 99164-6230
Ph 509-335-2933
Fax 509-335-2926
lkfox@wsu.edu