May 23, 2003

PNREC CONFERENCE CLOSES ON RURAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT NOTE
This week was the 37th annual Pacific Northwest Regional Economic (PNREC) Conference in Spokane, Washington. The three-day conference was packed with panel presentations and research sessions highlighting the challenges facing the states and provinces in our immediate region. I can only report to the last day and the closing session which featured Dr. Mark Drabenstott, VP, Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City and Director of The Center for the Study of Rural America who spoke to “A new generation of regional policies: New horizons for regional science.” For the FRB materials, visit the Web page http://www.kc.frb.org/RuralCenter/RuralMain.htm and look for “Main Street Economists” and other reports. Congratulations to Gary Smith, WSU Extension Economist and President of the Board of Directors of PNREC on an excellent conference. Attend PNREC next year, May 19-21, 2004, in Tacoma.

PROSSER DIAGNOSTIC LABORATORY CLOSES
WSU Cooperative Extension has decided to eliminate financial support of the Prosser Plant and Insect Diagnostic Laboratory effective July 1, 2003. This will result in the closure of that lab. Effective immediately, no samples should be sent to the Prosser Lab in order to assure that nothing is left undone as the laboratory closes. For homeowner samples that cannot be diagnosed by staff or master gardeners, we will need to discuss what options, if any, may be made available. The Puyallup Plant and Insect Diagnostic Laboratory does not have the capacity to handle these samples. Nor do individual researchers in Eastern Washington. For commercial samples there are a number of labs, information about these are forthcoming in an email from Ed Adams to all the eastern Washington county offices.

EXCELLENT RESPONSE TO 4-H YOUTH AND FAMILY LIVING SURVEY
We are pleased to note that the recent survey mailed to 4H Youth and Family Living faculty and staff, as well as some County Chairs, had an 83 percent response rate! As you know, this is an excellent return rate for a mail survey. Thanks to all of you who took considerable time to think about the issues raised in the survey, and to complete the ten-page instrument. We know the demands on your time and appreciate your commitment to giving us information that will help craft future outreach strategies for Extension youth and family programs. Dr. Laura Griner Hill, our research partner in the Human Development Department, will be summarizing survey results soon and making them available for review. If you have a survey you would still like to complete, it's not too late! Just send the completed survey back to Dr. Hill and the results will be included in the final analysis.

INTERNATIONALIZING EXTENSION: CENTER TO BRIDGE THE DIGITAL DIVIDE AFRICAN PROJECT
A partnership between Washington State University (WSU) Center to Bridge the Digital Divide (CBDD) and the University of the Witwatersrand (UWIT) (grant funded $125,000) seeks to increase the number of teachers capable of integrating technology into instruction through teacher training and by establishing a network between U.S. and South African high tech high schools and the partner universities. Other partners are Mt. Spokane High School, the WSU Center for Teaching, Learning, & Technology, and the Puget Sound Center. Faculty from WSU and UWIT will share expertise in view of creating a knowledge base of effective practices with the capacity to deliver the knowledge in a systematic and effective way. Teachers will learn about the integration of technology into teaching and will develop curriculum for use in the classrooms. These teachers also will become trainers in their respective schools, sharing knowledge and curriculum with their colleagues.

The ultimate goal of the network is to improve student achievement by employing best teaching and learning practices in the United States and South Africa through face-to-face interaction and information and communication technologies. The U.S. director, accompanied by the principal of Mt. Spokane High School (MSHS), made an initial visit to South Africa. During this visit, the partners held seminars designed to share their knowledge and to highlight the success stories and lessons learned from efforts to create high tech high schools in the State of Washington. The U.S. partnership director and MSHS's principal also launched the process of establishing an on-line partnership project between students and teachers at a South African high school and MSHS.

SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION SOCIETY INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE
Register online for the 2003 Soil and Water Conservation Society International Conference, July 26-30, Spokane, WA. Over 100,000 members and 68 chapters comprise SWCS as they represent every component of the conservation movement: academics, technical advisors, managers, educators, producers, and advocates. The theme of this year’s conference is “The Columbia: Conserving a legacy of life.” Four key topics of the conference and of concern for professionals working to conserve natural resources locally and globally will be addressed:

• Integrated watershed and basin management
• Water supplies for ecology and economy
• Grazingland health for sustainable production and biological diversity
• Air quality for public health and economic vitality.

Plan to attend for:

• Training and continue education credits
• Conservation tours on resource issues
• Posters on air, water and watershed issues
• Networking with other conservationists

NASULGC BOARD ON HUMAN SCIENCES FEDERAL FUNDING PRIORITIES
The Board on Human Sciences (BoHS) Web site at National Association of State Universities and Land Grant Colleges (NASULGC) includes materials on the federal funding priorities: Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP), IMPACT (Improved Nutrition and Physical Activity Act), and the Children's Research Initiative (CRI). The BoHS Web site material on EFNEP can be found under Task Forces, and the IMPACT and CRI material can be located under legislative issues. The EFNEP materials include a summary of the proposal to increase funding for EFNEP; A Tool Kit for working with our state congressional delegation; and Talking Points, a 3½ page document with the rationale for the increase in funding request. Many of you may know Linda Fox (and Mike Tate when available) serve on the BoHS/ECOP joint task force for EFNEP.

ARTICLES OF INTEREST IN THE FORUM FOR FAMILY AND CONSUMER ISSUES
The new issue of The Forum for Family and Consumer Issues is now posted.

Click on "Current Issue." In this issue, you will find the following articles:

• Why Ranchers and Farmers Are Reluctant to Seek Counseling and How Family Practitioners Can Help, by Randy R. Weigel, University of Wyoming
• Food Safety Knowledge of Residents in a Central Illinois County, by Mardell Wilson and Kimberly Shenuk, Illinois State University
• Increasing High School Financial Educators' Skills Through Distance Education, by Marianne C. Bickle, Judy McKenna, and Jan Carroll, Colorado State University
• "Attitudes for Success" - The Hispanic Youth Leadership Program, by Mary E. Arnold, Patricia Dawson, and William Broderick, Oregon State University
• Applying the Principles of Community Supported Agriculture to an Extension Nutrition Education Program, by Luanne J. Hughes, Rutgers Cooperative Extension
• The Pitt County Poster Project: A Partnership for Health, by Susan Reece, NC State University
• Perspectives: The Entrepreneurial Extension Service, by Michael Rupured, University of Georgia
• Perspectives: Advocating for Physical Activity in Schools - The Politics and the Policy, by Carolyn Dunn, NC State University
• Editor's Corner: The Scholarship of Extension and Engagement: What Does It Mean in the Promotion and Tenure Process? by Carol A. Schwab, NC State University

CSREES PROGRAM LEADER ASSIGNMENTS AND PERSONNEL UPDATES
Dr. Barbara Stone has accepted the position of National Program Leader Professional Development within CSREES’ Families, 4-H & Nutrition unit. Dr. Stone brings considerable experience in professional development to this role, most recently through her work with Texas Cooperative Extension. Dr. Stone provided leadership in the development of the National 4-H Strategic Plan, and has served in a variety of capacities at four Land-Grant institutions. She is also the author of numerous publications, and has developed effective tools and models, which have helped, further the professional development of Extension professionals. Dr. Stone will join our staff June 30, 2003.

Dr. Joseph Wysocki, National Program Leader joined the Families, 4-H, and Nutrition Unit on May 18. Joe has been assigned to the Family Consumer Sciences and Nutrition Section of the Unit. Joe will continue to provide national leadership for Housing and Environment research, education, and extension programs at CSREES. His contact information (address, phone, fax, etc.) will remain the same.

Phillip A. Carter will retire from CSREES on May 30, 2003. Phil serves as Policy Advisor and supervisor of the Policy and Program Liaison Staff in the CSREES Office of Extramural Programs. Among his many outstanding efforts, Phil has been highly effective when representing the interests of CSREES and our partners in the resolution of audit findings and through his leadership with the annual Administrative Officers’ Meeting.

PERSONNEL
New Hires:

JoAnn E. Manke, MS, Extension Coordinator
WSU-Puyallup, Senior Farmer's Market Nutrition Program
Funding: 100% Extension Grant
Administrative Professional
Effective April 28, 2003

Retirements:

Joan Bryant, Energy Extension Program Manager
WSU Extension Energy Program
Funding: Grant
Effective April 30, 2003

Resignations:

Brian Leib, Extension Specialist, E-2
Biological Systems Engineering
Funding: 100% Extension
Effective August 15, 2003

Hilary Rose, Assistant Professor
Human Development Faculty
Funding: 100% Teaching
Effective June 30, 2003

Yoon-Jung Lee, Assistant Professor
Apparel, Merchandising, and Interior Design
Funding: 100% Teaching, Faculty
Effective May 15, 2003

Viktor Gecas, Scientist/Professor
Community and Rural Sociology/Sociology
Funding: 50% Research/50% Teaching
Effective July 14, 2003

MEET OUR NEW COLLEAGUES
Remember to periodically check the Extension Web page Faculty and Staff Directory page; click on the bright red button “Meet our new colleagues.” The bios and photos of new colleagues appear shortly after they have been hired but not until they have come to Pullman for initial orientation and processing (photo taken and complete biographical sketch, etc.).

SCHEDULE
Next week, Mike will be in Washington DC and Kansas City. He will attend the inaugural meeting of the ECOP Leadership Advisory Council. Linda will be in Pullman Tuesday and Friday. Linda will attend the “Food Safety Farm to Table” Conference on Wednesday and the meeting of the WSU Foundation Trustees on Thursday.

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Linda Kirk Fox, PhD
Associate Dean and Associate Director
Cooperative Extension
Washington State University
PO Box 646230
Pullman WA 99164-6230
(509) 335-2933 Office
(509) 335-9223 Desk/Voicemail
FAX (509) 335-2926
lkfox@wsu.edu