January 28,
2005
Topics in today’s issue of Extension Update:
REMINDER OF TIMELY AND ACCURATE DAILY
ACTIVITY REPORTS OF HOURLY EMPLOYEES
The Business and Finance Office appreciates the efforts
of all supervisors’ of hourly employees to ensure timely
payments to employees. A recent audit of WSU Extension found that
some employees
are not submitting Daily Activity Reports (DAR) in a timely manner.
We would like to receive DAR’s by 5:00 p.m. the last day
of the pay period. However, we understand this may not be practical.
Below is a schedule that will ensure timely payment.
Pay Period Due on For Payment on
January 1 to 15, 2005 1-17-05 by 5:00 p.m. 1-25-05
January 16 to 31, 2005 2-2-05 by 5:00 p.m. 2-10-05
February 1 to 15, 2005 2-17-05 by 5:00 p.m. 2-25-05
February 16 to 28, 2005 3-2-05 by 5:00 p.m. 3-10-05
March 1 to 15, 2005 3-17-05 by 5:00 p.m. 3-25-05
March 16 to 31, 2005 4-3-05 by 5:00 p.m. 4-11-05
We would also like to remind you that supervisors should not sign
DAR’s before work is completed. Original signatures are required
(no stamps). You may fax DAR’s to (509) 335-2926 to meet
payroll deadlines, but you must follow by sending the original
DAR to the Business and Finance Office at PO Box 646241, Pullman,
WA 99164-6241 by the pay date.
FEBRUARY 1 NATIONAL eXtension VIDEOCONFERENCE
The first in a series
of national eXtension videoconferences is scheduled
for Tuesday, February 1, 2005, 11:30 – 1:00 pm PST. The goal
of the videoconference is to engage and interact with people about
the eXtension initiative. The University of Nebraska, Communications
and Information Technology Unit, will produce the program with
origination points at UNL, North Carolina State University and
the University of Kentucky. The program will include a combination
of PowerPoint slides with presentations by the eXtension staff,
followed by time for questions and answers. We hope you will plan
to participate; however, if you are not able to join the program
live, we will have it archived
for viewing
at a later date. If you have questions, please email Dan
Cotton.
The program will be broadcast using KU- and C-Band satellite services,
and
Webcast in both QuickTime and Real formats. Streams will be available
at
two different Webcast servers, one located at the University of
Nebraska,
the other at The Ohio State University. Following is access information.
Ku-Band Coordinates:
Ku Satellite AMC 9 @ 85 West
Transponder 03
Downlink Frequency 11760 MHz (V)
C-Band Coordinates:
C Band Satellite AMC 4 @ 101 West
Transponder 17
Downlink Frequency 4040 MHz (V)
Note: Please verify that your receiver is on the proper satellite
prior to
broadcast. If you should encounter a problem, please call (800) 755-7765
for help.
Webcast Coordinates: Web
page access (available for review Friday, January 28)
Agenda:
- Welcome and Introductions
- eXtension Overview:
- Prototype
- Questions & Answers (Everyone)
To phone in questions please
call (800) 755-7765
To Fax in questions send them to (402) 472-9724 eXtension
PROTOTYPE UPDATE – CONTENT DEVELOPMENT
Content development
continues at a feverish pace. Texas A&M
University,
Prairie View A&M, The Ohio State University, West Virginia
University, West
Virginia State University and Washington State University are involved
in
demonstrating the institutional and multi-institutional branding
as part of
eXtension. Texas A&M University and The Ohio State University
are also
involved in demonstrating the co-branding of an institution and
a county
extension office. Content and logo guidelines have been secured
from each
of them to ensure proper institutional branding.
eXtension is working with the following content teams in the development
of
the eXtension prototype: Family Financial Security for Late in
Life;
Legally Secure Your Financial Future; HorseQuest.info; and AnswerLink.
Each team will participate in illustrating the functions of an
FAQ and Ask
an Expert, while providing access to learning modules and other
eXtension-related products. AnswerLink is an FAQ system supported
by the
Colorado State University Cooperative Extension System.
ONLINE SURVEY TO ASSESS PUBLIC ISSUES EDUCATION
Public Issues Education
educates and assists people to improve group decisions about pressing
issues that affect them and their
communities. The objectives of Public Issues Education are to:
increase citizens’ knowledge about issues; assist citizens
in determining appropriate and effective strategies for making
public decisions; help citizens craft, evaluate and implement solutions
to public problems; and build skills and provide opportunities
for more effective citizen participation in public decisions.
A national team of Extension professionals has been working to
enhance the capacity of their colleagues to plan, deliver and evaluate
Public Issues Education programs on controversial issues. The Public
Issues Education Team has developed the following e-survey to assess
the training needs of Extension professionals to practice Public
Issues Education effectively and comfortably. They will use the
survey results to target and develop training programs that are
relevant to your needs.
I encourage everyone to complete
the e-survey between now and February 21. It will take about five to ten minutes
to complete. Your participation is strictly voluntary and confidential.
The Public Issues Education Team thanks you in advance
for taking the time to complete this survey. If you have any questions
about
the survey, please contact Dr.
Loretta Singletary, University
of Nevada Cooperative Extension at
775-463-6541 or the University of Nevada, Reno, Social Behavioral
Institutional Review Board at 775-327-2368.
EPA LAUNCHES NEW SPANISH WEB SITE
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has launched a
new consolidated Spanish Web site as part of its ongoing effort
to provide environmental information both in Spanish and English.
The new site compiles EPA's Spanish language materials
on a wide variety of areas from lead poisoning prevention to
controlling asthma triggers, recycling to proper management of
pesticides. The site was developed through a series of focus
groups to respond to the environmental needs and interests of
Hispanics.
In addition to environmental health information, the site also
offers educational resources for students and teachers who
often seek Spanish language learning tools on the environment.
The
site also provides information about EPA grants, small business
opportunities and environmental jobs at EPA.
View EPA's Spanish site.
Source: Antonio Castro-Escobar, Worker Protection and Restricted
Use Pesticides Program Manager, Pesticide & Plant Pest Management
Division
Send E-mail.
HOUSE AND SENATE COMMITTEE LEADERSHIP IN FLUX
Many of you may
be wondering why we have not been in touch concerning organization
and leadership of the Congressional House and Senate
Appropriations committees and their respective subcommittees. The
reason? Beyond naming full committee chairs, nothing has been decided
yet.
1. Full Committee Chairs
Earlier this month Rep. Jerry Lewis (R-CA) was elected chairman
of the House Appropriations Committee. On the Senate-side Senator
Thad Cochran (R-MS) was elected as the new Appropriations Committee
chair.
2. Subcommittee Jurisdiction
The really big news concerns subcommittee jurisdiction. According
to an article in the Wall Street Journal, the House and Senate
leadership are mulling over a proposal that would make major
jurisdictional changes and reduce the number of subcommittees
from 13 to 11. The WSJ article described the essential elements
of the proposal as follows:
A. The District of Columbia no longer would have its own dedicated
funding bill.
B. Science agencies (NASA and NSF) no longer would compete directly
with veterans and housing programs. This would be accomplished
through dissolution of the VA-HUD subcommittee, leaving the various
departments and independent agencies funded through other annual
bills:
- Funding for the Department of Housing and Urban Development
(HUD) would be combined with that for the Transportation Department.
- Funding for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) would
become part of a military "quality of life" bill that
also would fund military bases and housing.
- Funding for science agencies (NASA and NSF) would be folded
into the Energy & Water Subcommittee, which is already responsible
for energy research.
- Funding for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) likely
would be absorbed into the appropriations bill now funding
the Interior Department and Forest Service. This proposal has
not
been adopted and is, therefore, subject to change. Thus,
we don't have any information about subcommittee assignments
and leadership.
However, when those decisions have been made we will be certain
to be back in touch.
3. Outlook for the F.Y. 2006 Appropriations Cycle
Release of the president's budget request is scheduled for February
7 and according to the Blue Ribbon Team (BRT), advocacy firm
of the Board on Ag Assembly (BAA) of National Association of
State Universities and Land Grant Colleges (NASULGC), the outlook
for discretionary spending on agriculture accounts appears to
be bleak – once again. As you recall, the congressional
302(b) allocation of funding to the Agriculture Appropriations
Subcommittees declined in both F.Y. 2004 and F.Y. 2005, relative
to prior years. This was the first time in at least 25 years
that the Agriculture allocation has gone down in any year, much
less two years in a row. Fortunately, due to the perseverance
there were modest spending increases for many critical CSREES
accounts.
Unfortunately, indications from the administration are that the
President may seek a freeze on overall agriculture spending for
F.Y. 2006. In the case of discretionary spending alone, a freeze
would be an improvement over the reductions of the past two years.
However, in order to achieve a freeze in the overall agriculture
budget function, the administration has indicated that they will
reduce, or even zero out, the requests for any number of agriculture
programs to meet their budget targets.
Source: BRT, NASULGC, January 27, 2005
PERSONNEL
Jim Lindstrom, Spokane County, begins
a six-month professional leave on February 1st. Nancy Sanders will
be the Interim County
Director of Spokane County while Jim is on leave. Thanks to all
the faculty and staff who will help to accommodate these opportunities
for Jim and for Nancy.
New Hires:
Name: Dennis Fiess
Title: Extension Coordinator Specialist
Address: Western Center for Risk Management Education
Funding: 100% Extension (Grant Funds)
Status: Administrative Professional
Effective Date: February 1, 2005
Degree: M.A.
Name: Kathy Barnard
Title: Senior Public Relations/Communications Coordinator
Address: Information Department-Pullman
Status: Administrative Professional
Effective Date: February 21, 2005
SCHEDULE
Next week Linda will be in Pullman Monday through Thursday
next week. On Friday she will be in Mt Vernon at the R&E Center
and the Skagit County Extension office and on Saturday attending
the Beach Watchers conference in Island County. Ed will be in Moses
Lake on Tuesday at the potato variety conference, otherwise in
his office in Spokane.
Linda Kirk Fox, PhD
Interim Dean and Director
Washington State University Extension
411 Hulbert Hall
PO Box 646230
Pullman, WA 99164-6230
509-335-2933 Office
509-335-9223 Desk/Voicemail
509-335-2926 FAX
lkfox@wsu.edu |
