Cooperative Extension Service Departments
Administration
Blue Letter - November 2010 No. 3703

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From the Director • Extension Walks for the Cure • Heikes Receives National Excellence in Extension Award • Extension's Investment ‘AIMS' to Make Impact • SNAP-Ed Lands $1.5 Million Contract • Powell Earns National Advising Award • MarketMaker Recognized With NIFA Partnership Award • Standards and Usage • Smith Offers Herbicide 2011 Outlook to Israelis • A Clean Computer Means Never Having to Dial the Call Center • Save the Date • Over-the-Counter Drugs No Longer Under Flex Spending • 2010 Reimbursement Claims Due March 15 • UA and Federal Benefits Open Enrollment • Honorary and Memorial Gifts • Monthly Gift Total Summary • Tax Schools Scheduled • Grants and Contracts

From the Director

Please join me in welcoming Dr. Kyleen Hawkins Whitehead back. She will be our new CFO starting Nov. 8. Many of you will remember Kyleen serving as our director of financial services in 2006 and 2007, before taking a job as assistant director and chief financial officer for the Department of Human Services. At DHS, she oversaw the largest piece of the state's budget at $4.5 billion.

Whitehead earned her doctorate in business administration from Louisiana Tech and was a professor of accounting at UALR. She has years in public finance as an auditor and manager.

One of Kyleen's first jobs will be working with Information Technology Director Sam Boyster, Director of Financial Services Bruce Hankins and Human Resources Director Donna Rothberg and their staff members on an upgrade to the Banner system.

Financial Services, IT and Human Resources began testing the system in October with positive results. Provided testing continues smoothly, the goal is to have the upgrade in place by the end of the calendar year for improved performance in 2011.

- Tony E. Windham

Have a safe and happy Thanksgiving

Extension Walks for the Cure

More than two-dozen Extension employees and family members joined the Race for the Cure on Oct. 16 in Little Rock.

Two Extension teams walked: L.A.C.I.E., or Ladies Against Cancer in Extension, and ChiES S.O.S, or Chi Epsilon Sigma, Save Our Sisters.

From left to right, Chancellor Johnson (Terilyn Maize's daughter), Terilyn Maize, Jo Ann Fish and Phyllis McQuany. (Photo by Ursula Crow) 

From left to right, Ursula Crow, Pamela Ferrill and Jo Ann Fish. In front is Nora, Pam Ferrill's granddaughter. (Photo by Johnny Woodley)

Heikes Receives National Exellence in Extension Award

David Heikes

David Heikes, Extension aquaculture specialist for the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB) Aquaculture/Fisheries Center, has received a regional Excellence in Extension Award from the National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges.

Regional award recipients are recognized as a select group of Cooperative Extension System educators who excel at Extension programming, make a positive impact on constituents and provide visionary leadership for the System.

Over the past 12 years, Heikes has developed specialized fish harvesting, grading and production systems to meet the changing needs of the fish farming industry. The majority of channel catfish fingerlings produced today in Arkansas, Mississippi and Alabama are size-graded with the in-pond fish grader developed by Heikes at UAPB. Most recently, Heikes developed a flexible grading panel that allows for more cost-effective size grading of hybrid catfish.

Heikes is a two-time recipient of the Outstanding Service Award presented by the Catfish Farmers of Arkansas. He serves on the Southern Regional Aquaculture Center's technical committee and represents the Southern Region on the National Aquaculture Extension Steering Committee.

– Debbie Archer 

Extension's Investment 'AIMS' to Make Impact

How large is Extension's investment and how big an impact do our programs make?

The numbers in AIMS help tell the story of the difference Extension employees make in the lives of our neighbors.

In 2010 FY, Extension employees reported:

• Making more than 2.1 million direct contacts, roughly equivalent of the Houston metro area population and about a half-million more contacts than last year.
• 80,672.75 hours of work, equal to one person working approximately 40 years.
• Number of impact statements collected: 744, compared with 694 last year.
• Goodwill shared among our neighbors: Priceless.

For FY2011, we have changed the face of AIMS and user reaction is positive. "Simpler" is the word most often used to describe the changes. The AIMS team thanks those who provided feedback and helped us improve the look and function of AIMS. A thank you is deserved, as well, by those who served as early testers.

Check out the new AIMS at http://aims.uaex.edu and visit AIMS Help or leave a suggestion for future changes.

For more information, questions or to schedule staff training, contact Nikki Davidson at 501-671-2351 or kndavidson@uaex.edu.

SNAP-Ed Lands $1.5 Million Contract

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program – Education, or SNAP-Ed, received a $1.5 million contract from the Arkansas Department of Human Services in September 2010.

The one-year contract will allow for the delivery of nutrition education to SNAP recipients and those eligible in all 75 counties throughout the state.

Arkansas SNAP-Ed helps thousands of low-income Arkansans put healthy food on the table every month. SNAP-Ed is offered through the Cooperative Extension Service.

Powell Earns National Advising Award

Extension veterinarian Jeremy Powell, who is also an associate professor of animal science in Dale Bumpers College, was presented the 2010 Outstanding Advising Award by NACADA at the association's annual meeting in Orlando in October.

The National Academic Advising Association, based in Manhattan, Kan., promotes quality academic advising in higher education and professional development for its 10,000 members. The national award is presented to individuals who have demonstrated qualities associated with outstanding academic advising of students or outstanding academic advising administration. Powell is one of only 10 faculty advisers honored in this category in the nationwide competition in 2010.

Powell advises pre-veterinary medicine students and is faculty adviser to the Pre-Vet Club in the animal science department. He teaches and conducts University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture research and extension programs in companion  animal management and animal health.

Also in 2010, Powell was presented Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences Alumni Society Advising Award. Since Powell began advising pre-vet students in 2002, the number of students gaining admission to veterinary schools has markedly increased.

MarketMaker Recognized With NIFA Partnership Award

Ron Rainey, Arkansas' MarketMaker project director, is one of four grantees to be recognized with a national Partnership Award from USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture, or NIFA. The award recipients were honored for exemplary work and outstanding contributions in support of the USDA mission and for their positive impacts on agriculture.

"NIFA's Partnership Awards showcase the outstanding work of our grantees and highlight the important role our partners play in advancing agricultural science, education and extension," said Roger Beachy, NIFA director.

MarketMaker was honored  for the multistate category and features an emerging national network. Each state partner was recognized during a ceremony Oct. 6 in Washington, DC.

"MarketMaker adds value to the food system by connecting farmers to consumers as well as other food distribution system players," said Rainey. The online resource is available in Arkansas and allows farmers to effectively reach local and expanded markets.

To learn more about Arkansas' MarketMaker resource, visit www.uaex.edu/marketmaker or email marketmaker@uaex.edu.

Standards and Usage Reminder

Confused about proper logo usage on Extension publications and educational material? Click on the Division of Agriculture logo in the upper left-hand corner of our home page, then click on Logos and Logo Standards. Here you can either open up the Standards of Usage Manual or scroll down to select one of a variety of Division logos and other useful and program graphics.

Smith Offers Herbicide 2011 Outlook to Israelis

Ken Smith

An Israeli pesticide manufacturer with a significant amount of business in the United States tapped weed scientist Ken Smith to travel to Israel to give two presentations about the expected demand for herbicides in the U.S. in 2011.

MANA Crop Protection, based in Tel Aviv, offers more than 60 branded pesticides, plant growth regulators and harvest aids and claims the largest portfolio of active ingredients in the U.S.

Demand is a hot topic for producers due to a shortage of residual herbicides during the 2010 growing season. Residual herbicides have been promoted by Smith and others as a key weapon in the fight against glyphosate-resistant weeds, an effort that likely drove high demand.

MANA Crop Protection invited Smith to present to MANA and to graduate students at the Israeli Agriculture University.

Smith is a weed scientist housed at the Southeast Research and Extension Center and is teaching Introduction to Weed Science at the UA-Monticello School of Agriculture this semester.

A Clean Computer Means Never Having to Dial the Call Center

A few simple acts of kindness to your computer can prevent it from taking an extended visit to IT.

Prevent a meltdown. If possible, keep your computer's main box, the box where cables connect, off the floor. On the floor, there is an increased probability that the computer's air vents will clog from dust, reducing airflow, which may cause your computer to overheat. As a preventative measure, you may want to wipe away dust collected around and in the computer's vents with a dry dust cloth, or spray an all- purpose cleaner on a lint-free cloth and wipe the case's vents.

Boost immunity. Keep your e-mail clean by removing spam to the junk folder. This helps the e-mail filter build immunity. Don't forget to empty the junk folder periodically.

Crumb tray with keys. Keyboards are reservoirs for snacking and drinking residue. Periodically clean between and around keys with compressed air, and with the computer off or keyboard unplugged, wipe the keys with a sanitizing tissue. Clean the mouse, as well, paying particular attention to its bottom side.

Lose the excess. "Defrag" your computer at least monthly. Heavily used computers can accumulate dead spaces between pieces of data on the drive, slowing the computer as it struggles to find data. Defragging allows the computer to repack information by putting data and programs back to where they can be found quickly.

If you have questions, contact the Call Center at exten sion 2255 or 866-779-3375.

– Ed Erwin 

Save the Date - January 7, 2011 

Be sure and set aside January 7, 2011, for the 2011 Division Awards Luncheon, which will be held at the Northwest Arkansas Convention Center in Rogers. Employees receiving awards will receive formal invitations in late 2010.

Over-the-Counter Drugs No Longer Under Flex Spending

Beginning Jan. 1, over-the-counter medicines will no longer be eligible for Flex Spending reimbursement, unless they are prescribed by a doctor or qualified health care professional.

Any claim submitted for reimbursement that includes an OTC medicine on or after Jan. 1 must be accompanied by a request for reimbursement form and one of the following:

• An over-the-counter written prescription and itemized cash register receipt with merchant name, over-the-counter medicine or drug name, purchase date and amount.
  
• A printed pharmacy statement/receipt with the patient's name, Rx number, date filled and the amount.

The change doesn't affect prescription drugs, insulin (including over-the-counter insulin) and over-the-counter items such as blood pressure monitors, thermometers, bandages and first aid kits, which are not affected by this change.

2010 Reimbursement Claims Due March 15

Except for over-the-counter medications, the deadline to incur and submit reimbursement claims for 2010 is March 15, 2011. However, any over-the-counter drugs purchased after Dec. 31, 2010, fall under the new rules and require a prescription for reimbursement from your 2011 account.

Please keep this information in mind as you estimate your unreimbursed medical expenses for your 2011 Flexible Spending Account.

If you have questions, please contact Lynda Lee at 501-671-2055 or llee@uaex.edu  

UA and Federal Benefits Open Enrollment

The open enrollment period for University of Arkansas and federal benefits opens Nov. 8 and closes Dec. 3. During Open Enrollment, employees may enroll, cancel or change the following benefit elections:

•  UA Health Plan (QualChoice)
•  UA Dental Plan (Delta Dental)
•  UA Vision Plan (Superior Vision)
•  Flexible Spending Accounts (annual enrollment)
•  Federal Health Insurance (may enroll children age 23-26)
•  MetLife Critical Illness
•  Liberty Mutual (Auto and Home Insurance)

Enrollment information will be sent to you by e-mail. If you have questions, please contact Lynda Lee at 501-671-2055 or llee@uaex.edu.

Honorary and Memorial Gifts

The following honorary and memorial gifts were recently received in support of programs and funds within the Cooperative Extension Service. This list covers gifts deposited August 1 - September 30, 2010.

• Cooperative Extension Service Retiree Scholarship Fund

In memory of Novelle Bond Clark

Frank and Patricia Plafcan
Fann Woodward

In memory of J. W. Lehman

Martha and Claude Clement
Extension Cord Editorial Board
Frank and Patricia Plafcan
Bob and Sharon Reynolds
Merritt Royal
Fann Woodward

In honor of Fred Woodward

Dr. Ella Mae and Lott Rolfe

To honor or remember the life of another, send donations to the Development Office, Cooperative Extension Service, 2301 South University Avenue, Little Rock, AR 72204. Please also include in whose honor or memory the gift is made and the mailing address of the person to receive the notification.

- Merritt Royal

The following chart summarizes gifts and noncash gifts received in July and August 2010 to advance the programs of the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture Cooperative Extension Service.