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Blue Letter - March 2011 No. 3707

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From the Director • Agents Attend Joint County Extension Professional Conference • LeadAR Shifts Focus to Turkey • Galaxy Conference Coming Up • 2011 Entrepreneur Camps • Enhancements Made to Publications Title Search • April 1 Deadline for Russell Endowed Award Applications • Meet Our New Employees • Honorary and Memorial Gifts • Monthly Gift Total Summary • Grants and Contracts

From the Director

This year's Galaxy Conference, "Triple ‘R' on the Rocks," offers excellent professional growth opportunities.

The Galaxy Conference planning committee has invited UACES retirees to attend this year's Galaxy, March 16-18, and several are planning to attend.

If you know a retiree, you may want to call, encourage the retiree to attend this year's Galaxy and invite the retiree to ride with you to the conference.

Retirees and new attendees will be recognized at the Wednesday evening cookout. During Thursday's luncheon, retirees will present their third annual UACES Retiree Scholarship to a current UACES employee.

Retirees have raised more than $15,000 for their scholarship fund, making it an endowed fund. Their next goal is to raise $25,000 so they can award two scholarships or one larger scholarship each year.

With this year's scholarship, retirees will have awarded three retiree scholarships, all of which will have been used to advance university or college studies.

The 2009 scholarship winner was Vicki Shadell, a 4-H program assistant in Perry County. She completed her Associate of Arts General Education degree from the University of Arkansas Community College at Morrilton in May 2010 and is pursuing a Liberal Arts degree with an emphasis on nonprofit management at UALR. The 2010 scholarship winner was Carla Haley, Miller County FCS, who is working on an MS in human and environmental sciences at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville.

When you meet or visit a retiree at this year's Galaxy, please thank them for providing the annual scholarship. Thank them as well for the legacy they have left Arkansas and the UACES. All of our lives have been enriched by retirees who dedicated their careers to Arkansas, just as you are doing today.

For more information about the Galaxy Conference, contact Karen Ballard at 501-671-2218 or kballard@uaex.edu.

- Tony E. Windham 

Agents Attend Joint County Extension Professional Conference

The Joint County Extension Professional Conference was recently attended by a group from Arkansas. The conference focuses on current issues and how each professional organization can work together to improve extension on a local, state and national level.

Pictured (back row, left to right) Becky Reynolds (ESP), Keith Perkins (ACAAA), Jack Boles (ACAAA), Jerry Clemons (ACAAA); (front row) Casey Scarborough (4-H), Lameria Colclough (FCS), Louise Walker (FCS).

- Keith Perkins

LeadAR Shifts Focus to Turkey

The Republic of Turkey, a nation with one foot in Europe and the other in Asia, is the new international study destination for members of LeadAR Class 14 after political turmoil scrubbed their original destination - Egypt.

The class will make its trip April 27-May 11.

"The LeadAR Advisory Council overwhelming selected Turkey, primarily because of the great connection resources we have here in Little Rock with the Raindrop Turkish House," said Joe Waldrum, professor - leadership development with the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture. "The cultural outreach center will coordinate most of the in country arrangements and will sponsor all of the meals once we reach Turkey. The center will also provide three or four of their own people from the Arkansas organization to travel with us and translate for us."

LeadAR is a leadership development program of the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture. LeadAR marked its 25th anniversary in 2010 and counts among its alumni five members of the current state Legislature.

In addition to Turkey, the council had considered Denmark, the Netherlands and the Baltic states of Lithuania, Estonia and/or Latvia.

Class 14 was set to visit Egypt in mid-February. The trip was cancelled after the State Department warned against all but essential travel in light of nationwide protests. The protests eventually pressured Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak into resigning.  Egypt is currently under military rule.

The 14th LeadAR class is in the second year of its two-year course of study, which includes a trip to Washington, D.C., to gain insight into the inside-the-Beltway culture, and a trip abroad to become familiar with the opportunities and challenges that might arise in opening up new international avenues of education or business for Arkansas.

For more information on LeadAR, visit www.uaex.edu/leadar.

- Mary Hightower

Galaxy Conference Coming Up

Join your colleagues and sign up for the 2011 Arkansas Galaxy Conference, March 16-18 at the Winthrop Rockefeller Institute atop Petit Jean Mountain.

This year's program includes 30 concurrent sessions across six tracks of study: Technology Tools, Instructional Technology for Educators, Management and Leadership, Strategic Partnerships, Educational Program Development and Evaluation, and Professional Growth and Renewal.

Special guests and keynote speakers include the new vice president for agriculture, Dr. Mark Cochran, Dr. Tony Windham, associate vice president for Extension, and Keith Jackson, who will speak on "Time and Purpose."

Additional conference activities will include regional educational tours and classes and a breakfast "Roundtable Café" on emerging issues in Extension.

A poster and reception with the authors rounds out the comprehensive conference, which makes it a great opportunity for professional development and networking with your colleagues.

- Karen Ballard

Despite patchy winter roads, 59 youth participated in entrepreneur and advanced entrepreneur camps on February 11-13 at the 4-H Center.

Entrepreneur camp participants developed basic business plans, created business ventures, sold their products at a camp "market" and determined their business profits.

Advanced camp participants created business plans for a business they might start in the real world, created a marketing piece and presented their business plans to each other. Campers also participated in traditional camp activities, such as canoeing, camp skits and songs and more.

Results from pre- and post-tests reveal up to a 33 percent increase in knowledge of entrepreneurship concepts among basic camp participants.

Participants at advanced camp cited using math, calculating break-even price, cost planning, using Powerpoint, and public speaking as the most useful activities they did at camp. Ninety-eight percent of all campers indicated they would consider becoming an entrepreneur based on what they learned and 95 percent would like to learn more about entrepreneurship.

Special thanks go out to Leadra Martin for stepping in as a last minute instructor and Ruthie Etchieson, Richard Klerk, Chris Elkins and Keith Gresham for their help in making this year's camps a success!

Happy campers - 2011 Entrepreneur Camp participants..

- Stacey McCullough and Shannon Caldwell

Enhancements Made to Publications Title Search

In this year's Extension Professional Association 2010 Resolutions Meeting, Resolution 11 recommended that the online publications database be revised/updated so agents and clientele can find fact sheets and publications by entering key words, not just the exact publication title.

Communications added additional keywords (MP(Space)154, 44 and 144) and MP(hyphen)154, 44 and 144) to assist when searchers type in different variants of the publication number.

Additionally, IT added sub-string search capability which now works in the following manner:

If you use *fish* or fish in the search field, you would return the following types of matches:

"Crawfish Production in Arkansas";

"Silverfish and Firebrats";

or

"Cage Culture Handling & Feeding" from the Fish Division.

The search phrase *fruits* will also return any publications that End with fruits, such as:

"Drying Fruits"

or "Water Bath Canning of Fruits"

The search phrase *rice* will also return any publications that Begin with rice, such as:

Rice Production Handbook

Additional examples can be found at the search help link: http://pubs.uaex.edu/PubsWebNewHelp.htm.

- Sam Boyster

April 1 Deadline for Russell Endowed Award Applications

Employees who are enrolled in an accredited graduate program or intend to attend a professional development conference are encouraged to apply for the 2011 Lynn R. Russell Endowed Award for Professional Excellence.

Interested applicants must have three or more years of employment with Extension.

The two-page application outlining the applicant's professional development goals and two letters of reference should be submitted to Amy Hedges in the State Office no later than noon April 1. The application form and criteria for application are available at http://www.uaex.edu/giving/endowments/russell.htm.

The award is contingent upon funds available but shall be no less than $500. Two recipients were awarded the scholarship in 2010: Hazelene McCray and Stacey McCullough. Laura Connerly received the first award in 2009.

This year's award recipient will be recognized at the State Faculty Conference scheduled June 13, 2011.

Meet New Employees

Each month, we ask new employees questions, which we run in the Blue Letter, so you can become familiar with each new employee. If you see a new employee, be sure to welcome them as they begin their new career with Extension.

Annie Coley
Administrative Support Supervisor, White County

What's your background?

I grew up in Searcy and moved to McRae when I was 14 and graduated there. I graduated from Foothills Technical Institute, studying Business/Word Processing. I worked for White County Farm Bureau for several years before relocating to Greers Ferry, where I worked for a publishing company.

What knowledge, skills and/or experience are you bringing to Extension?

I have worked for many years with computers and in an office network. I have also worked many years in customer service. I believe my experience in these things will help me accomplish anything that is expected of me.

What are one or two things you would like your colleagues to know about you?

I am a mother of two children. I have been married to Kenny Coley for a year and a half and gained a stepson and grandbaby, Madison. I also have a furry baby - my dog Scarlet.

What would you like to accomplish your first year at Extension?

To work hard and do my best to learn my job to its fullest. To be helpful to all that walk in our door needing information and to get to know the wonderful people I work with better.

What brought you to Extension? What was it about Extension that you value?

I had been told what a great place this is to work and was lucky enough to get a chance to see for myself. I value the agents here at our office. They are so very nice and respectful to the people who come in needing help. They really do want to do all they can to help and inform people.

What are your interests or hobbies outside work?

I'm a flea market nut. I love to go in search of "treasures." I also love decorating and organizing. I am a homebody who loves her husband and kids.

Cynthia Ford
4-H Program Assistant, Union County

What's your background?

I grew up in Camden, graduating from Fairview High School. I earned a BSE from Southern Arkansas University in Magnolia. I taught elementary and preschool for twenty-eight years.

What knowledge, skills and/or experience are you bringing to Extension?

I have experience working with youth. I not only taught, but I was a 4-H leader for many years. I volunteered to teach cooking classes and clothing construction during the summers while working and continued after retiring.

What are one or two things you would like your colleagues to know about you?

Both of my children were 4-H Ambassadors, with one being a state officer. They had wonderful 4-H agents who are still employed in various state and county positions.

What would you like to accomplish your first year at Extension?

I would like to increase our county enrollment so as many children as possible can benefit from the 4-H program.

What brought you to Extension? What was it about Extension that you value?

4-H was such a benefit to my children that I felt I should volunteer and give back to the program. This led me to becoming the 4-H program assistant.

What are your interests or hobbies outside work?

I love to cook, sew and read. I am also an Extension Homemaker.

Jean Langford
Receptionist, State Office

What's your background?

I grew up in Jonesboro, Arkansas, and attended Arkansas State University. After teaching high school for two years in Missouri, I returned to Arkansas then moved to Little Rock. I then began working for various state and county agencies (no more teaching). I loved working in government offices and retired from state government last year.

What knowledge, skills and/or experience are you bringing to Extension?

I am an English major, so am a good proofreader.

What are one or two things you would like your colleagues to know about you?

I want to take a course in conversational Spanish!

What would you like to accomplish your first year at Extension?

Just learning folks' names would be terrific!

What brought you to Extension? What was it about Extension that you value?

The opportunity for a work-only-when-needed job, to allow me to travel the U.S. and do other things of interest on my days off!

What are your interests or hobbies outside work?

I love travel and museums, movies and books. I love meeting with friends as we try out different restaurants and cafés.

Keith Gresham
County Extension Agent - Staff Chair, Dallas County

What's your background?

I grew up in Chambersville, Arkansas, which is located in north Hogskin (Calhoun County). I attended first  through twelfth grade at Thornton Public School, about five miles south of Fordyce. I attended UAM and earned a BSE in Ag Education at the U of A at Fayetteville. I also took some classes at UAPB. I interviewed for an Ag teaching job at Rison High School during my senior year and was hired to start the fall of 1977. I taught agriculture education at Rison for 33 years until I started to work for the Extension Service on Feb. 1, 2011.

What knowledge, skills and/or experience are you bringing to Extension?

I am bringing the ability to work with kids after having taught for 33 years. I have some skills in working with animals, soils and forestry. I have raised a few head of beef cattle on our home place for 40 years, worked with the Health Department in soil morphology and sewer designs, and I have trained forestry judging teams at Rison High School for 30 years. I taught kids in our shop at school woodworking, plumbing, welding, leadership, sketching and drawing, shooting sports and electricity. I have been the fire chief of the Chambersville Fire Department for 23 years, past president of the Cleveland County Fair Board for 10 years, past president of the Arkansas Agriculture Teachers Association and past member of the Cleveland County Farm Bureau for 20 years.

What are one or two things you would like your colleagues to know about you?

I am married to Debbie Gresham. We have one daughter, Katie, 18, who will be attending UAM in the fall and one son, Clay, who is in the 8th grade at Fordyce School. I am a Christian, and I attend the Chambersville Methodist Church.

What would you like to accomplish your first year at Extension?

I would like to learn more about the Extension Service and build a relationship with the people of Dallas County so they know we are here to help them. I would like to try to develop more interest in 4-H and start a couple of new programs in the county.

What brought you to Extension? What was it about Extension that you value?

Extension gives you the opportunity to be involved with so many people in various capacities in the county and state. You have the opportunity to learn a lot from the different programs in Extension so you can be better equipped to handle the job. I value the work Extension does to help the people of Arkansas.

What are your interests or hobbies outside work?

My interests include completing a new fire station/ community center that our community has started building and to help my son learn the value of hard work. He has started a mowing business, and I help him when I can. Right now I don't really have any time for hobbies, but maybe someday I can catch up on everything and find a few that I would like.

Margaret Hoskyn
Administrative Support Supervisor, State Office

What's your background?

I grew up in Camden, Arkansas, and graduated from Camden Senior High. I attended Arkansas State University, and I am attending college to continue my education. I've worked for BEI Defense, Arkansas Council on Economic Education, United States District Court of Eastern Arkansas and St. Vincent Foundation.

What knowledge, skills and/or experience are you bringing to Extension?

I have over 20 years of customer service and secretarial experience.

What are one or two things you would like your colleagues to know about you?

I like to be very busy, and I enjoy projects that challenge me. I love my family. I'm married and have two daughters, one grandson and one granddaughter.

What would you like to accomplish your first year at Extension?

To have a good understanding of all the different departments and what their roles are.

What brought you to Extension? What was it about Extension that you value?

A family member encouraged me to apply for the job. My father-in-law is a rice farmer, and I value what Extension means to him and our family.

What are your interests and hobbies outside work?

I love to be outdoors, fishing, camping, hiking and enjoying our beautiful state.

Nihal Erian, CPS, CAP
Administrative Support Supervisor, Arkansas 4-H Foundation

What's your background?

I was born in the former West Germany, and I was raised in Egypt. I attended the Catholic German School in Cairo and then Cairo University, Faculty of Arts, German Department, where I majored in German and minored in English. I also obtained a graduate certificate in Management from UALR. I used to work in the secretarial and administrative field. I worked for German and international companies in Egypt. In addition, I worked for the local government in Omaha, Nebraska. I also work as a freelance translator and interpreter.

What knowledge, skills and/or experience are you bringing to Extension?

I am quadrilingual. I am currently a Certified Professional Secretary (CPS) and Certified Administrative Professional (CAP), and I am willing to use everything I learned during my course of study for the benefit of the 4-H Foundation.

What are one or two things you would like your colleagues to know about you?

I am an open-minded person, and I love to travel to meet new people. I always believe that the sky is the limit.

What would you like to accomplish your first year at Extension?

As I have started to work for the 4-H Foundation, I wish to see the 4-H Foundation achieve its goals. For me that would be the ultimate accomplishment.

What brought you to Extension? What was it about Extension that you value?

The Extension Service provides a wide spectrum of services that touch the lives of so many people in many different ways. I wanted to be part of all that. I am passionate about helping others, and I think this is what the Extension Service is all about.

What are your interests and hobbies outside work?

I love to read and listen to classical music (Mozart and Beethoven). I am also fond of American Country music. I like to go for long walks. I still have pen-pals around the world, and I am still enjoying writing regular mail. What I enjoy most is playing chess with my 10 year old!

Suzy Smith
County Extension Agent, Searcy County

What's your background?

I am originally from Mountain Home, Arkansas. I moved to Conway in 1995 to attend UCA, where I earned my bachelor's and master's degrees.

What knowledge, skills and/or experience are you bringing to Extension?

I have previous Extension experience, having worked as the Body Walk program technician and Body Walk program coordinator.

What are one or two things you would like your colleagues to know about you?

I am married to my best friend, Dustin, and we are both Walt Disney World fanatics! I have a pet Labradoodle whom I adore. Walking into Sephora (makeup store) makes me instantly happy! Also, I like to change my hair color quite often.

What would you like to accomplish your first year at Extension?

I would like to get to know the needs of Searcy County and deliver programs that meet those needs.

What brought you to Extension? What was it about Extension that you value?

I have always had an interest in becoming a county agent. I really value the support that people in Extension offer each other.

What are your interests and hobbies outside work?

Spending time with my husband is my favorite thing to do in the world! I love traveling, especially to Walt Disney World. I love animals, especially puppies. I love going to the movies, and I love to read.

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 January 1 - 31, 2011.

Cooperative Extension Service Retiree Scholarship Fund

• In memory of Toni Tosch

E. Sue Coates

To honor or remember the life of another, send donations to:

Development Office
Cooperative Extension Service
2301 South University Ave.
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 deposited in December 2010 to advance the programs of the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture Cooperative Extension Service.