Monthly Archives: March 2019

March 26, 2019

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In this week’s issue:

Communication and connection opportunities

Is there anything about which you are interested, curious, or concerned? Here are some ways to share and ask:

  • Online form to submit questions (Think of this like a virtual comment box.)
  • OSU Extension Slack workspace or informal communication and collaboration
  • Read ConnEXTions weekly, and contribute!
  • O&E blog with First Monday videos (Engage via the comment section!)
  • Outreach & Engagement Quarterly Conversations (Next: May 17, 2019)

Shorten URLs with beav.es

Ever have a Web URL that seems way too long to communicate? Now you can shorten your URLs with Oregon State University’s own URL shortener at https://beav.es. You must have signed up to use DUO 2-step login before using this feature. Much like popular shortener bit.ly, you log in, paste your long URL, and click “Shrink it!” The result will give you a short URL beginning with OSU’s signature “https://beav.es/.” You can track clicks as well.

Short URLs may be most useful to promote events, or on posters, flyers, other printed communications, and in email and social media posts.

Extension Web Update

In this week’s digital strategy blog post, the web team did a quick roundup of tips we’ve shared since the new year. Skim through these 10 tips to see if there’s some you can use when managing content in the coming months.

Registration open for annual OSU Brand Symposium

University Relations and Marketing has announced registration is open for the annual OSU Brand Symposium to be held on Tuesday, April 16, at The LaSells Stewart Center on the OSU campus in Corvallis. National leaders will discuss topics such as trends in digital marketing, using marketing and communications to interrupt systems of oppression and leveraging thought leadership to gain visibility. Anyone in Outreach and Engagement that would like to learn more about marketing, branding, and become more fluent in the OSU brand is welcome to attend. Cost is $30 (includes lunch and light refreshments).

Your Faculty Senate

Sergio Arispe, elected Faculty Senate representative, asks what issues you would like to see addressed in future Faculty Senate meetings. Please take the time to note any issues by logging into the spreadsheet in Box, by April 4th. Contact Sergio with any questions.

Engagement Approaches webinar April 10th

Engaged Program Development Approaches for Cooperative Extension webinar, presented by eXtension, April 10, 2019, 11 a.m. PDT. We talk about engagement, but what does it mean when we think about how we conduct our work in Extension? How should we approach program planning in an engaged manner? Who should we include in our work? And how does our work change? During this interactive session we will explore answers to these questions based on ongoing research and experiences in this area. Register here.

Diversity Highlights

Please contact analu.fonseca@oregonstate.edu with any questions or comments or if you have suggestions for events or news stories to include in Diversity Highlights.

Events & Resources

Different Strokes: A Panel on Hidden Pan-African Histories: Join PSU Pan-African for a conversation with community activists to center significant contributions, movements, and culture that isn’t widely considered in Black history. April 3rd in Portland from 6:30pm to 8:30pm. For more information, visit the event page.

April Lunch & Learn: The Race Tool Kit: This presentation is an overview of the REC’s Race Tool Kit. The Racial Equity Coalition (REC) understands how difficult it is to have honest conversations about race. The Race Tool Kit Project was created to offer folks an opportunity to host race conversations with neighbors and friends.  April 5th from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm in Medford. For more information, visit the event page.

Family Acceptance Project: Family Support for LGBTQ Youth: This training is designed for teachers, behavioral health providers, peer support providers, faith leaders, doctors, and community members who want to make a difference in the lives of LGBTQ youth. Learn about the Family Acceptance Project, the world’s first research, intervention, education and policy initiative that helps diverse families learn to support their LGBTQ children to prevent serious health risks and promote well-being. April 5th from 9:00 am to 4:30 pm in Eugene. For more information, visit the event page.

2019 Lane Community College Annual Pow Wow: LCC Native American Student Association is pleased to bring back the Annual Pow Wow which  is a free family-friendly event and is open to the public. April 6th from 12:00 pm to 11:00 pm in Eugene. For more information, visit the event page.

In the News

Diversity Is Central to This Research Program. How Does Yours Compare?
“Through intense, hands-on, carefully mentored training that demonstrates what a diversity program can do.”

Nepalese Cultural Night
Live music, mouthwatering food and boisterous conversation beckoned people from all walks of life to come celebrate Nepalese art and tradition at Portland State. Every winter term, the Nepalese Student Association (NSA), one of the many student organizations at PSU, hosts the Nepalese Cultural Night.

The Feminist of Pleasure Tech
A woman in business. A woman in tech. A woman in sex tech. If Lora Haddock was looking to confront institutionalized sexism, she could not have found a more direct route than the one she has walked this year.

North Bend High School completes mandatory training required by settlement
The settlement from May of 2018 was the result of former North Bend High School Principal Bill Lucero using the Bible as punishment on a student, as well as other allegations surrounding inaction to support LGBTQ students.

United Airlines becomes first airline to add non-binary gender booking options
Welcome aboard, Mx! United Airlines announced Friday that it is now offering new gender options to accommodate non-binary passengers during the booking process. It is the first airline to do so.

Hey, did you see this?

Master knitter and spinner Janet Donnelly, from EESC, says Extension folks may like this book from OSU Press:

Raw Material: Working Wool in the West, by Stephany Wilkes
We’ve all heard about people who give up office jobs to farm vegetables, but Stephany Wilkes has a different story. She was a knitter who simply wanted to buy locally sourced skeins of yarn. Fast forward a few years and hundreds of back-breaking ruminant wrestling matches later, and Wilkes abandons her job in high tech to become a certified sheep shearer. Her book includes some eye-opening discussions of trade, infrastructure, and carbon farming, along with profiles of the people working to revive an old way of life.

Extension in the news

Klamath County Extension Service District details plans for new building
Herald and News
The Klamath County Extension Service District plans to build and move into a new location near Klamath Community College by fall 2020.

Garden Plots: Time to prep vegetable beds for Spring
The Chronicle Online
Chip Bubl talks frost, moonlight, sun, water and vegetables.

Alpenrose’s future uncertain, could impact dairy industry
Capital Press
Lisbeth Goddik, a dairy processing specialist at Oregon State University Extension Service, said that diversity is unique in Oregon, with so many mid-size dairy processors such as Alpenrose in Portland, Umpqua Dairy in Roseburg, Lochmead Dairy near Eugene and Eberhard’s Dairy in Redmond.

Grandin to take part in grazing conference
Capital Press
The same day includes a demonstration of low-stress livestock handling, led by Chris Schnachtschneider, livestock and rangeland specialist at Oregon State University Extension, with comments from Grandin.

Gardening Q&A: Best to prune blueberry bush while dormant
The (Norfolk) Virginian-Pilot
See this Oregon State University Extension video on mulching and fertilizing blueberries.

March 19, 2019

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In this week’s issue:

Wasco 4-H Robotics advances to VEX World Finals

System Overload: Ian Castaneda, Hayden Jacobsen, and Jack McCallister

Congratulations to Wasco 4-H Robotics team System Overload for advancing to the VEX Robotics World Championships in Louisville, Kentucky, April 24-27.

Students Ian Castaneda, Hayden Jacobsen, and Jack McAllister won the Middle School Robotics excellence award at the Oregon VEX Robotics State Championship March 9 earning a seat in the upcoming VEX World Finals Competition.

The competition is recognized by the Guinness World Records as the largest robotics competition on earth with more than 11,500 of the best VEX Competition teams, leading technology companies, and volunteers at the competition.

Congratulations on your win over 66 other teams at State, and we wish you well in your fundraising stage before your competition next month.

4-H update meeting recordings available

Links to the recordings from the recent 4-H update Zoom meetings are now available.

Over the past several months, a comprehensive review of the OSU Extension 4-H program has been conducted involving OSU leaders, representatives of the Association of Oregon Counties, and 4-H stakeholders. That review identified priority 4-H outcomes. Going forward, OSU is committed to implement a 4-H programming and staffing framework that will serve those outcomes. On March 14, OSU Extension Director Scott Reed and 4-H Program Leader Pamela Rose held two web meetings to share updates and next steps. Links to the recordings from those meetings are now available.

Zoom meeting for 4-H faculty and staff (March 14, 1:30 p.m.)

Zoom meeting for OSU Extension faculty and staff (March 14, 4 p.m.)

Do do DUO

If you haven’t attended a DUO (two-step login to protect your OSU account) webinar yet, please join a 30 minute webinar – What is DUO? Why is it being implemented? Who will be required to use it, and how?

Here is a schedule of upcoming DUO webinars to choose from:

  • Wednesday, March 20 at 10am
  • Thursday, March 21 at 2pm

The WebEx link to join any of the webinar sessions is the same:

https://oregonstate.webex.com/meet/villegavoregonstate.edu

For more information about DUO, visit: http://duo.oregonstate.edu

Two College of Education speaker events this week

Dr. Vasti Torres will be speaking Thursday, March 21, on the link between identity and learning for Latino Students, see details. Later in the day, she will speak on organizing for student success in higher education, details.

Lindsey Davis presents at JCEP

quote from presentation
Check out Lindsey’s presentation on office culture at the Extension Leadership Conference.  JCEP ELC Session – Extension UNCENSORED by Lindsey Davis https://youtu.be/XfOE-3ROFnk

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Extension Web Update

Instead of a blog post this week, the web team continues its work on: getting the county page focus area designs ready, finalizing the instructional training guide, and revising the roles and responsibilities. We will be reaching out to Extension faculty and staff to view and review these soon. Stay tuned!

Diversity Highlights

Please contact analu.fonseca@oregonstate.edu with any questions or comments or if you have suggestions for events or news stories to include in Diversity Highlights.

Events & Resources

The Chinese in Astoria: ENCORE, in conjunction with the Clatsop County Historical Society (CCHS), presents a public program on the subject of the Chinese in Astoria. The program will start with an overview by Erhard Gross on the history of Chinese immigrants in Oregon. March 24th from 2:30pm to 4:00 in Astoria, for more information visit the event page.

Power, Privilege & Racial Diversity in OR: Many Oregonians value racial diversity and the dimension and depth it adds to our lives, yet we remain largely isolated from one another and have yet to fulfill the vision of a racially integrated society. Join Dr. Emily Drew, as they lead a disccusion about power, privilege and race in Oregon. April 3rd from 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm in Corvallis. For more information, visit the event page.

Queer Coffee House at the Library: Queer Coffee House at the Library is a community group for LGBTQ+ identified people and their allies that meets on the first Saturday of every month. This is an open group that gathers to share coffee, snacks, news, LGBTQ+ books, and discussion. April 6th from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm in Ashland. For more information visit the event page.

13th Annual African American Youth Leadership Conference: This conference will promote positive youth development in African/African American youth and multicultural youth of African descent by: raising awareness on how to achieve personal goals, emphasizing the value of education, empowering future leadership (responsibility), establishing a sense of community , increasing personal self-esteem and affirm cultural awareness. April 9th from 8:00 am to 1:00 pm in Albany. For more information, visit the event page.

In the News

Excitement Grows For Culturally Inclusive Indigenous Curriculum For Oregon Schools
Oregon educators and tribes are excited about new state mandated curriculum as its being developed. It fulfills Senate Bill 13, which requires the state’s department of education to create course material that’s culturally inclusive and relevant to Oregon’s 9 federally recognized tribes.

NW Parents Challenge Schools’ Handling Of Students With Disabilities
Thousands of times a year, Oregon and Washington students have been physically restrained or isolated from peers. Parents say what’s meant as a last resort happens too often, without their knowledge.

Study Finds Racial Gap Between Who Causes Air Pollution And Who Breathes It
Pollution, much like wealth, is not distributed equally in the United States.

How Ethnic Studies Connects Learning With Students’ Identities
In Jr Arimboanga’s ninth-grade classroom, students learn about critical consciousness: how to read the word, but also the world. It’s a concept popularized by a Brazilian educational theorist named Paulo Freire in his book, Pedagogy of the Oppressed.

Hey, did you see this?

Have you seen or read something that would be of interest to your Extension colleagues? Let us know and we’ll share in ConnEXTion.

Extension in the news

Identify the problem before treating a struggling plant
Newport News Times
… giving it enough water or putting a sun-loving plant in the shade, said Neil Bell, horticulturist with Oregon State University Extension Service.

Winchester Elementary Gets Blue Zones Project Approval
KQEN News Radio
Integrating Nutrition Education into daily lesson plans with help from the Oregon State University Extension Service.

Self-Preservation: Preservation ideas for rhubarb lovers
The Philomath Express
You can find more details in “Preserving Rhubarb” SP 50-882 published by OSU Extension Service and found at extension.oregonstate.edu/food/preservation.

Hazelnut growers hustle to repair orchards after Willamette Valley snowstorm
The Register-Guard
Throughout Lane County, “the trees look like a bomb went off” where the storm hit hardest, said Melissa Fery, who advises small farm operators for the OSU Extension in Lane County.

March 12, 2019

Posted on by

In this week’s issue:

Communication and connection opportunities

Is there anything about which you are interested, curious, or concerned? Here are some ways to share and ask:

  • Online form to submit questions (Think of this like a virtual comment box.)
  • OSU Extension Slack workspace or informal communication and collaboration
  • Read ConnEXTions weekly, and contribute!
  • O&E blog with First Monday videos (Engage via the comment section!)
  • Outreach & Engagement Quarterly Conversations (Next: May 17, 2019)

ESC Conference seeks proposals

The Engagement Scholarship Consortium seeks proposals for its 2019 conference, Deepening Our Roots: Advancing Community Engagement in Higher Education. The conference will be held October 8 and 9, 2019 (Pre-Conference: October 6-7, 2019) in Denver, Colorado.

Proposals for presentations are due Friday, March 15, 2019. For detailed submission guidelines, visit the conference website.

OSU updates cannabis policy, research guidance

The 2018 Farm Bill, which became law in December, decriminalized industrial hemp. As a result, Oregon State University recently updated its policies and guidance regarding cannabis – the plant from which hemp is derived.

Please familiarize yourself with these new guiding documents. For questions, contact Sam Angima. All media questions about cannabis or industrial hemp should be continue to be directed to Jay Noller.

The new “University Policies Regarding Cannabis” includes this paragraph:

Oregon State University will hold OSU Extension Service and 4-H volunteers accountable to federal laws and University policies while performing duties on behalf of the university. OSU Extension Services will not provide instruction regarding how to grow, manufacture, distribute or dispense marijuana. Guidance on extension policy for providing instruction on industrial hemp can be found at: https://research.oregonstate.edu/cannabis-research

The new “Oregon State University Guidance on Cannabis Research and Outreach Activities” includes a section on outreach and Extension related to cannabis:

Until both federal and state laws concur on the cultivation of cannabis within Oregon, OSU cannot provide instruction on how to grow, manufacture or dispense, which includes the provision of diagnostic services, recommendations and/or other information regarding the production, management and/or processing of marijuana. At this time, OSU personnel, including student interns, will not engage in any outreach or Extension activity that supports marijuana production, should refrain from being in possession of marijuana for diagnostic purposes, and should not visit sites for the purpose of providing any information or assistance regarding the cultivation of cannabis plants for marijuana production.

Under the Farm Bill of 2018, Extension service will be permitted to provide information to farmers cultivating hemp who are registered with the Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA). Extension Service will provide its policies and procedures related to industrial hemp.

Questions from non-OSU marijuana or hemp growers may be referred to the Oregon Department of Agriculture, Oregon Liquor Control Commission (OLCC) and the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) which regulate other aspects of the marijuana industry and links may be provided to their websites. We can also refer them to the ODA website on ‘cannabis and pesticides’. https://www.oregon.gov/ODA/programs/Pesticides/Pages/CannabisPesticides.aspx.” For testing or registration of pesticides, refer them to ODA.

 A large percentage of Extension Service questions relate to pesticide use recommendations and safety.  Although Federal law prohibits talking about marijuana specifically, OSU personnel can answer general crop questions that are also relevant to non-marijuana crops, such as what types of pesticides are safe to use on plants grown for human consumption, what types of insecticides are effective on a variety of crops for controlling a specific pest, or what type of protective personal gear should be worn when handling pesticides.

OSU’s Cannabis Working Group advises that regulations related to hemp continue to change and the OSU policy and guidance documents will be updated as regulations evolve.

Extension Web Update

In this week’s blog post “Keeping an Eye on Content” we share ways to leverage current efforts to also create content for the Extension website. Keeping content fresh on the site, however, can also mean taking another look at what is already there to expand how we are engaging all audiences.

Diversity Highlights

Please contact analu.fonseca@oregonstate.edu with any questions or comments or if you have suggestions for events or news stories to include in Diversity Highlights.

Events & Resources

Diversity & Leadership: Respect in the Workplace: Attendees will understand and recognize the need to remember most employees have good intentions but there is a lack of awareness when your group is in dominance. March 26 from 1:30 to 4:30 in Bend. For info, visit the event page.

India Night 2019: There’s an amazing line-up of performances this year that will be highlighting the beautiful diversity of Indian culture here at OSU. April 13 starting at 5:00 in Corvallis. For more info, visit the event page.

Chuck Collins: “Reversing Wealth Inequality”: Is there a path to reversing inequality without undermining economic health and prosperity?  What is the role of taxation in reducing concentrated wealth and expanding opportunity?  How do we build an economy that works for everyone? Find out April 17 from 7:30 to 9:30 in Eugene. For more information, visit the event page.

26th Annual Pow Wow: Western Oregon University will host a Pow-Wow that includes a dance competition as well as a dinner. The dance competition is open to tiny tots, teens, men and women. The categories include fancy dancing, traditional dancing, grass dancing and jingle dancing. April 27 starting at 12:00 pm in Monmouth, for more information visit the event page.

In the News

Woman To Woman  Paying it forward with the Source’s Woman of the Year

Erika McCalpine, a business instructor at OSU-Cascades, moved to this community in early 2018 from Alabama. Not long after, McCalpine experienced at least one racial incident that left her feeling vulnerable. McCalpine’s ability to transform a personally frightening racial incident into an opportunity to have community conversations around diversity is just one reason I reached out to her for the Women’s Issue.

Why We Need to Talk About—and Recognize—Representation Burnout

I remember the first time I felt like the only one. I was galavanting on a playset, probably at the age of six, when another kid came up to me and asked me why my skin was the color of poop. I don’t remember my response, but I do remember feeling flush with shame and not understanding why. I also remember immediately walking away, as if I knew then what I know now: being the only black person in the room is pretty exhausting.

Another Obstacle for Women in Science: Men Get More Federal Grant Money

For ambitious young scientists trying to start their own research labs, winning a prestigious grant from the National Institutes of Health can be career making.

But when it comes to the size of those awards, men are often rewarded with bigger grants than women, according to a study published Tuesday in JAMA, which found that men who were the principal investigators on research projects received $41,000 more than women.

A Reason to Hope in Alzheimer’s fight fundraiser held

Hundreds of people had a reason to hope Tuesday morning at the annual Alzheimer’s Association fundraising breakfast.

People heard inspiring stories from those battling the disease.

Hey, did you see this?

Any fun ideas for spring break? Send us your tips…..

Extension in the news

OSU Extension training cuts school pesticide use
KTVZ
An OSU Extension Service survey was conducted in 2016 at school integrated pest management training sessions hosted by the OSU Extension across the state. An analysis of the results was published recently in the Journal of Extension.

Surviving the storm: Tips to help your plants recover from snow damage
The Register-Guard
OSU Horticulturist Extension Agents Heather Stoven and Neil Bell have some tips for gardeners and homeowners about how to mitigate the damage, what it means for the plants and how snow even can be a positive thing.

New building expected to improve agriculture education at fairgrounds
The Redmond Spokesman
Ground was recently broken on a $1.6 million building for the Oregon State University Extension’s Deschutes office. The 5,188-square-foot building will go alongside the existing building, which was opened in 2003.

Makeover planned for Benton fairgrounds
Albany Democrat-Herald
Other major facilities proposals include creating a new building to house OSU Extension Service offices.

March 5, 2019

Posted on by

In this week’s issue:

Communication and connection opportunities

Is there anything about which you are interested, curious, or concerned? Here are some ways to share and ask:

  • Online form to submit questions (Think of this like a virtual comment box.)
  • OSU Extension Slack workspace or informal communication and collaboration
  • Read ConnEXTions weekly, and contribute!
  • O&E blog with First Monday videos (Engage via the comment section!)
  • Outreach & Engagement Quarterly Conversations (Next: May 17, 2019)

Extension Web Update

Find out a bit about Mark Kindred, the new O & E Salesforce programmer. Read our blog for more details.

Diversity Highlights

Please contact analu.fonseca@oregonstate.edu with any questions or comments or if you have suggestions for events or news stories to include in Diversity Highlights.

Events & Resources

Disability Training…with a Twist!: Clackamas Workforce Partnership’s Workforce Equity Council and Oregon Commission for the Blind are happy to partner for this exciting, free event, Disability Awareness Training. March 22 from 10:00 am to 11:30 am in Milwaukie. For more information, visit the event page.

Diversity & Leadership: Respect in the Workplace: Attendees will understand and recognize the need to remember most employees have good intentions but there is a lack of awareness when your group is in dominance. March 26 from 1:30 to 4:30 in Bend. For more information, visit the event page.

Never Give Up! Minoru Yasui and the Fight for Justice: Never Give Up! Minoru Yasui and the Fight for Justice, tells the story of Minoru (Min) Yasui. The son of Japanese immigrant parents, Yasui was born in 1916 and raised in the farming community of Hood River, Oregon. He was the first Japanese American attorney in Oregon, and during World War II, he initiated the first legal test challenging the forced removal from the West Coast and subsequent incarceration of over 120,000 persons of Japanese ancestry in U.S. concentration camps.  March 28 from 7:30 pm to 9:30 pm in Portland. For more information, visit the event page.

Family Acceptance Project: Family Support for LGBTQ Youth: This training is designed for teachers, behavioral health providers, peer support providers, faith leaders, doctors, and community members who want to make a difference in the lives of LGBTQ youth. April 5 from from 9:00 am to 4:30 pm in Eugene. For more information visit the event page.

In the News

Corvallis food deserts make finding nutritious, affordable meals difficult

Although there are dining centers and food markets on almost every street on Oregon State University’s campus, the rest of Corvallis has areas struggling to find affordable sources of sustenance.

Womxn’s March Returns to Downtown Portland, Seeking Diversity and Solidarity After Two Years of Tensions

Handmaids in red costumes were asked to pose for photos. Grandmothers walked arm-in-arm with their granddaughters.

Everyday Heroes: Oregon clinicians and Portland nonprofit provide free services to vets

Two Gresham doctors are providing free medical care for post-9/11 military veterans through a nonprofit organization called the Returning Veterans Project.

Walmart Chief Responds To Furor Over Treatment Of Greeters With Disabilities

Walmart’s U.S. CEO Greg Foran is telling all store managers that they should make “every effort” to provide new job options for greeters with disabilities. Many of these front-door workers remain in limbo as the company plans to eliminate its trademark greeter position in about 1,000 stores in coming months.

Nearly 2 in 3 US kids lives in ‘asset poverty’

A new study from Oregon State University (OSU) found that more than 63 percent of American children and 55 percent of Americans live in “asset” poverty, meaning they have few or no assets to rely on in the event of a financial shock such as a job loss, natural disaster or medical crisis.

Hey, did you see this?

Any fun ideas for spring break? Send us your tips…..

Extension in the news

Conference to focus on agritourism, ecotourism
Capital Press
Local experts and national leaders will speak at a conference hosted by Oregon State University Extension Service focused on developing agritourism and ecotourism.

Jumping worms may pose threat in Nebraska
Rapid City Journal
Oregon State University Extension professor Samuel Chan, who’s studied the worms, said it’s difficult to determine what financial impact the worms could have on Nebraska’s agriculture, given that they would be a relatively new invasive species in the state.