August 27, 2019

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In this week’s issue:

August Journal of Extension

The August 2019 issue of the Journal of Extension is now available. The entire issue can be accessed directly on the JOE website at www.joe.org.
Several of your colleagues were published this month! Congratulations go to:
Curious about publishing your Extension impacts in the Journal of Extension? Check out their Guidance for Authors page and consider submitting!

Navigator Digital Strategy Update

Heads nodded in agreement these past weeks, as we bounced around the idea of adding more stories to the website to show the value of Extension’s work. Also, new solutions arose as content teams talked about who and how to enter and organize their content. This week’s blog post takes a look at what is taking shape, and the role of content strategy in facilitating it.

Diversity Highlights

Please contact analu.fonseca@oregonstate.edu with any questions, and if you have suggestions for content to include in Diversity Highlights.

Statewide Events & Resources

OSU-Cascades offers community learning workshops (KTVZ)
Oregon State University–Cascades’ fall adult community learning workshops begin in September and are open for registration. Geared toward personal and professional development, the workshops cover topics including health, film and art, leadership development, and equity and inclusion.

Student success film screening: As a special University Day event, the Office of Institutional Diversity and Office of Undergraduate Education are hosting a screening of “Unlikely,” a new documentary exploring barriers to college completion, followed by a conversation on OSU’s student success initiatives. Tuesday, Sept.10, from 2 to 5 p.m. at the LaSells Stewart Center, Austin Auditorium.

Social Justice Education Initiative: The Social Justice Education Initiative schedule for summer and fall is up, and there are still seats for summer sessions. From Faculty Affairs, the SJEI is a foundational professional development program for faculty, staff and graduate students. SJEI offers a varied schedule of Tier One and Tier Two workshops, all open now for registration. Join your colleagues to begin, or expand, your equity and inclusion journey in this well-reviewed program. Interested in this work for your unit? Contact SJEI Director Jane Waite for further information: jane.waite@oregonstate.edu

 In the News

Girls’ Side and Boys’ Side? Not at These Summer Camps (NY Times)
Sleep-away programs for L.G.B.T.Q. youth offer all the standards — s’mores, canoeing, friendship bracelets — plus gender-inclusive cabins and courses on identity.

Native American Tribes Say Indian Horse Relays Are America’s First Extreme Sport (KLCC)
One of the ways Native tribes in the West celebrate their history and culture is through annual summer horse races. They’re known as Indian Relays, and tribes call them America’s first extreme sport.

Do private prisons have a role in our society? (Rifkin Radio podcast) 
In this podcast, Brett Burkhardt, Ph.D, a sociology professor at Oregon State University, joins us to discuss the key elements of the debate over prison privatization: cost, quality and morality.

Extension in the News

Young ‘Iron Chefs’ show off new skills
The LaGrande Observer
Four teams of middle school students battled it out at the Oregon State University Extension Services office Wednesday afternoon. They were showing off all they had learned the last eight weeks as members of the Iron Chef in the Nutrition Kitchen competition.

Holey Cow! (Really)
Baker City Herald
As part of their two-week program in August, the students took various field trips in addition to brushing up on math and reading. Their visit to the Extension Office focused on natural resources.

Neighbors Concerned About Malnourished Cows Near Roseburg
KEZI
Frieze said the cattle’s owner has been very cooperative through the whole process and has been working with Oregon State University extension services and the sheriff’s office to come up with feeding plans.

OSU launches ‘Global Hemp Innovation Center’
KOBI
“It has so many beneficial uses that I am quite excited that it’s now becoming more and more mainstream as an agricultural commodity and going into products that we use,” Richard Roseberg, director of the Southern Oregon Research and Extension Center, said.

August 20, 2019

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In this week’s issue:

Quarterly Conversation

The August Quarterly Conversation is now available for viewing. If you would like to take a closer look, the slides are available for download. Topics of the conversation include the following (numbers denote where you will find the segment on the video):

  • Bright Spots (Anita Azarenko and Lindsey Shirley) – Highlights and celebration of the work our people are doing across the state (1:16)
  • Leadership Update (Anita Azarenko and Amanda Bielenberg) – Anita shared information about her background and provided an update on status of Extension Director position and reflections on her five weeks in the Division. Amanda shared exciting news about new features at Extension Annual Conference. (9:50)
  • Language Access (Ana Lu Fonseca and Jennifer Alexander) – Language access is the strategic and systematic management of multilingual communication. Transport, an easy online translation portal, was introduced. (32:30)
  • Navigator (Jennifer Alexander) – A status update on the Navigator initiative and highlights since the May Quarterly Conversation. Learn more and sign up for updates at beav.es/navigator. (55:05)
  • The Water Initiative (Dave Hansen) – The Water Initiative Team is making recommendations on how best to coordinate water initiatives across Extension. Click here to see the report. (1:12:20)

Extension Borrowables

EESC is raising awareness of Extension at various events. In the process, the department is accumulating various items that might be useful for county offices and others as they promote the services of Extension. The newest items for the borrowable inventory are six 3-ft x 4-ft vinyl banners featuring the four thematic areas of Extension. Three of the banners fit in a 10-ft wide booth space and can be hung with hooks or rope. Mix and match or use all six. To request the use of the banners or other borrowables, contact Sandy Reichhuber.

Extension Web Update

This week’s blog  goes over next steps and time commitments to get to our next goal, CRM practice. How and when will we get there.

Diversity Highlights

Please contact analu.fonseca@oregonstate.edu with any questions, and if you have suggestions for content to include in Diversity Highlights.

Statewide Events & Resources

Special Education: What You Need to Know
This FREE info session includes an introduction to key special education definitions and developing a successful individualized education program. Saturday, August 24, 2019 at 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM at 2019 A. Main Street, Baker City, Oregon.

Race and White Women (non-men) at Work
Transformational Conversations about Racism, Oppression, & Getting Free Together. Saturday, August 24 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM at the Oregon State University Native American Longhouse Ena Haws. $149 workshop fee, includes materials.

Volunteer opportunity for Fall 2019 – New International Students Orientation Week: Engage with new international students and help welcome the new Beavers from around the world during Fall 2019 Orientation Week. For more information and to sign up go here. Volunteer training day (required for all volunteers): September 13, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at ILLC 155. Volunteering dates: New students move-in day: Sept. 16-17. Orientation week: Sept. 18-24. Different volunteer shifts available to fit your schedule. For more information or questions, contact Carla Portugal at  intl.orientation@oregonstate.edu or go to the INTO OSU website.

In the News

Students With Disabilities Deserve Inclusion. It’s Also the Best Way to Teach (Education Week)
“Students with disabilities face substantially increased rates of abuse and restraint in schools. As an education and disability advocate seeking to change that, I frequently encounter well-meaning arguments for separating higher-needs students from the general population.”

Study finds health research disparities for Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders and Native Hawaiians (KLCC)
Oregon State University PhD candidate Lan Doan found that over the past 26 years the NIH has allocated 0.17 percent of its budget toward 529 studies.

Child care crisis: Famillies struggle with rising child care costs, finding safe providers (Statesman Journal)
According to the report “Oregon’s Child Care Deserts” by Oregon State University, these costs equated to more than $14,000 a year for toddler care at a center. “The big thing we’ve seen change is the affordability of care,” said Megan Pratt, assistant professor of practice at OSU’s College of Public Health and Human Sciences and one of the report’s authors.

Extension in the news

Dormant-season grazing eyed as tool in reducing fire risk
Capital Press
In a 25,000-acre study area east of Owyhee Reservoir, cattle numbers traditionally are reduced before Nov. 1 — right around the time perennial grasses go dormant and temperatures become nearly perfect for germination of invasive cheatgrass and medusahead, Oregon State University Extension rangeland and livestock specialist Sergio Arispe said.

Nuts for hazelnuts: growers can’t keep up with demand
Capital Press
“The demand for hazelnut trees is huge,” said Jay Pscheidt, an Extension plant pathologist at Oregon State University.

February snowstorms pummeled Oregon research forest, opened door to Douglas-fir beetles
KVAL
“This year was pretty epic,” said David Shaw, a silviculture Extension agent in the Oregon State University College of Forestry, “because it was heavy, wet snow.”

August 13, 2019

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In this week’s issue:

Sustainable swag

According to a recent survey conducted by Nielsen, 73% of respondents said they would either definitely or probably change their consumption habits to reduce their impact on the environment. With this in mind, we are adding items to the mix of Extension swag that are reusable and have longer life spans. One such item is the Extension mesh bag. Priced at $4/bag, it encourages users to reduce reliance on plastic produce bags (and they see the Extension name each time they shop). Another example is the $1 Extension healthy living tote. It is reusable, washable and made from 100% recycled materials (except the web handles). You can order these and other Extension promotional items by using the “Marketing/Promo Item” link on the OSU Extension Employee Intranet.

What do you think about adding a reusable straw kit and/or a reusable utensil kit to the Extension swag mix? Share your feedback and ideas for other eco-friendly items with Ann Marie Murphy.

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 ConnEXTion weekly, and contribute!
  • O&E blog with First Monday videos (Engage via the comment section!)
  • Outreach & Engagement Quarterly Conversations (Next: August 16, 2019)

Agri-tourism Coordinator (Internal Employment Opportunity)

The Extension Service Marion County office is seeking an Agritourism Coordinator. This is a full-time, 12-month, fixed term professional faculty position. This position will be assigned to Marion, Polk and Yamhill Counties in the Oregon State University (OSU) Extension Western Region. Reappointment is at the discretion of the Regional Director. Posting# P03249UF. Closes August 22. Contact Mark Chien, search chair, with any questions.

Extension Web Update

Now that focus areas have been live for a few months, we took a look at analytics in this week’s blog to see how effective they have been in meeting the goals we had for them.

Diversity Highlights

Please contact analu.fonseca@oregonstate.edu with any questions, and if you have suggestions for content to include in Diversity Highlights.

Statewide Events & Resources

2019 POC Bridge-Building Mixer
The Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) and LGBTQ+ BIPOC on staff at Oregon Community Foundation, in collaboration with the Latino Partnership Program, want to get to know you better! BIPOC/LGBT+ BIPOC who wish to network, connect, share stories and create links to foundation resources are highly encouraged to attend this event. Wednesday, August 14 at 525 SE Stark Street, Portland, OR 97214.

Venezuelan Arts & Culture Festival, PDX
Venezuelan artists, performers, and crafters (displays and vendors). Authentic Venezuelan cuisine from La Arepa. Sunday, August 18 at the Oaks Park Dance Pavilion in Portland. Sponsored by the Multnomah County Cultural Coalition.

All of Us Exhibit
The All of Us exhibit will be on OSU’ Corvallis campus from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 19-23 on the brick mall off the northeast corner of the MU. The goal of the research, education and enrollment center is to advance health care that is based on you as an individual. Part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, All of Us aims to sign up 1 million or more people who will share information about their health over time. Researchers will study this data to improve health for generations to come. It’s hosted by the College of Public Health and Human Sciences, Benton County, and the National Alliance for Hispanic Health.

The 1619 Project: An Evening of Conversation on August 13
Four hundred years ago, on August 20, 1619, a ship carrying about 20 enslaved Africans arrived in Point Comfort, a coastal port in the British colony of Virginia. Though America did not even exist yet, their arrival marked its foundation, the beginning of the system of slavery on which the country was built. In August, The New York Times Magazine will observe this anniversary with a special project that examines the many ways the legacy of slavery continues to shape and define life in the United States. Register to watch the livestream here.

In the News

Requesting accommodations: Another challenge for older workers (Forbes)
Other research has shown that people with disabilities refrain from requesting accommodations if they think coworkers would find the request “normatively inappropriate” — meaning not in keeping with the office culture. Research by David C. Baldridge and Michele L. Swift of OSU’s College of Business, published in Human Resources Management, studied the effect of age on such requests. Workers’ fear of seeming old, they found, may trump their fear of seeming to have a disability.

OSU-Cascades presents Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Employee Award (Bend Bulletin)
Oregon State University – Cascades  has given its 2019 Employee Awards to five faculty and staff members for outstanding contributions in the areas of diversity, equity and inclusion; outreach; outstanding staff engagement and support; scholarship and creative activity; and teaching excellence.

’Squad’ is creating a safe space for teenage girls online (Tech Crunch)
Led by Crawford, a graduate of Oregon State University, Squad’s compelling founding story and organic growth helped them close a $5 million seed round led by First Round Capital general partner Hayley Barna, the only female partner at the historically all-male early-stage investment fund known for being the first institutional check in Uber.

Extension in the news

Bend 4-H pig’s hefty fair price goes to worthy cause
KTVZ
Cooper, a 10-year-old 4-H student from Bend, sold Guss at $100 a pound ,which totaled $26,400 at the Deschutes County Fair. He decided to donate all of the money to charity.

OSU brings back mechanical cultivation field day
Capital Press
This year, OSU Extension Service is partnering with Washington State University Extension to offer two events — the first on Aug. 27 at WSU’s Puyallup Research and Extension Center, and the second on Aug. 29 at OSU’s North Willamette Research and Extension Center in Aurora, Ore.

Garden tour draws crowds
The Madras Pioneer
The event, presented by Oregon State University Extension and the Central Oregon chapter of OSU Master Gardeners, provided gardening enthusiasts with an opportunity to learn from other gardeners.

August 6, 2019

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In this week’s issue:

Available now: Out There videos in Spanish

Our collection of Extension Out There videos is now available in Spanish (including captioning). Find the in the “Marketing Templates, Tools and Inspiration” folder in Box by going to the Employee Intranet website and clicking on the link under Popular Links. Look for the “Out There Videos” folder.

As a reminder, there is a silent version that is appropriate for using at events. You also will find the full video (one minute and twenty seconds long) and six thirty-second story clips – all available in English and Spanish with captions – featuring a variety of Extension activities. Please share them on your social media channels to help spread the word about the great things Extension is doing in and for Oregon.

More Extension stories will be captured on video in the coming months. We anticipate another Out There video and three more story clips will be available in the fall. For questions, please contact Ann Marie Murphy.

Extension Web Update

Imagine if you could ask your smart speaker to search the OSU Extension website for events located near you, or ask Siri to find all of the blueberry pruning publications in the OSU Extension Catalog? See our blog this week to see how we are preparing for the future.

Diversity Highlights

Please contact analu.fonseca@oregonstate.edu with any questions, and if you have suggestions for content to include in Diversity Highlights.

Statewide Events & Resources

NEW SCHEDULE! Social Justice Education Initiative
The Social Justice Education Initiative schedule for fall is now up, and there are still seats for summer sessions. From Faculty Affairs, the SJEI is a foundational professional development program for faculty, staff and graduate students. SJEI offers a varied schedule of Tier One and Tier Two workshops, all open now for registration. Join your colleagues to begin, or expand, your equity and inclusion journey in this well-reviewed program. Interested in this work for your unit? Contact SJEI Director Jane Waite for further information: jane.waite@oregonstate.edu

EXTENSION OFFICES, TAKE NOTE: Jane will deliver her introductory 2-day SJEI course in your County Office if you can get a group of 12 people together. Contact Jane or Ana Lu with any questions.

Bend YP DevLabs, Session 3: Our Community – Where Will You Make Your Impact?
Have you ever wanted to make a difference in your community but have been unsure of how to get started? Thursday, August 15 from 5:00 – 7:30 pm at the Deschutes Brewery- Mountain Room (901 SW Simpson Ave, Bend, OR). Hosted by the Bend Chamber of Commerce.

Hiroshima – Nagasaki Commemoration event
Wednesday, August 7th, 2019 from 7:00–8:30 pm at the Corvallis Riverfront Park. Co-hosted by the OSU School of History, Philosophy and Religion.

Trystan Reese Recorded Presentation
Trystan Reese presented “The Seahorse Dad: My year as a pregnant man” at the Whiteside Theater in Corvallis, Oregon in April 2019. Sponsored by The Arts Center of Corvallis.

In the News

Discrimination Is Hard to Prove, Even Harder to Fix (NY Times)
“It’s a difficult process, more difficult than it needs to be,” said Jeff Vardaro, a civil rights attorney in Columbus, Ohio. These cases can become complex and expensive, and defendants and their attorneys have incentives to drag them out.

Phillips Collection modern-art museum opens new exhibit (Oregonian)
To transcribe the journey of 68 million refugees, the Phillips yielded its floors to 75 international artists.

Need a Mental Health Day? Some States Give Students the Option (NY Times)
An expert called the laws in both Utah and Oregon a “win” and said students who are “quietly suffering” from mental illness will benefit most.

Extension in the news

OSU ‘statewides’ plan return to full staffing
Capital Press
Oregon State University is preparing for a hiring spree in its Extension service, agricultural experiment stations and forest research lab due to a funding boost from lawmakers.

Large wasps descend on Central Oregon in search of cicadas
The Bulletin
In recent weeks, the extension center in Madras and the Oregon State University Extension Service in Redmond have received numerous calls from residents who are concerned about the wasps.

A little heat brings the wheat
Dalles Chronicle
While yields are yet to be determined, retired Oregon State University Extension Agent Sandy Macnab expected bushels-per-acre to be around average.

July 30, 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 ConnEXTion weekly, and contribute!
  • O&E blog with First Monday videos (Engage via the comment section!)
  • Outreach & Engagement Quarterly Conversations (Next: August 16, 2019)

New Extension Name Badge

Feedback tells us the metal name badges introduced last year are not holding up to the level of use by our Extension employees – they tend to bend and scratch easily. Thus, we’re bringing back the sturdy orange plastic badges with new designs, one of which offers the use of preferred pronouns. In the spirit of language inclusivity, the addition of swinger plates to identify language proficiency is also available. The intention of the language plates is to let our clientele know who they can speak to in their preferred language. If you are proficient in more than one language, multiple swinger plates can be stacked. Continued use of current metal name badges is fine. New employees and replacement badges will use the new style.

  • Extension Administration covers the cost of a name badge for new employees. Please contact Kaylyn Hymes in Extension Administration to obtain an index and activity code to charge.
  • Units cover the cost of replacement badges for current employees.

Supervisors or office managers should go to the R3 Customshop website to order new name badges. Create an account, choose OSU Extension as the department and badge options will appear. Excel spreadsheets can be uploaded, if needed.

If you have questions, please contact Ann Marie Murphy.

Summer Events

Besides fairs and workshops many counties have special events such as Shop at the Dock. Check the Extension Events Calendar often to see what may be of interest to our clients across the state.

Extension Web Update

What is the most critical factor in helping us create a shared use of CRM practices in Extension? Trust. Read about it in today’s Navigator post.

Diversity Highlights

Please contact analu.fonseca@oregonstate.edu with any questions, or if you have suggestions for content to include in Diversity Highlights.

Statewide Events & Resources

Oregon Native American Chamber Networking Lunch
Join the Oregon Native American Chamber for a networking lunch on Wednesday, July 31 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Metro (600 NE Grand Ave, Portland, Oregon 97232).

Extension Professional Development Funds available (Aug. 1 deadline)
Faculty and staff with an Extension appointment of .25 FTE or greater are encouraged to apply. To view criteria and apply, visit the webpage.

Salem Pride in the Park 2019
Just when it looked like Pride was not happening in Salem in 2019, the community spoke out, showed up, and let us know how important this event is to our city. Saturday, Aug. 3 from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. at Salem’s Riverfront Park.

Measuring Racial Equity in the Food System: Established and Suggested Metrics
This webinar provides an introduction to the newly published guide, Measuring Racial Equity in the Food System: Established and Suggested Metrics, including examples of metrics in four different themes and ways the guide can be used.

In the News

Beyond braille: Oregon-made ‘printers’ open opportunities for the blind in math and science (Oregonian)
At the age of 48, Gardner took time off from Oregon State University to learn how to live without sight. He adapted to walking with a cane and learned how to get from one place to another without driving.

Planting the seeds of peace (Gazette-Times)
Planting a tree is always a hopeful act, but the persimmon sapling planted in April behind the Asian & Pacific Cultural Center on the OSU campus expresses a very particular hope: the hope for an end to nuclear weapons.

Oregon Native designers celebrate heritage, counter mass fashion (Oregonian)
Across Oregon, a growing number of popular Native American artists and designers are confronting mass fashion trends and celebrating their heritage through their work. Luhui Whitebear, assistant director of Oregon State University’s Native American Longhouse, says indigenous artwork is connected to Native teachings and traditions.

Extension in the News

Benevolent or fearsome? Yellowjackets can be both
Associated Press
“Yellowjackets, hornets and paper wasps are all beneficial predators of soft-bodied insects such as caterpillars, grubs and flies,” said Heather Stoven, a horticulturist with Oregon State University Extension Service.

‘An incredible week’: STEM camp gets kids ‘Ready for Tomorrow’
Argus Observer
Youth came from Adrian, Nyssa, Vale, Ontario and Idaho for the camps geared toward science, technology, engineering and math, Oregon State University Extension Agent Barbara Brody said.

Drought-stricken trees die in and around Eugene
The Register-Guard
Each year of drought puts more strain on trees, said Lauren Grand, forester with the Oregon State University Extension Service in Lane County.

July 23, 2019

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In this week’s issue:

PACE offers Wine Tasting Experience

Learn more about about wine at this workshop in either Portland or Corvallis in September. Details are here.

Extension Web Update

Do you still have people calling to ask how to find things on the website? Have you not revisited the Extension website since after the launch? You may be surprised how things have changed over the past year. This “getting reacquainted” video tour shows how to orient yourself on this updated site. Share with your colleagues and clients, and also see new ways we are gathering feedback from audiences.

Diversity Highlights

Please contact analu.fonseca@oregonstate.edu with any questions, and if you have suggestions for content to include in Diversity Highlights.

Statewide Events & Resources

Oregon GEAR UP Resources
The GEAR UP program’s goal is to increase the number of low-income students who are prepared to enter and succeed in postsecondary programs. Take a look at their free toolkits and other resources for educators here.

Financial Strategies for Women
A workshop for women and those who care about women. A variety of topics are addressed which pertain to, and are relevant for, women interested in financial planning and investing. Presented by Barbara Koontz, Financial Advisor, CFS*, Thursday, July 25, noon to 1 p.m., OSU Corvallis Campus, MU212. RSVP to investmentseminars@mapscu.com.

CMLC Cooking Class: Mexican Salsas with Maria & Nena
Join the CMLC kitchen to learn how to make authentic Mexican salsas. $10. Space is limited. Thursday, July 25, 1:30-3 p.m., Corvallis Multicultural Literacy Center, 2638 NW Jackson Ave. Reserve your spot by contacting info@cmlcenter.org

Sensory Sensitive Movies at the Northern Lights Theatre
Sensory Sensitive Showings are designed specifically for customers with autism and other special sensory needs. The volume is turned down and the lights are turned up. There will be no previews or ads before the movie. During the movie, you may get up and walk around, dance, sing, clap, and shout—without being a disruption. Next showing is Saturday, July 27, 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. At the Northern Lights Theatre in Salem, OR.

2019 Obon Festival

Join the Japanese American Association of Lane County for the 2019 Obon Festival at Alton Baker Park in Eugene. Saturday, July 27, 5:00 – 9:00 p.m.

In the News

OSU College of Engineering receives diversity recognition award (LIFE@OSU)
The OSU College of Engineering has been selected to be an “exemplar” recipient of a Bronze Award in the first year of the American Society for Engineering Education Diversity Recognition Program.

Driving while undocumented in Oregon: A family’s hopes for HB 2015 (OPB)
Today, 23 years after that trek through the desert, he and his family still live in the Salem area. Navarro recently graduated with a master’s degree from Oregon State University. His mother manages a restaurant and his father works in a plant nursery. But they’re all still undocumented, which has a big impact on their otherwise ordinary daily routines.

Oregon tackles the veterinary suicide crisis, starting with the stigma (OregonLive)
For a profession filled with high-achievers and perfectionists, it’s easy to see how burnout, anxiety and depression can all play out, said Alex Rowell, a psychologist in the Oregon State University Carlson College of Veterinary Medicine.

Extension in the News

Oregon, Washington Firefighters Assist Alaska As Oregon’s Fire Budget Fizzles
The Corvallis Advocate
The Oregon State University Extension Service will receive $2 million for to map out “at-risk areas” as guidance for as-yet-unapproved forest thinning.
Oregon’s strategic plan for bees creates a buzz
The Register-Guard
″(Oregon) is one of the hot spots for bee biodiversity,” said Andony Melathopoulos, a bee expert with the Oregon State University Extension Service.
The Story Next Door: 4-H fair is a way of life for Fay and Sherm Sallee
Albany Democrat-Herald
Sherm and Fay Sallee are probably the only volunteers so committed to 4-H programs they actually designed their home to include large rooms that allow not one, but two 4-H meetings to be held simultaneously.

July 16, 2019

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In this week’s issue:

Updates: OSU Extension Professional Development Fund

Next Application Deadline — August 1, 2019

The next quarterly deadline for Extension Professional Development Funds is August 1st. Applications that will be considered must be submitted BEFORE the deadline and BEFORE the professional development opportunity.

“Growing the Fund”

Extension faculty and staff may help“GROW the Fund”at any time during the year. Keep the following in mind:

  • The principal of the OSU Extension Professional Development Fund is an endowment.
  • The earnings from the endowment feeds into the current-use-fund.
  • Each quarter, the amount in the current-use-fund pays for the professional development requests selected for funding.
  • The fund supports on average, about 100-160 different professional development opportunities a year.

The two ways individuals may currently contribute throughout the year are:

  • Through payroll deduction (deductions could range from $5.00 a month to any larger amount)
  • Through individual contributions (payable by check or credit card)
  • Either of these types of contributions may be processed on-line through the OSU Foundation at: http://www.osufoundation.org/s/359/foundation/index.aspx?sid=359&gid=34&pgid=4353
  • Contributions may be made to the endowment as you complete the on-line process.Be sure to note the following information when completing the on-line process: 6220-820450 OSU Extension Professional Development Fund.

Professional Development Opportunity: REAL Oregon

The Resource Education and Agricultural Leadership Program for Oregon (REAL Oregon) is accepting applications for their 2019-20 program through July 25.

REAL Oregon is an annual leadership and professional development program that exposes a cross-section of individuals from Oregon’s natural resource communities to the diversity of Oregon’s geography, economy and cultures through a series of five statewide sessions. Program objectives are:

  1. Improve personal leadership skills, enhance self-confidence, and develop agriculture and natural resource awareness.
  2. Encourage a network of leaders to take an active leadership role in community, state, and national issues.
  3. Promote Oregon’s Natural Resources and the development of strong rural communities.
  4. Continue to build a network of informed, trained and motivated rural leaders across Oregon.

Speak with your supervisor if you are interested in applying. If selected, and additional funds are needed to participate, consider applying to the Extension professional development fund.

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 ConnEXTion weekly, and contribute!
  • O&E blog with First Monday videos (Engage via the comment section!)
  • Outreach & Engagement Quarterly Conversations (Next: August 16, 2019)

Extension Web Update

Are you meeting lots of people while exhibiting at the county fairs or tabling at the farmer’s markets this summer? If you give them Extension’s website to learn more, then you’ll want to create a welcoming place for them to land.

This week’s blog post shows you some new designs that you can easily apply to your program pages. Check out some of the fabulous program page examples, and watch the short training videos to walk you through how to make changes.

Diversity Highlights

Please contact analu.fonseca@oregonstate.edu with any questions, and if you have suggestions for content to include in Diversity Highlights.

Statewide Events & Resources

Free art exhibit: Traditional Chinese Painting and Calligraphy

Now through August 12, Mondays and Wednesdays, 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. at the OSU Corvallis Campus Asian & Pacific Cultural Center.

Buried Hxstories for BIPOC Youth
A new monthly series at the PDX People’s Food Co-op this Summer! Every third Wednesday of the month (6 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.), Buried Hxstories for BIPOC youth brings kid-friendly lessons on ancestral wisdom of Black or African, Indigenous or Native, and Non-Black People of Color.

Speed Friending Event with INTO OSU Mexican Teaching Group is seeking OSU and Community members to participate in brief five-minute conversations with a group of 15 Mexican educators on Monday, July 22 from 5 to 7:30 p.m. at the Corvallis Campus Valley Library, Willamette East/West Room (Valley 3622). Register here.

Huerto de la Familia & The Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art
Saturday, July 20, 12:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. at the Jordan Schnitzer Museum in Eugene. Hosted by the Latino Professionals Connect network.

In the News

‘Here It Goes’: Coming Out to Your Doctor in Rural America (Valley Public Radio)
A poll conducted by NPR, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health finds that 18 percent of all LGBTQ Americans refrain from seeing a physician for fear of discrimination.

Dorm Design Affects Student Outcomes, Especially for African Americans (Insight Into Diversity)
A new study, published in the Journal of Student Affairs Research and Practice, examines whether residence hall design affects new student academic outcomes.

Yale Was a Boys’ Club For Centuries. Then the First Women Came Along. (Chronicle of Higher Edu)
As Anne Gardiner Perkins explains in her forthcoming book, Yale Needs Women: How the First Group of Girls Rewrote the Rules of an Ivy League Giant, those women had to cope with a culture that tended to view them less as fellow leaders-to-be and more as campus curiosities. “Institutions do not slough off their history so easily,” she writes.

Extension in the News

Cash Crop
The Mail Tribune
“With cannabis, people were concerned about underutilization of land because of the limit on the number of plants,” noted Maud Powell, RVFSN board chair, Applegate farmer and Oregon State University Small Farms extension agent. Underutilization of land puts water rights, soil health and EFU designations at risk and takes land out of agricultural production.

Food preservation hotline open July 15
The Register-Guard
If you’re getting ready to preserve oodles of produce or a fresh catch of fish but want to be sure you’re doing it safely, the Oregon State University Extension Service food preservation hotline is here to help.

July 9, 2019

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In this week’s issue:

Extension Web Update

Happy Birthday to the OSU Extension website, it is now one year old. View the analytics here.

Diversity Highlights

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

Statewide Events & Resources

2019 Marcellus Norwest Memorial Veterans Powwow
Friday, July 12 – Sunday, July 14 at the Uyxat Powwow Grounds. Hosted by the The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde.

OSU International Faculty and Scholar Coffee Social
Friday, July 12 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the Corvallis Multicultural Literacy Center. Sponsored by OSU Folk Club, Crossroads International, and OSU Office of International Services.

Huerto de la Familia & The Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art
Saturday, July 20, 12:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. at the Jordan Schnitzer Museum. Hosted by the Latino Professionals Connect network.

Immigrant Stories
July 31, 6:30 PM - 7:30 PM at the Eugene Downtown Library. Hear local stories with Integration Network for Immigrants of Lane County.

In the News

After a year of close calls, last-minute bailouts, Special Olympics of Oregon survives financial crisis (Oregonian)
The crowds were vocal, often hostile, and furious that the competitions had been canceled. The Special Olympics competition was for many athletes the highlight of their year. Audience attitudes didn’t get any better when Oase and Hanken warned them that additional events would also be canceled. Ed Ray, Oregon State University president and a Special Olympics of Oregon director, called it “the disappointment tour.”

Software gender bias (Think Out Loud)

Computer scientists at Oregon State University say they have a solution for something most people don’t even know is a problem: gender bias in software. They say most software is more tailored for men.

Evolution of U.S. foreign policy (CSPAN)

Historians explored various themes that have shaped U.S. foreign policy. Topics included relations with Native Americas during colonial times, the exporting of concepts like “progress” and “civilization” in the 20th century, and the lack of diversity in thought among U.S. policymakers during the Cold War. This discussion was part of a conference hosted by Oregon State University.

Study: Combat vets more likely to have later mental health issues (KTVZ)

Military veterans exposed to combat were more likely to exhibit signs of depression and anxiety in later life than veterans who had not seen combat, a new study from Oregon State University shows. (see also Science Daily)

Extension in the News

Exchange Programs Think Beyond Urban vs. Rural
Stateline
Since the clash, the 4-H program at Oregon State University has been taking Portland middle school students to eastern Oregon to experience rural life.

Check out the fair this week
Newport News-Times
This will be the fifth year that the management of the county fair has been under the oversight of the Oregon State University Lincoln County Extension Service.

Oregon man goes viral after he plays the saxophone for a herd of cows
The Oregonian
Jenifer Cruickshank, a dairy specialist at Oregon State University, said it’s less about the music and more about the novelty of the scenario that got them to approach Herrmann.

July 2, 2019

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In this week’s issue:

Bright Spots

Quiet week this week for many, with lots of vacations. Enjoy your 4th of July holiday!

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 ConnEXTion weekly, and contribute!
  • O&E blog with First Monday videos (Engage via the comment section!)
  • Outreach & Engagement Quarterly Conversations (Next: August 16, 2019)

Hey, did you see this?

A handful of EESC communicators attended the Association for Communication Excellence Annual Conference last week and heard teacher, author, coach, speaker Ali Goljahmofrad. Here’s his TEDx-Idaho Falls talk about happiness: https://youtu.be/DYAacAWS7Dg

Extension Web Update

This week’s Navigator blog post looks at “8 ways to freshen up your newsletters” with ideas from a sampling of the Extension newsletters produced across the state.

Diversity Highlights

Please contact analu.fonseca@oregonstate.edu with any questions, and if you have suggestions for content to include in Diversity Highlights.

REGISTER TODAY: Search Advocate Workshop: July 9 & 10

The OSU Search Advocate program prepares employees to serve as external process-focused representatives on OSU search committees. The advocate asks questions and suggests practices that interrupt implicit bias and advance equity, validity, and diversity/inclusive excellence in our OSU employee searches. Initial preparation consists of a two-day workshop series and there are still openings for next week’s workshop! Register athttp://oregonstate.edu/training/course_list.php?cat_id=45 ; registration for next week closes on Wednesday July 3.

Statewide Events & Resources

Native Seed Collection at Rogue River Preserve
Wednesday, July 3 from 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.  Join Rogue Native Plant Partnership and Southern Oregon Land Conservancy for a seed collection volunteer work party at Rogue River Preserve outside of Eagle Point, OR.

2019 Marcellus Norwest Memorial Veterans Powwow
Friday, July 12 – Sunday, July 14 at the Uyxat Powwow Grounds. Hosted by the The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde.

OSU International Faculty and Scholar Coffee Social
Friday, July 12 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the Corvallis Multicultural Literacy Center. Sponsored by OSU Folk Club, Crossroads International, and OSU Office of International Services.

100 & Change funding opportunity from the MacArthur Foundation
100 & Change is a MacArthur Foundation competition for a $100 million grant to fund a single proposal that will make measurable progress toward solving a significant problem. Proposals focused on any critical issue are welcome. https://www.100andchange.org/. A 100&Change Organization Readiness Tool is available here: http://blogs.oregonstate.edu/researchdevelopment/files/2019/06/100Change-Organization-Readiness-Tool.pdf. Questions, email research.develoment@oregonstate.edu.

In the News

New learning center opens the door to industry child care in Boardman (East Oregonian)
According to a study out of Oregon State University earlier this year, just 16% of children between the ages of 3 and 5 have access to regulated care in Morrow County.

Deschutes County sees rise in minimum wage (Bend Bulletin)
In Deschutes County, the minimum wage will rise from $10.75 per hour to $11.25 per hour. In the Portland metro area, the minimum wage will be $12.50 per hour. In rural counties, including Crook and Jefferson, it will be $11 per hour.

Diversity Is Central to This Research Program. How Does Yours Compare? (Chronicle of Higher Edu)
Beyond ensuring fairness in scientific work force representation, recruiting and retaining a diverse set of minds and approaches is vital to harnessing the complete intellectual capital of the nation.

Extension in the News

4-H instructor gives out free chain covers for fire season
KTVL
Ruth Dixon, Curry County 4-H Educational Assistant under Oregon State University’s extension program, received covers for chains at a training she went to. The covers are used for chains you may use to attach to your vehicle to haul different things.

New PE program helps schools meet state standards
Clackamas Review
Kathy Gunter, associate professor with the Oregon State University Extension Service, stepped in to create a classroom-based physical activity program called, “Be Physically Active 2DAY!” or BEPA. BEPA aligns with Oregon health and physical education standards.

June 25, 2019

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In this week’s issue:

Willie Riggs Retirement Celebration

Willie Riggs is retiring, come to his retirement celebration at the Klamath County Fairgrounds blue building, June 28 from 4:00-8:00 PM. There will be light refreshments and drinks, a no host bar is provided. Come and celebrate a great career.

Dana Martin Retirement Celebration

Please join us for a few minutes or the entire time, to just say hello to Dana, tell your favorite Dana story (oh I know there are many) or just remind her how much her efforts have been appreciated.


We’ll provide some hors d’oeuvres and punch, please feel free to bring something you and/or others will enjoy, or not – mostly it’s your presence that will be most valuable.  Please join us on:

Thursday, June 27, 2019
4 – 6 pm (or so)
North Sister Building, Deschutes County Fair & Expo
Redmond, OR
RSVP if you can attend, by calling/texting Candi Bothum.

Office:  541-548-6088 x 79540
Cell/Text:  541-419-6350

Communication and connection opportunites

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 ConnEXTion weekly, and contribute!
  • O&E blog with First Monday videos (Engage via the comment section!)
  • Outreach & Engagement Quarterly Conversations (Next: August 16, 2019)

Video clips featuring Extension

In addition to the 80-second and longer silent Out There Extension videos, six short 30-second clips are now available. The clips feature various Extension programs around a variety of Extension themes: youth outreach, healthy living, food production and food resiliency, and thriving communities. The videos can be downloaded from the “Marketing Templates, Tools and Inspiration” folder in Box where Extension and AES logos are located. All videos are currently available in English with captioning and soon will be available in Spanish with captioning. The videos also are available on the Extension YouTube Channel. You are encouraged to use social media to share the videos.

Extension Web Update

Check out our blog this week. This is part one of preparing for the future. Find out why is adding content is so complicated.

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.

Statewide Events & Resources

Pi-ume-sha Health Fair: Wednesday, June 26 at 9 AM – 1 PM. 2200 Hollywood Blvd, Warm Springs. Hosted by CTWS Community Health Services and Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs.

CMLC Citizenship Workshop and Legal Consultation Clinic: Free Citizenship Clinic for those interested in getting U.S citizenship. Attendees will be provided with answers to questions about getting started on the process, and be provided an opportunity to meet briefly with an immigration attorney for free. Friday, June 28 , 4-8 p.m., Corvallis Multicultural Literacy Center, 2638 N.W. Jackson Ave. Presentations will be held at 4 p.m. and 6 p.m, legal consultations held all evening. Free. Contact info@cmlcenter.org to reserve a free consultation with an immigration lawyer. This workshop is co-sponsored by SOAR (http://emoregon.org/soar/), a Portland-based nonprofit that specializes in citizenship and immigration processes.

22nd annual World Beat Festival: Friday, June 28 – Sunday June 30 at Riverfront Park in Salem. Hosted by the Salem Multicultural Institute.

PDX Pride Luau: Saturday, June 29 at the Lagunitas Community Room (237 NE Broadway St, Portland). Hosted by Utopia PDX – United Territories of Pacific Islanders Alliance Portland.

 In the News

Protesters rally at Oregon State Capitol as Senate unable to reach quorum (Statesman Journal)
The Oregon Senate was unable to reach a quorum during their brief floor session Sunday morning as Republican senators continued their unexcused absence from the Capitol.

“Women’s experiences at work are undeniably different.” (NY Times)
“There are certain things that women learn from a lifetime of operating in male-dominated spaces — things like patience, compassion and calm — that may be assets.”

What’s the matter with moving these federal workers to Kansas City?  (CNN Politics)

Who’s in and who’s out of the Beltway? Amazon is moving into the DC, region, frustrating locals; and parts of the federal government are moving out, frustrating displaced employees.

Half of all college students are food insecure. Are universities doing enough to help them? (Pacific Standard)

Program directors fighting food insecurity across the country applaud these gestures—and point to examples of real change that resulted from them. For example, Oregon State’s faculty senate passed a resolution this year to include a section on every class syllabus that refers students who are struggling to find food or housing to the Human Services Resource Center, according to Nicole Hindes, the center’s assistant director.

Extension in the news

Outdoor School, state parks team for ‘Get Out There Together’
KTVZ
“Oregon State Parks and the OSU Extension Service Outdoor School program are committed to helping families continue to engage in the outdoors and extend the amazing opportunities that Outdoor School provides,” said Kristopher Elliott, an Oregon State University Extension Service assistant director who leads statewide Outdoor School.