e-Directions is an information-sharing newsletter issued at least bi-monthly to help keep you updated on Extension-related issues covering restructuring, programming opportunities, strategic plan initiatives and enhancements and other information. If you have any comments or suggestions to improve e-Directions or the Director’s Web site, please contact me at pcoreil@agcenter.lsu.edu.
Because of the length of this newsletter, it has been divided into sections that are available from the list provided below.
AgMagic Volunteers Needed
It's that time of year again – Ag Magic. Sponsored by the LSU AgCenter, the 3rd annual AgMagic creates an interactive visually stimulating environment that links food and fiber products we use every day to the originating forests, field crops and livestock produced by Louisiana farmers, ranchers and forest landowners statewide.
In the past two years we have had nearly 16,000 visitors. If you are not already involved in this very effective agricultural awareness initiative, please consider helping us support the event by volunteering your time.
Volunteers are needed for a variety of roles, including tour guides, runners, registration helpers and Body Walk assistants (for the weekend only, April 29-30). Guides will be given a script to follow; registration helpers will check in groups as they arrive, matching the groups with their guides; and Body Walk guides will be given a script about a particular part of the body.
AgMagic is slated for Monday, April 24 through Friday, April 28 from 8:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. for scheduled tour groups. To accommodate after-school groups, hours will be extended on Tuesday, April 25 and Thursday, April 27 until 5:30 p.m. AgMagic will be open to the public on Saturday, April 29 and Sunday, April 30 from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The event will be held in the John M. Parker Coliseum on the LSU AgCenter campus (corner Highland Road and S. Stadium Drive).
If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Lee Ann Fields (lfields@agcenter.lsu.edu), Janet Fox (jfox@agcenter.lsu.edu) or call the State 4-H Office at 225/578-2196.
I appreciate your willingness to volunteer your time and participate in this very important AgCenter outreach program!
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Presidents’ Forum on Meeting Coastal Challenges As Louisiana continues to pursue long-term coastal restoration goals, it is only fitting that its universities take a lead role in addressing the near-term, politically sensitive and economically challenging implications of the state’s devastating coastal land loss problem. With that objective in mind, the LSU System Office, LSU Agricultural Center and the Louisiana Sea Grant College Program convened the first Presidents’ Forum on Meeting Coastal Challenges in January 2005 at the LSU Baton Rouge campus.
At the first Forum, a panel of scientists gave a stark assessment of the current status of wetland loss, hurricane vulnerability, subsidence, spatial data and coastal resource economics to the 120 participants. Members of the organization Parishes Against Coastal Erosion (PACE) also identified a number of areas in which Louisiana’s universities might assist PACE with the immediate challenges facing their communities.
A meeting summary, minutes and presentations from the Jan. 25, 2005, Forum, as well as additional resources, are available by clicking on the links to the left. The forum can also be viewed by visiting http://www.laseagrant.org/forum/03-23-2006.htm and following the instructions.
Following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, a half-day seminar on reducing coastal hazards was held where experts from across the state, and internationally recognized natural hazards mitigation expert Dennis Hwang, shared their expertise. Presentations from the Oct. 17, 2005 seminar are available by clicking the links to the left.
The most recent President’ Forum was held March 23, 2006 at LSU’s Baton Rouge campus. During this second Forum, state and national experts in coastal hazards, land use planning, zoning, insurance and building codes discussed possible solutions to adequately protect the health, safety and well-being of Louisiana’s coastal residents. More information about the upcoming Forum is available by clicking on the link to the left.
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LaHouse On the Move – In
More Ways Than OneIn a move to address the state’s massive housing crisis and support programs of LaHouse in the aftermath of the storms, the Biological and Agricultural Engineering Department is now the new home for this significant AgCenter initiative. The focus of LaHouse on energy efficiency, hurricane resistant building practices and approaches to improve environmental management align well with B&AE. Department head Dr. Dan Thomas says, “The LaHouse project is providing significant support to south Louisiana in response to the hurricanes. The large number of new structures should be built to exceed new building codes while also being energy efficient and environmentally friendly. LaHouse demonstrates many of these unique approaches. LaHouse will continue to maintain its multidisciplinary focus because the problems to be addressed require specialists from across the AgCenter and input from many other organizations to efficiently meet the needs of our clientele.”
Also joining the B&AE department are Dr. Claudette Reichel, LaHouse Chair and Professor; Pat Skinner, Disaster Programs Coordinator; and Sandy Scallan, LaHouse Coordinator. Claudette also will have an adjunct faculty appointment in the School of Human Ecology and continue to serve on the FCS Family Resource Management team. Pat has a joint appointment with Sea Grant.
While LaHouse continues to hold mid-construction open house each Friday and launch new training and outreach programs, construction progress has resumed. Watch its progress on the http://www.LouisianaHouse.org photo gallery. Completion is targeted for late summer/fall.
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Local Support for Extension Authorized in Louisiana State Law Back in 1975, the Louisiana Legislature recognized the importance of local governmental partnerships supporting the Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service in state law. The section from the Louisiana revised statutes covering rural education quoted below clearly authorizes local government cooperative agreements and local government funding and other support for extension programs conducted in each parish.
RS3:301
Chapter 4. Rural Education
§301. Support for programs of Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service
As a cooperative endeavor with the Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service of the Board of Supervisors of Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, the governing body of any local government subdivision may provide financial and other support for the programs of the Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service which benefit that local government subdivision under such terms and conditions as may be agreed upon between the Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service and the local government subdivision. Financial support for the cooperative endeavor may be appropriated from the general funds of the local government subdivision or may be provided for by an increase in the ad valorem taxes for such specific purpose in accordance with the provisions of Article VI, Part II, of the Louisiana Constitution of 1974. Amended by Acts 1975, No. 242, §1.
This established legislative authorization should clearly justify current efforts to increase support from local governmental partners to our 10 percent minimum goal, which is about half of the local support average for other southern states.
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Travelift Goes Distance to Get La. Boats Back In Water Following the devastation of hurricanes Katrina and Rita, 85 percent of Louisiana commercial fishing vessels were disabled, damaged or destroyed. After desperate pleas from LSU AgCenter agents in the affected areas, a Marine Travelift was donated to Plaquemines Parish from the people of Valdez, Alaska. The previous Travelift at the Empire shipyard was damaged in the storm.
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska worked with the Alaskan Fisheries Industry Relief Mission (AFIRM) to make a donation possible after agents started contacting Sea Grant colleagues about donating a new traveling lift. The new Travelift made a 4,500-mile journey to Plaquemines Parish where it was dedicated March 31 to the people of Plaquemines Parish. Two trucking companies, Carlise Transportation based in Anchorage, Alaska and Packard Truck Lines from Plaquemines Parish, made the move possible.
This dedication symbolizes the journey in the rebuilding process of Louisiana fisheries. It is truly amazing how the actions of fellow Americans 4,500 miles away can make an impact in the reconstruction of Louisiana. Thank you to all for your efforts and dedication in being part of this wonderful experience.
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Louisiana Mulch - Setting the Record Straight
Rumors have been circulating via the internet and e-mail of Louisiana mulch. Many say that a consumer should not buy cheap mulch in fear it may be coming from Formosan termite-infested Hurricane Katrina debris. This rumor, like most, is FALSE for a number of reasons.
There are quarantines that prevent the movement of wood debris out of the 12 Louisiana parishes affected by the termites, and much of the wood debris is going to local landfills, where it is being monitored for termites. In addition, entomologists believe it is highly unlikely that termites could survive the shredding, packaging and transportation that mulch products must undergo. As for talk about there being no remedy to Formosan termites, there are approved methods for killing the termites.
The false Internet message on termite infested mulch listed the LSU AgCenter Web site as a reference and led to the highest number of hits ever recorded in one day on LSUAgCenter.com – over 7 million! (This was nearly the number of hits for the entire month of February which totaled 9.5 million) The AgCenter immediately reacted to this hoax by putting up on the Web site factual consumer information which has been visited by millions of Internet users across the nation and the world. The Formosan Termite content management site continues to be the highest user visited site within the AgCenter. We appreciate our AgCenter entomologists for quickly addressing this false information
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2006 Evaluations
This year’s faculty evaluations must be completed, including all primary reviewer (unit head) comments, no later than Thursday, June 1. To meet this timeframe, faculty members should complete and electronically submit their portfolios by Tuesday, May 2, unless a different date is established by their supervisor/primary reviewer/unit head.
The faculty evaluation system can be accessed at http://lsuagcenter.net/performeval/. New faculty who are using this system for the first time should note that the Web site includes guidance to help you through the system. Several instructional documents and help tools may be accessed by selecting “help and documentation” under “Other Options” in the left-hand menu.
There have been no changes to the content of the faculty performance appraisal electronic system from last year. Please remember that the section on goals asks for information on the faculty member’s progress on any required coursework and on planned participation in professional development activities. Please be sure this is addressed if applicable to your position. IT has asked that you be reminded to think about including CMS accomplishments in your portfolio.
Performance appraisal is a very important and serious responsibility for both faculty and supervisory personnel. Annual evaluations provide an excellent opportunity for faculty members and supervisors to have a comprehensive discussion about the scope, significance and accomplishments of research, extension and teaching efforts.
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National 4-H Caucus
U.S. Representatives Charles Melancon, Richard Baker, Bobby Jindal, Jim McCrery and Rodney Alexander have joined the National 4-H Caucus from Louisiana.
The U.S. House 4-H Caucus was formed in the fall of 2005 and has since been successful. The primary purpose of the caucus is to provide opportunities for 4-H youth to become aware of U.S. Representatives and to learn more about how our federal government functions.
Caucus co-chairs, representatives Richard Pombo (California) and Marcy Kaptur (Ohio), and their staff members Josh Rolph and Roger Szemra have responsibility for Congressional 4-H Caucus activities.
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New Assignment
Troy Menard, Caddo Parish associate agent, has been assigned to support the 4-H Jr. Livestock program in Webster Parish in addition to his current responsibilities in Caddo. Troy is enthusiastic about his new assignment, and I know he will be well received by the youth he will be working with. Joan and Lisa are also very pleased to have Troy as a part of their team. The new assignment was effective April 1.
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New Parish Chair Assignment
Effective April 1, Alan Vaughn, Plaquemines Parish county agent, was appointed parish chair. Mr. Vaughn will serve in this capacity through June 30, 2007 and will continue his parish responsibilities. Please give Alan your full support and cooperation as he assumes his new administrative responsibilities.
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If you have any comments or suggestions to improve e-Directions or the director’s website, please contact me at pcoreil@agcenter.lsu.edu.
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