August 2004
Volume 1, Number 7

Our Mission
Michigan State University Extension helps people improve their lives through an educational process that applies knowledge to critical issues, needs, and opportunities.
In This Issue

Volunteer greets President Bush

Director search update

Cherry industry honors Bethel

Gray named MSU V.P.

"A Matter of Style"

Online JIFF course offered

Legislative update

News from Community and Economic Development and Natural Resources programs

Upcoming events
MSUE volunteer greets President Bush 


Cal Steele greeted President Bush July 30.

MSUE volunteer Cal Steele met President George W. Bush when he arrived in Grand Rapids, Mich. July 30. Steele, a World War II veteran, is a mentor with the Ottawa Journey 4-H Youth Mentoring Program.

Steele also received an outstanding mentoring award as part of the Governor’s Service Awards presented May 24.

President Bush has called on all Americans to volunteer two years or 4,000 hours over the course of their lifetimes and he created the USA Freedom Corps to help foster a culture of service, citizenship and responsibility. Since January 2002, President Bush has met with hundreds of individuals around the country like Steele, who are answering the call to volunteer service.

Steele has been a mentor for the 4-H-led Journey Youth Mentoring Program for the past two years. The program is a collaborative effort between MSUE and the Ottawa County Family Court/Juvenile Services Program. Volunteers are trained to mentor adjudicated youth, who often lack positive, caring adult role models.

Steele is matched with a teen whom he meets with for six to eight hours a week. They participate in a variety of activities together and recently collected $1,800 worth of aluminum cans to support Journey’s mentoring activities. Steele is an advocate for mentoring and often recruits others to the program.

Steele represented MSU and MSUE wearing his official Spartan tie and pin, and he gave the President a box of Michigan cherry products from the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, the MAES and MSUE.

MSU Extension director search update

The MSU Extension Director Search Committee and Lansing and Associates, a Massachusetts-based search firm, are soliciting nominations and accepting applications for the MSUE director position.

According to Lynn Harvey, committee chairperson, the process has yielded excellent applications representing diversity in its many dimensions. Applications will be accepted through Aug. 31. A screening committee and the search firm will narrow the candidate field. An interview schedule will be established at the search committee’s next meeting, Sept. 14.

Cherry industry honors Bethel

Director Maggie Bethel was awarded the Cherry Industry Distinguished Service Award for her support of the tree fruit industry in the state and her strong commitment to Extension fruit programs. She received the award during the National Cherry Festival in Traverse City, Mich.

“Maggie has been a visionary leader and has worked hard on behalf of all of Michigan agriculture,” said Philip J. Korson, II, president of the Cherry Marketing Institute. “She has truly been a friend of the cherry industry.”

 J. Ian Gray named MSU V. P. for research and graduate studies

J. Ian Gray has been selected the MSU vice president for research and graduate studies. He replaces Robert Huggett, who left that position in June to pursue environmental research in the private sector.

Gray has been affiliated with the Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station since 1987 and has been its director since 1996. He is a respected research scientist with 26 years of service at MSU. He has guided the Experiment Station through difficult financial times and has overseen the expansion of its mission to enhance agriculture, natural> resources, environmental stewardship, food and health, a secure food and fiber system, and family and community vitality in Michigan.

“A Matter of Style”

Do you ever wonder when to capitalize a word, when to use a hyphen, how to write more clearly? MSUE staff members have a new resource to use in answering their most challenging writing questions. “A Matter of Style” is now available at: www.msue.msu.edu/msue/iac/impact/index.html.

Leslie Johnson and Laura Probyn (MSU Communication and Technology Services) compiled the guide to assist MSU Extension personnel with writing partner reports, newsletters, bulletins and other publications. The introductory paragraph says: "This compilation doesn't claim to be comprehensive--rather, it covers some rough spots in news stories, Extension bulletins and newsletters, and other written materials that an editor would feel obliged to smooth and polish. If it clarifies the fine points of hyphenation or succeeds in forever distinguishing ‘comprise’ from ‘compose,’ it's accomplished its goal."

Jump Through JIFF online course offered Oct. 11-Nov. 24

4-H youth development is offering “Jump Through JIFF” (Jump into Foods and Fitness), a Web-based class to teach youth foods and fitness activities, Oct. 11–Nov. 24. Staff members have an opportunity to learn about adding nutrition and physical activities to youth programming and training volunteers to extend current programs or start new ones. The course will also help identify the issues facing young people today.

The $150 course fee covers registration and material costs. Registration began July 1 and ends September 17, 2004. Space is limited.

To register online, follow the prompts at: http://vu.msu.edu/cgi-bin/cc_reg_form. For more information contact Sue Henry by e-mail at henrys@msue.msu.edu.
Legislative update

State legislative leadership resumed budget meetings after the primary elections, Aug. 3. Meetings will likely continue through August to complete the state budget process. Elected officials continue to wrestle with projected deficits for 2004-05.

A large step in alleviating the budget deficit was resolved on Aug. 4 with approval of House Bill 4612, increasing the tax on Detroit casinos. This tax increase will take effect Sept. 1, thus helping to alleviate some of the current budget deficit. The additional 6 percent in wagering tax from Detroit casinos will provide an estimated additional $73 million for the state, with about $49 million for the state's general fund for the 2004-05 fiscal year. The next budget year still has a projected deficit of about $65 million.

As approved by both the house and senate, HB 4612 increases the wagering tax on three Detroit casinos from 18 percent to 24 percent. The additional 6 percent is to be divided as follows: 1/3 for the city of Detroit, 7/12 for the state's general fund and 1/12 for the Michigan agriculture equine industry development fund. (This fund was established under the 1995 Horse Racing Law, P.A. 279, and it applies to the development of the horse racing industry.)

Part of the negotiation on HB 4612 dealt with concerns about future legislative action on the proposed racino/ag enhancement legislation (HB 4610). Legislative leaders agreed to vote in September on the Houseracino/ag enhancement committee report.
News from the Community and Economic Development and Natural Resources program areas

Economic Development AoE Launches Portal-based In-Service
The Economic Development AoE is offering MSUE's first in-service using the new portal's e-learning tools. The course titled, "Fundamentals of Industrial Recruitment: Focus on Manufacturing," features a new curriculum developed by Scott Loveridge in collaboration with the AoE team leaders and Luke Reese.

The course is designed to help community leaders understand the process of industrial location decision making and get better results from efforts to stimulate local economies. The course uses the portal's "hold a meeting" feature to enable two-way audio with PowerPoint presentation and chat room. The four-session course starts Sept. 15. Enrollment in this pilot effort is limited to 15 people. For more information, contact Scott Loveridge at loverid2@msu.edu.

Changes in Leadership for MAES Community Vitality Programs
Janet Bokemeier reduced her administrative role with the Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station when she accepted a new assignment as chairperson of the MSU Department of Sociology. Bokemeier will continue to support research on family issues, including FACT.

Scott Loveridge has accepted a part-time temporary assignment with the MAES to assure continued support for community vitality programs. Through focus groups with scientists, he has developed draft research themes and will be seeking broad input for priority setting this fall.

Dave Ivan to Support Community Development and Natural Resources Programs
Dave Ivan has accepted a temporary one-third-time assignment as a program leader to provide support for Extension community development programs. He will work closely with Scott Loveridge, state leader for community development and natural resource programs. Ivan will continue to serve as the Clinton County Extension director.

Upcoming Events:

Fall Extension Conference update

Fall Extension Conference is only two months away (Oct. 12-14 at the MSU Kellogg Center). Final arrangements are being made for the nearly 50 concurrent sessions and dozens of poster exhibits showcased at the conference. Conference costs are expected to be $150 per person for the three-day event. Registration for this year’s conference will be available only online. Watch for announcements later this month.

September AoE Co-Chair Meeting

The AoE co-chair meeting is set for Sept. 13-14 at the St. Francis Retreat Center in DeWitt. Registration, lodging and for this meeting meals will be covered. If you have questions, please contact your state program leader.

 

Contact Us
108 Agriculture Hall Michigan State University East Lansing MI 48824
(517) 355-2308
Fax: (517) 355-6473
bethel@msu.edu


MSU is an affirmative action, equal opportunity institution, Michigan State University Extension programs and materials are open to all without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital status, or family status. Issued in furtherance of MSU Extension work, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Margaret A. Bethel, Extension Director, Michigan State University, E. Lansing, MI 48824