LET'S COMMUNICATE
Agriculture Communication Newsletter
April 2006, No. 124
Contents
E-mail List Reminders
The Journey of a Thousand Miles
Smart Videoconference Meetings Offered May 11
Write the Right Word
E-mail List Reminders
E-mail messages should be targeted as specifically as possible
to the intended audiences. Use the Electronic Mailing Lists on the Ag Info
Center at http://info.ag.ndsu.nodak.edu
to find the exact group of Agriculture and University Extension faculty and
staff you want to reach.
These e-mail lists were moved from a public Web site to the Ag
Info Center to reduce spam. Some lists can only receive e-mail from list
members, and some can't accept attachments.
Several e-mail lists are compilations of other lists. For
example, all- ag@ndsuext.nodak.edu
combines the all-exp, all-ext and other smaller lists, so there's no reason to
send to all-ag plus to all-ext and/or all-exp.
However, please think before you send to all-ag, all-exp or
all-ext. Do the REC secretaries really need this information? How about the
Family Nutrition Program agents? The research specialists? Use the e-mail lists
to target messages so those who really need the information receive it and
others don't.
Becky Koch, 231-7875,
Becky.Koch@ndsu.edu
The Journey of a Thousand Miles
The journey of a thousand miles begins with Dad saying, "I know
a shortcut!" And how true that can be at times. Sometimes it can be adventurous,
but most times it is very stressful.
The same can be said of scheduling a videoconference. To make
this a pleasant and relaxed journey for all, the scheduler included, please
follow some very important and timely guidelines.
When you want to schedule a multi-point conference, make sure
you have contacted each site to ensure their site -- both room and camera -- is
available.
Next, you need to fill out the form on the Web ---
http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/agcomm/videoconf/videoconferencing.html -- and e-mail
it to
. She will then enter the date, times and selected sites into the scheduling
software.
If you want to include sites outside North Dakota, there may be
extra charges and the conference needs to be scheduled at least 2 weeks ahead of
time to allow the needed time for testing by the network technicians.
Once Gail receives confirmation of the scheduled conference, she
will notify the host site. It is then your responsibility to notify the
participating sites.
Now comes the stressful part -- changes. If you need to
make changes to the time, participants, locations, etc., these must be done at
least 24 hours prior to the start of the conference. Of course, it's better if
you don't have to make any changes.
Scheduling is the beginning of what can be an enjoyable journey
and delightful experience. All can relax and enjoy.
Mike Miller, 857-7677,
Mike.Miller@ndsu.edu and Gail Hokenson, 231- 7881,
Gail.Hokenson@ndsu.edu
Smart Videoconference Meetings Offered May 11
Need help determining what medium is best for your audience,
size and type of event? How about tips and tricks for group interaction? How do
you set up multi-state meetings?
These questions and more will be answered during Smart
Videoconference Meetings, 2:00-4:15 p.m. CST, Thursday, May 11.
The program will be available at:
- Bismarck � ND Heritage Center
- Cavalier � Pembina Co Ext � Community Room
- Dickinson � DSU N Campus Room 104
- Fargo � NDSU EML 183
- Grand Forks � UND Gamble Hall, Room 120
- Minot � MiSU Student Union Prairie Room
To register for this free videoconference, submit names of
people who will attend at which location and their e-mail addresses to
june.piper@ivn.nodak.edu
by May 9.
If you want to add a site, contact
cheryl.thompson@ivn.nodak.edu
Write the Right Word
Symbols and abbreviations use less space but are confusing to
people who don�t know what they mean. Readers shouldn�t be forced to guess what
a symbol means based on how it�s used in a sentence.
Most readers will recognize symbols such as %, � or x, but >
(greater than) isn�t one a majority of people will understand.
So, unless you are writing for your colleagues, who presumably
know what you�re talking about, or a publication that no one outside your field
likely will read, your best option is to use words instead of symbols. For
example: The Extension Service pays 50 percent of the cropping systems
agent�s salary. Pour the batter into a 9-inch by 13-inch (not 9 x 13)
pan. In this formula, x is greater than the value of 10.
One note on percentages � repeat the word "percent" after each
number if talking about a range of percentages. University officials hope to
see a 10 percent to 20 percent increase in enrollment next year.
When planning to use complicated abbreviations, spell out the
word or phrase on first reference and put the abbreviation in parentheses after
it. The hay has an estimated net energy for maintenance value of 1.146
megacalories per kilogram (Mcal/kg). For titles, spell them out on first
reference and abbreviate thereafter. The Environmental Protection Agency has
drafted new water quality regulations. �The EPA will give the public a chance to
comment on the proposed rules next month.
Some words, such as weights and dimensions, shouldn�t be
abbreviated. She peeled 10 pounds of potatoes. The recipe calls for 15 ounces
of tomato juice. The tree was 8 feet tall. However, other abbreviations have
become so commonplace they don�t need to be spelled out. The speed limit is
15 mph near the school.
Ellen Crawford, 231-5391,
ecrawfor@ndsuext.nodak.edu
New in the Staff Resource Library
Getting Things Done
David Allen, Audio, 3 hours
Our ability to be productive is directly proportional to our ability to relax.
When our our minds are clear and our thoughts are organized we can achieve
stress-free productivity and unleash creative potential.
The World is Flat: A Brief History of the Twenty-First Century
Thomas Friedman, 19.5 hours on 15 CDs or 593-page book, 2005
This best-seller allows listeners or readers to make sense of the bewildering
global scene unfolding before their eyes. Friedman translates complex foreign
policy and economic issues. It is an essential update on globalization, its
successes and disconnects.
Learn Microsoft Word
Interactive Guide Series CD
This CD-ROM tutor talks you through the program, or allows you to skip to
lessons that on the topic of your choice.
The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference
Malcolm Gladwell, 301-pages book, 2002The Tipping Point is that magic
moment when an idea, trend or social behavior crosses a threshold, tips, and
spreads like wildfire. This book explains the already changing way people
throughout the world think about selling products and disseminating ideas.
The Keys to Mentoring Success
Kathy Wentworth Drahosz, 167-page book, 2004
The Keys to Mentoring Success provides a road map to the mentoring process
with timely tips, proven techniques and lessons learned. It gives the mentoring
program planner a seven-step mentoring process that has been tested and
successfully validated.
Many other audio cassettes, books, videos and CDs are in the
Staff Resource Library listing on the Web at
