LET'S COMMUNICATE
Agriculture Communication Newsletter
July 2006, No. 127

Contents

Formatting Materials for Ag Communication
Plan Ahead on Videoconferences
Write the Right Word
Eliminate Illogical Spelling?
New Pocket Folders
Publications Update
New in the Staff Resource Library

Formatting Materials for Ag Communication

Do you have a draft brochure or educational publication to run through Ag Communication? Here are a few reminders:

* Send all materials first to Sharon Lane at sharon.lane@ndsu.edu . Sharon will make sure everything needed is there, then she'll assign the project to an editor and to a graphic designer. Do not send projects (except news releases) directly to an editor or graphic designer.

* Send electronic files with as little formatting as possible. If you put the text in columns, insert graphics or photos, etc., the graphic designers will have to spend much more time laying it out in their software. However, you're still welcome to send along a sketch with your design ideas.

* Allow plenty of time to have quality work completed on your project. If the Ag Com staff rush your work through the process, the project of someone who planned ahead is getting pushed aside.

* Except for when grant dollars help pay for the project, all faculty, staff and offices must pay the wholesale price for any Distribution Center publication that requires a charge. See the educational materials guidelines at
http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/ext-emp/emp-edumatguide.htm  for details.
 

Plan Ahead on Videoconferences

Interactive videoconferencing is primarily controlled by a computer program that connects the individual sites. Since the state has numerous consortiums throughout the state simultaneously connecting, requests for adding another videoconference site at the last minute make it impossible to give the technicians' attention to any ongoing sessions that may incur technical problems. IVN will not add sites to a pre-existing schedule on the day of the event or connect another site to a session already in progress.

If you are scheduling videoconference sites outside North Dakota or with another consortium within the state, the scheduler requires one full week to schedule.

Learn more at http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/agcomm/videoconf/videoconferencing.html

Gail Hokenson, (701) 231-7881, Gail.Hokenson@ndsu.edu 
 

Write the Right Word

This summers unusual run of hot weather raises a question of how to list temperatures.

Here are the rules using Associated Press style: Use figures for all numbers except zero. For temperatures below zero, use the word minus, not a minus sign. You dont need to add the word degrees if the context of the sentence is clear you are talking about temperatures. The temperature rose to 90 by noon. Last winters low was minus 32. If mentioning the temperature scale is important, note whether it is Fahrenheit or Celsius. The temperature for this experiment must be 98 degrees Celsius. If degrees and temperature scale are clear from the context, you can use this form: Preheat the oven to 350 F.

On a related note, avoid saying something set a new record. That's redundant. Instead, say: Friday's 101-degree high was a record.

The following are some other words that seem to be giving people trouble lately:

Initial/initially It means first or occurring at the beginning. It implies the event described has happened again, or something changed, so it cant be used if talking about something that happened only once, such as a company being founded or a town being incorporated. The company was founded in 1918. However: The board elected officers at its initial meeting. She initially said she wouldn't go to the play, but then she changed her mind.

Farther/further Farther refers to actual distance; further refers to an extension of time or degree. He walked farther into the field. She said she wants to discuss this issue further.

Ellen Crawford, (701) 231-5391, ellen.crawford@ndsu.edu
 

Eliminate Illogical Spelling?

When �say,� �they� and �weigh� rhyme, but �bomb,� �comb� and �tomb� don�t, wuudn�t it maek mor sens to spel wurdz the wae thae sound?

That's the beginning paragraph of an Associated Press article titled "Time to change how we spell wurdz?" The American Literacy Council favors an end to this "illogical spelling."

Read more at http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13716134/
 

New Pocket Folders

Last week each department chair, REC director and county Extension chair received samples of the two new Agriculture and University Extension pocket folders. The green one features a subdued bison, and the yellow one says "Agriculture and University Extension, North Dakota State University." On the back, both have a map identifying offices across the state, the vice president's office contact information and the www.ag.ndsu.edu  URL.

You're encouraged to use these pocket folders for educational programming and marketing. Include your business card in the slot and put an AES or Extension or localized brochure in the pocket to personalize the information. These sturdy pocket folders add a professional look and consistent marketing.

To order, e-mail the Distribution Center at dctr@ndsuext.nodak.edu , specifying if you want green or yellow folders or a combination. If you don't specify, you'll receive half and half. The cost is 50 cents each. Sure, that's more than generic pocket folders, but they'll provide a professional image that markets NDSU Agriculture and University Extension well.

And a reminder that NDSU Extension Service notecards are also available from the Distribution Center. These 5 1/2 x 4 1/4-inch cards are great for thank yous and short notes of correspondence, and are available for 20 cents each, which includes the matching envelope.
 

Publications Update

Two new publications in Sean Brotherson's Talking to Children... series are now available. Talking to Children About Terrorism, FS635, and Talking to Children About Armed Conflict, FS636, deal with how we can help children faced with their challenging emotions as the world issues affect all our lives.

Just in time for fruit and vegetable harvesting, Julie Garden- Robinson's Tips on Choosing Produce and Keeping It Fresh, FN690, provides healthful tips on picking, food safety, baking and preservation.

Leafy spurge costs the state more than $75 million annually in lost production. Leafy Spurge Identification and Chemical Control, W765, by Rod Lym educates us on the identification, herbicide applications and control in pastures, rangelands and trees.

For more about these and many other publications, see http://www.ext.nodak.edu/extpubs/ .

Sharon Lane, (701) 231-7883, sharon.lane@ndsu.edu 

New in the Staff Resource Library

Racial Politics in American Cities
By Rufus Browning, 230-page book
This collection of original essays by distinguished urban scholars is a progress report on the continuing struggle for minority access to political power in American cities. It talks about what the government has achieved in the last 25 years and what it has not.

Choosing to Lead
By Kenneth Clark and Miriam Clark, 208-page book
The authors drew together the best research of the qualities of managers and leaders in all types of organizations. The result has been hailed a landmark in our quest for a general theory of leadership.

Managing at the Edge of Change
By Ohio State University, 3 Videos
Staff need to be able to hire, supervise, coach and evaluate the work of others. This training was developed especially to help Extension staff learn these skills.

Training Games for Interpersonal Skills
By Phillip Burnhard, 264-page book
Anyone who's a trainer knows that trying to improve people's interpersonal skills can be one of the most sensitive and challenging of all training assessments. This book is designed for wide-range use in everything from management development to customer service training to personal growth workshops.

See http://www.ag.ndsu.nodak.edu/staffres/library/contents.htm  to check out these and many other books, audio tapes and CDs, and videos, or browse the shelves in the Distribution Center in Morrill 10.
 

LET'S COMMUNICATE

If you have questions or comments, or would like to submit information or make a suggestion, contact:

Agriculture Communication
Attn: Becky Koch
7 Morrill Hall
Phone: 231-7875
FAX: 231-7044
e-mail: bkoch@ndsuext.nodak.edu

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