LET'S COMMUNICATE
Agriculture Communication Newsletter
January 2008, No. 145

Contents

Wimba Webconferencing Now Available
Posters, Banners and Displays from Ag Com
PowerPoint Design Tip #6: Bulleted Lists Work Well
Web Design Tips: Graphic Images
Write the Right Word
Accommodations and Alternative Formats
Ag Com Staff Win Two CASE Awards
Hvidsten Honored as Communicator of the Year
Ag Com Saying Goodbye to Two Retirees

Wimba Webconferencing Now Available

Wimba Live Classroom is up and running, and we are hearing good reports on how well it is working. At this time, there are 47 users in Ag and University Extension, and the list is growing!

Wimba Live Classroom is a webconferencing application that supports audio, video, application sharing and content display, enabling presenters to interact during presentations. Instructors can personalize their online events by holding live online training, webcasts and meetings. Live Classroom allows users to build relationships by combining interactive technologies such as voice, video, application sharing, polling and whiteboarding.

Learn more about this free online tool at http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/wimba/. All that's needed to get started is your computer and a headset.

If your department would like to start using Wimba, contact me to set up a training time.

Randy Wald, 231-7086, randy.wald@ndsu.edu

Posters, Banners and Displays from Ag Com

Get your point across! Ag Communication can design and create large- format color posters, banners and tabletop displays for your next presentation. We can print from your file or create your poster or display.

Make you next meeting or seminar presentation stand out. Call or e-mail for details.

John Grindahl, 231-7898, john.grindahl@ndsu.edu

PowerPoint Design Tip #6: Bulleted Lists Work Well

If you write sentences on the visuals of what you're going to say, you have nothing to add. The audience's attention will be on reading the visual, not listening to you present.

*   Use a few key points for visuals. These should be essential words and phrases.
*   If concepts are complex, use subentries for more detailed information.   Keep the layers of information to two or three.
*   If you need many points for clarification, devote an entire visual to each point, rather than squeeze too much on one visual.
*   Avoid using punctuation. Ideas are grouped and arranged visually, so punctuation is not needed.

Expand on the bullet points in your verbal presentation.

Deb Tanner, 231-7891, deb.tanner@ndsu.edu, and John Grindahl, 231- 7898, john.grindahl@ndsu.edu

Web Design Tips: Graphic Images

Graphics - what's their function? They should communicate something and also add visual appeal. Graphics used properly can really keep people at your Web site and returning in the future.

Which file format to use? Use the .gif format for line art, clip art and other flat colored images, and use the .jpg format for photos and images with gradients. When using large images create a thumbnail and link to the large file, but let the viewer know the size of the file they will be downloading.

Last but not least, give that image an <ALT> tag description. How effective would that billboard be on the interstate with a big square with a simple text message that says "image_012.jpg"? The ALT tage can communicate your message even if your photo does not display. Plus, it makes the image accessible to those using reading software.

David Haasser, 231-8620, david.haasser@ndsu.edu

Write the Right Word

Deciding whether to use a singular or plural verb with indefinite pronouns can be confusing.

Indefinite pronouns are words such as "everyone," "no one," "both," "either" and "several.""No one," for example, takes a singular verb because it means no one person. "No one wants his taxes to go up."

"Either" is another example of an indefinite pronoun needing a singular verb because it refers to one of two people or things. "Either is a good solution.""Either is an excellent choice for dinner."

"Everyone" also requires a singular verb because it refers to people as a single unit. "Everyone wants warmer weather."

Indefinite pronouns such as "both," "few," "many," "others" and "several" require plural verbs because they indicate more than one person or thing. "Several are not enough." "Few were able to attend." "Both are graduating this year."

Other pronouns such as "all," "any," each," "none," "more," "most," "plenty,""some" and "such" may be singular or plural, depending on their usage. Here is an example: "None of my friends rides the bus." In this case, "none" means not one, so the sentence takes a singular verb. Don´t let the phrase "of my friends" confuse you. It simply modifies "none." But in this sentence, "None of the jurors agree," "none" means no two people agree, so it takes a plural verb.

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

Accommodations and Alternative Formats

The NDSU Office for Equity and Diversity reminds faculty and staff that sponsoring departments are responsible for creating an accessible environment for audience members with disabilities by inviting requests for reasonable accommodations. Guidelines for Agriculture and University Extension are at http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/ext-emp/accommodations.doc.

NDSU also makes materials available in alternative formats for people with disabilities. Call Agriculture Communication at (701) 231-7881 to make arrangements in advance and before making a commitment to provide information in a particular format or by a particular date.

Becky Koch, 231-7875, becky.koch@ndsu.edu

Ag Com Staff Win Two CASE Awards

Ag Communication staff won two regional Council for the Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) awards:

*   Silver for the Biofuels Ag Mag in external audience tabloid/newsletter for Dave Haasser, Becky Koch and freelancer Emily Barenthsen Spickler
*   Bronze for Thundar's New Game Plan in the Multimedia CD/DVD for Bruce Sundeen and Julie Garden-Robinson in Health, Nutrition and Exercise Sciences

Hvidsten Honored as Communicator of the Year.

Marie Hvidsten, Rural Leadership North Dakota program director, was honored as Communicator of the Year on Dec. 12. This award, given annually by the Ag Communication department and the North Dakota Association for Communication Excellence (ACE), honors an Agriculture and University Extension faculty or staff person who has used a variety of media to effectively communicate to the public.

Ag Com Saying Goodbye to Two Retirees

Ag Communication will have some big shoes to fill with two February retirements. Ardis Carvell's last day was Friday, Feb. 1, and Dave Rice will retire Feb. 29.

Ardis started in Ag Communication as a press operator in 1982 and moved to the Distribution Center in 1987. Over the years, she has filled publication orders, mailed out materials, processed product orders, maintained the Print Shop database, overseen checkout of the 4-H trunks and Staff Resource Library materials, duplicated videotapes and CDs, and much more. To illustrate how times have changed, Ardis sold film, checked out Extension cars and relayed messages from the code-a-phone.

Ardis was honored by Epsilon Sigma Phi Extension honorary in 1998 with the Meritorious Support Service Award. She has taken part in the National Resource Management Officers group. Ardis and her husband Milt will spend more time with family, especially the seven grandkids.

Dave began his 30-year NDSU career as an instructor and researcher in the Agriculture Economics department. He became the North Dakota Agriculture Network (AGNET) manager in 1981 and was instrumental in introducing and integrating microcomputers in the NDSU Extension Service during the mid- 1980s. Dave served as interim chair of Agriculture Communication 1993- 1995 and in 1995 became the first Webmaster for NDSU Agriculture. Dave was awarded the Epsilon Sigma Phi Meritorious Service Award in

1998 and the National Association of County Agricultural Agents (NACAA) Distinguished Service Award in 2002. In 2004 he was awarded the NACAA Pinnacle Award for Outstanding Humanitarian Service.

Dave is vice president of the Northland Educators Federal Credit Union board of directors. A Navy Viet Nam veteran, Dave is active in the American Legion and has held many local and state positions. He plans to retire from the Navy in 2009 after completing a 40-year career in the Navy and Navy Reserve. An NDSU Extension Service Master Gardener, Dave plans to spend much gardening in retirement. Volunteer work for the American Legion, Veterans Administration hospital and other projects, such as WDAY Honor Flight, will help keep him busy. He plans to expand his www.tristateveterans.com Web site, providing information to military veterans. But maybe most importantly, Dave plans to spend lots of time with his new granddaughter, Morgan Leigh Gjerde, who was born Jan. 22.

Please join Ag Communication in thanking these two long-time employees for their years of dedicated service.

Let's Communicate

Past issues and topics from Let's Communicate are at www.ag.ndsu.edu/agcomm/letscomm/letscomm.htm. If you have questions or comments, or would like to submit information or make a suggestion for Let's Communicate, please contactme.