Volume 16, Number 5
March 18, 2016

NOTES FROM THE ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR

Guidelines for Political Activities: In this political season, below is a brief refresher course on OSU policy regarding political activities of employees and the Oklahoma ethics law. Please take time to click these important links in order to read and better understand these rules.  

OSU policy – Political Activities of Employees https://stw.sp.okstate.edu/policies/Shared%20Documents/Political%20Activities%20of%20Employees.pdf

3.01 Employees are permitted to freely engage in lawful political activities of any kind provided such activities are conducted on the individual' s own time, do not interfere with official duties and responsibilities, and are not inconsistent with other provisions herein. 

Oklahoma Ethics Law https://www.ok.gov/ethics/documents/2015%20%28REV%29%20ETHICS%20COMMISSION%20COMPILATION%20v3.pdf p.63

Rule 2.9. Prohibitions on Activities of State Officers and Employees Designed to Influence Elections. No state officer or employee shall engage in activities designed to influence the results of an election for state office or a state question during hours in which the state officer or employee is in official work status or at any time while wearing a uniform or wearing identification that identifies that person as a state officer or employee. This prohibition shall not apply to elected state officers.

                                                                                    Jim Trapp

 CURRENT EVENTS

Retirement Reception for Jim Rutledge: Jim Rutledge, Executive Director of the Oklahoma 4-H Foundation, is closing out a 44-year Extension career. Please join in the celebration March 22 at the Educational Center at The Botanic Garden at OSU. The come-and-go reception will take place from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. For more information, please contact Sarah Dunn at 405-744-5390.

Ross Love Set to Retire: A retirement reception honoring Ross Love, Assistant Director, Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Community Development, is slated March 29 from 2:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. in 106 Ag Hall on the OSU campus. Ross has dedicated the last 33 years to Extension and DASNR. Individuals are encouraged to write a letter, share a story, send in photos, etc., that will be included in a book to be presented to Ross during the reception. Please email these items to Lynette Nelson at lynette.nelson@okstate.edu, or drop them by 139 Ag Hall on or before March 24. For more information, please contact Lynette at 405-744-5398.

Brown Bag Rally for AHC Innovators: America’s Healthiest Campus^® (AHC) will be hosting a brown bag lunch rally for Innovators across campuses March 30, 2016 from noon until 1:00 p.m. in the Student Union Room 413. All OCES AHC Innovators are encouraged to attend. Please plan to bring your lunch or pick one up at the Student Union or a local restaurant. Immediately following the rally, Extension Innovators will meet for a two- hour strategic planning session. For more information, contact Lani Vasconcellos, OCES Super Innovator, at 580-332-4100.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

New/Updated Publications on PODS: There are a number of new and updated publications available on the Print on Demand System at http://osufacts.okstate.edu/docushare/dsweb/HomePage. New and revised publications include:

• NREM-9211 Pond Plants: Weeds or Beneficial?

Revised publications include:

• CR-7668 Foliar Fungicides and Wheat Production in Oklahoma – April 2016

Condolences to: The family of Trease Layton, retired Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences, Comanche County. Trease passed away March 8. Funeral services took place March 11 at Hillcrest Baptist Church, Wynnewood.

PERSONNEL ACTIONS

Melissa Koesler, Extension Educator, Agriculture/4-H Youth Development, Garvin County, effective 2-22-16

Linda Lowber, CNEP Area Coordinator, Pittsburg County, effective 2-29-16

Jennifer Cook, Extension Educator, 4-H Youth Development, Cleveland County, effective 3-2-16

Title Changes/Transfers

None to report

None to report

VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENTS 

Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences/4-H Youth Development, Mayes County

Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences/4-H Youth Development, Nowata County

Extension Educator, 4-H Youth Development, Creek County

Extension Educator, 4-H Youth Development, McClain County

Extension Educator, 4-H Youth Development, Oklahoma County

Extension Educator, 4-H Youth Development, Texas County (3/4 time)

Extension Educator, 4-H Youth Development, Washita County

Agriculture

Extension Educator, Agriculture/4-H Youth Development, Grady County

Extension Educator, Agriculture/4-H Youth Development, Jefferson County

Extension Educator, Agriculture/4-H Youth Development, Washita County

Area Positions

Area Extension Agronomy Specialist, Southeast District, (Ada)

Area Extension Agronomy Specialist, Northwest District, (Enid)

Area Agriculture Economics Specialist, Southwest District, (Duncan)

Internal Applicants Only

Extension Educator, 4-H Youth Development, Canadian County

Extension Educator, Horticulture/4-H Youth Development, Oklahoma County

Extension Educator, Agriculture/4-H Youth Development, Ottawa County

Extension Educator, Agriculture/4-H Youth Development, Texas County

COMING EVENTS

March 19: 4-H State Hunting and Wildlife Contest (Canton)
March 24: Northwest District OHCE Meeting (Woodward)
March 25: 4-H Century III, Chapter 3 (Adobe Connect)
March 25-26: 4-H Zoo Snooze (Oklahoma City)
March 26: Oklahoma 4-H Archery FUN Shoot (Stillwater)
March 29: Northeast District OHCE Meeting (Muskogee)
March 29: 17^th Annual Crop Clinic (Goodwell)
March 31: Southeast District Public Speaking Contest (Muskogee)
April 2: Noble County 4-H Archery FUN Shoot (TBA)
April 5: Southeast District Invitational Livestock Judging Contest (Tishomingo)
April 6: 4-H Day at the Capitol (Oklahoma City)
April 6: Early Season Cotton Weed, Insect, and Crop Management (Altus)
April 8: Basic Sewing Techniques (Stillwater)
April 9: Oklahoma 4-H Outdoor Archery Contest (Stillwater)
April 15: 4-H Oklahoma Shakedown (Stillwater)
April 16: McClain County 4-H Sporting Clays Shoot (McLoud)
April 20: 2016 OEAFCS State Meeting (TBA)
April 23: 4-H Dog Show (Muskogee)
April 23: Oklahoma County 4-H Skeet Shoot (Arcadia)
April 25: 4-H Record Books/Scholarship Applications Due (Stillwater)