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Tag: Community Development

Sharing Your Heritage

Posted on by Kylee Harrison

Sharing Your Heritage

By Nancy Honig

Passing on personal possessions is a process that occurs for almost every person in every kind of family. After the loss of my own mother there was a great deal of generational personal property such as photographs, dishware, antiques and items that were more sentimental or historical in value than of monetary value. The majority were items my mother had from her own parents and grandparents and required a lot of decisions on what to do with them.

As your family gathers during the holidays it may be time to have some discussions about what to do with those personal types of family possessions. Begin to ask the question about what happens to your personal property when you are gone. Who decides who gets what? We often plan for the titled property such as a home, savings account, or vehicle, but what about the smaller items such as furniture, family documents, pictures, jewelry.

Smaller items may have sentimental value or meaning to more than one person, and it is often difficult to divide them in a way considered fair to all parties. People commonly have a different perception of what constitutes a fair process and fair results. Grandpa’s hat collection or Grandma’s costume jewelry

One of the biggest challenges in thinking about the transfer of property is that it makes us think of our own mortality. Talking about one’s possessions is much more personal than talking about financial assets. It often means facing one’s own death as well as the death of family members.

I have personally witnessed how different families react to talking about the issues of dying and transferring items. Some will have a very cavalier attitude that they won’t be around, so they don’t care who gets what or who fights about what. Some plan to control what happens to items even after they are gone, and some choose to make it an important family topic with input from all.

Consider giving it some discussion when the family is gathered during the holidays. If you are interested in learning more, I will be offering a program from the University of Minnesota Extension entitled, “Who Gets Grandma’s Yellow Pie Plate”. This program will help you walk through the steps to understand the sensitivity of transferring personal property, how to set your goal, how to determine what fair means, how to identify special objects to transfer and how to distribute them. Most importantly it covers managing conflicts if they arise.

The class will be offered January 12th at the Dudley Township Library in Satanta at 6:30 p.m., January 17th at the Stevens County Extension Office in Hugoton over the noon hour, and at the Haskell Township Library in Sublette, January 4th at 6:00 p.m. There is an excellent workbook to accompany the class that will be offered free for the first 15 people that sign up.

If you are in are in a place in your life where you are ready to start passing on possessions, or you are tasked with passing someone else’s on, this will be a great opportunity for you. Call the Stevens County Extension Office at 620-544-6787 to sign up for their location or the libraries in Satanta and Sublette to attend their locations.

Community Capitals Framework; Measuring Success Now And In The Future Using Social Capital

Posted on by Kylee Harrison

Community Capitals Framework; Measuring Success Now And In The Future Using Social Capital

By Kylee Harrison

What makes a community a desirable place to live?  You could ask 100 different people this question and get 100 different responses.  Things like resources, location, size or jobs might float to the top of the list.  However, people often forget the one aspect that links all those responses together which is social connection.  People want to feel connected and included.

 

Social capital is just one of the seven different ways that we can measure strengths of our communities and possibly, see where gaps may exist.  This measuring mechanism is referred to as community capitals.  Communities that make plans using these seven capitals will be able to see how they intertwine with each other and develop a comprehensive plan moving forward.

 

Social capital can be one of your community’s greatest resources.  Have you ever heard the phrase, “it’s not what you know, it’s who you know.”  Well in this instance, that might be partly right.  “Who you know” can become your network.  A well-functioning network in a community may be a resource for shared knowledge and ideas.  This makes almost all community efforts more effective.  When social capital is at its best, common goals and decisions are made and easier to follow because of the shared consensus.  In addition to networking, social capital also has other elements which makes it the cornerstone to your community.  Additional components include a sense of belonging, high morale, trust and reciprocity of favors.

 

Building of social capital can be done in a few different ways.  This can be done through closed social capital which is achieved when groups communicate and work on projects together.  Bridging social capital among communities is another way of boosting your overall social capital.  In rural communities, the pooling of resources is necessary to accomplish big goals.

 

Social capital amongst a community is dependent upon the quality of relationships that are formed within individuals and groups.  The process takes time, but the end result of making your community a desirable place to live is worth it.

Making Pumpkins Last   

Posted on by Kylee Harrison

Making Pumpkins Last

By Nancy Honig

Cooler Fall temperatures seem to bring out the pumpkin decorations for front porch displays. Unfortunately, they can begin to rot and turn that cute fall display into more of a Halloween nightmare. Here are some simple ways to keep your pumpkins longer.

Carved or whole, however, any jack-o-lantern will quickly lose quality if the pumpkin isn’t fully ripe. Before buying, try sticking your thumbnail through the rind.  If you can, shop further.  If you can’t, the pumpkin has set, so it isn’t likely to dry out so fast. Make sure there is no surface damage, bruises or signs of rotting. Select one that seems almost too heavy for its size.  A stem on top is important/

It can also be helpful to remove bacteria and molds before carving or painting a jack-o-lantern.  Simply wipe the surfaces with a household disinfectant or a solution that combines one part bleach with 10 parts water.

Things to avoid that contribute to deteriorating include setting your pumpkins where they can get damp at the base; multiple items sitting together; being outside in elements; staging them with other organic matter like hay or resting between two items. A well-drained area will prolong the life of the pumpkin, whether it’s carved or whole. Pumpkins last a fairly long time off the vine, but the post-harvest life depends on where you get them, how long they’ve been sitting and how they are displayed.

If you choose to cut up your pumpkin to display it know that it will deteriorate fairly quickly. A few ways to slow the process is to spread petroleum jelly on all the cut surfaces. This seal will keep the pumpkins moist and create a barrier to bacteria. Coat any exposed surfaces including the inside and the cut-out sections.

A great alternative to cutting pumpkins is to paint them. This will ensure your pumpkins last longer and still provide kids with a fun and safe activity. Sealing your pumpkin before you paint it is optional, but it helps to give you a good surface to paint on. Choose an aerosol or brush sealant and cover your pumpkin. It won’t necessarily preserve the pumpkin itself, but it can help with paint application. Use an acrylic paint to paint the pumpkin. You can spray it again with the sealant when you are done.

Community Capitals Framework; Natural Capital

Posted on by Kylee Harrison

Community Capitals Framework; Measuring Success Now And In The Future

By Kylee Harrison

From tiny towns to large cities, municipalities are looking for ways to push themselves towards future growth.  Many community leaders have said that if a town isn’t growing, it’s dying.  With that mindset, it’s no secret they are seeking growth.  However, many times, in order to achieve well balanced and sustaining growth, a community must first know where they stand and what resources they have.  The Community Capitals Framework (CCF) introduces the concept of measuring current successes and resources in communities based on seven dimensions called community capitals.  According to Cheryl Jacobs, Community Leadership Development Extension Associate with South Dakota State University Cooperative Extension Service, capital is defined as a resource that is capable of producing additional resources, therefore CCF provides a comprehensive way to categorize a community’s assets and explore the relationships among them.  Over the course of the next few months I’ll introduce each of the capitals, and give suggestions of how they can be used to measure.

In this article, we will be focusing on natural capital, which is defined as the environment, natural beauty, lakes, rivers and streams, forests, wildlife, soil and the local landscape.  Natural capital consists of all the natural resources available to a community, which could include water, air, fertile soil, biodiversity and landscape or wildlife habitats.  These are all resources that are not man-made and already exist.  Most all our natural capitals can be affected by things that are out of human control, such as drought.

Let’s look at an example of natural capital such as water.  If your community has a river this could positively affect your natural capital with the financial impact that it could create due to tourism and recreation.  In addition to financial capital, a river could also increase the quality of life for families who enjoy spending time outdoors, which could be considered social capital.  From this example, it is easy to see how the capital framework is intertwined.

When thinking about the natural capital that exists in your community, you must first consider who owns it or who has rights to it.  For instance, land usage could be the jurisdiction of local, state or federal entities.  Regulations and ordinances are often in place and must be studied before a community can move forward with a project.

What kind of natural capital exists in your community?  What are the benefits and what are the potential concerns?  These are questions that communities need to consider as they plan for their future, understanding that there is an interconnection between each of the capitals.

Volunteering

Posted on by Kylee Harrison

Volunteering

By Kylee Harrison

It seems that when organizations gather to share ideas, one common theme emerges, “We could do so much more if we had more volunteers.”  This statement seems to ring true no matter if you are visiting with your local library, school, little league board or 4-H.  As a result of lack of volunteers, organizations are forced to do more with less resources and the few volunteers or employees are left to scramble.

Why is it so hard to groups to find help?  The resounding answer is time, or rather lack thereof.  We all get it.  Adults are being pulled in a hundred different directions.  The thought of adding one more to your plate is outright scary.  Most organizations offer many flexible options to volunteering now that don’t make it feel like a life sentence!

If you are an organization looking for volunteers, here are a few tips to help get and keep good helpers.

  1. Offer a description so volunteers understand the task
  2. Onboard the volunteer, much like starting a new job
  3. Consider “micro-volunteering” this would be a bite-sized volunteer role. In 4-H, this could be a SPIN Club (It’s just 6 meetings!)
  4. Have open communication
  5. Make it enjoyable

On the flip side, here are some great benefits to being a caring volunteer.

  1. Helps to build a resume
  2. Great way to meet other individuals with similar interests
  3. Strengthens your community
  4. Encourages civic responsibility
  5. Makes your healthier (emotions like optimism and joy strengthen the immune system😊)

Curbing Your Summertime Stress

Posted on by Kylee Harrison

Curbing Your Summertime Stress

By Kylee Harrison

Growing up in 4-H, July and August were always stressful moments of the year.  As a kid, making sure I got the last-minute touches put on all my projects before entry day were so critical.  Now, as a parent, I think back to those “stressful” kid-situations and think how easy I had it!  No matter which phase of life you are in, stress always seems to creep into our daily life.  When it does, it generally effects nearly every aspect of our lives including personal relationships, work-flow and our overall health.  Here are some tips to help combat stress and anxiety.  I hope this can be helpful to all, but especially our 4-H families just trying to make it through the next few weeks!

Try these when you’re feeling anxious or stressed:

  • Take a time-out. Practice yoga, listen to music, meditate, get a massage, or learn relaxation techniques. Stepping back from the problem helps clear your head.
  • Eat well-balanced meals. Do not skip any meals. Do keep healthful, energy-boosting snacks on hand.
  • Limit alcohol and caffeine, which can aggravate anxiety and trigger panic attacks.
  • Get enough sleep. When stressed, your body needs additional sleep and rest.
  • Exercise daily to help you feel good and maintain your health. Check out the fitness tips below.
  • Take deep breaths. Inhale and exhale slowly.
  • Count to 10 slowly. Repeat, and count to 20 if necessary.
  • Do your best. Instead of aiming for perfection, which isn’t possible, be proud of however close you get.
  • Accept that you cannot control everything. Put your stress in perspective: Is it really as bad as you think?
  • Welcome humor. A good laugh goes a long way.
  • Maintain a positive attitude. Make an effort to replace negative thoughts with positive ones.
  • Get involved. Volunteer or find another way to be active in your community, which creates a support network and gives you a break from everyday stress.
  • Learn what triggers your anxiety. Is it work, family, school, or something else you can identify? Write in a journal when you’re feeling stressed or anxious, and look for a pattern.

Are you a good communicator?

Posted on by Kylee Harrison

Are you a good communicator?

By Kylee Harrison

Helping kids to perfect resumes and cover letters is a passion of mine.  It is a piece of this job that I really enjoy.  Throughout the years, I have seen terms like leadership and communication litter each page that I read.  However, one thing I have noticed, is the lack of an explanation or follow-through with these terms.  It is easy to say, “I am a good leader in my school.” But if we deep-dive this sentence, what does that really mean?  I always tell kids, don’t just say that you are a leader, show me how with your words!  Recently, I have had some great leadership and communications lessons and discussions with our district 4-H’ers.  Hopefully, these classes will give some leadership pointers and tips to them that they can carry on to their clubs, school or work.

We discussed that one part of being a good leader, was being able to effectively communicate your message to others.  Students examined many different definitions of communication and ultimately created their own definition.  We looked at all the ways that you can communicate with others, in multiple situations and the appropriateness of each.  Finally, we discussed the difference between “you” messages and “I” messages and how this can be a way to change the tone of a situation.

Here are some key points to being a good communicator that will ultimately make you a good leader:

  • Communication is found in the spoken word through body gestures and symbols.
  • Being a good communicator is important for teaching and facilitating students and establishing personal relationships.
  • Active listening is an essential element of good communication.
  • Using “I” messages is a productive and appropriate way to share one’s feelings and thoughts with another person or group.
  • Asking questions, repeating what was said, and checking for accuracy when relaying information are elements of good communication.

First Friday e-Calls

Posted on by Kylee Harrison

First Friday e-Call Webinars

By Kylee Harrison

First Friday calls are an excellent opportunity to learn about resources available across the state.  The purpose of the First Friday e-Call is to increase the local community’s knowledge of the experts, education, and economic resources available to help small businesses and entrepreneurs and to share innovations in community development.

The First Friday calls are hosted by K-State Research & Extension Community Vitality Specialist, Nancy Daniels.  Each month, she brings in an informative speaker and explains interesting opportunities for you and/or your community.

The e-Calls are hosted via zoom on the first Friday of each month at 9:30 a..m.   The next call will be May 6th and will feature Erik Pedersen and Amara Kniep, from NetWork Kansas, will share exciting opportunities made possible by a $500,000 grant from the Patterson Family Foundation.

To register for this e-Call or any of the future calls, please go to https://tinyurl.com/y9pjybxv

Get your walking shoes ready – it’s time for Walk Kansas!

Posted on by Kylee Harrison

Get your walking shoes ready – it’s time for Walk Kansas!

By Kylee Harrison

Walk Kansas

Walk Kansas is an 8-week healthy lifestyle challenge.  Participants can choose from three different lengths of challenges and participate either individually or with a team.  Teams can be family, coworkers, friends, community organization members, neighbors, or part of a faith-based community. We will send weekly motivation to help you achieve your goal.  There will be weekly fun prizes and events!  Here is a list of a few important highlights of Walk Kansas:

During the 8 weeks

What activities count?

  • Any moderate or vigorous intensity activity..
  • Strengthening exercises also count and these activities are part of the physical activity

Want more information or to register? Visit www.walkkansas.org

ZOOM – Which side of the fence are you on?

Posted on by Kylee Harrison

ZOOM – Which side of the fence are you on?

By Kylee Harrison

We are fast approaching the two-year mark of “the change.” The change happened when this thing called Covid screamed into our lives.  On top of the new health jargon we were learning, we were also experiencing a whole other gamut of newness.  Terms like zoom, virtual, hybrid-format and online were becoming a mainstay in our lives.

Here we are two years later and Covid aside, we are still talking about the whole virtual thing.  I don’t just mean with schools, but work, churches, civic organizations, and other extra-curricular activities.   So, what side of the fence do you fall on?  It seems that people have a hard opinion on whether this is a positive trend that we have entered into, or if they are ready to get back to the “old” way of doing things.  Here are some interesting facts to consider:

Geographical Distance – Living in Southwest Kansas, it is no secret that we are a few miles from the big city.  More often than not, work meetings, conferences and other activities happen in these larger cities.  In order to attend an in-person event, extensive travel is necessary.  This is not always feasible in every situation.  Online formats make for greater access to those of us living a distance from cities.

 

Time Commitment – Virtual meetings typically last an average of 1-2 hours.  If this was an in-person meeting and travel was an additional 2-3 hours, that could potentially be the majority of your day that is taken up with one task.  Online offers a worker the ability to be more productive with their work hours.

Like I mentioned above, there is definitely another side to this debate.  One could argue that online formats of events have done nothing but hinder societies meaningful, productive connections.  Drawbacks of virtual events include; technology hardware, reliable internet and knowledge of participants.  Simply put, will the participants enjoy the experience?

One compromise is becoming known as a hybrid format.  This is a case where some participants are in person while others are virtual.  Another option is a fusion.  This happens when all participants are together, but some sessions are online and others are in person.  This typically happens when the event is over a period of time.

In my opinion, it doesn’t seem that virtual gatherings will be going away any time soon.  K-State is actually having some very interesting discussions involving community training for attending/hosting hybrid formats as well as possible trainings for those interested in working remotely.  If you are interested in any of these topics, or have an opinion to share, please feel free to email kharrison@ksu.edu or call 620-624-5604.

Group Dynamics

Posted on by Kylee Harrison

Group Dynamics

By Kylee Harrison, Community Development Agent

In Kindergarten, we learn how to share.  It is a fundamental steppingstone of school.  With each passing year, we build those skills with things like group discussions, projects and grading.  Just when you think you have mastered group projects in school, one step into the real world it quickly becomes apparent that team work is all around us as adults also.  Whether it be co-workers, bosses, volunteer boards or elsewhere, working together with a group is inevitable.  However, there are some pieces that can make the functionality of the group more positive.  Here are a few simple steps to help your group understand different dynamics, and ultimately, make you more productive.

  1. Learning preferred communication styles – With today’s ever-changing technology, there are hundreds of ways to communicate. Anything from smoke signals to apps can get the job done.  Knowing what the preferred method is can be the key to getting your group together.  Many times, we have preferences based on your age, but this is not always the case.  No matter what your group chooses, make sure that everyone understands the technology and you commit to it!  If you say that email is the best way to communicate then darn it, CHECK YOUR EMAIL!
  2. Work style – Different ways of working and assumptions about work in general can create tension in the workplace. Understand the style with which you perform best, and share that with your team members. 

 

    3. Understand conflict – Conflict may arise as a result of a variety of        sources.  Sources on conflict include; information and/or sources, relationships, interests, values, structure and change.

Writing a Grant: Where do I begin?

Posted on by Kylee Harrison

Writing a Grant: Where do I begin?

By Kylee Harrison, Community Vitality Agent

Recently, I have been asked a little about grant writing.  A common perception seems to be intimidation of the overall thought of asking for funding.  Where do I look? How much should I ask for?  What kind of information do they want to see?  K-State Research and Extension offers a wonderful resource that can help ease any anxiety you may have about this topic.

Grants can be written for a host of different topics and anticipated outcomes.  Non-profit organizations, daycares and community improvement projects are just a few ideas of ways that you could be involved.   With the KSRE grant writing workshop you will learn to conquer your fears and start writing, data sources, where to look for grants and how to develop the five major elements needed in any grant.

A recent grant writing workshop participant asked about their perspective of the class.  He said, “What your classes do really well is help people know not to be intimidated.  They can do it.”

If you or your organization is interested in more information on the grant writing workshops, please contact myself at kharrison@ksu.edu or 620-624-5604.

Teamwork in the Workplace

Posted on by Kylee Harrison

Teamwork in the Workplace

By Kylee Harrison, Community Vitality Agent

How many of you groan a little when your boss mentions ‘team building activities’?  I’m sure many of us could raise our hands.  Going outside of your normal work duties, getting closer to co-workers is sometimes not on the top of your to-do lists.  In reality, these are extremely important tasks to every workplace for the progression of their business.  Teamwork has been proven to boost morale of your company.  Happy workers generally mean more productive workers, in return, boosting your bottom line.  In this article you will learn a little more of what teamwork actually is and some simple tips to implement into your workforce.

What are some attributes that good teamwork would bring to your company?

  • New Ideas
  • Improved Efficiency
  • Better Quality
  • Higher Morale
  • Group Cohesion
  • More Learning Opportunities
  • Sense of Accomplishment
  • Faster Innovation
  • Less Managerial Interference
  • Stronger Working Relationships

This sounds wonderful, right?  So how do you get your business to this point?  Here are a few adult-focused, simple team building activities.

Code of Conduct

A simple but meaningful activity that sets the tone for an event and builds consensus on shared values. Teams list what matters to them on a whiteboard. Perfect for the start of an event or workshop.

Number of participants: 10-30

Duration: 30+ min

Objectives: Build mutual trust, establish group values.

How to play

  1. On a whiteboard, write down the words “Meaningful” and “Pleasant”
  2. Ask everyone in the group to shout out what will make this workshop meaningful and pleasant. Alternatively, ask them to write their ideas on sticky notes.
  3. Record each participant’s suggestion in the form of a mind map.
  4. For each suggestion, ensure that all participants have the same understanding of the idea. If not, change the suggestion until it has consensus from all participants.
  5. Go through each suggested item and ask participants how they would ensure that the idea is carried out during the workshop. Record these on the whiteboard in sticky notes.
  6. All ideas mutually agreed on as being “pleasant” and “meaningful” make up the Code of Conduct for the group. The group has the responsibility to uphold this code through the remainder of the workshop.

Strategy

For any team building activity to be successful, the team has to have a few common values and beliefs about what makes a successful team meeting. Establishing these values early in the workshop/team meeting can make the rest of the workshop run much smoother.

 

Odd Couples

On any team, you’ll have people with different personalities. But sometimes, these different personalities actually have things in common. Getting these team members to appreciate their differences and similarities can improve team bonding.

Number of participants: 6-20 people

Duration: 45-60 minutes

Objective: Improve team bonding and communication skills

How to play

  1. Create a list of odd pairs of objects that, for some reason, go well together. Like “Peanut butter & jelly”, “chocolate & coffee”, “salt & pepper”, etc.
  2. Write down the names of objects from each pair on separate sheets of paper.
  3. Tape a sheet of paper to a participant’s back. Do this for all participants. Try to tape opposing pairs on people with opposing personalities, though this is isn’t necessary.
  4. Ask participants to mingle with the group. Their objective is to figure out what’s written on their backs. The trick is: they can only ask yes/no questions (“Do I add flavor to food? Do I make the food spicy?”).
  5. Once participants figure out what’s written on their backs, they have to find the other half of their pair.
  6. After they’ve found their pairs, participants have to find three things they share in common with their opposing pair.

Strategy

In any team building event, one of your biggest challenges is bringing different people together. An exercise like this can give participants a reason to sit down and share experiences with people they might not mingle with otherwise. The focus on yes/no questions also improves communication skills.

 

 

Why Walk?

Posted on by Kylee Harrison

Why Walk?

By Nancy Honig

Walking is something we do on a regular basis as we get up and move daily. But why should you add walking to part of your exercise routine?

Science proves that walking 150-300 minutes/week can transform your physical and mental health. Here are some ways that walking can improve your health.

Brain- Improves memory and cognition; reduces your risk of strok 30%; helps relieve anxiety and depression.

Chronic – Aids in weight management and delayed onset or prevention of chronic diseases like heart disease, diabetes, some types of cancer, arthritis and back pain.

Pain management – Helps to relieve back pain; keeps knee joints healthy.

Mood – Improves your outlook on life; boost creativity and problem solving. These benefits are immediate!

Healthy aging- Improves balance and mobility; strengths bones and muscles; reduce falls; improve sleep; extends years of active life.

So, if seeing this inspires you to get out and walk, we have the perfect incentive! Join this year’s Walk Kansas!

Walk Kansas is an energizing 8-week, team-based health initiative. Groups of six form a team, with one serving as the captain. Team members do not have to live in the same town, county, state or country.

During Walk Kansas, teams log and report minutes of physical activity, cups of fruits and vegetables consumed, and glasses of water. Tracking can be one of the most important tools for making lifestyle changes. Recording progress keeps you focused and helps your team meet and exceed their goals! Go to walkkansasonline.org to register. If you need more information, contact us at any of the Extension offices and we will get you started!

Helpful Application Tips

Posted on by Kylee Harrison

Helpful Application Tips

By: Kylee Harrison, Community Vitality Agent

It’s application season!  If you have a high school senior in your house, you know exactly what I’m talking about.  Seniors are furiously filling out those scholarship, college, and job applications, trying to meet the common deadline of April 1st.  If you have a high-schooler working on applications, here are a few helpful tips.

  • Be thorough, neat, and accurate; spelling and handwriting are important
  • Be sure to read and follow all directions; do not leave any spaces blank
  • It’s important to memorize all nine digits of your social security number
  • Use actual job titles that you are either applying for or for your references
  • Use actual dates of things like time you were at a job or when you can start a job
  • If you are applying for a job – you may be asked if your current employer can be contacted – if you mark yes, this is acting like a reference and your employer may be contacted. You should first notify them.
  • Some applications ask for the names, addresses, and phone numbers of schools you have attended or jobs you have previously had. Make sure to have that information.  Keep a photo on your phone of a completed application for easy reference.
  • If you have taken any vocational classes, list those skills under education if they resulted in a certificate or credential.
  • When listing your employment history, be sure to use reverse chronological order – most recent first.
  • Past duties should demonstrate skills relevant to the job for which you are applying.
  • Reason for leaving should not be worded negatively.
  • Ask permission before using someone as a reference
  • References should be teachers, coaches, or people you have done volunteer work for. They should not be family or friends.
  • Any application is a legal document, don’t forget to sign and date it.

Citizenship Project

Posted on by Kylee Harrison

Citizenship Project

By Devin Ramsey, 4-H Agent

Does your child have an interest in helping the community and being involved? Then the citizenship project is for them. The citizenship project is a great way to make a difference is the lives of those in your community by different service projects. This could be a canned food drive for the local food bank, picking up leaves at the community garden, or even helping a neighbor.

 

The citizenship project provides the opportunity for those interested in many different things. Learn about those by helping others in the process. As those 4-H’ers in the citizenship project get older this will provide the opportunity for them to develop and carry out their own service project or even teach younger youth about how to be involved in their community. Learn more about the citizenship project by contacting your local Wild West Extension Office or checking out this spark page https://bookstore.ksre.ksu.edu/pubs/4H1109.pdf.

Strategic Planning for your Board or Business

Posted on by Kylee Harrison

Strategic Planning

By Kylee Harrison, Community Development Agent

In last month’s blog, I discussed vision boards and how that can be helpful in developing your personal goals.  It is equally as important that we develop goals in our professional life as well.  Using a strategic plan, which is an intentional effort to shape and guide your organization, can aid you in reaching your long- and short-term goals.  Strategic plans can be beneficial for your business, non-profit or board that you serve on.  Let’s take a deeper look at just how to achieve development of a strategic plan.

Whether you are developing a strategic plan for the very first time, or updating an old one, it is important to recall how your organization has changed in the last three to five years.  2020 brought on a host of changes to everyone, so chances are, things have changed a lot!  Using aspects like finances, staffing, client base, programs and stakeholders, reflect on where you are as an organization.

Next, you need to ask your group three questions.  First, where are we now?  This could include looking back at historical aspects of your group.  This can allow you to celebrate your history and give the group a common perspective of why things were done a certain way.

Next, where do we want to be?  This step often involves some type of visioning process.  This likely will help to develop your organizations vision statement, which provides a clear image of the future.  Some examples of vision statements include Nike’s “To bring inspiration and innovation to every athlete in the world.”

Finally, how are we going to get there?  This is where you will identify your organizations priority issues.  This can be done in two different ways.  It may include broad, overarching objectives, or it could include measurable goals.  Typically, a mixture of both is best.

What is a Vision Board?

Posted on by Kylee Harrison

What is a vision board?

By Kylee Harrison, Community Vitality Agent

Starting the New Year with setting a resolution is a common occurrence.  It is also a pretty common occurrence to have that resolution fail.  In fact, according to forbes.com, 80% of all New Year resolutions fail.  One theory for the botched goal setting may lie in how we set those goals.  One way to start 2021 with more achievable resolutions is to create a vision board.

What exactly is a vision board?  It is a tangible, visible way to display your goals, which could be formatted in many different ways.  It could be a collage of images, words or other small reminders that are meant to get you motivated.  65% of people are visual learners.  These same people benefit from having a visual motivational tool as well.  In today’s fast-paced society, we have limited flexibility and time in our daily life, and we become almost robotic.  Vision boards are a way to unstick yourself and get the creative juices flowing!

How do I start?

  1. Reflect – Think about what you want in life. New job? Buy a house? Finish a degree?  Launch a business?  If you are having trouble focusing in on where to begin, use these eight categories to help you start.  Health, Wealth, Love, Career, Spirituality, Family, Knowledge, Travel
  2. Set Goals – Make sure that the goals you set are SMART Goals. By using this acronym to create your goals, it will help to make them more achievable, in return giving you a greater sense of accomplishment.
  3. Collect – Gather images, words, phrases, quotes. Anything that will give you encouragement is great to put on your board.
  4. Assemble – Get a solid board of any medium and arrange the cutouts in a way that’s meaningful to you. Add embellishments to make it personalized and unique.  Remember, there isn’t a right or wrong way to make a vision board!
  5. Display – This is the most important step! Place the finished product in a prominent spot where you will see it each day.  Spend a few moments each day reflecting on your vision for the year.  Another idea is to take a picture of it and make it your background on your phone or computer.  If you don’t see you board every day, you are less likely to achieve your goals!

Here are some examples of great boards to get you started!

 

 

Parliamentary Procedure for Community Members

Posted on by Kylee Harrison

By: Kylee Harrison

Want to know a three-word-phrase that instantly gets under my skin?

I MOTION TO…

I guess you could blame it on all my years of 4-H and FFA, but improper parliamentary procedure is a real pet peeve of mine!

If you are wondering what the heck I am even talking about, let’s start from the beginning.  Parliamentary procedure is the proper way to run a business meeting.  In the United States, Robert’s Rules of Order, which was first published in 1876 by U.S. Army Officer Henry Martyn Robert, is the most widely used manual for parliamentary procedure.

When using Robert’s Rules of Order, whether it be at religious group meetings, non-profit group meetings, school boards or government organizations, it gives us a set and common guideline to follow for ways to conduct business of the meeting.

The piece of parliamentary procedure that is most used is making a motion.  A motion means that you think the group should act on an idea, so you are going to present it to them, hence saying, “I move to…”  What is wrong with the phrase above?  Just improper grammar!

If you feel a little lost in your board meetings,  Wild West Extension offers a host of different ways to brush up on your rules so you can become a parliamentarian wiz!  Board Leadership is a great class that could be taught to your group to help with parliamentary procedure.  There are also many handouts that could be utilized to help your board.  Here is a quick and easy cheat sheet that tells most of the different phrases, what they mean, and how to use them.  http://diphi.web.unc.edu/files/2016/10/cheat-sheet.pdf

Need some more help?  Here is a fun parliamentary procedure crossword to test yourself.  Want to see how you did?  Email Kylee at kharrison@ksu.edu for the answers.

Generational Conflict

Posted on by Kylee Harrison

What do you see in the image above?  Some will see the rabbit, some will see the duck and some will see both.  People who see the duck but not the rabbit are not incorrect and vice-versa.  They simply see and perceive things differently.

Conflict can be much like this image.  It illustrates that sometimes we can learn to see a situation from someone else’s view but even if that doesn’t happen, we can still respect the other person’s view rather than allowing friction to occur.

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Tips for New Board Members

Posted on by Kylee Harrison

Welcome A-Board: Board Leadership

Getting involved in your community is something that we all should strive to do.  Towns that have a philanthropic nature tend to thrive more in a host of different areas.  One way to become more involved is to join a local board.  This can be done through churches, non-profit organizations, civic organizations and many more.  Typically, these boards organize to provide a service or accomplish a goal.

Being on a board is important, and sometimes it will require a lot of your time.  If you are asked to be on a board, or if you are seeking appointment, remember that you are a skilled and valuable resource.  However, before joining the organization, you should educate your self of the goals, history, problems and clients.  It is also acceptable, and encouraged, to ask questions such as, what kind of time commitment will this require?  Are there specific tasks I will be required to perform?

As a board member, you need to be prepared to serve the organization in which you have agreed to volunteer for.  Below are 17 tasks for board members which will help you to fulfill your responsibilities.

17 Tasks for Board Members

Community Capitals

Posted on by Kylee Harrison

Community Capitals Framework; Measuring Success Now And In The Future

A common chord that communities all over the United States share is they are actively looking to the future.  Whether it is a mid-level urban setting, or the smallest of “Small Town, USA,” leaders are trying to determine what the next steps are for their neighborhoods, counties or districts.  The Community Capitals Series introduces the concept of measuring current successes and resources in communities based on seven dimensions called community capitals.  According to Cheryl Jacobs, Community Leadership Development Extension Associate with South Dakota State University Cooperative Extension Service, capital is defined as a resource that is capable of producing additional resources.  Community capitals are also a useful way of identifying potential improvements.  In this article, we will be focusing on natural capital, which is defined as the environment, natural beauty, lakes, rivers and streams, forests, wildlife, soil and the local landscape.

Natural capital consists of all the natural resources available to a community, which could include water, air, fertile soil, biodiversity and landscape or wildlife habitats.  These are all resources that are not man-made and already exist.  Most all our natural capitals can be affected by things that are out of human control, such as drought.

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Meet Kylee Harrison

Posted on by Lacey Noterman

kylee harrison

Introducing-Kylee Harrison, Community Vitality/Horticulture Agent
Kylee grew up in Northeastern Colorado and was very involved in 4-H and FFA. She and her husband, Riley, live in rural Hooker, OK along with their son, Conner. In their spare time, they love to go camping.

Continue reading “Meet Kylee Harrison” →