Andy Kleinschmidt's Lifestream

Beth Kanter is known for her work with nonprofits and her accompanying blog Beth's Blog (http://www.bethkanter.org/). Prior to reading The Networked Nonprofit: Connecting with Social Media to Drive Change I was somewhat familiar with Kanter's work.  Beth Kanter (@kanter) and Allison Fine (@afine) provide a detailed layout of social networks and investigate how nonprofits use social media. 

If you want to transform yourself or your nonprofit organization into social media, or if you are already utilizing social media and want to operate better within your network this book provides the knowledge and explanation of the jargon. The real strengths of the book are the specific examples of what has worked in social media by nonprofits. 

This book is broken into two parts with Part One focusing on the 'how' and Part Two focusing on the 'what'. But throughout the book Kanter and Fine answer the question, 'so what?'. Examples of social change, organizational change and funding change are addressed culminating with an entire chapter devoted to converting connections into fundraising opportunities.

The issue of governance is of great interest to nonprofits and is very well covered in Part Two; I had a laugh out loud moment reading about the all-too-familiar board meeting scenario -- the authors hit the nail on the head. But more importantly, Kanter and Fine all but hold your hand on dealing with bringing your board into the social media age by providing a scenario of what a board meeting can/should look like.  

The Networked Nonprofit: Connecting with Social Media to Drive Change is a fun, non-technical read and moves at an appropriate pace. Kanter and Fine make clear throughout the book that nonprofit leaders must themselves use social media tools to fully appreciate the power of a networked organization.

On Tuesday July 6 I received the following email from my power provider:

So, what to do? The Cooperative Extension System extension.org offers some tips:

Cooling

• During the day, keep window shades or blinds down and closed, especially on east and west facing windows. In the evening and early morning, open windows if the temperature and humidity are lower.

• Turn the air conditioning control to higher temperatures when no one is home for a period of about eight hours. This will reduce energy use. For heat pumps, follow the manufacturers recommendations or adjust slightly higher. In humid weather, air conditioning helps reduce humidity levels in the home.

• If you have a window air conditioner, place it in a window that is shaded or on the north side. This will help it perform more efficiently. Weatherstrip around the air conditioner.

• When the cooling system is operating, close and lock all windows and doors. Close exterior sliding storm windows. Locking doors and windows creates at tighter seal and reduces air leaks. During less humid warm days, open the windows in the mornings and evening to allow fresh air to help cool the home.

• Correctly positioned shade trees and awnings reduce the heat gain in the home during the warm and hot days.

• Use towels or a draft stopper to block air coming in under doors that lead to the outdoors, or buy a door sweep. If the door leaks around the entire frame, install foam weatherstripping between the door and the frame.

• Use blinds, shades, and lined curtains or draperies to block heat gain during the summer. If your curtains or draperies aren’t lined, use a sheet, or purchase tightly woven heavier fabric. Create a casing on the top end and attach to a rod behind the window treatment.

• Use overhead fans or fans to cool the body in locations most often used. The air conditioning system can be set at a higher temperature when fans are cooling the body.

Source: http://www.extension.org/pages/Low-Cost_and_No-Cost_Actions_to_Save_Home_Energy_and_Money#Cooling

COLUMBUS, Ohio (OFBF) - The following is a statement from the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation (OFBF) regarding today’s video showing abuse of animals on an Ohio dairy farm.

“The gratuitous cruelty exhibited in this video is incomprehensible to anyone who is devoted to caring for farm animals.  Clearly, the intent of this employee’s actions was nothing short of torture and the severity of his acts calls out for punishment.

“There is no question the treatment these animals were subjected to is wrong. But there are additional questions that are not so clear.  What motivated this brutal behavior? Why was the cruelty not immediately brought to the attention of the farm owners or law enforcement? Farm Bureau believes it is important that all of facets of this incident be explored and encourages a comprehensive examination by the proper legal authorities.

“We are also concerned that this incident will be manipulated for political gain by animal rights activists.  Any attempt to portray these horrific acts as commonplace on Ohio farms would be deceitful.  Farmers take care of their livestock because it’s what decent people do, and because comfortable animals are productive animals.  Farmers should not be judged by this aberrant and disgusting event.”

Click here to download:

corn_myth_infographic.pdf (58 KB)

(download)

Click here to download:

corn_myth_infographic.pdf (58 KB)

This infographic debunks the myth that industrial agriculture mines the soil and does not return anything back to the soil.  Created by Charles Profit, Van Wert, Ohio.

For years I had tried pen after pen after pen trying to find that perfect writing instrument.  A few years ago I stumbled on to a CARAN d'ACHE ballpoint pen. Wow! I was sold instantly and ordered two pens. Those pens lasted several years, and eventually ran out of ink.  No worries, a quick search of the internet and I've landed refills PLUS three new CdA pens.  

Recent analysis in the Agricultural Health Study indicates there is little evidence of increased risk of heart attacks associated with the occupational use of pesticides. The findings by researchers for the National Institute for Environmental Health Sciences were published in the October 1 issue of the American Journal of Epidemiology.

The Agricultural Health Study was started in 1994 to study potential causes of cancer and other diseases among farmers and commercial pesticide applicators in Iowa and North Carolina. Participants reported pesticide use, lifestyle and medical information when the study began in 1997 and have participated in regular follow-up interviews. By 2003, only 839 men out of 32,000 interviewed had reported a non-fatal heart attack and by 2006, only 476 men out of the 54,000 enrolled in the entire study had died from a heart attack.

The researchers looked for an association between the lifetime use of 49 pesticides and both non-fatal and fatal heart attacks. The researchers observed, “Little evidence of increased risk of myocardial infarction mortality or non-fatal myocardial infarction associated with the occupational use of pesticides.”

(Source: American Journal of Epidemiology, Vol. 170, No. 7, pp. 892-900; Pesticide & Toxic Chemical News, Vol. 37, No. 52).

Thanks for the heads up through the Pesticide Education Program email by Cindy Folck, Communications Program Coordinator, OSU Extension Pesticide Safety Education Program.

A preliminary injunction request in an ongoing court case was denied by a federal judge in San Francisco, so farmers were allowed to plant Roundup Ready sugar beet seed this year. The judge ruled that planting had already started and it was too disruptive for the injunction to be implemented this spring.

Last fall, the same U.S. District Court judge ruled that USDA failed to adequately assess the environmental impact of biotech sugar beets before allowing commercialization of the crop in 2005. The case, Center for Food Safety v. Schafer, will have a hearing on July 9, 2010 for the main issue of whether Roundup Ready sugar beets should be banned until the USDA completes an Environmental Impact Statement. It’s estimated the impact statement would take two to three years to complete.

Response to Concern

Distribution of Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) Material at 2010 National 4-H Conference

It has been brought to our attention that a piece of literature was distributed at the 2010 National 4-H Conference titled, “Mission Humane – Everything Teens Need to Speak Up for Animals”, published by the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS). According to the information that we have, it was distributed  during two break-out sessions on March 23^rd, titled, "Animal Instincts: Service-Learning and Animal Welfare". The primary concern about this distribution is that HSUS is well known for its anti-animal agriculture views and positions, and 4-H has a long tradition of providing education in the animal sciences, which includes the dimension of positive animal welfare.

This message is to let our organization know that we are very distressed that this happened at a national 4-H event, and that we have expressed this to the 4-H National Headquarters and USDA-NIFA. At this time it is unclear exactly how HSUS presented this literature, what other information may have been a part of the presentation, or what other planned results of this workshop may have been. We are gathering related facts, so that we can be accurate and appropriate in our detailed response. We do know that about 25 teen 4-H delegates from across the nation attended each of the break-out sessions.

Please be assured that Ohio 4-H will continue to use animal agriculture and related programming to provide positive youth development opportunities. 

More details will follow as the facts become known.

Sincerely,

Keith L. Smith                                                        

Associate Vice President, Agricultural Administration

Director, Ohio State University Extension

      AND

Tom Archer

Assistant Director, 4-H Youth Development