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THE WYOMING WAYVolume 4, Issue 1, March 2009 U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service, P.O. Box 33124, Casper, WY 82602, Phone: (307) 233-6750 IN THIS ISSUE District and NRCS employees receive national awards
Phil Gonzales, District Conservationist in the Buffalo Field Office, was awarded the Society of Range Management (SRM) Outstanding Achievement Award for Stewardship during the organization’s annual meeting, Feb. 8-12, 2009, in Albuquerque, N.M. A range management professional, Gonzales is widely respected throughout Wyoming’s range community for his expertise, his ability to create partnerships, and his personal commitment to natural resource management. “Phil is passionate about his work,” said Xavier Montoya, NRCS State Conservationist. “The forward thinking of the Lake DeSmet Conservation District board members and producers in Johnson County, combined with Phil’s sincere desire to conserve natural resources, create a win-win situation for the environment.”
Nikki Lohse, District Manager for the Lake DeSmet Conservation District, was honored as a recipient of the national 2008 Two Chiefs’ Partnership Award during an open house, Feb. 17, 2009, at the USDA Service Center in Buffalo. The Chief of NRCS and the Chief of the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) request nominations for this recognition. Pictured above from left to right, Bill Bass, Forest Supervisor, Bighorn National Forest, USFS; Phil Gonzales, District Conservationist, NRCS; Nikki Lohse; Mark Booth, District Ranger, Powder River Ranger District, USFS; and Paul Shelton, Assistant State Conservationist for Operations and Partners, NRCS. Lohse was one of four individuals, nationwide, to receive the joint award that recognizes exemplary employees who have worked collaboratively on projects from NRCS, the USFS, state forestry agencies, and conservation districts that support conservation and forest stewardship. Phil Gonzales, Johnson County District Conservationist, NRCS, and Mark Booth, District Ranger for the Powder River Ranger District, nominated Lohse for the award. “We were limited to 250 words for the nomination and, let me tell you, it was a challenge trying to condense all that Nikki has accomplished into 250 words,” said Booth. Lohse credited the support and vision of the Lake DeSmet Conservation
District Board members and the local people for successful partnership projects.
State Conservationist's Corner
Even though I know it's too early to start thinking "green," I do find myself having visions of spring! To Wyoming NRCS, spring is synonymous with the start of field season and conservation planning; that all-too-short period, often cut even shorter in the fall by an early snow or that coveted sheep or elk tag. Although our implementation “window of opportunity” may only be 3-5 months, in the two years I have been here, I’ve been very impressed by the scope of what we are able to accomplish (though I know many of you are frustrated by not being able to do even more). We’ll face a multitude of challenges in 2009, ranging from an unknown budget to the implementation of the 2008 Farm Bill. As you are aware, Wyoming received over $21 million in 2008 Farm Bill program funds, which will need to be obligated to good, technically-sound conservation plan contracts by July 15, 2009. As a reminder, that means that all ProTracts administered funds (AMA, EQIP, and WHIP) must be at least “pre-approved.” As we articulated in Wyoming Bulletin 300-9-3, our goal is to have all EQIP, WHIP, and AMA funds obligated (pre-approved) by June 1, 2009. All WRP funds must be obligated by July 15, 2009. While there are new Farm Bill rules to implement, the field season also brings opportunities to assist our customers with implementing practices from prior-year contracts. Wyoming producers are currently scheduled to apply the following practices during the 2009 field season:
Yes, there is much to be done to keep our state healthy for generations to come. We will work together to make it happen. Thanks for all you do to get conservation on the land.
RC&D Program Honored by Western AssociationEvery year the Western Association of RC&D Councils meets to network, learn about natural resources and business issues, and recognize the good work of peers. The Western Association of RC&D Councils encompasses ten western states (including Wyoming) with 80 RC&D Councils. The Association met in Spearfish, SD., early in 2009.
Wyoming’s RC&D Program received three awards during the meeting with its first going to Roger Bower, Chairman of the Big Horn Basin Wyoming RC&D Council, who received the Outstanding Council Member of the Year award. He has been Chairman of the Big Horn Basin RC&D Council since 1993 and was Chairman of the Wyoming State Association of RC&D Councils from 2000-2006. Bower’s extensive contact network and his vast business knowledge have benefited numerous projects. As Wyoming once again stepped to the podium, it was Eric Decker who was honored as the Outstanding Coordinator.
Decker was recognized for his technical assistance, over a three-year period, to Wyoming's five RC&D Councils and the Wyoming Contractor's Association on the Wyoming Highway Support Project. The highway support project was Wyoming's first statewide RC&D project that resulted in the Wyoming State Legislature in 2006, and again in 2007, appropriating a total of $175 million to priority highway projects across the state. The appropriation resulted in the creation and retention of 2400 construction and service related jobs directly attributed to the statewide RC&D effort. This project also supported 70 businesses. Yet another award went to the Wyoming RC&D Program as it received second place recognition for its table display. The 375 RC&D Councils nationwide plan and carry out activities and
projects that increase conservation of natural resources, support
economic development, and enhance the standard of living in local
communities. Council members are volunteers and include local, civic,
appointed, and elected officials.
Women: Taking the Lead to Save Our PlanetThe theme for this year’s Women’s History Month is Women: Taking the Lead to Save Our Planet, which honors women who have shown leadership in preserving the natural environment and reversing ecological destruction. The spirit of the theme honors American women who are scientists, engineers, business leaders, writers, filmmakers, conservationists, teachers, community organizers, religious or workplace leaders, or others whose lives show exceptional vision and leadership to save our planet. As NRCS continues to increase in diversity of our employees, it is important for us to embrace each other’s heritage and culture. We need to learn about the people we work with daily. Understanding differences in everyone’s culture, is needed in helping us
service our customers as well as our employees.
JAWS, the readerOkay, this is not about an amazing shark who can read. But it is about some amazing software that assists others to read. JAWS stands for “Job Access for Windows and Speech” and is one of many software packages that reads computer screens using synthesized speech. When surfing the Web, what if you had to depend on a machine to read the
screen for you? Assistive readers, like JAWS, are getting smarter all If you’re like me, you hit the Enter key twice to start a new paragraph. That leaves a blank paragraph mark between paragraphs. When the Word document is converted to an Adobe .pdf file, the paragraph mark is converted to a code. The speech software reads that code as “blank” so the user hears the word “blank” spoken each time the screen reader comes to a coded paragraph return. A document can have a lot of empty paragraph marks which can be quite annoying to the listener. Using the Format, Paragraph command in Word to insert the amount of space between paragraphs does not leave the blank mark for Adobe to convert. The listener no longer hears the spoken word “blank” between each paragraph. Assistive readers also want to know what language they are reading, so Adobe Acrobat allows you to select English if that is the language desired. If you can see, it is pretty obvious where your eye needs to go next to continue an article. But it is much harder for a screen reader to know where to go next. In Adobe Acrobat, paragraphs and pictures can be tagged, or numbered, as to what the reader should pick up first, second, and third on the page, therefore, making the text flow logically. Ever notice when your cursor slides over a picture and a text label pops up? That is called alternate text and is required so screen readers can describe the picture. These are just a few examples of what makes an Adobe (.pdf) document
accessible.
Sharing the power of the Wyoming windJack Pugsley, Chairman of the Southeastern Wyoming RC&D Council; Jennifer Womack, Council Secretary; and Grant Stumbough, RC&D Coordinator for the Southeastern Wyoming RC&D Area, attended USDA’s Agricultural Outlook Forum held in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 26-27, 2009. This prestigious event hosted over 1800 participants. The Council’s presentation entitled Commercial Wind Energy Development in Wyoming was presented during a concurrent session. Over 200 attendees received an overview of the Council’s activities in the wind energy field. As the nation seeks alternative energy sources, harnessing the power of wind has sparked a whole new industry. Wyoming has much to offer! There has been a great deal of interest in the Council’s success in assisting with the development of landowner associations to address and establish landowners’ leasing options and wind development rights. The Southeastern Wyoming RC&D Council’s activities in the field of wind
energy have been featured through a variety of media across the country
including the Western Farmer-Stockman, the Casper-Star Tribune, the Wyoming
Livestock Roundup, and The New York Times. Council members have been
interviewed by National Public Radio and Wyoming Public Radio. The American Wind
Energy Association and several other organizations interested in developing wind
energy have requested presentations.
Civil Rights Advisory Committee UpdateWyoming’s Civil Rights Advisory Committee (CRAC) Chairman Brad Holliday reports the following:
Addressing your KSAO's: Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, and Other CharacteristicsThe federal government has changed its procedures for merit promotion hiring. Previously, vacancy announcements highlighted categories of experience, training/education, awards and supervisory appraisals that were assessed in the ranking process. Today, the new system deals with characteristics and skills needed for employment for each particular position and are known as supplemental statements. These supplementals vary in number from 3 to as many as 14, and may be termed as ELEMENTS, FACTORS, OR KSAO’s on vacancy announcements. The KSAO’s allow you to specify the job related knowledge, skills, abilities and other characteristics that YOU possess in relation to the “Highly Qualifying Criteria” specified in the vacancy announcements. The KSAO’s are used by the staffing specialists and/or a panel to rate and rank applicants found to be basically eligible for job vacancies. The selecting supervisors in the selection process also use the KSAO’s. KNOWLEDGE statements should refer to factual or procedural information, which demonstrates the “knowledge” you have gained through experience or technique to perform a job. An example of a knowledge statement is: “Acquired expert knowledge of schematic diagrams to effectively diagnose problems.” Another example is: “Gained comprehensive knowledge of ‘Word Perfect’ computer program to generate major, individual, and general reports.” SKILLS statements should refer to the manual, verbal, or mental manipulation of data or things. Skills can be readily measured by tests where quantity and quality of performance are tested within a time limit. Examples of manipulation of things are: “Skill in typing or in operating a vehicle.” Examples of data manipulation are: “Skill in computation using decimals; skill in editing for transposed numbers.” ABILITY statements should refer to the power to perform an observable activity at the present time. This means that abilities have been evidenced through activities or behaviors that are similar to those required on the job, e.g., the ability to plan and organize work. Abilities are not the same as aptitudes; aptitudes are only the “potential” for performing activities. OTHER CHARACTERISTICS statements should refer to physical or mental characteristics, which do not fall under any of the above definitions. If a personal trait, e.g., initiative, fairness, stress tolerance, is suggested, it must be described in terms of the work behaviors that evidence this trait. Personal traits should not be suggested unless they are required to a greater degree than is generally expected of all employees on all jobs. For example, the personal trait of stress tolerance would be applicable in work situations, which exceed normal business office stress, such as the job of a prison guard. The KSAO’s originate from a combination of three sources: Selecting Official, Position Description, and Qualifications Standards Handbook. The selecting official determines the critical job elements of a position and includes these items in the vacancy announcements. To receive more information on the above and an example of a before and after
(improved) response to KSAO’s, and a list of recommended verbs to use, contact
Mike Swanson, ASK IRMADear IRMA: I’ve been wishing I could print more than one file at a time. It’s so tedious to open each file. Then last night I dreamt I was in a Hollywood movie and I was the star of the Hollywood movie. I was also producer, director, and a grip. I was printing 10 scripts at once and papers were flying everywhere like flakes in a blizzard! I woke up in a cold sweat thinking maybe I could print 10 files at once. Is this, too, only a dream? Signed: Dreamweaver Dear Dreamweaver: No! It’s not a dream! For instance, if you have 10 consecutive files in a folder, hold the Shift key and click once on each or arrow key down so they are all highlighted, or hold the Ctrl key down if they are here and there in your list and click once on each one. Choose File, Print. Sit back and watch ‘em fly by to the printer. Of course, the paper should be stacked on the printer and not flying about the room. Should they be flying about the room as in a blizzard, you may have other problems. Dear IRMA: I just read the previous question. What’s a grip? Signed: Gripe Listen Gripe: This column is reserved for IRM (Information Resources Management) questions or IT as it’s called now, but since you ask, this Answer comes straight out of Wikipedia: Grips are lighting and rigging technicians in the movie industry. They make up their own department on a film set and are led by a key grip. Grips have two main functions. The first is to work closely with the camera department, especially if the camera is mounted to a dolly, crane or other unusual position. Some grips may specialize in operating camera dollies or camera cranes. The second is to work closely with the electrical department to put in the lighting set-ups necessary for a shot. The term 'grip' dates back to the early era of the circus. From there it was used in vaudeville and then in today's film sound stages and sets. Some have suggested the name comes from the 1930s-40s slang term for a tool bag or "grip" that these technicians use to carry their tools to work. Another popular theory states that in the days of hand-cranked cameras, it would be necessary for a few burly men to hang on to the tripod legs to stop excessive movement of the camera. These men became known as the 'good grips'- as they were constantly being instructed to 'keep a good grip on the tripod.' Dear IRMA: That’s very interesting, especially the bit of trivia. I’ve seen movie credits listing a “best boy grip.” If I’m a girl and want to be a grip, will they call me “best girl grip?” Signed: Gripe Dear Gripe: Sorry, I’m out of room.
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