KU beamed state conference to southwest Kansans via distance technology

LAWRENCE -- While 150 participants in the Kansas Economic Policy conference gathered in Lawrence Oct. 24 to address state water issues, 15 southwest Kansas residents attended the same conference in Ulysses. Compressed video, which permits interactive exchange among participants at multiple sites, made possible the southwest Kansans' attendance without a long drive to the University of Kansas.

Scott Nichols, director of the Grant County Chamber of Commerce, initiated a last-minute coup to include the southwest participants in KU's annual Kansas economic policy meeting. Nichols contacted KU Continuing Education, a conference sponsor, to enlist the help of its media production staff so a contingent of southwest Kansans could be virtual conferencegoers.

The technology included a video camera and sound-mixing board at the Kansas Union at KU, site of the conference. The visual and audio data were sent over the Internet to a television monitor in Ulysses. Similar equipment at the Ulysses site carried those participants' questions and responses to the audience in Lawrence.

Technological assistance came from KAN-ED, a broadband networking consortium for K-12 and higher education; the Kansas Research and Education Network; and members of KU's Networking and Telecommunications Systems staff.

The conference, titled "The Thirst for Growth: Water and Our Economic Future," included these participants attending in Ulysses:

John Alig, vice president, Grant County Bank
Gary Baker, water rights consultant, GLB Services
Terry Dimitt, Teeter Irrigation, Center Pivot (Valley)
Neal Gillespie, director, Stevens County Economic Development
Hank Hasen, executive director, Grant Water District #3
Darl Henson, extension agent, Grant County Extension Service
Randy Magnison, assistant to the CEO, Pioneer Electric
Doug Morris, Southwest Irrigation Center Pivot (Zimatic)
Beth Moser, office manager, Northwest Cotton Growers
Scott Nichols, director, Grant County Chamber of Commerce
Stan Rice, director of government affairs, Pioneer Communications
Clay Scott, West Acres Grain and Grant Water District #3
Dale Stevenson, agricultural producer, Farm Bureau
Jack Taylor, CEO, Liberal Chamber of Commerce
Ed Wiltse, Ulysses mayor and manager of member services, Pioneer Electric

The conference was sponsored by KU's Policy Research Institute, the League of Kansas Municipalities and KU Continuing Education.

For information about the Kansas Economic Policy conference and other KU Continuing Education programs, visit www.kuce.org, phone 785-864-KUCE (5823) or toll free 877-404-KUCE (5823), or e-mail kuce@ku.edu.