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November 6 , 2007
In this Issue:
- UWRF, Chateau St. Croix Winery Collaborate to Create Designer Cheese
- Chiefs to Return to UWRF for 2008 Training Camp
- January Term Registration Continuing
- Film Premiere "The St. Croix: A Northwoods Journey"
- Dealing with Difficult People Workshop Date Changed
- Free Presentation on Creating Global Citizens
- Adult Language Classes Underway at UWRF
- Hold the Date for Spring Energy Conference
- Dairy Learning Center Opens to Fanfare
- Undergraduate Research Showcase Planned
- Center for Economic Research Launches Friday Seminar Series
- Second Vietnam Study Tour Set for J-Term
- Key Business Contacts
1. UWRF, Chateau St. Croix Winery Collaborate to Create Artisan Cheese
For some people, cheese and wine go together like milk and cookies. UWRF students, faculty and staff took this tried-and-true combination to a new level to create a new cheese called Cobblestone Red, which is now offered at Falcon Foods on campus.
This Wisconsin original was created combining a creamy semi-soft cheese with the fruits of a local winery and vineyard — Chateau St. Croix near St. Croix Falls. The cheese uses the vineyard's Chateau Rouge wine, which is a specialty blend of red Zinfandel and Muscat that creates a rich, full bodied sweet burgundy colored wine and carries the flavors of fresh berries, black cherries and vanilla. It enhances the asthetic, flavor and texture of the University's white Cheddar curd artisan cheese, says Ranee May, Falcon Foods plant manager and UWRF instructor.
May came up with the idea about two years ago, and through her experiential learning class she put the plan into motion.
The slogan on the cheese is "Made by students with student pride." UWRF students determined what equipment was necessary for the production, and the dairy plant employs students who produce the cheese.
Typically through their coursework, UWRF students learn to make the more common Wisconsin cheese varieties. Recently Gov. Jim Doyle announced that in 2006 Wisconsin Cheese produced 2.5 million pounds of cheese, which sets a national record. Wisconsin produces about 26 percent of the nation's cheese. These artisan cheeses accounted for 45 percent of the national specialty cheese market and increased in Wisconsin by 26 million pounds.
To address this changing U.S. cheese market and stay on top, Falcon Foods formed a partnership with Chateau St. Croix, a relatively new winery in the St. Croix Valley, to inspire the UWRF students to create and market additional artisan cheeses that incorporate or pair with the wines that are locally made.
Falcon Foods also worked with the Dairy Business Innovation Center, a Madison-based nonprofit organization dedicated to growing specialty and artisan dairy businesses, to determine marketing strategies.
Cobblestone Red premiered at the World Dairy Expo and was the talk of the trade center. It was also served at the recent UW System Board of Regents meeting on campus and the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the opening of the new UWRF Dairy Learning Center.
Cobblestone Red can be purchased in the Falcon Food store located on the UWRF campus agricultural sciences building. May says Falcon Foods plans to work with distributors to get the cheese into local stores. It will also be available at the Chateau St. Croix Winery and Vineyard. To learn more about this and other items produced in the dairy plant visit http://www.uwrf.edu/food-science/.
2. Chiefs Will Return to UWRF for 2008 Training Camp
Kansas City Chiefs President Carl Peterson announced Oct. 31 that the club has exercised its one-year option to continue conducting its training camp at UWRF.
Kansas City's 2008 training camp on the River Falls campus will mark the 18th consecutive year the Chiefs have conducted their preseason work in Western Wisconsin. The team has two remaining one-year options in its existing agreement with UWRF should the Chiefs wish to exercise them.
"On behalf of the entire Chiefs organization, we are pleased to return to the University of Wisconsin - River Falls for an 18th consecutive year," Peterson commented. "Both UW-RF and the entire River Falls community have embraced the Chiefs over the years. This past preseason we enjoyed working out of the new University Center on the UWRF campus. Our team sincerely appreciates the many improvements that have been made on campus over the years and the tireless efforts that have been made to make our stay more productive each year. As usual, UWRF has never become complacent with our training camp needs. They have always sought to find ways to make it better. We look forward to returning to River Falls once again in 2008."
Said UWRF Chancellor Don Betz: "We are delighted to welcome the Kansas City Chiefs back to UW-River Falls and the city of River Falls for their 18th consecutive training camp in 2008. The Chiefs are valued friends who have positively impacted our community for all these years. We look forward to their return and continued success."
In 2007, the Chiefs enjoyed the use of the University Center for their meeting space and dining needs, in addition to serving as the club's media headquarters. This $34 million facility was funded entirely by student fees.
3. January Term Registration Continuing
January (or Winter) Term at UWRF offers personal and professional enrichment opportunities for not only students but community members. The winter term runs from Dec. 26 to Jan. 26. Registration for classes will begin Oct. 8.
More information about J-Term, including links to schedule of credit and non-credit classes, is available at http://www.uwrf.edu/jterm.
4. Film Premiere "The St. Croix: A Northwoods Journey"
Don’t miss the National Park Service’s new movie about the St. Croix River! There is a scheduled showing on Tuesday, Nov. 13 from 7:30 -8:30 pm at the Carpenter St. Croix Valley Nature Center in Hastings, Minn.
Filmed throughout the seasons, and narrated by nationally acclaimed artist Peter Thomas, the 18-minute film merges moving currents, wildlife and history with the voices of those who are inspired by the beauty and solitude of the Namekagon and St. Croix Rivers.
This event also includes brief presentations and an open discussion designed to invoke your own connections to the river. Representatives from the local community, the National Park Service and the Institute will be on hand to answer your questions about the Riverway, the St. Croix River Institute, and the film.
All showings are free and open to the public. Registration is not necessary. Bring a friend! If you would like more information about a to-be-scheduled showing in Stillwater, please send an email or call the St. Croix River Institute at 715/425-3256 or 800-228-5607.
5. Dealing with Difficult People Workshop Date Changed
Can’t wait to learn tips on dealing with difficult people? Then you’re in luck! The date for a workshop sponsored by the UWRF Outreach Office, Chippewa Valley Technical College and the River Falls Chamber of Commerce & Tourism Bureau has moved from Nov. 15 to Nov. 8.
Whether they're customers or co-workers, working with difficult people can drain your energy and sap your productivity. Learn powerful techniques to successfully deal with difficult people and situations. Be cool and in control, take charge with confidence and put an end to the aggravation!
Join Dave Vollmer, trainer with The Center for Performance Excellence, at a lunch and learn session from 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. on Room 129 of the Regional Development Institute on campus. Cost is $25 and lunch is included.
Register online at http://www.rfchamber.com/ or by contacting the River Falls Chamber at 715/425-2533. Hurry! Space is limited.
6. Free Presentation on Creating Global Citizens
Discover the role that international travel programs have in educating today’s global citizens during a free presentation, “Educating Global Citizens: Travels with UWRF Students,” held at 7 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 12.
In the 16th century, the grand tour through Europe was often undertaken by the young to expand their classical education. The International Traveling Classroom program at UWRF is the 20th century equivalent and provides students with a global perspective and experience.
Through an illustrated travelogue, Dr. Charles Rader will discuss the challenges of learning “on the road,” the benefits of an international experience, and anecdotes on the experience of traveling with students for a semester in Europe.
Outreach and Graduate Studies and the College of Arts and Sciences offer the Community Classroom series each fall and spring. University faculty share their expertise through informal presentations on a variety of topics. All lectures are free, begin at 7 p.m. and are held at the River Falls Public Library, lower level, on the corner of Main and Union Streets.
A list of scheduled sessions is on the web at http://www.uwrf.edu/ogs or contact the Outreach office at outreach@uwrf.edu.
7. Adult Language Classes Underway at UWRF
Continue your studies in Spanish with a noncredit language class for adults at UW-River Falls this fall. Spanish II began Nov. 5 and runs for six weeks on Monday evenings. The class fee is $85 and all classes will take place on the UWRF campus with free parking.
Visit the web site at www.uwrf.edu/ogs/registration to see course description and to register, or contact Outreach Office at 715/425-3256 for more information.
8. Hold the Date for Spring Energy Conference
UW-River Falls will host a regional conference to explore a variety of topics related to energy on Thursday, April 17. Please plan on attending. The conference will be especially of interest to municipalities, businesses and the public sector agencies such as schools, hospitals who use large amounts of energy. More details will be shared in upcoming months.
9. Dairy Learning Center Opens to Fanfare
After 15 years of planning, the $9.3 million Dairy Learning Center at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls is complete. A special ribbon-cutting ceremony was held in October at the Mann Lab Farm to celebrate the event.
The new Dairy Learning Center replaces the existing dairy facility that has been operating on the campus lab farm since 1957. This new Dairy Learning Center will offer even greater educational opportunities to UWRF students as well as those in the agricultural industries. As a living laboratory, it contains all elements needed to run a commercial dairy operation, plus technology enhanced classrooms and other educational facilities.
The Dairy Learning Center will utilize an environmentally friendly composted bedding housing system for 100 milking cows plus calves and heifers and is designed to provide a comfortable environment for the cows. After removal from the cattle barns, the bedding material will be placed into windrows and the composting process will continue.
The final compost product will be available for purchase by the public for use in gardens and landscaping, and the farm will also apply the compost as fertilizer on the fields. Many other features of the facility have been developed to showcase positive interactions within a rural-urban interface, including systems to minimize wastewater in which water to cool the milk will be reused for the livestock, and equipment wash water will be reused to wash floors, and possibly for irrigation.
10. Undergraduate Research Showcase Planned
The Society of Undergraduate Research, Scholarly and Creative Activities at UWRF plans to hold its 6th annual "Gala Evening of RSCA" on Nov. 14 from 7 to 9 p.m. in the Falcon's Nest of the University Center.
SURSCA allows students to conduct undergraduate research and prepare for advanced degree and professional career opportunities that utilize research skills.
The gala will be an opportunity for undergraduate students to showcase and present their research in various areas to the community.
"To date, there have been around 30 presenters and 100 people in attendance at each gala," says Amy Robak, SURSCA president. SURSCA hopes to increase these numbers and reach an all time high this year, she said.
For more information visit http:www.uwrf.edu/sursca.
11. Center for Economic Research Launches Friday Seminar Series
The next UWRF Center for Economic Research Friday Seminar Series is Friday, Nov. 16.
Hossein Najafi, a professor of computer science and information systems in the College of Business and Economics, presents, "A Neural Network Approach to Audio Data Hiding Based on Perceptual Masking Model of the Human Auditory System," which will showcase a new system that employs artificial neural networks to identify perceptually masked transmission opportunities within an audio stream.
"It is often desirable to infuse data signals into an audio stream to be transmitted simultaneously with the audio signal. The combined signal (audio and data) can then be transmitted over audio channels such as radio, telephone or television," says Najafi. Such data signals can be used to deliver information such as product ID numbers, music titles, billing information, copyright information, virtual reality cues, speaker identification, and other similar information.
The neural network is trained to automatically extract the perceptual map of the human auditory system. The network is then used at the encoding end to identify opportunities for transmission of inaudible data into the voice stream. At the decoding end, the network is used to monitor the audio channel for presence of masked data.
On Nov. 30, economics Professor John Walker will present "Effort and the Earnings of Self-Employed Women and Men in St. Croix County."
The series showcases research being conducted by the UWRF College of Business and Economics faculty, staff, students and also industry leaders.
A social with refreshments is from 3 to 3:15 p.m. in 317 South Hall, followed by the seminar in 321 South Hall from 3:15 to 4 p.m. The seminar series is open to the public. All seminars are free.
For more information, please contact Brian Schultz at 715/425-3335.
12. Second Vietnam Study Tour Set for J-Term
The second annual study tour of Vietnam, offered by UWRF in January 2008, is open to any interested community member.
"Although most Americans associate Vietnam with war, it is also a country with a 4,000-year history, 53 culturally distinct ethnic minorities, magnificent scenery, and some of the friendliest, but poorest, people in the world," says Claire Kilian, professor of management at UWRF who leads the tour. Participants will get the opportunity to witness Vietnam as it is rapidly changing and embracing tourism and economic development.
The 18-day trip includes exploring the cities of Hanoi and Saigon, Hmong villages in the Northern areas, a boat cruise on Ha Long Bay, villages in the Central highlands (with a stay overnight in a bamboo long house and elephant ride), and sites of the Vietnam War-era, including the Cu Chi tunnels.
The tour includes experienced English-speaking guides, all airfare, trains, lodging, many meals, entry fees, taxes, and Visa. Estimated cost is $3,500.
For more information about the trip, contact Kilian at UWRF: 715-425-3335 or claire.m.kilian@uwrf.edu.
13. Key Business Contacts
Don't know where to start to find help on business matters?
Try these contacts:
UWRF A to Z Directory: www.uwrf.edu/atoz/
Career Services: www.uwrf.edu/ccs/
Center For Economic Research: 715/425-3335 www.uwrf.edu/cer/
Center for Economic Education: 715/425-3269
College of Business and Economics:
www.uwrf.edu/cbe/
Outreach and Graduate Studies: www.uwrf.edu/ogs/
Small Business Development Center:
715/425-0620 www.uwrf.edu/sbdc/
Survey Research Center: 715/425-0701 www.uwrf.edu/src/
UW-RF BizNews is produced by the College of Business
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