National 4-H Week - October 1-7
This year's Are You Into It tm National 4-H Week theme, continues to build on the success of 4-H's national public service advertising campaign and supports the new 4-H campaign to recruit volunteers, discover the world together ..÷. be a 4-H volunteer.
Each unit office should receive a National 4-H Week promotion kit by the end of August, which contains valuable promotion ideas and resources that can be used to promote 4-H all during the year.
Discover the world together÷be a 4-H volunteer was developed by the Western region 4-H Marketing Group on behalf of 4-H for local and national use. Check out the Montana website http://extn.msu.montana.edu/4Hdiscovery/4hdiscovery.html for additional information.
More information on National 4-H Week can be found at the National 4-H Council website
http://www.fourhcouncil.edu/Market/whatsnew/index.htm
If we receive more information on National 4-H week or this volunteer campaign we will post it on our Virginia 4-H website.
(Billie Cline)
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Prudential Spirit of Community Awards -- Call for entries -
Deadline October 31, 2000
Last year 265 county 4-H organizations selected honorees in this unique youth recognition program and as a result, 61 members from 4-H clubs across the country received state-level awards for their volunteer service. Again, this year, 4-H joins with Prudential to offer this recognition to youth in 5th through 12th grades involved in community service
activities. This is a great way to recognize those youth who have contributed positively to their schools/communities.
Each city/county extension office should receive a packet of information with posters/applications/
certificates. The following website may offer more information.
http://www.prudential.com/community/spirit/awards/cmsaz1000.html
(Billie Cline)
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Most Amazing Mom Contest
National 4-H Council has joined forces with Redbook magazine and "Inside Edition" to host an essay contest. More information on rules, entry forms are included with your National 4-H Week promotion packets from National 4-H Council or on 4-H Council website.
(Billie Cline)
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Virginia 4-H Foundation Award Nominations Due
4-H Foundation awards provide great opportunities to recognize individuals (both local and state) who have made contributions to 4-H. Information and application forms for each of the following awards are on 4H Intranet.
- 4-H Alumni Award
- Partner in 4-H Award
- 4-H Diamond Leadership Award
- Friend of 4-H Award
Applications are to be returned by October 6 to the Virginia 4-H Foundation Office,
115 Hutcheson Hall, VA Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061-0419
Applications received after that date will not be considered. We look forward to receiving your unit nominations!
www.ext.vt.edu/resources/4h/foundation.html
(Tracy Sebring)
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Photo Release Policy
In reply to recent questions regarding use of photos of 4-H members and when permission is needed to use pictures, our media resource center indicated they have been adhering to the following guidelines.
"If the 4-H'ers are at a public event and we are taking photos for a news story, such as 4-H for Life or even a news release sent to newspapers such as the officers of Congress or the members giving cans of food at Congress, there is no need for their permission. Attending a public event that is news-worthy means we can assume they are willing to be public and we can use photos for news.
"If however, we ask them to pose for a photo for a brochure or a display, especially if we set up time and place, we need to have a form signed by them
(and parents for minors)"
A suggested form is on 4H Intranet (Support materials)
(Billie Cline/Mary Ann Johnson)
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2000-2001 State 4-H Officers & Ambassadors
The following officers and ambassadors were elected during State 4-H Congress in June.
- OFFICERS:
- President - Daniel Salatin, Augusta
- Vice President - Erin Bain, Dinwiddie
- Secretary - Jodi Neuhauser, Albemarle
- Reporter - Christina Hylton, Patrick
- AMBASSADORS
- Central District
- Christina Galanes, Bedford
- Tonya Terry, Bedford
- James N. Reed, III, Appomattox
- Northern District
- Laura Galante, Fairfax
- Welford Orrock, Spotsylvania
- Andrew Sides, Madison
- Northeast District
- Carey Watson, Henrico
- Gilbert Dawkins, Henrico
- Fran Crowder, Hanover
- Northwest District
- Caitlyn McAnulty, Rockingham
- Zachary Judd, Paige
- Becky Ford, Rockingham
- Southeast District
- Carly Tilson, Dinwiddie
- Angie Zahariadis, Virginia Beach
- Mary Glass, Dinwiddie
- Southwest District
- Derrick Spangler, Floyd
- Alex Stanley, Patrick
- Curtis Crawford, Smyth
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Environmental Competition Results
Please join me in congratulating the Virginia teams who successfully competed in national and international environmental competitions this summer
Augusta 4-H finishes 5th overall at National 4-H Wildlife Habitat Evaluation (WHEP) Highest finish for a Virginia team ever. Team members: Garrett Blevins, Lindsey Kilbourn and Nate Salatin . Coaches: Jenny Mercer, Augusta Co. Extension Agent; Ann Gallus, Loudoun Co. 4-H Volunteer. Held at Great Smokey Mountains National Park.
Page/Rockingham 4-H excels at National 4-H Forestry Judging. Team was 1st in forestry skills, 2nd in Forestry Bowl, 10th overall. Team members: Morgan Riggs, Jane and Katie Finlay (Page) and Laura Ford (Rockingham) Coach: Judy Riggs, Page Co. 4-H Volunteer. Held at Jackson's Mill State 4-H Camp, West Virginia.
Albemarle Environmental Club excels at International Envirothon. Team was first in aquatics, 13th overall. Team: Melisa Ozyildirim, Erin Blevins, Anna Charlebois, Mary Jane Epps, and Claire Snell-Rood Coaches: Kate Kelderman and Katina Dudley, Albemarle High School Teachers. Contest held at Acadia University, Wolfeville, Nova Scotia.
For more information on contests and results check out our environmental website (Jeff Kirwan)
http://www.fw.vt.edu/forestry/faculty/Kirwan.html
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National 4-H Conference
Senior 4-H'ers have an opportunity to participate in the National 4-H Conference in Chevy Chase, MD each year. This year's conference is April 1-7.
The purpose of the all expense paid trip include:
- Involved youth, volunteers and professional staff in 4-H program development;
- Strengthening 4-H public awareness efforts and reporting to the public.
Criteria for youth participants:
- Youth must be senior 4-H'ers who have not attended National 4-H Conference before
- Experienced in local, area, and/or State Development Committees, Advisory Groups, Councils, etc
- Willing and able to work prior to Conference in collecting facts and ideas of local individuals regarding concerns of youth and possible actions
- Have time to stay involved in the work of Conference throughout the year and to make significant contribution in their communities
- Be flexible as individuals to handle different situations, having growth potential and a curiosity about situations in their communities
- Have the capacity to cope with ambiguity; concerned about issues involvement and in deciding how to solve problems and get on with business
- Possess strong interpersonal skills
- Have high energy levels, capable of participating fully in an active and demanding program involving long hours.
- Note: All states are required to have a diverse delegation attending National Conference 2001.
4-H'ers must complete the application and essay and return to their county/city Extension Office. Extension units must forward information to me by Dec 31, 2000.
Download the application (pdf file).
(Rudy Powell)
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4-H Ambassador Days at the State Capitol
Please mark the dates and plan for your 4-H delegates participation in 4-H days at the State Capitol. Look for more details later.
- February 7, 2001, 4-H Day
- February 14, 2001 4-H Ambassador Day
(Rudy Powell)
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Collecting Acorns for the Virginia Department of Forestry
A New Service Project in Forestry
The Virginia Department of Forestry (DOF) needs help meeting the demand for oak seedlings that are grown at their nurseries. Oak seedlings are used to restore riparian (streamside) areas, and benefit wildlife long term. 4-H members can help by collecting acorns as they drop from trees and sending them to the nearest DOF office. A list of their "10 most wanted" acorns and instructions for youth to follow is located on 4H Intranet, Educational Programs, at the following site http://www.ext.vt.edu/vce/specialty/4h/programs.html
(Jeff Kirwan)
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Consumerama
The resources for next year's Consumerama contest are listed on the 4H Intranet, Educational Programs, Career and Consumer Ed. The items studied this year will be SunGlasses, Cereal, Auto Insurance, and Cameras.
(Amber Wilson)
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Clean Water for the Frog
A new Cloverbud 4-H Project is being released this month: Clean Water for the Frog. It is an interactive, wetlands education program staring Lilly the Frog that incorporates Flash Animated and PowerPoint versions. Two graded-level versions are available, K-1 and 2-3, in addition to a teacher guide and numerous student activity pages. Children can learn about wetland structure and function and complete the activity pages to enforce their learning.
The program will be posted on the 4-H Website and each Unit Office will be given two CD copies. Additional copies will be available for sale at $8.00 each with bulk orders of 5 or more at $6.00 each. Unit copies will be distributed during the annual 4-H In-service. For more information, contact Barry Fox at (804) 524-5848.
(Barry Fox)
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Chesapeake Bay Soil & Water Conservation Mini-grants
(Extension 4-H Unites in the Chesapeake Bay Drainage Only)
Funds are again available to support the 4-H Mini-grant program in non-point, water quality education. A maximum of $300 is awarded for each successful proposal. Allowable expenditures include: transportation, program fees, supplies, educational materials/equipment, and educational incentives. Of particular interest are proposals that get youth and/or adults involved in water-related clean-up, monitoring, BMP's, protection and other grass-roots efforts. Your proposal should contain an "action" component that is integrated into the "educational" component. If interested, please submit a proposal of no more than three (3) pages with the following headings:
- Project Title,
- Project Contact (name, address, phone, fax, email),
- Goal/Objectives,
- Project Description,
- Expected Outcomes,
- Time Frame,
- Total Budget, and
- Amount Requested.
Submit proposals by September 22, 2000 to:
- Barry Fox, Extension Specialist,
- 4-H Marine/Aquatic Education,
- Box 9081, Cooperative Extension,
- Virginia State University,
- Petersburg, VA 23806.
Awards will be announced by September 29, 2000. All projects must be completed by June 30, 2001. If you have any questions, please contact Barry Fox at (804) 524-5848/Fax (804) 524-5057 or email bfox@vsu.edu
(Barry Fox)
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False Cape Coastal Ecology Weekend, September 8-10
Nineteen senior 4-H youth and adult volunteers will be participating in a weekend of marsh and ocean beach studies at False Cape State Park. Participants will study coastal processes, marsh plants, wildlife and marine ecology. They will be staying at the Washwoods Environmental Education Center under the leadership of Barry Fox, Extension Specialist, 4-H Marine/Aquatic Education.
(Barry Fox)
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State Fair 4-H Dog Show
Viva La Fiesta! One of the surprise categories of the State Fair Dog Show is going to be a THEME CONTEST. Each area at the show will be judged on the THEME. Each club and or lone star will be judged - Good Luck. Three other surprise categories will remain a surprise until the day of the show.
We will be honored to have with us on September 23rd, a very special guest, Ms. Margretta Williamson. With her vision and concern with 4-H youth throughout Virginia, she started the State Fair 4-H Dog Show 31 years ago. It would be nice if each of us throughout the day would say HELLO and THANK YOU to Ms. Williamson.
We are receiving some very good questions and we are answering them as soon as we can. Our website has updated information and a email address for questions. Please feel free to contact us if you have any concerns.. KEEP ON PRACTICING AND HAVE FUN! http://www.ext.vt.edu/resources/4h/contests/dogshow/
(Sue Coleman, Show Secretary)
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4-H Dairy Science News
The First Annual Junior 4-H Dairy Camp was held at Smith Mountain Lake 4-H Educational Center on August 11-13, 2000. The event was a great success. Planning will begin soon for the Second Annual Junior 4-H Dairy Camp, which has been tentatively scheduled for July 13-15, 2001.
For more information, contest results, and resources for 4-H Dairy program go to
http://www.dasc.vt.edu/youth/
(David Winston)
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National 4-H Dairy Conference
The National 4-H Dairy Conference is for 4-H members ages 15-18 who are interested in the dairy industry and who carry out dairy and dairy-related projects under adult leadership in their community. This event is conducted annually in Madison, Wisconsin, in conjunction with World Dairy Expo. The conference offers young dairy leaders an opportunity to interact with young people from the US and Canada, corporate representatives, and dairy specialists. The educational objectives of the conference are to help selected 4-H youth:
- learn more about the dairy industry;
- learn more about careers in the dairy industry;
- develop additional competence in a special-interest area of the dairy industry; and
- practice leadership and group participation skills.
Two delegates from Virginia will be selected to attend the National 4-H Dairy Conference each year. Delegate travel, lodging and conference fees will be paid from the Virginia 4-H Foundation dairy account. To be eligible a youth must:
- be enrolled as a 4-H member in Virginia;
- be 15 but not more than 18 years of age as of January 1 of the year of selection; and
- have participated in 4-H dairy projects and activities for a minimum of three years.
Interested youth will submit an application to the extension dairy youth specialist by April 15. A selection committee consisting of the extension dairy youth specialist, another faculty member in the Department of Dairy Science, and a member of the state 4-H staff will screen applications and interview candidates. The committee will select up to six candidates to be interviewed during State 4-H Congress. The following points system will be used in the selection process:
- 4-H dairy projects and activities.....25 points
- Leadership and citizenship/community service.....20 points
- Educational and career plans.....20 points
- Statement of interest.....20 points
- Interview.....15 points
Application is located on 4H Intranet, Educational programs, Animal Science.
(David Winston)
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Families: Virginia's First Industry Conference
Scheduled for October 4 - 5, 2000, at the Sheraton Richmond West (formerly the Hyatt) in Richmond, Virginia, this conference is sponsored by Virginia Cooperative Extension, the Family & Consumer Sciences Extension Leadership Council, and the College of Human Resources and Education at Virginia Tech.
The following four issues/tracks will be addressed:
- 1. "Moving Ahead Together: What Works for Youth÷What Works for You?"
- 2. "Responsible Parents / Responsible Children"
- 3. "Caught in the Middle: The Evolving Family"
- 4. "The Care of Our Times: Our Elders and Our Future Selves"
Detailed information about the conference schedule, specific content of the four tracks, and registration information is available at the website.
http://www.conted.vt.edu/fvaf.htm
Please share information about "Families First" with persons in your community who work with families. Questions may be directed to Jane Todd
email janetodd@vt.edu or call 1-540-231-2014.
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CHARACTER COUNTS
The pillar of CARING looks at how good people care about others, as well as the environment. Caring people are considerate, kind, compass-ionate, and generous. They always take into account how decisions, words, and actions affect others. A caring person can be a bright spot in another person's life. Children develop a caring attitude towards others early in life. By the age of five, they may realize when others around them are sad, and begin to sense when others care about them. As children mature, they may begin to develop a caring attitude towards pets, friends, possessions, and even the environment.
However, the development of real concern for others is a sign of maturity, even though this development occurs at any age.
Adults serve a major role in the development of a caring attitude, by modeling this behavior. As adults, we need to assist youths in practicing acts of kindness and generosity, while developing a considerate attitude toward others.
Why care?
Why do people show consideration, kindness, compassion, and generosity to others? Some help others because it makes them feel good. Some show concern because everybody else seems to. Some show kindness to avoid embarrassment. To earn recognition, to relieve guilt, or because it hurts them to see other people hurting.
Genuine, selfless concern for others is a sign of ethical maturity. A big part of maturity is the ability to think and care about someone besides oneself. Selfish motives and selfish actions are childish motives and childish actions. Self-centered people tend to treat others simply as instruments of their own needs and rarely feel an obligation to be honest, loyal, fair or respectful.
Caring people, on the other hand, have progressed from selfish to selfless, from inward-focused to outward-focused, from me-minded to we-minded, and from a give-me approach to a give-you approach.
Quotes on CARING:
- "No act of kindness, no matter how small is ever wasted." Aesop
- "Real generosity is doing something nice for someone who will never find out." Frank Clark
- "What we have done for ourselves alone dies with us. What we have done for others and the world remains immortal." Albert Pine
CARING is an important part of 4-H Life Skills:
- Head---thinking about ways to show others we care.
- Heart---communicating caring and respect to others.
- Hands---providing acts of kindness and service to others.
- Health---showing we care about others and ourselves by making healthy lifestyle choices.
(Elizabeth Sykes)
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National 4-H Week - October 1-7
Collecting Acorns for the Virginia Department of Forestry Form