Most individuals know that 4-H address youth in the areas of animals and family and consumer sciences; however, there are ten major curriculum areas in which youth can be involved in 'learn-by-doing' 4-H projects: Animal Sciences; Careers and Economic Education; Citizenship; Communication and Expressive Arts; Family Sciences; Foods, Nutrition, and Health; Leadership and Personal Development; Plants, Soils, and Entomology; and Science and Technology. Thus, youth are provided learning opportunities in a large variety of interests each year.
Virginia youth are reached and involved in 4-H through a variety of delivery modes, including Community 4-H Clubs; Project 4-H Clubs; In-School 4-H Clubs; After-School 4-H Clubs; Military 4-H Clubs; 4-H School Enrichment; 4-H After-School Programs; 4-H EFNEP/SCNEP; Cloverbud 4-H Groups; 4-H Camping; 4-H Instructional Media; and 4-H Individual Study. These delivery modes are designed to attract and recruit youth from all areas of interests and learning opportunities.
As we begin a New Year, keep in mind the mission of Virginia 4-H: To develop youth and adults working with those youth to realize their full potentialÑbecoming effective, contributing citizens through participation in research-based, non-formal, hands-on educational experiences. How one defines 4-H can be summed in the statement, 4-H is a community of young people across America who are learning leadership, citizenship, and life skills. Best wishes to you and your family for the New Year.
Bob Meadows
This project is a collaborative effort funded by the U.S. Army Child & Youth Services and administered through Virginia 4-H. Your district has been targeted to advertise this community service project because of the high concentration of citizens in Central Virginia who serve in the National Guard and Reserves. The State headquarters for the Virginia National Guard family programs is located at Fort Pickett in Blackstone. The 80th Division which is the Army Reserve is located at Defense General Supply in Richmond.
Don't hesitate to participate because you may not personally know many of the targeted families in your community. As the 4-H Military Program Coordinator, I will assist groups in identifying these families.
First come first served! (Limited Supply) If your group does not receive items at this time to conduct this project, we will share other ways you can support families of the deployed National Guard and Reserve soldiers (Louetta M. Jones,4-H Military Program Coordinator, Virginia Cooperative Extension, Petersburg Office, 400 Farmer Street, Suite 218, Petersburg, Virginia 23803)
New All Stars will be tapped during State 4-H Congress next summer. If I can help you with answers to specific questions, please let me know. We hope to have lots of 4-H All Star nominations, both member and volunteer, for 2006. (Carol Nansel)
The IRS has assigned a Federal Income Tax Group Exemption Number to 4-H which must be used by all 4-H Clubs and affiliated 4-H organizations when filing or corresponding with the IRS. This information has been sent to each unit 4-H office and may be obtained from the respective unit 4-H agent or 4-H program assistant in charge of the unit 4-H program. Please check with your local office for further details. (Bob Meadows)
State Tax Exempt Status for 4-H Clubs/Organizations
ANY 4-H organization (primarily 4-H Clubs) which have or must apply for their own Federal ID number must also apply to the State for their own Tax Exempt status letter. You may apply online at http://www.tax.virginia.gov/site.cfm?alias=busforms&selOtherForm=Sales%20and%20Use%20Tax
Go to the section on EXEMPTION CERTIFICATES and look for the Non Profit Application.
For County offices, your local checking account/State funds fall under the Virginia Tech blanket exemption.
If you have questions, then as always please feel free to call me. If you have questions regarding the Non-Profit Exempt status or have questions regarding the application then please contact the Non Profit sector of the Virginia Department of Taxation at 804-377-3712. (Tracy Sebring)
Request for Proposals for Workshops are due Nov 30. (Form attached)
For more information, go to http://www.ext.vt.edu/resources/4h/volunteers.html#meet (Michelle Adcock, SW District Liaison)
Pre-conference: May 16, 2006
Location: Hyatt Regency Atlanta, Georgia
Conference details: http://www.csrees.usda.gov/nea/family/cyfar/announcement.html
Conference Sponsors: The Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service (CSREES) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture sponsors the annual CYFAR conference under the direction of Children Youth and Families at Risk National Program Leader, Sharon K. B. Wright, swright@reeusda.gov
The CYFAR 2006 Program Showcase provides an opportunity for Extension professionals and others from across the nation to display their work being conducted through CYFAR on behalf of children, youth, and families at risk. All Program Showcase proposals are reviewed by the same committee reviewing workshop, poster and computer lab proposals to ensure high quality presentations.
The Research Presentations at CYFAR 2006 will feature nationally known youth and family researchers presenting their findings with application to CYFAR programming. Research presenters are designated by the Conference Planning Committee. Their selection is based on issues pertinent to CYFAR programming.
CYFAR 2006 provides an exciting opportunity for Extension staff, collaborators, and volunteers working toward the CYFAR mission, to learn and to share resources with colleagues and collaborators across the nation. The conference brings together the resources of CYFERnet with the community and state Extension faculty who build and sustain effective programs for at risk children and their families.
CYFAR 2006 is planned for:
Please take the time to visit the South Dakota 4-H Website at http://4h.sdstate.edu and go to the National Camping Institute link to fill out the Call For Proposals and return it to the address on the form. We would like to encourage you to visit our website often to find out what to expect and when things are going to happen as final plans develop.
For more information contact LaDonna McKnight at 605-673-4971 or email at mcknight.ladonna@ces.sdstate.edu. We look forward to seeing you in the beautiful Black Hills in February. (Barry Garst)
To complete the survey please go to: http://cgi.umd.edu/survey/display?4hafterschool/hofmanns20
If this does not open by clicking on the address in this message, please cut and paste it into the address space. (Kathleen Jamison)
Guidelines and registration forms for the Block and Bridle Horse Judging Clinic will also be posted on the website under Judging Clinics & Contests -- B&B clinic. Hope to see a lot of new judging members this year!
Also now on the website under "Southern Regionals" is information concerning qualifying criteria for Southern Regionals to be held in Raleigh, NC. Please read entire document thoroughly as we will not be contacting potential participants until the end of February or early March. (Celeste C. Crisman)
We will have lots of round table discussions and interactive training sessions to keep everyone involved and motivated. This conference should be greatly beneficial to those newer leaders with lots of questions and desire to explore other horse related areas but will also offer new information and perspectives for our experienced leaders as we share information and partner with North Carolina's 4-H program. This conference is open to volunteer leaders, agents and anyone that is integral in working with the 4-H equine program.
I hope that we will have a good response from everyone in Virginia. Please let me know by email if there are particular topics that you feel would be helpful for the group! I will be sending out a more detailed topic list with speakers at a later date. Please feel free to contact me if you have questions and look forward to a large turnout in April!! (Celeste Crisman)
More information will be up on the website soon! (Celeste Crisman)
(Celia Ray Hayhoe, Ph.D., CFP )
An added bonus to the grant:
AmeriCorps members in Virginia want to team up with 4-H to implement projects that receive grant funding. What an opportunity to have twenty service members work alongside youth to support a project that was conceptualized by youth and funded through Youth Venture/Youth Service America. See the note that follows and check out the website. (Celia Hayhoe)
During their one-year term of service, AmeriCorps members are encouraged to engage in extra community service projects, called Days of Service. Those Days of Service are Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (January 16), National Volunteer Week (April 23 - 29), and Join Hands Day (May 6). On these days, AmeriCorps members from the City of Richmond, Hampton Roads, Carroll County, Virginia Beach, Portsmouth, Yorktown, Charlottesville, Leesburg, Lynchburg, NOVA, Roanoke, Rockbridge, Winchester, Danville, Norton, Hampton, UVA, and VCU connect to provide community service. Due to the vast geographic area, AmeriCorps members may create groups of 20 - 25 to engage in an activity for the Days of Service.
This year, Youth Service America is providing mini grants for youth entrepreneurship (http://www.ysa.org/awards/award_grant.cfm#nowavailable.
What is included in the program fee?
Applications are due on February 1, 2006. However, limited slots are available so do not delay! Questions on and application forms for the Finland Program can be to Joe Hunnings or the WorldWise office in Seattle at 800.407.3314 or email 4h-exchange@tq3navigant.com (Joseph R. Hunning)
IFYE Representative: Participants between the ages of 19-30 can experience life in another country first-hand by living with host families from 3 to 6 months. This is not the typical tourist's eye view of a foreign land, but a chance to participate in daily living and learn about the customs and culture of another country while sharing about your life in the United States.
IFYE Ambassador: For youth between the ages of 15-24, this program features a summer abroad. The purpose of he program is to assist youth in acquiring knowledge, developing skills and forming attitudes that will help them become productive citizens of the global community.
Countries participating in the above two exchanges may include, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Botswana, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, India, Jamaica, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Paraguay, Poland, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan and the United Kingdom.
Japanese Exchange: Youth between the ages of 13-18 will spend a month in Japan, departing Virginia in mid-July. Besides living with a host family, they will attend a week of camp and visit places of interest in the area where their host families live. An additional two-week extension to attend the Nihongo (Japanese) Institute for indepth language and culture study is also available.
Hosting: Unable to travel at this time or past the age range? Then you can still participate by letting the world come to you. Host families are needed for periods of two to four weeks. Host families receive advance info on the delegate. This is a great chance to experience another culture without leaving home. Both urban and rural families are needed. Why not welcome an international visitor into your home in 2006?
High School Exchange: There is also a high exchange for hosting delegates for the school year from Japan and former Soviet republics such as Azerbaijan, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Russia, Kazahkstan, Turjikistan, Ukraine, etc.
The deadline to apply as an outbound Representative or Ambassador is January 15 and for Japan is February 15. Host family applications are due by April 1. For more information, contact your unit Cooperative Extension Office or State Coordinator Dottie Nelson, P.O. Box 144, Bland, VA 24315, work 800-752-0673 or home 276-688-4028, or email dottieifye@yahoo.com. (Dottie Nelson)
Please promote this educational opportunity to volunteers interested in starting 4-H shooting education clubs or to those currently involved in shooting clubs in your unit. Please contact me if you have any questions.. (Andrea Carson)
HOLIDAY LAKE 4-H EDUCATIONAL CENTER
Appomattox-Buckingham State Forest.
Funding provided by Deft, Inc.
Grants between $500-$1,750
Application Deadline: February 1, 2005
The 2006 4-H Community Tree Planting Grant Program offers a limited number of youth grants in the amount of $500 to $1,750 to 4-H/Extension groups in local communities, in counties, and at the state level. This program provides opportunities for young people and adults to take action with ongoing community tree planting and/or reforestation projects or to stimulate new and creative youth-led projects. Youth are empowered to lead the planning, implementation, and evaluation process with minimal mentorship from adults. Youth will learn how their leadership can result in community collaborations that amplify the impact of their project.
Grants are offered only to 4-H/Extension Programs in the United States and its territories. If you are not a part of 4-H, we encourage you to contact your local Cooperative Extension office and become a project collaborator!
The application can be found at http://www.fourhcouncil.edu/GrantsTreePlanting.aspx on the bottom of the page under "Related Links." Completed applications are due on Wednesday, February 1, 2006. If you have any questions, email schaconas@fourhcouncil.edu
Funding provided by Cargill and Kraft Foods, Inc..
Grants of up to $7,000
Application Deadline: January 13, 2006
The 2006 Healthy Lifestyles Grant Program offers approximately 24 grants of up to $7,500 to 4-H/Extension Programs to foster community-based, innovative and fun programs to address reversing the climbing trend of overweight and obesity among young people ages 5-12. The grants can be used to fund new programs or enhanced/expanded current programs that include information on nutrition, physical activity and healthy lifestyle choices through the formation of youth-adult partnerships and community collaboration. Plans must include involving and educating family members through personal participation, information and activities in nutrition, health and physical activities. A public awareness and outreach campaign must be initiated to increase community awareness of youth obesity issues and the benefits of fitness, nutrition and healthy living.
Grants are offered only to 4-H/Extension Programs within the United States and its territories. The 4-H/Extension office must be the fiscal agent for the program. Previous awardees can apply with a modified or expanded program. If you are not a part of 4-H, we encourage you to contact your local Cooperative Extension Office and become a project collaborator!
The application can be found at http://www.fourhcouncil.edu/GrantsHealthyLifestyles.aspx. Click on "2006 Application" at the bottom of the page under "Related Links" to open or download the application. Completed applications are due January 13, 2006. If you have any questions, email jleatherman@fourhcouncil.edu. (JoAnne Leatherma, National 4-H Council
The brochure for this event is attached. Please note that registration (and other forms) and payment is being collected through the Washington County Extension Office. Registration deadline is January 27, 2005. For more information, please contact Katie Eide at keide@vt.edu or (276) 608-8413. (Barry Garst)
Other Character Counts! Resources Needed
Please share ideas at gmsnyder@vt.edu (Glenda M. Snyder)
Please promote this opportunity to interested families and school systems in your unit. (Andrea Johnson)
Virginia Cooperative Extension has developed the America's Anniversary Garden to help individuals, communities, and groups mark America's 400th Anniversary with a signature garden planting. The signature gardens will have red, white, and blue color schemes. All across Virginia, city and town entrance corridors, public gardens, sidewalk containers, hanging baskets, residential lawns, and other forms of gardens and landscapes will display the colorful theme in 2006 and 2007.
4-H Clubs should consider planting an America's Anniversary Garden as a service project in their communities. Doing the planting on National & Global Youth Service Day set for April 21-23, 2006 would be great timing! For more information about the garden see VCE pub 426-210. (Joe Hunnings)
This event will be a rewarding, hands-on experience for youth interested in science activities. Participants may register at a cost of $70.00 which includes all activities planned for both Friday and Saturday, March 24-25, 2006. All interested individuals should contact Airfield 4-H Center at (757) 899-4901 to request registration information. The registration deadline for participants is March 17, 2006. (Andrea Johnson)
For more information, please visit this website: http://www.4hcenter.org and click on the "Wonders Of Washington" and then "Program Assistant" links. Although the Application Deadline is the end of this week, we will accept applications until the positions have been filled.
There is also a summer term of this internship. Summer Program Assistants work with our Citizenship Washington Focus program. The summer term runs from May until August, and the deadline for applications is January 30. Late applications will not be considered for this term.
These internships are a great opportunity for Collegiate 4-H Members to continue their involvement with the 4-H Movement and use their passions and skills at another level.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at 301.347.3817 or mweber@fourhcouncil.edu (Maren E. Weber, Staff Assistant, Citizenship Washington Focus, Wonders of Washington)
Three major 4-H leader training sessions were conducted Friday, November 11, at the Albemarle/Charlottesville Extension officeÑBasic First Aid, Animal Science Learning Laboratory Kits, Healthy Water Healthy People and Homeschool Families and 4-H: A Perfect Fit. Seventy-six volunteers attended these sessions, and the evaluations scores were 4.80, 4.83, 4.33, and 4.71 respectively, on a scale of 1-5 with 5 being the highest.
The overall Fall Conference Evaluation Results received a 4.26 rating out of a possible 5.00, while the overall workshop speakers were rated 4.38, and the workshop offerings were rated 4.46. Congratulations to the Northern District for conducting a very successful Fall Conference of VAA4-HVL.
The Spring Conference is scheduled for March 18-19, 2006 at the Holiday Inn in Bristol, Virginia. Registration information will be available soon. (Bob Cline)
The Open Doors Awards recognize 4-H volunteers who are involved in 4-H Afterschool programming in their communities with cash awards for their commitment to 4-H. These volunteers help to train after-school program staff, increase the use of 4-H curricula in after-school programs, organize 4-H clubs in after-school programs, provide 4-H activities to youth in after-school program, and work with other JCPenney Afterschool Fund partners, including Boys & Girls Clubs of America, YMCA, Junior Achievement, and/or the Afterschool Alliance.
Congratulations to Beverly Holmberg of North, Va ; Virginia's awardee
The work of the 25 volunteer winners ranges from gardening to technology to agricultural education, reaching between 1,500 and 2,000 youth in rural, urban and suburban areas.
4-H Afterschool trains after-school educators to develop quality programs and collaborate with other youth organizations to create safe after-school communities for children across America in which youth learn leadership, citizenship and life skills. Visit 4husa.org or 4hafterschool.org for more information about 4-H and 4-H Afterschool.
The JCPenney Afterschool Fund is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that supports programs designed to keep kids safely and constructively engaged during out-of-school time. The Fund's contributions allow for the creation and continuance of Afterschool programs aimed at the academic, physical and social development of children throughout the United States. (Joseph R. Hunnings)
Director's Letter
Calendar of Events
To Table of Contents...