| Volume XXVI Edition IV | April 2009 |
I have appreciated the e-mail messages that have been circulating to provide a synopsis of local Extension efforts to assist families during the current economic crisis. I would hope that we could all begin now to think about the current economic crisis and what that means to individual families of 4-H members. I don’t believe it’s too early to have discussions with 4-H Councils and volunteers in our system to remember that learning occurs in our programs through a process, and not necessarily as a result of an exhibit on display at the county fair.
Many of us have not lived through times where the economy was so uncertain, nor have we known so many people who find themselves with reduced work hours, in a layoff situation, or in an unemployment line. What I do think we should remind ourselves and our volunteers of, is that the young people with whom we work have absolutely no control over the family’s economic situation. For this reason, I believe we are entering a time when we need to be as flexible and understanding as we can possibly be, and above all else we (Extension staff) should be advocating on behalf of the young people with whom we work.
Limited resources and family budgets may mean that young people will have difficulty fulfilling project enrollment commitments or even having the transportation required to attend meetings. I am dismayed at how many questions we still receive regarding “required” meetings in order to participate in activities, exhibit a project, receive an award or placing, sell in the auction, attend a camp or conference, etc. What do these requirements do to provide our members with a caring environment to which they may belong?
Perhaps now is a good time to brainstorm with our co-workers and volunteers about how we can be even more inclusive, supportive, and encouraging to our 4-H members, their families, and their communities. What if…
These are just a few examples. The 4-H family is highly creative…let’s ask their opinions and see what we can all do to support each other in these difficult economic times! Thank you for maintaining a positive attitude. Working together we can make the 4-H program a positive influence for all involved!
- Renée McKee, State 4-H Program Leader
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SAVE THE DATE
Just a reminder of the dates for the Fall Youth Staff Retreat/Update…. We will be convening September 30 and October 1 at the Beck Center (West Lafayette) with overnight accommodations at the University Plaza (former University Inn). This will be 2 full days of meetings including an evening program. Plan now to attend!
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You are invited to participate in an ESI - Entrepreneurship Investigation Update Webinar.
When: April 20th from 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM EST
Where: Your Computer
What: This webinar will provide an overview of the ESI - Entrepreneurship Investigation youth entrepreneurship curriculum. ESI was introduced to Indiana communities his past year in joint effort of the Purdue University Center for Regional Development, 4-H Youth Development, Purdue University, the Indiana Council for Economic Education (ICEE), and the Indiana Department of Education. This webinar will feature a discussion of two implementation strategies, the ESI "boot camp" for students and a middle school classroom implementation. There will be time for questions and discussion of next steps. This session is open to current ESI facilitators (teachers, extension, community members) and those who might be interested in using the materials.
How to Register:
Register on-line at http://www.econed-in.org/workshop_details.asp?ID=355
Instructions on how to access the webinar will be e-mailed no later than one business day after receiving your registration.
If you are unable to attend, you may submit a question or comment in advance by e-mailing it to Jeff Sanson (jjsanson@purdue.edu) by April 19th.
Do You Need a Program Idea That Deals With Finances for a Teen Audience?
Budget Busters is an activity that allows students to understand the importance of budgeting and managing their finances in a game format. Created by Laurie Sula, Elkhart County for the Volunteer IN Toolkit …. You’ll find instructions for the activity at the following website:
http://www.four-h.purdue.edu/volunteer/toolkit08.html
Scroll down to the Life Skills Development Section and look for the Budget Busters Instructions, Score Sheets and Game Cards
ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS
The Indiana 4-H Foundation
The Indiana 4-H Foundation Annual Meeting was held March 20, 2009 at the Hamilton County Extension Office in Noblesville. Retiring board members Annie Watts and Ed Nagel were recognized and thanked for their service and support of Indiana 4-H.
Jean Maxwell, Dean DeVoe, and Lynn Moore were elected as new members of the Foundation Board. Current members re-elected to a second three year term were Carolyn Torr Elliott, Dorinda Lawson, Steve Bechman, and Julia Wickard.
On behalf of the board, Annie Watts presented a plaque to Dr. Robert Abel of Elkhart County that had hung in the Foundation Office when Doc was Foundation President. Doc Abel has provided leadership in promoting 4-H for Indiana youth in his county and the state. Doc related his 50 plus years of experience with 4-H to the people attending the annual meeting. His story of 4-H youth involvement and the difference it makes in kids’ lives was an inspiration to all. He inspires all to get involved with their county 4-H programs that provide leadership and citizenship learning experiences for youth.
Youth Extension Agents Naomi Bechtold, Jeff Jones, Phyllis Harris, Claudia Guerin, Jim Becker, and Tony Carrell briefed attendees of the annual meeting on the 4-H SET Mission Mandate. The audience was very interested in how the SET initiative was being implemented at the county level, Last year’s annual meeting had a presentation by Roger Tormoehlen on the SET initiative before implementation started. Two attendees, retired educators, commented later how great it was to hear about the implementation plans from the youth educators.
- Nola Gentry, President, Indiana 4-H Foundation
Educating 4-H Youth for a Knowledge Economy and Global Reality
Sometimes when we think of international or global education, myths arise. This could be that global education is only for youth who will live or work overseas. Another myth is that global education is only for youth that enter a college-track career path. But the truth is that we are training youth to become part of a knowledge society. One in which they are likely to be more mobile in life and job, and have to work with diverse audiences – more than previous generations.
BUT … Even if students never leave Indiana they will .....
* negotiate with
* live with
* go to school with
* supervise
* work for people who …
* weren’t born here.
* for whom English is a new language.
* may need help understanding our American and Hoosier business culture.
With the difficult economy, it might be out of the question for some youth to experience an overseas global experience. But they can still have a great global experience by hosting a youth from another country – for the cost of a bed and meals. We are still in need of approximately 15 host youth/families for our summer Japanese homestay program. Dates for the program are July 23 – August 15. If you have questions or would like an application or brochures, please call the State Office at 765-494-8433.
- Lee Stanish
4-H Shooting Sports Education
We just completed the Spring 4-H Shooting Sports Education certification workshop. The list of newly certified instructors will be included in the May CCC.
- Natalie Carroll
Arbor Day – April 24
The Indiana State Museum's Arbor Day Celebration is filled with educational activities and ecological fun. See the IN State Museum website, www.in.gov/ism/PublicPrograms/SpecialEvents/arborday.aspx, for information.
- Natalie Carroll
Operation: Military Kids
Month of the Military Child
In 1986, Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger designated April as Month of the Military Child, a time when each branch of the military service recognizes the sacrifices made by the children of parents who are serving our country. When a parent serves their country, their children serve too. Over 1 million youth currently have at least one parent serving in the military on active duty and the deployments of our National Guard and Reserve members have increased significantly. These families endure long separations and often are required to move multiple times during their parent’s service.
Operation: Military Kids (OMK) is designed and dedicated to support military children and their families throughout the year, but the month of the child reminds us of the special sacrifices made by children of military family members. Thanks to many Extension staff and community volunteers, Indiana has proudly dedicated hundreds of hours of time to recognize our young heroes.
We hear many heartfelt and emotional thank yous from military parents on behalf of their children and know many of you have heard them as well. The common theme is that the children are first surprised and then pleased that people they don’t know cared enough to show them that they too are heroes. Please help us thank those volunteers who made all of this possible so we can celebrate together the Month of the Military Child.
In planning ahead, we have received requests to provide 2-3 hours of activities for children at deployment events. The current schedule is:
* April 19, 9:00 a.m., Ft. Harrison, Indianapolis
* April 26, 12 p.m., Stout Field, Indianapolis
* May 2, 10:00 a.m., Muscatatuck, North Vernon
* May 17, 9 a.m., Stout Field, Indianapolis
We have received filled Hero Packs and some offers for assistance with activities at these events, but we anticipate that requests will be ongoing. So if you know of volunteers interested in assisting in some way with OMK, please continue to let us know. On behalf of our military families, we thank you for your past involvement and for your consideration of future volunteer opportunities.
Military Family Research Institute (MFRI) and Operation: Military Kids (OMK)?
What is the relationship between these two organizations? Are the local calls we receive about MFRI community meetings related to calls we receive asking for assistance with OMK? These are some of the questions we are hearing from field staff, so hopefully it will be helpful if we briefly explain the purpose of each program and how the combined resources can help military children and their families around the state.
Military Family Research Institute (MFRI) is a research and outreach organization based at Purdue, funded by the Lilly Endowment, the Office of Military Community and Family Policy in the Department of Defense, and others. The mission is to conduct studies that provide insight into the experiences of military members and their families, and to design and implement outreach activities that assist military families in Indiana and beyond. An important way to reach out to these families is to build relationships with partners in both the military and civilian communities, particularly in local communities.
Sheri Dunn-Ramsay, Training Specialist with MFRI, is inviting county individuals and organizations to come together periodically to assess the needs of local military families and to look for ways to combine their resources to meet those needs. At these community meetings Sheri also provides information about the various programs available through most County Extension Offices and encourages people to participate in those programs.
Operation: Military Kids (OMK) is an outreach and support initiative for the children of military families created through a collaborative venture between the U.S. Army and National 4-H. Army funds pay for one full time equivalent staff position in each state and for supplies necessary to implement the following core components:
The Extension system nationwide, as well as in Indiana, was identified as the best and most appropriate delivery system for these services because of our location in local communities and our work with local volunteers who can and have been the key to implementing these OMK activities.
As you can see, MFRI and OMK are funded and organized differently and have a different purpose and mission, but we have the same general purpose of supporting military families. In Extension we know how vitally important it is to collaborate with other community groups in meeting a variety of community needs. MFRI and OMK want to provide some resources and to collaborate with you and other local groups in meeting the needs of military families, with OMK particularly focused on the needs of the children from military families.
Please continue to feel free to contact Steve or Judy if you have additional questions as we all work together to meet local client needs.
- Judy Hauser and Steve McKinley
Scales & Tails Fest – Indiana State Museum
The 4th Annual Scales & Tails Fest – A Celebration of Pets will be held at the Indiana State Museum on Saturday, June 13, from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
A promotional flyer for this event is available below if you would like to share it with your 4-H members and volunteers.
Download promotional flyer
- Steve McKinley
“Take Control…Take Your Leadership to the Next Level” – 78th State 4-H Junior Leader Conference
Registrations have started to arrive for the 78th State 4-H Junior Leader Conference to be held June 16-19, 2009 at the University of Indianapolis. The registration fee of $160 per person is due by May 15. Again this year all registrations may be completed electronically via ED. Payment may be submitted along with the 2009 4-H Jr. Leader Conference Registration Form.
Download registration form
Delegates should be Jr. Leaders who have completed grades 9-12. More information about the conference is available on at: http://www.four-h.purdue.edu/sjlc/index.html. Thank you for your assistance with recruiting participants for this excellent leadership development experience!
- Steve McKinley
Animal Sciences Workshop for Youth
The following paragraph was listed in the March CCC. Unfortunately the link to the videotape did not work. Thanks to Craig Personett and Richard Fox, the link has been repaired and the URL listed below now works.
The Animal Sciences Workshop for Youth committee is busy making plans for the 37th annual workshop to be held June 10-12, 2009 on the Purdue University campus. Registrations are due by May 15th. If you are already planning to send youth to the 2009 Animal Sciences Workshop for Youth, you can disregard this request. If not, how about using the videotape I distributed at the 2001 Youth Staff Retreat to promote this year's workshop? This tape would be very appropriate for a 4-H club meeting, after school presentation or a single youth who needs some motivation to attend this summer’s workshop. Youth can also access this videotape at: http://www.four-h.purdue.edu/livestock/events.htm. From here, they can click on “Livestock Workshop Video.”
Thanks for all you do for Indiana youth!
- Clint Rusk
PQA Certification and Country of Origin Labeling
As many of you are aware, one of the annual challenges at the county fair is finding a buyer to take the market animals after the show. We face the same challenge at the Indiana State Fair. For the past several years, Tyson Fresh Meats, Inc. in Logansport has purchased the 4-H hogs at the Indiana State Fair. In order to maintain a good working relationship with Tyson, I have been in communication with Tony Roser, who works in the procurement department at Tyson. Last year, Tony accepted our animal affidavit to meet Tyson’s requirement for disclosing drugs that had been administered to hogs. This year, Tyson is requiring PQA certification from all of its suppliers, as well as documentation to meet the federally mandated Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) program.
In order to meet these requirements, I have implemented two new changes:
1. I added wording to the animal affidavit (4-H 836) to meet the COOL requirement. By signing the affidavit, the 4-H member is now affirming that their animal(s) was/were born, fed and raised in the United States of America. The updated animal affidavit is available here. Please use this version of 4-H 836 to replace the version I included in the January CCC.
2. All 4-H swine members who exhibit hogs at the 2009 Indiana State Fair (barrows and or gilts) will be required to be Youth PQA PLUS certified.
Most of you are already conducting Youth PQA PLUS training. Those who are not will at least need to certify your 4-H swine members who plan to exhibit hogs at the Indiana State Fair. If you had not planned to conduct Youth PQA PLUS training this year, you may want to work something out with a neighboring county so your 4-H swine members can become PQA certified.
I am asking that you place the words “PQA Certified” somewhere on the yellow copy of the swine enrollment forms before you pass them out to your swine members headed to the State Fair. If you only have a few swine exhibitors that show at State Fair, you may choose to write “PQA Certified” on the yellow copy of the animal enrollment form. If you have a large number of State Fair bound swine exhibitors, you may wish to have a stamp made that says “PQA Certified.” On next year’s swine enrollment forms, I will add verbiage at the bottom so your signature (after the county fair auction) verifies PQA certification.
Thanks for implementing these changes. I know I have added more to your “to do” list and for that I am sorry.
- Clint Rusk
“Your Golden Ticket to Leadership” - Indiana State Fair Youth Leadership Conference
Registrations are due by July 1st for the Indiana State Fair Youth Leadership Conference to be held August 4-9 at the Indiana State Fairgrounds. Registrations are $125 per person and may be completed electronically through ED. Payment may be submitted along with the 2009 Indiana State Fair Youth Leadership Conference Registration Form.
Download the 2009 Indiana State Fair Youth Leadership Conference registration form
More information about ISFYLC is available on the conference Web site: http://www.four-h.purdue.edu/isfyl.
- Steve McKinley
PROJECT CURRICULUM AND RESOURCES
Natural Resource Exhibits
Do you get questions about how to make an exhibit or what “the judges are looking for?” See the Indiana 4-H Natural Resource project pages at:
www.four-h.purdue.edu/natural_resources/4h.html
You will find links to pictures of Indiana State Fair exhibits. If you follow the project links you will find a brief introduction to the project, FAQs, notes, and resources.
- Natalie Carroll
Entomology
The current supply of 4-H 6853b packet (on your shelf) contains: insect mounting card for Grade 3 (4-H-15-20D); Order cards (4-H-15-20B) and ID label cards (4-H-15-20E). Therefore, your current stock of the envelope can be used for Grade 3, and Grades 9 - 12.
Exhibit cards required for 2009 State Fair Exhibits:
| Grade | Exhibit Card required |
3 |
ID 401A (card is the same as previous 4-H-15-20D) Old stock may be used |
4 |
ID 401B (New exhibit card) |
5 |
ID 401C (New exhibit card) |
6 |
ID 401D (New exhibit card) |
7 |
ID 401E (New exhibit card) |
8 |
ID 401F (New exhibit card) |
- Natalie Carroll
VOLUNTEER DEVELOPMENT
National Volunteer Week: April 19-25
As a reminder, the March 2009 CCC contained a National Volunteer Week packet to help you recognize volunteers in your program. This year’s National Volunteer Week will be held from April 19-25.
- Steve McKinley
“VolunteerIN, 4-H Toolkit for Success” Training Series
Thanks to all of the staff and volunteers who participated in the March 10 IP Video event to introduce the 2009 VolunteerIN, 4-H Toolkit for Success lesson plans! 20 sites and 142 people participated in this year’s program.
Special thanks to those who prepared for and presented the program: Kathleen Koch, Amy Johnson, Jane Richard, Alice Alderson, Lana Frazier, Lori Bouslog, Brian Howell, Jeff Nagle, Randy Brown, and Beth Leonhard.
A streaming video of the March 10 session is now posted on the front page of the State 4-H Web site: http://www.four-h.purdue.edu/. Feel free to utilize this video for additional volunteer programs that you may have in your county or invite your volunteers to view the program on their own. If you would like to lead the IP session on your own, a lesson plan has been provided in the mailing you received back in January with the VolunteerIN CD. All of the lesson plan materials are also posted on the State 4-H Web site at: http://www.four-h.purdue.edu/volunteer/toolkit09.html. At this site you will also find a version of the video that you can save to your computer or a disk to view without Internet connection.
The Volunteer Development Committee will soon be planning topics for lesson plans to be included in the 2010 VolunteerIN materials. If you have suggestions for lessons on the Generosity concept, please forward those to us or your area committee representative.
Thanks for your continued support!
- Steve McKinley
4-H Volunteer Vision
The April “4-H Volunteer Vision” is available here for your use with volunteers.
- Steve McKinley
2009 North Central Region Volunteer Forum
The 2009 North Central Region Volunteer Forum will be held October 1-4, in Lincoln, NE. Preliminary information regarding the Forum is located on the Nebraska 4-H Web site at: http://4h.unl.edu/volunteers/forum.htm
More information will be available in the coming months.
- Steve McKinley