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Staff News & Notes - Week of August 30, 2010
Hi,
Earlier today I was reviewing the archives of our Staff News and Notes in search of information for another matter when I stumbled on what I had written for the November 16, 2009 issue. I smiled a little because I had made a prediction, and you will smile too (and not a happy smile) when I share what I wrote:
“… for 2009 … 4-H in Ohio has been fairly ‘normal’. … I anticipate 2010 to be the real challenge. If we learn how we can work through the funding issues that will be thrown at us in the next six months, we will be better for it in the years to follow.”
The reason for my wry smile is that we have not yet seen the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel as far as funding issues. In recent weeks I have even found myself saying that, “2011 will be the real challenge.” The funding challenges have continued for more than the last nine months.
As I visit with individually with 4-H Professionals, meet with 4-H older youth in the Ohio 4-H Teen Advisory Council, and even as recent as last Thursday when I met via WebEx with 4-H Professionals in one of the EERAs, things seem ‘fairly normal” again for 2010 as far as local programming. We are a long way from having final 2010 statistics provided by the E237 report, but more people have stated increases in 4-H numbers to me than decreases, particularly when referring to 4-H Camps.
I am not so naïve that I do not know that some county situations could be described as ‘dire’. We have one county with no 4-H, and probably three or four more counties in jeopardy. Not having 4-H youth development opportunities in all counties in Ohio has not been the case since the expansion years of 4-H in the 30s and 40s. Virtually all counties are facing some degree of Extension budget reduction.
But the continued dedication and professionalism of 4-H and other Extension personnel to provide continuing and innovative youth programming throughout Ohio is inspiring.
I have three conclusions. First, I am not very good at predictions, so you should look somewhere else for fortune telling. Second, none of us know when, if ever, ‘funding’ will not be an issue. And third, Ohio 4-H Professionals can expand 4-H youth development ideas and programming, even in the face of adversity.
Thanks,
Tom
Youth Representatives for Ohio 4-H Foundation Board
We need to identify two older youth (up through college age) who can serve on the Ohio 4-H Foundation Board. These are three-year terms, 2011-2013.
Youth Members are asked to attend two face-to-face 4-H Foundation Board meetings a year (October and May), plus serve on committees that would meet intermittently, usually by conference call. Of course, those youth who are good thinkers and who would not be intimidated to speak up in a group of adults to share their ideas would be the best choices. Please let Tom, archer.3@cfaes.osu.edu , know by September 17, 2010, by submitting names and contact information, which includes an email address. Once a list of potential candidates is identified, a short application will be sent to nominees to complete.
OSF Unclaimed Awards
A listing of Ohio State Fair unclaimed ribbons/trophies can be found at: www.ohio4h.org/aauck. Please review the list for 4-H’ers from your county that won at the state fair and did not claim their award. Please let Allen Auck, auck.1@cfaes.osu.edu, know if someone from your office will be in Columbus in the upcoming weeks so you can pick up the award.
SAVE the DATE
Ohio 4-H CARTEEN Conference
Saturday, November 6, 2010
Ohio Highway Patrol Academy
9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Registration Opens October 1, 2010
A Note From Jim Jordan
Ohio 4-H CARTEENS
It looks like teen crashes and fatalities are on the rise in Ohio again, this based on a report from Lt. Wayne Price, Hamilton Post State Highway Patrol.
There was a sever crash last week on I-675 east of Dayton involving a 19-year-old young man from Mason, OH who hit a guard rail went airborne and hit a concrete pillar holding a bridge.
View the video and possibly use it at your 4-H CARTEENS program or with your older 4-H youth groups about reckless operation. http://www.wdtn.com/dpp/on_your_side/crash-shuts-down-interstate-675
Two weeks before a 16-year-old Lakota East HS student was clocked going 120 mph at I-75 and 129 (Butler Regional Highway). State Highway Patrol chased him and he went up to 130 mph, hit a concrete barrier on I-75 lost control and went under a semi-truck parked at the rest stop. Middletown Journal News (Cox Publishing) covered it since it happened at Monroe, OH.
Farmers Can Enter 4-H Clubs From Your County to Win $2,500.00
The America’s Farmers Grow Communities Project is a program, sponsored by the Monsanto Fund, to support farming communities by offering farmers the opportunity to register to win $2,500 for their favorite community charity.
It only takes about five minutes to apply.
Eligible farmers can fill out an entry form at www.growcommunities.com or by calling 1-877-267-3332 to receive a copy of the entry form and rules.
This third phase of the project will include counties where there are at least 30,000 acres of corn, soybeans or cotton all across the nation (the previous threshold was 50,000 acres). The grants are randomly selected per county and the program will run from September 1 through December 31, 2010. Just as before, the process is very simple where farmers spend 2-3 minutes on growcommunities.com website and enter their name and preferred organization. No purchase is required and it’s simply a way for them to give back to their local communities. A random drawing of one registered farmer from each county will result in $2,500 going to that farmer’s designated organization.
Ohio counties eligible include: Adams, Allen, Ashland, Ashtabula, Auglaize, Brown, Butler, Champaign, Clark, Clermont, Clinton, Columbiana, Coshocton, Crawford, Darke, Defiance, Delaware, Erie, Fairfield, Fayette, Franklin, Fulton, Greene, Hancock, Hardin, Henry, Highland, Holmes, Huron, Knox, Licking, Logan, Lorain, Lucas, Madison, Marion, Medina, Mercer, Miami, Montgomery, Morrow, Ottawa, Paulding, Perry, Pickaway, Portage, Preble, Putnam, Richland, Ross, Sandusky, Seneca, Shelby, Stark, Trumbull, Tuscarawas, Union, Van Wert, Warren, Wayne, Williams, Wood, and Wyandot.
Please spread the word to farmers in your eligible county.
North Central Region Volunteer Forum Early Bird Registration Deadline Extended
The North Central Region Volunteer Forum is a great opportunity for your volunteers and Extension Staff to gain some new ideas from 4-H volunteers from other states! Conference information and registration materials are available for the October 7 – 10, 2010 event, to be held at the Kellogg Hotel & Conference Center at Michigan State University.
Conference information can be found at http://web1.msue.msu.edu/cyf/youth/ncr4hvf/index.html.
Early bird registration is $200 if received by September 15th; $250 for registrations received thereafter.
Community Involvement Idea for Local 4-H Clubs
“Project Citizen” is a series of lessons which involves a group of youth (grades 5-12) in a series of structured, cooperative learning activities which are guided by instructors or adult volunteers. Working on cooperative teams, youth learn to interact with their government by using a six step process: [1] Identify a problem to study; [2] Gather information; [3] Examine solutions; [4] Develop a public policy; [5] Develop an action plan; and [6] Culminating activities. http://www.oclre.org/projectcitizen/.
Sets of “Project Citizen” materials are available at no cost upon request. “Project Citizen” has primarily been an in-school effort in Ohio. However, other states have successfully used this curriculum with community 4-H clubs. The Ohio Center for Law-Related Education provides the resources in Ohio. This is the same organization that coordinates the Mock Trial program. It has potential for being an excellent community involvement program for community 4-H clubs, county 4-H Junior Leadership groups, or state teen leader efforts. For more information on becoming involved with “Project Citizen” please contact Addie Natalie , program coordinator at 1-877-485-3510 or anatalie@oclre.org.
National Science Foundation (NSF) Workshop
September 21 in Toledo
An NSF Day workshop at the University of Toledo, Dana Conference Center, is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. on Tuesday, September 21, with registration closing on September 13. This workshop is primarily designed for researchers and educators less experienced in proposing to the NSF. Organizers hope that events such as this will stimulate new interest in NSF programs at institutions that have not been among their traditional customers.
The workshop will provide an overview of the Foundation, its mission, priorities, and budget. It will cover the NSF proposal and merit review process and NSF programs that cut across disciplines. Additionally, representatives from the seven NSF directorates (which includes Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences), and the Office of International Science and Engineering and the Office of Cyber infrastructure will make presentations on their programs and will also be available informally and in breakout sessions for discussions of potential research proposals. The National Science Foundation is charged with keeping our nation's science and engineering enterprise healthy, dynamic, and relevant and with advancing science, mathematics, engineering, and technology.
If there are any 4-H Professionals interested in attending, contact Tom Archer, archer .3@cfaes.osu.edu. The State 4-H Office will support the registration fee ($25) and mileage to this workshop, depending on how many are interested. They do have space limitations, so make your decision soon.
Youth and Youth Educator Grant Opportunity
http://www.sare.org/ncrsare/youth.htm
NCR-SARE Youth & Youth Educator Grants-Youth Grant Program. Grants are intended to provide opportunities for youth in the North Central Region to learn more about Sustainable Agriculture: farming and ranching that is ecologically sound, profitable, and socially responsible. Please note that 21st Century Farming involves growing food and fiber and can include market gardens and urban agriculture. The deadline for the 2010 Youth and Youth Educator Grant proposals is Friday, January 14, 2011. Youth and Youth Educator grants are an exciting new part of the Farmer Rancher Grant program. Their purpose is to provide opportunities for youth in the North Central Region to learn more about Sustainable Agriculture. There are two options:
Option #1. YOUTH GRANTS. These are grants for on-farm research, demonstration, or education projects by youth ages 8-18. Research and demonstration projects are for hands-on efforts to explore sustainable agriculture issues and practices. Education projects can involve teaching others about sustainable agriculture or attending a sustainable agriculture conference, workshop, or camp. $400 maximum.
Option #2. YOUTH EDUCATOR GRANTS. These are grants for educators to provide programming on sustainable agriculture for youth. $2,000 maximum.
E-mail for more information: jbenjamin2@unl.edu
SAVE THE DATE!
2010 Sports Nutrition Conference: Fueling Fitness and Performance
Hosted by: The University of Arizona Cooperative Extension and the Department of Nutritional Science
October 29, 2010
University of Arizona
Tucson, Arizona
8:00 am-5:00 pm
For more information and registration visit:
http://cals.arizona.edu/nutrition/sports_conference/
Contact: Erin Nurss, MPH (520) 621-9344, or Theresa Spicer (520) 621-7126
For those who are planning to come to Phoenix for the National Association of Extension 4-H Agents' annual conference October 24-28th, here is another opportunity to extend your stay by a couple of days and see some of Tucson and the University of Arizona.
National 4-H Conference Operations Team
Being part of the National 4-H Conference Operations Team —made up of youth and adults —will give you the opportunity to help shape this year’s program. The Operations Team is responsible for organizing conference events and developing the core ideas that underlie the days’activities. Most importantly, the team plays a key role in helping to create a sense of community at the conference and encouraging peers to turn their ideas into action.
If you are a 4-H member, currently in high school, previously attended National 4-H Conference and are interested in the dynamic opportunity, we encourage you apply. The application deadline is extended to September 7, 2010.
National 4-H Conference Operations Team application can be found at http://4hconf.4-h.org/operationsteam.aspx
Ohio 4-H Celebration Of Youth
September 24, 2010
Tickets are on sale now through September 10th ($100 per adult or $35 for university enrollees and minors). Tax deductible sponsorships remain available until the end of August. Contact the Ohio 4-H Foundation, 614-292-6943; 4hfoundation@cfaes.osu.edu or visit www.ohio4h.org/foundation to make your reservations today!
