Resources for Staff

Staff News & Notes - Week of 1.21.2008

Dear Colleagues:

    Last week, you should have received an email with all the details for the Got Green 4-H professionals in-service.  The planning committee has worked hard to put together a high quality professional development program to meet current and emerging needs of 4-H professionals.  February 4-5 will also be a great opportunity to network with your colleagues both formally and informally!  More information about the Action Teams and Strategy Committees is included in this update. We hope to see you there!

    Over the past couple of years, the State 4-H Office has changed significantly in terms of the number of faculty and staff and their respective focus.  We know that many of our faculty/staff make themselves available to assist with county programs, conduct educational training programs, and to help answer questions that come into our office.  In the coming weeks, we will be providing additional information on our faculty/staff so that you may become better acquainted with them and know their individual specialization or focus area.  In the meantime, should you have specific questions  or requests and do not know who to contact or are simply trying to identify individual(s) to assist with a specific program, feel free to contact either of us (Ryan or Vicki) or Lisa Jinks (jinks.2@osu.edu), Administrative Assistant and we’ll be glad to help!

    In our continued effort to recognize individuals who have helped make the Nationwide & Ohio Farm Bureau 4-H Center possible, we want to highlight the contributions of Bea Cleveland and Chuck Lifer.  Both Bea and Chuck provided great insight into the process, identified potential contributors, contributed, and offered words of encouragement throughout.  Ohio 4-H is very fortunate and proud to have both Bea and Chuck as active contributors to the program and thank them for all that they have done!

Have a great week!

Ryan & Vicki
Interim Co-Assistant Directors &
Associate State 4-H Leaders

4-H Office Address Change

Please use the following address for our office:

              2201 Fred Taylor Drive
              Columbus, Ohio 43210

All phone numbers and fax numbers remain the same! All fax and phone lines are now working!

Ohio State Fair Assistant Superintendent Needed

An individual is needed to work with the 4-H State Fair Superintendent to provide overall coordination for the 4-H Home Decorating Event at the 2008 Ohio State Fair including overall planning, hiring judges, recruiting and orientating volunteers, conducting the assigned event, and providing feedback and evaluation data.  Flexible hours; before the Ohio State Fair event; full-time commitment during the Ohio State Fair Home Decorating Event.  A stipend is provided. Please contact Allen Auck or Ryan Schmiesing is you are interested!

Ohio 4-H Teen Conference & Ohio 4-H Volunteer Conference

Teen Conference
The deadline for registering individuals for the upcoming Teen Conference is Friday, February 2.  The on-line registration for the 2008 Ohio 4-H Teen Conference is live and ready to accept registrations.  Please access the following web site to register teens for the conference - Click Here!  The user name is:  volconf.  The passcode is ovc04.

Registration materials can be found on the Teen Conference web page.

Volunteer Conference
Click here to go to the registration booklet and registration form which is in pdf format so that you can print and distribute information to your county volunteers.

Just a reminder that Friday, February 15, is the deadline for registering volunteers to attend the 2008 Ohio 4-H Volunteer Conference.  When a session is full, the number will no longer appear on the list of choices.  For example, when you attempt to register someone for Session 302, you won't see the session number as an option, once the session is full. The on-line registration is available here.
 
The user name is:  volconf.  The password is:  ovc04

Please contact Vicki Schwartz or Allen Auck if you have questions.

GT GREEN?

The State 4-H In-service on February 4 & 5 is fast approaching!!  Have you registered yet?  If not, go here to register today!!!

On February 5th the State 4-H In-service will focus on Strategy Committees and Actions Teams.  Many ideas for teams have already been suggested; do you have an idea??  Below is a brief overview. 

From Priority Teams to….Strategy Committees and Action Teams

Thanks to all who were involved with the Priority Teams.  Those groups served the organization well for three years, moving us forward programmatically.  So what next?  After several discussions with individual and a small advisory group of colleagues, we will be looking at two levels of statewide involvement in visionary and action oriented groups. 

Strategy Committees will be broad groups with a similar interest, such as delivery methods or audiences, and will help us as an organization maintain the bigger picture of that topic, will be in tune with future trends, and will provide advice in Ohio’s directions.  Many of the former Priority Teams could continue as Strategy Committees.

Action Teams are targeted on developing and/or designing specific deliverables to be shared with the organization.  They will be one or two years in duration.  Planning forms at the in-service will enable these teams to report plans for what programs, in-services, and resources will be developed during their involvement.  For example:  Under the Volunteer Strategy Committee there are tentatively Action teams for Committee Education and Volunteer Recognition. 

How to start a Strategy Committee and/or Action Team?  Let Vicki know the plan.  So far these are the teams she’s heard about…

Officer Materials – developing more to accompany the new materials from Kansas. Contact Travis West.
Committee Education – lessons to be used with advisory committees. Contact Carolyn Wilson and/or Jackie Krieger
CARTEENS - resources and supportive services to help counties develop and maintain this program. Contact Jim Jordan
Camp Board Management- to identify resources and management practices for 4H professionals whose service on camp boards include managing facilities and staff. Contact Jane Keyser.
Counselor Training Materials – to develop and/or collect additional teaching materials for use with training 4H camp counselors, Contact Cassie Turner.
Science, Engineering and Technology – building these resources into county programs. Contact Sally McClaskey & Ed Werner
After School – designing opportunities for bringing this delivery method to your county and ideas for training. Contact Kate Gross.
Emerging Technology – The Technology of communicating more effectively.  (This may actually be a Strategy Committee to be determined.) Contact Mark Light.

Do you want to start a new Action Team?  Share your plans with Vicki let her know your ideas, who is likely interested, and she’ll get that team on the agenda for the in-service.

CWF Delegate Information

The delegate information sheet for CWF delegates is here. As the trip gets closer, you will find useful information posted to the website to prepare your 4-H’ers for the trip to Washington.

Subscribe to the Journal of Extension

All 4-H professionals are encourage to subscribe to the Journal of Extension (JOE)….it is free!  Please go to the website www.joe.org and click on the “subscribe” link so that you may provide the necessary information to receive the journal each time it is published.  Ohio State University Extension pays a fee every other year in support of our professional journal, thus making it available to each of you!

4-H Day at OSU Women's Basketball Game

Ohio 4-H Youth Development and the OSU Athletic Department are once again sponsoring 4-H Day at a women's basketball game.  4-H Members and their families will receive $5.00 tickets to the game when ordered in advance.  Ohio State Women will be playing the Badgers from Wisconsin on Sunday, January 20 starting at noon.  4-H Members will have the opportunity to meet the Buckeyes postgame autograph session, shoot postgame lay-ups on the court and receive free parking.  For additional information check out this website!

Chaperones Needed - State 4-H Trips

Four chaperones are needed to travel to Washington DC for the Citizenship Washington Focus trips.   The dates for the trips are:  June 15-21, 2008 and June 29-July 5, 2008.  If you are interested in traveling with the group, please contact Allen Auck.  Additionally, two chaperones are needed to accompany the National 4-H Congress delegation to Atlanta, November 28-December 2.  Both chaperoning opportunities will involve minimal time commitments prior to and after the trip.

Blue Ribbon Youth Enrollment

Youth Enrollment provides the opportunity set up default information on the member / leader screen. If you go to utilities / preferences / member default entry there is a box  that says "User Defined Check box". This check box can be used to track specific information about either members or leaders. Several counties are using this space to keep tract of members that have completed the Cross County Line request form. If you type "Cross County" into the space marked "User Defined Check Box" every member and leader screen will have a check box that you can check when you have approved members from other counties to participate in 4H in your county. You can generate a report of all the cross county members that have been approved. To do this go to Report  / Special Reports / Fee / Photo / Behavior Report, under data type click on cross county / under grouping click true only / select the categories that you want to preview / then you can preview the report at that time. For those counties that have several youth participating from outside their home county this is a good way to quickly and easily track those members that have been approved. Any additional information about the cross county request can be entered in the memo box located next to the member certification tab. If you have any questions feel free to give Jim a call or send him an email. 

Access 4-H Update

http://www.4-h.org/access4-h

Development Launched

On November 1st, we formally launched the development work on the ACCESS 4-H infrastructure. This launch followed months of concept and design work, meetings with 4-H’ers at all levels, discussions with recognized experts in “Web 2.0” concepts along with interviews and the final selection of partner/providers who are going to build ACCESS 4-H.

Already, we are seeing pieces come together and glimpses of the future appearing on the screen. We can't wait to share it all with you!

Focus Groups Begin Discussion Online

As we move forward with development, it’s important that we stay informed by the 4-H community. Focus group recruitment began shortly before the December holidays, with discussions beginning this week and continuing through January. Be sure to check out the ACCESS 4-H blog for more information - please let us know if you would like to participate!

‘Beta Testing’ Set for Mid-Winter

Soon we will announce the schedule for releasing sections of ACCESS 4-H into trial or ‘beta testing’ – and you will be invited to be among those testing the first modules. We need people throughout the 4-H system to use key pieces and to provide feedback on benefits and ease of use. Details of these tests will be sent out in a future email – and posted on our blog.

Pass the Word

Together, we are going to build ACCESS 4-H to serve the entire 4-H community from individual club members to volunteers, county agents, state staff and national leadership. We welcome comments, suggestions, ideas and discussions from all over. So, please pass along this email to your colleagues and encourage them to become part of “Team ACCESS.”

Thanks for your interest and support!

The ACCESS 4-H Team
access4h@4-h.org

National 4-H Conference Call for Proposals

Theme:  Green A.I.D.: Acquire, Inform, Deliver, reflects the question, “As society becomes more environmentally conscious, how can the 4-H Youth Development Program “aid” in enhancing socially significant and relevant programming to increase the environmental awareness of our clubs, our communities, our country, and our world.

About the National 4-H Conference Workshops

4-H programs excel in providing opportunities for youth to experience all four Essential Elements of the 4-H Youth Development Program – independence, belonging, mastery and generosity.  When there are sustained opportunities for young people to gain a sense of independence, belonging, mastery and generosity, youth can master skills to make positive life choices; participate in decision-making processes; act responsibly; positively influence their communities; and develop into informed, active, engaged citizens.

A major goal of the National 4-H Conference is to offer participants a meaningful personal and professional development experience.  Each year, the Conference Planning Committee – comprised of youth and adult members – establishes a conference theme which serves as the basis for the call for workshop proposals.  Given this year’s theme, a wide variety of topics is expected to expose delegates to existing 4-H environmental programming and other innovative approaches to eco-awareness in which 4-H programs can play a significant role. 

With program delivery grounded in three foundational content areas, workshops must highlight a) one specified or b) integrated aspects of the Mission Mandates:  Science, Engineering & Technology, Healthy Living and Citizenship.

Mission Mandates as they relate to the 2008 conference theme examples include:

• Science, Engineering & Technology – Basic environmental science, ecology, use of technology, etc.
• Healthy Living – Environmental health, personal wellness, positive outdoor experiences, etc.
• Citizenship – Civic awareness, community service, sense of responsibility that leads to action on behalf of the environment, etc.

Workshop Criteria:

• Youth and adult co-facilitated. (Strongly preferred, but some exceptions may be considered.)
•  Apply the experiential learning model. (Provide opportunities for delegates to experience the activity; share results, reaction and observations; process through discussion, analysis and reflection on the experience; generalize by connecting the experience to the real world; and apply what they learned to similar or different situations.)
• Must be interactive, meaningful, fun and of the genre that “gets folks out of their seats and ready for action”.
• Must provide take-home resources – “toolkit” as a means to engage delegates and to encourage them to apply what they learned back home.  Resources should include CDs, DVDs, PowerPoints, handouts, and/or other relevant materials.

Who May Apply?

• State Delegations:  Youth and adult conference delegates are strongly encouraged to submit workshop proposals. As with most professional conferences, workshop presenters are responsible for their own expenses.  (Registration fees and travel expenses are not waived.)
• Visiting Presenters: Proposals from local/state 4-H programs (those not full conference delegates), programs within the Cooperative Extension System, or other groups/organizations/agencies – public or private. As with most professional conferences, workshop presenters are responsible for their own expenses.  Visiting presenters attend the conference on the day(s) of their workshop only.

Submission Deadline:

Proposals must be received at the National 4-H Headquarters office ON or BEFORE Friday, February 8, 2008. For more information on workshop proposals, visit the conference website for Instructions and Workshop Proposal form.

If you have any questions, please contact Lisa Hampton, National 4-H Conference Coordinator: natl4hconf@csrees.usda.gov or 202-401-5165.

Bags of Hope Service Project - Ohio 4-H Teen Conference

Bags of Hope: How You Can Help With The Teen Conference Service Project
Master Clothing Educators (MCE's) and State 4-H Fashion Board Members are requesting contributions of fabric, webbing or grosgrain ribbon, and toiletries for “Bags of Hope”, the 2008 4-H Teen Conference Service Project.  This year's service project will involve conference participants with little or no sewing experience as well as experienced sewers in using sewing machines to make great-looking tote bags. The bags will then be filled with toiletries and children items and donated to battered women's shelters in central Ohio. Participants will also receive instructions for organizing similar service projects in their own communities. Here is what's needed:

• Each large bag will require:
• two pieces of fabric cut 13 inches by 18 inches, plus
• 28 inches of webbing or grosgrain ribbon for handles.
• Each small bag will require:
• two pieces of fabric cut 13 inches by 9 inches, plus
• 24 inches of webbing or grosgrain ribbon for handles.
• Toiletries and items needed by those in women's shelters are also requested to fill the bags (small child-safe toys, coloring books and crayons, pencils, cards, stencil books, soap, shampoo, conditioner, combs & brushes, deodorant, toothbrushes, toothpaste, dental floss, cotton swabs, lotion, socks, travel tissues, etc.)

Please forward this information to your 4-H teens, 4-H volunteers, 4-H clothing project advisors, FCS groups, and others who may be interested. It will be helpful if fabric contributions are pre-cut to the measurements indicated before they're donated. All contributions may be brought directly to the February 16 Teen Conference, given to a Master Clothing Educator or Fashion Board Member, or sent ahead of time to Kathy Cox at the State 4-H Office (Office # 417),  2201 Fred Taylor Drive, Columbus, OH 43210. 

Revised ATV Safety Leaders Guide Available

The revised ATV Safety Leader’s Guide has received the “Reviewed and Recommended Seal” and is now available for sale!  Revisions include the addition of the following:  Optional pre and post evaluation; “Preparing Parents and Other Caregivers” handout; “Tips on Talking with Parents and other Adults” lesson; information on new categories of ATVs intended for operators under 16 years approved by The American National Standards Institute in July 2007; updated CPSC statistics (2005); “Parent Packet” (including tips, sample waivers, etc.); and new graphics.

The revised guide is available for $10.00 and can be purchased at the 4-H Mall by clicking on this website.

Updated Certificates – Club of Distinction

We continue to try to update certificates with the appropriate signatures as they are identified.  For an updated Club of Distinction certificate, please go here!

Plowboy Prom 2008

The 2008 Plowboy Prom will be held at the Nationwide & Ohio Farm Bureau 4-H Center on Saturday, February 16 from 6:30-11:00pm.  Please see the attached flyer here!

Congratulations to....

Simone Vessel who  has been selected as a member of the 2008 National 4-H Congress Design Team! This is an honor of which she (and Butler County) should be very proud – only 7 youth were selected from across the United State. I called Simone to congratulate her and share the news, and she will be receiving more information from National 4-H Congress soon. Again, congratulations to Simone and Butler County for representing Ohio 4-H on a national level!

Cuyahoga County 4-H, specifically the City of Cleveland, for being selected by National 4-H Council and the New York Life Foundation to receive funding to expand 4-H programming.  The New York Life Youth in Governance 4-H Club program will expand the 4-H club model to three urban communities (Cleveland, New York, & Minneapolis).  While engaging new youth in the 4-H club model, the grant will also focus on empowering participants to serve in leadership roles, master new skills through hands-on discovery, and provide meaningful partnerships with caring adults during out-of-school hours in their neighborhoods.  We look forward to the impact these programs will have upon the participants and our 4-H system.

The Portage County 4-H Livestock Judging Team - Four Portage County 4-H youth competed in the Western National Roundup at the National Western Stock Show held in Denver, Colorado. The members of the Portage County 4-H Livestock Judging Team were Doug Kisamore, Bob Hermann, Katie Shircliff, and Kirsten Wise. This team represented the state of Ohio in this national contest and placed 8th overall, 5th in the sheep, and 7th in the hogs. As an individual, Bob Hermann placed 3rd with his Hog scores.

At the Competition, the group met many other 4-H youth from across the United State and Canada and became friends with the delegation from Alberta, Canada. The youth judged ten classes of both market and breeding livestock, consisting of beef, sheep, swine, and goats giving oral reason on six classes. This experience provided team members with a trip of a lifetime that they will never forget, a great amount of knowledge, and more leadership and teamwork skills then they will ever know!

Ohio 4-H Special Logo License Plates – Your Help Needed!

Reminder from October 2007

The state 4-H office is still waiting for many counties to provide a Bureau of Motor Vehicle petition with at least 8 new valid signatures so we can quickly proceed to have our special 4-H logo plate added to BMV's website.  As soon as the petitions are received and verified our 4-H families will be able to purchase these plates. The needed petition form is available. . . .  here. . .  Make sure that each line is complete and that the signer is a verifiable Ohio driver. Send completed petitions to Lisa Jinks ( jinks.2@osu.edu ) 2201 Fred Taylor Dr.,  Columbus, Ohio 43210 - by February 1, 2008. 

Upcoming Dates & Deadlines

Be sure to check out the Ohio 4-H calendar:

January

30 Youth and Adult Chaperone Applications due to the State 4-H Office for 4-H Exchange Programs to Finland, Australia and Costa Rica
31 State 4-H Teen Council Applications due in the State 4-H Office

 

February

2 Ohio State University’s Horseman’s Association Clinic – OSU Horse Barn
4 Registration for Ohio 4-H Teen Conference Due
4 John Mount Achievement Award applications due in the State 4-H Office
4 Cunningham 4-H Leadership Award applications due in the State 4-H Office
4 Farm Credit and AB Graham Scholarship applications due in the State 4-H Office
4 Vance Family 4-H Collegiate Scholarship applications due in the State 4-H Office
4 Ohio 4-H Achievement Records/Scholarship applications due in the State 4-H Office