Staff News & Notes - Week of 2.18.2008
Dear Colleagues:
Last week we met with 4-H representatives on the Ohio Association of Extension Professionals (OAEP) and had a positive discussion regarding the 4-H program and the Extension organization, especially in light of much of the discussion taking place right now. We greatly appreciate the honest and open discussion from those participating and certainly hear the concerns that are being shared. Please know that we have shared the concerns and challenges with our larger Administrative Cabinet group and more specifically with the teams that both of us work with as part of our responsibilities. Please also know that we do want to hear from you, we appreciate knowing what you are thinking, and want to help work through the challenges you may be facing.
In the coming weeks, we are going to schedule several conference calls so that you may dialogue with us about what is happening across the state. Additionally, we appreciate opportunities to visit your counties to engage in discussion with professionals, volunteers, and members, to see the great programming that’s making a positive impact, and to hear about areas of concern/challenges that you are facing.
We are pleased with what we are receiving in terms of Strategy Committees and Action Teams and Vicki looks forward to sharing more about those teams in the very near future. Furthermore, in the next month, Ryan will be relating information about a cooperative approach for us to share program management and/or implementation challenges and strategies that are specific to situations of risk management
Much is happening in the organization right now and we appreciate your dedication and commitment! We look forward to ongoing and open dialogues with each of you in the next several months.
Have a great week!
Ryan & Vicki
Interim Co-Assistant Directors
4-H Youth Development
4-H Office Room Numbers
With our move to the Nationwide & Ohio Farm Bureau 4-H Center, individuals with offices have specific room numbers. While not necessary, you can include the room number when mailing to our facility. Also, we thought this might be helpful when visiting one of the faculty/staff that have offices. See the document here!
Register Now for the 5th annual Youth Welding Workshop
Encourage any youth in your county involved in Welding projects to attend the 5th Annual Youth Welding Workshop to be held at The Ohio State University on Saturday, April 19th. Youth will participate in welding activities with university specialists and have the opportunity to complete work relevant to their project books. For more information, please see the schedule and registration form. Contact Randall Reeder or 614-292-6648, with any questions.
Veterinary Early Commitment Program for Students Interested in Food Supply Medicine
This is a new program available to students majoring in Animal Sciences at The Ohio State University. It is a partnership between Ohio State’s College of Veterinary Medicine and the Department of Animal Sciences in the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences.
Students can apply during spring quarter of their second year. A maximum of ten students and two alternates will be selected to participate in the Program each year. When possible, one seat will be reserved for a swine-focused student and at least one seat for a poultry-focused student.
The goals of the Veterinary Early Commitment Program for Students Interested in Food Supply Medicine are to:
• Recruit qualified students early in their undergraduate career
• Better prepare student for careers in food supply medicine prior to entry into the DVM program
• Retain students’ interest in food supply medicine
• Allow more opportunities for mentoring
• Graduate more veterinarians into food supply medicine
• Graduate veterinarians who have the skills and knowledge to serve modern food producing animal agribusiness
For more information about this program visit here or contact Amy Lahmers.
County 4-H Endowment Survey
The Ohio 4-H Foundation County Endowment sub-committee is interested in learning more about your activities, level of satisfaction, and needs related to your efforts to grow your local 4-H endowment. We are asking that you take a few minutes and respond to the questions on the form below. Please return completed forms by February 28, 2008. Thanks!!
Conference Call Discussion: February 21: Promoting 4-H In Your County
The February conference call for Newcomers and all who want to participate is Thursday Feb 21, 10 a.m. To participate in the call, dial 1-800-566-2245 and then enter passcode of 080294. Several folks from the new Marketing Action Team will share ideas and resources. The focus of the discussion will be to learn what works, what doesn’t work, and materials that can be adapted. Participants might also want to have access to the internet for the following websites: http://hocking.osu.edu/4h/4hnews.htm and the University of Illinois site http://www.4-h.uiuc.edu/staff/promotion.html .
2008 4-H Family Strengthening Awards
Once again we are pleased to offer you the opportunity to help recognize your outstanding programs through the 2008 4-H Family Strengthening Awards program. As you know, these five $15,000 awards are provided by National 4-H Council and the Annie E. Casey Foundation in recognition of outstanding programs that significantly involve families with young people. We especially look for programs that have reached underserved families and especially those that at least in part involve rural families (population 50,000 or less). The deadline for submitting the awards application to National 4-H Council is May 23, 2008, and selections will be made during the month of June. The winning programs will receive the cash award along with up to an additional $1,400 for travel to the Galaxy Conference in Indianapolis, IN, in September. The winners will be recognized at a NAE4-HA business meeting during the conference. The website for the application is located at http://www.fourhcouncil.edu/4HFamiliesProgram.aspx.
The application form for 2008 clearly indicates that exemplary 4-H youth development/CYFAR/Extension family science programs will be considered for this award.
The first step in the process is to become a Program of Distinction through National 4-H Headquarters. The website for the POD process is www.csrees.usda.gov/nea/family/in_focus/youthdev_if_programs.html. The POD document along with the five extra questions regarding the family strengthening process will be used to select the winners.
We believe that we have had extraordinary winners the past three years. Our winners have trained a significant number of other 4-H educators in replicating the programs and many have obtained major support dollars through federal, state and local grants some in part for being named to this outstanding award. Don Floyd, President and CEO of National 4-H Council, offers the following statement—
“The 4-H Family Strengthening Awards have become one our more prestigious awards at National 4-H Council for many reasons. First, the programs we recognize are named a Program of Distinction at National 4-H Headquarters. Second, these programs are examples of the kind of work that 4-H has always done—involved families with their youth in a long term learning experience. And third, we have found that these award winning programs have expanded their reach through training of other 4-H educators and by obtaining significant financial resources from other sources to grow and expand their programs. Being named a 4-H Family Strengthening winner has provided many new opportunities for the recipients. I would encourage every institution to consider having at one application for this award each year.”
Please feel free to contact Sharon or Gregg with any questions. We hope to offer a special Programs of Distinction training session for those interested in apply for this award in the near future. Thanks for your support and encouragement to your staff.
Ohio 4-H 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.
State 4-H In-service Session Materials
The materials that were presented at the State 4-H In-service are now available online to view here. This year we had over 100 professionals attend and we are looking forward to planning another successful event for February 2009!!!
A special thanks to everyone that helped in the preparation of the 2008 In-service: Allen Auck, Amanda Forquer, Beth Boomershine, Cassie Turner, Connie Goble, Ed Werner, Jane Wright, Jessica Rockey, Kate Gross, Lisa Jinks, Lucinda Miller, Mark Light, Melinda Morrison, Sally McClaskey, Tracie Montague, and Travis West.
Blue Ribbon Youth Enrollment
The Ohio 4-H Youth Group Enrollment Form has been recently modified and is available to be downloaded. This form is used to record School Enrichment, Special Interest/Short term Programs, Day Camp, Overnight Camp, Individual Study, School Age Child Care/ After School & Instructional TV programs that are taught by Extension Professionals. These can be programs taught to 4H age youth by 4-H, FCS, FNP, EFNEP, Master Gardeners & Agriculture professionals. A copy of this form can be taken with you to your program. Once the year end process has been performed the Group Youth Enrollment data can start to be entered. To download this form click on the following link: Download Ohio Youth Group Enrollment Form 2008(doc) . If you have questions feel free to give Jim a call or send him an email.
Volunteer Position Descriptions Wanted
Volunteer position descriptions are an important part of the Ohio 4-H volunteer selection process by identifying key roles and responsibilities of various volunteer positions. If your county has created position descriptions, the State 4-H office would like to have copies to use and share! Please send any template position descriptions to Sarah Leidheiser at leidheiser.9@osu.edu.
2008 Inservice Zoomerang Survey
If you did not receive an email appearing to come from Vicki Schwartz to evaluate the recent professional development inservice, please send an email to Lisa Jinks at jinks.2@osu.edu. We will get an evaluation to you. Everyone’s feedback is valuable.
Collegiate 4-H Hits the Road
Collegiate 4-H at The Ohio State University is gearing up for another great year of educational trips and we still have room available to make a trip to your county! C4-H works collaboratively with educators to facilitate fun and informative officer trainings, junior leadership training nights, and camp counselor leadership training. For more information please contact the Director of Education, Heather Gottke at Gottke.4@osu.edu or complete and return the application. Click here for more information!
Saddle & Sirloin Judging Contest Results
If you had a team/individual participate in the 2008 OSU Saddle & Sirloin Judging Contest, you may review results here.
Northern Lights - 4-H Professionals Meeting
Please see the agenda, here, and RSVP as appropriate.
Upcoming Dates & Deadlines
Be sure to check out the Ohio 4-H Calendar:
February
20-24 National Collegiate 4-H Conference – Denver, CO
26-27 State 4-H Awards Selections – Columbus
28 Host Family Applications due in the State 4-H Office for 1st Choice placements
28 State 4-H Camp Counselor Applications due
March
1 Registration for State Horse Bowl Contest due to Amber Offset
1 Registration for 4-H Groom & Clean Clinic due to Sheila Bus hong
1 State 4-H Horse Clinic – OSU Horse Barn
3-9 Ohio 4-H Week
8 Ohio 4-H Volunteer Conference & Recognition Luncheon – Columbus Convention Center
8 4-H Master Clothing Educator Meeting -- Columbus
8 Registration due for State 4-H Dairy Judging Clinic
