Staff News & Notes - Week of 3.3.2008
Dear Colleagues:
What an exciting week this will be with the 2008 Ohio 4-H Volunteer Conference and Bob Evans Farms Recognition Luncheon on Saturday at the Columbus Convention Center! The planning committee has been working hard to prepare for this year’s conference and has an outstanding education and recognition program planned. We look forward to seeing many of you there as well as interacting and meeting the many volunteers and donors who will be in attendance. As of this morning, we have nearly 1,200 individuals registered!
Recently, several individuals have contacted us to share feedback regarding social networking and how 4-H should or should not be engaged. We very much appreciate you sharing your thoughts and hope that we can continue to have quality discussion on these types of topics. Mark Light, 4-H Extension Educator in Allen County is a leader, both in Ohio and across the country in regards to social networking and similar uses of technology, to engage current and potential youth and adults. We know that there are varying opinions on this topic and we welcome and encourage this discussion to continue. In the coming weeks we will be sharing more information about social networks.
As the weather begins to warm up (hopefully any day, now) final plans for a variety of educational programs will be put into motion. We hope, that as you gear up for a very busy spring and summer, that you have an opportunity to take some time to spend with family and friends. In other words, we hope you take some vacation time, as it fits into your schedule!
Have a great week!
Ryan & Vicki
Interim Co-Assistant Directors
4-H Youth Development
Ribbon Cutting Ceremony Invitation
We would like to invite each of you to the April 4, 2008 ribbon cutting ceremony to be held at the Nationwide & Ohio Farm Bureau 4-H Center at 2201 Fred Taylor Drive. The open house will be held from 3:00-5:00pm and we ask that you RSVP by calling or emailing Amelia Brashear (614-247-6904) with the names of individuals attending. When calling or emailing, please be sure to mention that it is for the ribbon cutting on April 4, 2008!
Clover Country CD
Many of you may have heard that there is a 4-H Clover Country CD to be released towards the end of March. Recently, some of you may have received an email announcing the availability, including potential price breaks, depending on the order. We will share information in next weeks update regarding how we will be able to promote this opportunity.
Ohio 4-H Week Materials Available Online
Ohio 4-H Week (March 2-8) is here! Find resources and ideas online here. If you have materials you’d like to share, send them to Sarah on the website.
Arts and The Sciences: 4-H Project Mini College
Hold the date! May 3, 2008 is sure to be an exciting day at the Nationwide & Ohio Farm Bureau 4-H Center!!! Ohio 4-H will host the 4-H Project Mini College that will feature hands-on educational programs, tours, and expert speakers in a variety of subject matter, including photography, creative arts, communication & technology, and theater arts. We will have the registration brochure available next week; registration fees will be approximately $15.00 per person (tentative) and will include materials, tour transportation, and lunch. For more information, please contact Patty House.
OSU Pre-Vet Day
The Ohio State University wants to help you reach your goals. If you are in high school and exploring Universities that prepare students for a career in veterinary medicine, we have a perfect day planned for you. Saturday, April 12, 2008 the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES) will be hosting Pre-Vet Day for students interested in exploring majors that are helpful in preparing for vet school.
There will be two Pre-Vet Day sessions again this year. One session in the morning from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and one session in the afternoon from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Each session will feature an overview of what it takes to get into vet school and a tour of our campus. We will also have break out sessions about university admissions, honors, financial aid, and the majors in CFAES.
Also on April 12th, the OSU College of Veterinary Medicine will be holding an open house to explore what a veterinarian really does and how to become one.
For more information or to register for Pre-Vet Day call (614) 688-4659, e-mail tyson.46@osu.edu or visit the website at http://cfaes.osu.edu/visit. Registration is suggested as space is limited.
Information about the College of Veterinary Medicine Open House can be found at http://www.vet.ohio-state.edu/195.htm.
Curriculum Update
Goat Project & Record Book
Ok, now I get it! Those of you whose 4-H members do specialty goat and market doe (breeding) projects might have trouble using the simplified categories that appear on the front cover of the Goat Project and Record Book. Sorry for the inconvenience. Please set up whatever unique enrollment procedures you need for your county while I continue to work with Jim Elder in setting up more explicit categories that make sense for enrollment and reporting purposes. You might consider using this idea from one county educator—she plans to create a sticker to be placed on the front of every book. If it turns out that amending the front cover makes sense, we’ll do that at the next printing. Thanks to Sarah Jane Lindsay, Vicki Reed, and Joy Sharp for explaining. Please contact Jane Wright at wright.646@cfaes.osu.edu or 614.292.0909 with questions and comments.
Update on Animal Science Resource Handbooks
The Llama and Alpaca Resource Handbook is out the door, the Dog Resource Handbook arrives later this week, and the Goat Resource Handbook . . . well, we’re still waiting. I appreciate your patience and know that for some of you this is a huge inconvenience. Depending on your circumstances, I may be able to help by providing the table of contents or information about some other aspect of the book. Don’t hesitate to contact me with questions. As soon as I have a reliable available-for-sale date, I will let you know. Jane Wright, wright.646@cfaes.osu.edu
Correction to Acres of Adventure, Level 2!
National 4-H recently notified states of a correction in Acres of Adventure Afterschool Agriculture Curriculum, Level 2 (Ohio 4-H number 761GPM). The Veggie Ink activity on page 24 is incorrect. A new, correct page is available at http://www.4-hcurriculum.org/documents/08331_Pg24.pdf. We’ll go ahead and insert a note into the copies that are in Ohio 4-H’s inventory. National 4-H apologizes for the inconvenience.
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.
Searching for 4-H Science, Engineering & Technology Alumni
Are you a former 4-H'er working in pharmaceutical research, environmental science, engineering, biological or chemical science, aerospace, technology, or plant and animal science? Do you know one who is? National 4-H Council is looking for 4-H alumni to feature in an upcoming promotion. Take a moment to fill out a short 10-minute survey! Click here or visit 4-H Council to access the survey and learn more about the 4-H Science, Engineering & Technology (4-H SET) program.
State 4-H Ambassador Applications Being Accepted Through May 30
This is a reminder that Ohio 4-H Ambassador applications are due to the State 4-H Office by May 30. Ambassadors are the youth spokespersons for Ohio 4-H, and have many exciting opportunities for statewide leadership during their year of active service and beyond. The application form is available here.
All Ohio 4-H'ers are eligible who: a) are a high school freshmen, sophomore, junior or senior on January 1 of the current year; b) have achieved the standards of excellence outlined as criteria for the program; c) are approved by their 4-H Educator as good representatives of the Ohio 4-H Program, d) have a permanent residence in Ohio during the time they wish to serve as Ambassadors; and e) have not previously been a State 4-H Ambassador.
All State 4-H Ambassador applicants who meet the "standards of excellence" criteria and are approved by their 4-H Educator as good representatives of the Ohio 4-H Youth Development Program will be invited to become State 4-H Ambassadors and attend the State 4-H Ambassador Orientation Program and Installation Program on Tuesday, June 10 at The Nationwide & Ohio Farm Bureau 4-H Center in Columbus. After one year of representing Ohio 4-H as State 4-H Ambassadors; active Ambassadors who complete the program requirements will be recognized and receive "Graduate Ambassador" status at a special ceremony.
Request for Proposals: County Commissioner Days
2008 Ohio County Commissioner Days
August 19-20 in Ross County (Chillicothe), Ohio
Proposals to present concurrent sessions will be accepted until April 1, 2008. Please submit your proposal via email as an MS Word document attached to an email indicating that this is a submission for a concurrent session.
All submissions will be peer-reviewed, and applicants will be notified whether or not their submission is accepted by May 1. Successful submissions will be presented at 1 of 2 concurrent session slots on Thursday August 20, either from 9:15 to 10:30 a.m. or 10:45 a.m. to 12 noon at Chillicothe High School.
All submissions should be relevant to county commissioners from across Ohio. The commissioners and community leaders on the planning committee are especially interested in sessions that illustrate ways in which OSU Extension benefits a county’s local economy. We encourage you to “connect the dots” to show why Extension is needed, and what the situation would be related to your program if Extension was not offering it. Think of this as an opportunity to convince the commissioners in your own county why Extension should be supported.
Proposals in the areas below are especially encouraged:
Ø Government deferred compensation
Ø Planning for retirement
Ø How Extension benefits the local economy
Ø Health related topics
Ø Public records/Open meetings
Ø Economic impact of local tourism
Ø Wind energy development
Ø Election Issues
Ø Local tourism development
Ø USDA Rural Development program
All proposal submissions should include:
Session Title
Primary presenter name, title and contact information
Names and titles of other presenters.
50 word summary of the session to be published in the program book
Relevance of the session (150 words or less)
Any special set up or accommodations you need
E-mail proposals to Joy Sharp, sharp.5@osu.edu no later than April 1, 2008.
Ohio 4-H Volunteer Conference Silent Auction & Door Prize Drawing
A $10 minimum value, but maximum of $50.00 on Auction Items please.
At the 4-H Idea Center during the
Ohio 4-H Volunteer Conference & Bob Evans Farms
4-H Volunteer Recognition Luncheon on March 8, 2008.
Just drop us a note, give a call or email Jill Stechschulte to let us know if you can make a donation.
Items can be sent to Jill Stechschulte, your county Extension Office or dropped off at the Ohio 4-H Volunteer Conference registration desk or Silent Auction Room by 9:00 am.
AMERICAN VETERANS CLOTH DITTY BAG
Finished bag will be 10"x12" with 2 draw strings.
Cut 2 pieces of washable and dryer safe fabric 11" wide x 14" tall.
Place wrong sides together. Pin.
Sew 1/2" seam on 3 sides.
Fold top side opening which is the tallest and narrowest over 1 ½”. Pin.
Sew 1/2" seam all the way around the opening which will give you a one inch band through which you will fish 2 drawstrings.
Cut 2 opposing vertical slits on inside middle on opposite seams.
Attach safety pin to end of each of 2 draw strings. Fish through opening together or separately.
Sew or knot each drawstring to prevent them from pulling out.
Pull one string through one slit and the other drawstring through other slit.
Fold the bag to the right side.
These products may also be donated: full or travel sizes of toothpaste, dental floss, bar soap, comb, wash cloths or scratchy, tooth brush, non-alcohol mouthwash, body wash, lotion, small notebooks & tablets, ink pens, “stamped” envelopes, travel size tissues.
Blue Ribbon Youth Enrollment
To print out reports for the Fee, Photo, Behavior and user defined check boxes you need to go to report / special reports / fee, photo & behavior report. This will bring up a box that you can use to generate any of the four reports. Under grouping select True Only. This will give you a list of all of the members and advisors that have a check mark in that box. In the Data Type you can select weather you want a fee paid, photo release, behavior form or user defined check box report. Several counties are using Cross County in the user defined check box to track those members that have been approved to participate in 4H across county lines. In the Category section you can select the group that you want to generate the report. Click on preview to see your report.
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.
Ohio 4-H Member Recognized!
Andrea Mitchell was selected as Ohio’s 2008 Prudential Spirit of Community state winner for Ohio. Andrea submitted her application through Hancock County 4-H for this award. As Ohio’s top winner Andrea receives an all expense paid trip to the National Awards program in Washington D.C. May 3 to May 6, 2008, $1,000.00 and a silver medal.
If Andrea is selected as one of national winners at the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards Program in D.C. she gets to select a non-profit organization of her choice to receive a $5,000.00 donation as part of the award.
Andrea really hopes that she will be one of the national winners so that she can donate the $5,000.00 to 4-H.
Check out the Prudential Spirit of Community web site.
6th Annual Youth Pork Leadership Institute
Young pork enthusiasts from around Ohio will have a chance to learn about all aspects of the pork industry at the Youth Pork Leadership Institute, a three-day seminar to be held in Columbus in June.
Young men and women will be selected to participate in the event, which is sponsored by the Ohio Pork Producers Council, the Pork Check-off, and the Ohio Soybean Council. Last year eight individuals from across the state participated in the event. As an alumnus of the institute, participants will have the opportunity to be youth ambassadors for Ohio’s pork industry.
One goal of the institute is to make young people realize that the pork industry has many facets, including packing, retail, food service, research and communications. In addition, the institute will teach leadership and communication skills that will assist participants in their future careers.
At last year’s event, the participants benefited from such unique experiences as touring commercial hog farms and feed mills, taste testing in Bob Evans test kitchen and meeting with an aide to Senator Larry Mumper. The goal of the program is to offer a well-rounded curriculum that will allow young people to appreciate the broad scope of the pork industry.
The Youth Pork Leadership Institute is open to any Ohio youth between the ages of 16 and 21 who has an interest in the pork industry. It will be held June 8-10 in Columbus and all expenses will be covered by the Ohio Soybean Council, Ohio Pork Producers Council and the pork check-off. Applications will be accepted until April 25, 2008. To apply, an application must be completed along with a resume. Applications are available on the OPPC website at www.ohiopork.org. For additional information or applications contact the Ohio Pork Producers Council at 5930 Sharon Woods Blvd., Suite 101, Columbus, OH 43229 or call 800-320-7991.
4-H Volunteer Key Leader Materials Available
Recently, Educators in Gallia and Meigs Counties partnered on a 2008 4-H Foundation -Key Leader Training Grant. As part of the grant we conducted a multi-county Key Leader Training with the help of several Southern Ohio County Educators. The results of our training and the products we used have been added to a CD and copied for each county. County Educators attending the 2008 Volunteer Conference may pick up their county copy at the registration tables. Disk are labeled with your county name, please be sure to sign the pick up form. Thank You, Tracy Winters, Gallia County Extension Educator.
Opportunity for 4-H Members: Swine Exhibitors
The Ohio Spot Breeders, in order to promote the advancement of the breed, will give to 4-H or FFA members a Spotted gilt. To learn more about this opportunity, check out this promotional flyer!
Upcoming Dates & Deadlines
Be sure to check out the Ohio 4-H Calendar:
March
1 Registration for State Horse Bowl Contest due to Amber Offset
1 Registration for 4-H Groom & Clean Clinic due to Sheila Bushong
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
15 State 4-H Dairy Judging Clinic, Animal Sciences Arena -- Columbus
15 4-H PetPALS Volunteer Training Registration Due
14-16 Ohio Beef Expo – Ohio Expo Center
15 Ohio Beef Expo Judging Contest (Jr. & Sr. Youth Divisions) - Ohio Expo Center
