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Staff News & Notes - Week of 01.26.09
Hi,
I know that people within our Extension organization are as anxious and frustrated as any other time that I can recall. Everyone has been waiting for an answer to questions like, “What will Extension look like in the short and long-term future? What will happen to me and my job? ”
A year ago the Extension strategic planning process was drawing to a close. This effort was a very comprehensive approach, and resulted in a well-thought-out and innovative plan that was just being initiated when the bottom fell out of the economy and our related funding sources. Those traditional elements of the partnership among county, state, federal and private resources, that have so very well served us over the past ninety-five years, now provide a mass of uncertainty. We daily scan the media for new information concerning how the various levels of government are responding to obvious shortfalls of monies. We anticipate the reality that there will be fewer resources available from our non-governmental partners and sponsors.
I am not sure if it is just me and the way I think and work, or it is because I am a “rookie” at this level in Extension, but I too have been anxious and frustrated. For the past eight weeks there have been numerous occasions that I have set out to create a plan to solve the existing problems, especially as they relate to 4-H. Without exception, each attempt has resulted in a dead end because there is a piece of information that is just not available. I want to be able to say, “Let’s do this!”, and move on with our work. But I cannot. There are still just too many unknowns.
We do not know if there will be further budget reductions implemented by the Governor at the state level. We do not know if there is a real opportunity for financial help from the federal government. County governments understandably cannot be definite about their budget resources. Most of us are not human resources specialists, so we do not know how downsizing can and will work.
And then there is the “rumor mill”. From what I gather, it is the only thing that is going at full production now. I know how that works. I am sure that I have been a contributor to the rumor mill in my past work lives, and I am sure that I continue to contribute, even now, when I do not choose my words and body language appropriately. It is just a part of human nature, but I know that it adds to the anxiety and frustration.
The good news is that more and more information is becoming available to aid the decision makers. This week, the Governor will release his budget recommendations. Last week some of the best thinkers in our Extension organization spent two days wrestling with the current challenges. The first two work days of February we 4-H folk will be together to share and commiserate.
I know it might seem trite, but we must all continue to do the best job that we can with the resources that we have and in the circumstances in which we are placed. I have said this before, but I am continually impressed by the quality and dedication of people that we have at all levels of our Ohio 4-H organization. I sincerely believe that 4-H can become better and stronger as we work through the current problems. But we must work together.
See you next week,
Tom
LAST CHANCE TO RETISTER
4-H Professionals Update Registration - Due January 28, 2009
Monday, February 2 and Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Nationwide and Ohio Farm Bureau 4-H Center
Please register today at:http://www.zoomerang.com/Survey/?p=WEB228NMCUJQWY
CLICK HERE for a tentative agenda, area accommodations and directions to the 4-H Center
REMINDER: Send to Lisa Jinks, jinks.2@osu.edu, a scanned, faxed or paper copy of your registration with authorized signature of the County Extension Director or equivalent.Request for Proposals for
2009 4-H National Youth Science Day (4-H NYSD) Experiment
The National 4-H SET Leadership teams (including staff from National 4-H Headquarters at USDA and National 4-H Council) are asking you to consider submitting experiment ideas for youth to conduct during 2009 4-H NYSD and providing leadership with experiment implementation. CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION.
Ohio 4-H Teen Conference Registration
The registration website for the 2009 Ohio 4-H Teen Conference is now accepting registrations. The information is: www.ohio4h.org/register
username: volconf
password: ovc04
OVC Silent Auction
4-H Volunteer Conference is coming March 14. With that comes the silent auction that helps offset some of the costs of the conference like; chair rental, table rental, room rental, etc.
County 4-H programs or individuals can donate an item of $5.00 in value or higher, but not over $30.00. These are the items that do the best. Items can be crafts, homemade candy, 4-H items, County or region specific Ohio Proud items.
Also continuing this year is the ditty bags with toiletry items for our veterans in the various veteran home locations. This is a project that can be done all year long.
Ditty bags or toiletry items can be dropped off at the front registration desk or at the Silent Auction room again located upstairs at the top of the escalators across from the vendors' room.
CLICK HERE for more information or contact Jill Stechschulte at stechschulte.23@cfaes.osu.edu
More Robotics News
Ohio 4-H is pleased to offer the robotics series from National 4-H. Unfortunately, it has been discontinued at the national level. Not to worry though—we have enough books in inventory to get us at least through this program year and probably into next. You might be interested in knowing that many state 4-H organizations are in the same boat and that, in response, National 4-H has put the books online. The books now can be downloaded from http://www.4-hcurriculum.org/robotics.aspx. For most youth, however, a $5, durable, color project book is still the best choice.
National 4-H also is no longer producing the companion CD to the robotics series. Most if not all of the information is available online in two places: the National 4-H website mentioned above (click on “Robotics Online”) and Ron Sanderson’s Marion Co. website at www.getsetsite.org/robokids (click on 4-H Robotics on the Resources dropdown menu). Getting this new program up and running requires training and an initial investment in materials, but youth really love it. Interested youth (and adults?) may want to attend the 4-H Robotics session being offered at the Teen Conference in February. If you have any questions, please contact Ron Sanderson, 740.223.4040, sanderson.51@osu.edu or Jane Wright 614.292.0909, wright.646@cfaes.osu.edu .
Promote 4-H Action Team Needs Your Action!
Members of the Promote 4-H (Marketing) Action Team are meeting on Day 2 of the Professional Update and would like to know about successful marketing and promotional activities in your county. Our first priority is to come up with updated pieces appropriate for counties all over the state. Please bring a few samples of your brochures, flyers, and whatever else to the Professional Update. All ideas are welcome—even if they’re just briefly described on a piece of paper! We’ll collect them in a box at registration and get to work. If it’s easier for you to send samples and ideas via email ahead of time, please send them to Janelle Riethman, program assistant and team coordinator, at reithman.7@cfaes.osu.edu.
Youth Welding Workshop
The Youth Welding Workshop, April 25, at OSU, provides a unique opportunity for youth (ages 10-18) to develop their arc welding (Stick or SMAW) skills and/or oxyacetylene welding and cutting skills. Participants will receive instruction and hands-on experience with welding skills and safety. The workshop is open to any 4-H, FFA or other youth. This workshop provides an excellent interactive opportunity for those completing the 4-H Arcs & Sparks project book or planning to enroll in the 4-H Oxy Rocks project.
Included with your registration is metal to complete three welding specimens (two at our facility and one to take home as practice), welding related "stuff", welding techniques handouts, product literature, and a pizza lunch and drinks. Parents eat free, and are encouraged to stay, observe and learn.
Who: Any Youth, age 10-18 -Includes: 4-H, FFA, Scouts, etc.
When: Saturday, April 25, 2009
Where: Agricultural Engineering Building on the OSU Campus
Cost: $50.00 per youth participant (or $80 for 2 sessions)
Details are on our web site: http://4hengineering.osu.edu Under What’s New, click on: 2009 Youth Welding Workshop. or contact Randall Reeder: reeder.1@osu.edu
Lake County 4-H PetPALS featured on Our Ohio
Donna Maruschak, Lake County 4-H Professional, and her 4-H PetPALS group, hosted a television crew in November to video record a 4-H PetPALS segment for the Our Ohio TV show, which airs on many PBS stations. The 4-H PetPALS segment from the Our Ohio television show is now the featured video on the OurOhio.org home page at http://ourohio.org . We do not know how much longer it will be available on that web site. If you missed the original airing on January 4th, I would encourage you to take the five minutes it will cost you to view it. It will make you feel good about the work we do, as well as give you programming ideas. It will make your day.
Congratulations Green County GIS 4-H Club!
For the third year in a row, the Greene County Geographic Information Systems (GIS) 4-H Club has received a National Environmental Sensitivities Research Institute Grant. The club learns the basics of Geographic Information Systems and Global Positioning. They have worked on community mapping projects including a community service component to geo-cache all the fire hydrants in Greene County for the Greene County Emergency Management Team.
This grant was created in cooperation with the National 4-H Headquarters, the Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service (CSREES), and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)." For more information see: http://www.esri.com/industries/k-12/4-h/index.html.
WELL DONE!
Operation Military Kids – Blue Ribbon Data
Please continue collecting required Operation Military Kids data on your Blue Ribbon programs.
Revised forms for this data collection and how to use the state enrollment and re-enrollment template to gather military data for members and advisors is available at: http://www.ohio4h.org/blueribbon/forms.html. Jim Elder will be offering further training to counties in the very near future.
Collect data for members who have a parent in the military, and numbers of advisors who might be in the military. For example, if there are three children in a family and their father or mother is in the military, each one of those children's enrollment forms would indicate this information.
Once you have completed this process, please send the results to Theresa Ferrari at ferrari.8@cfaes.osu.edu. Theresa will be re-assuming her role as Principal Investigator of the Ohio 4-H military club grant upon her return next month.
In the meantime, if you have any questions on the data collection, contact Beth Bridgeman, Bridgeman.7@osu.edu Betty Wingerter, Wingerter.1@osu.edu or Jermaine Kennedy, Kennedy.264@cfaes.osu.edu .
