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Staff News & Notes - Week of January 11, 2010
Hi,
Of late it seems that I have been responding to questions, making presentations, and solving issues based on “policy”. But just what is a “policy”? I have to admit that I seldom use a dictionary any longer; I look up definitions on the Web. Although there are many web definitions of “policy” available, this is the one I thought most appropriate in our context: “A policy is typically described as a deliberate plan of action to guide decisions and achieve rational outcome(s)” [from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Policy].
A policy is different from a rule. A rule prescribes behavior. Rules are more at the ground level, while policies maintain an altitude. Rules are usually the result of attempting to alleviate a past problem. A policy tries to guide the future in a sane and sensible way.
We deal most often with rules in competitive events. All of us have probably struggled with the correct verbiage to use in writing, or advising how to write, a rule to make sure that someone does not have an unfair advantage in a competitive situation. I have trouble with writing rules to address every possible scenario of such competitive advantages. Before long, the “rule book” becomes so large that it is cumbersome, and most of the rules were written to apply to one unique situation, that in all probability will not happen again.
I am more comfortable with having a policy for an organization or event, that an Executive Committee, or other small but mindful group, will have the decision-making authority, that will guide the direction in making decisions about unique, one-time situations as they occur. This is particularly helpful in our management of youth development. If we place youth in decision-making positions, provide pro and con information, and let the youth decide, we have succeeded in providing experiential education that will result in a life skill.
To me policies are well thought-out common sense. They are based on long-term organizational experience, and intended to protect individual employees, provide uniformity of procedures, and insure longevity of the organizational purposes.
As Extension employees, we may not be able to keep up with all the rules of business procedures or human resources – we have units in our organization to help us with that. We cannot possibly know all the rules for the hundreds of competitive events that enhance the educational programs that we conduct – there are individuals who intimately involved with each of these upon whom we can depend.
BUT, we all need to be familiar with our Extension/ 4-H policies. Whether the policies are for 4-H membership, 4-H treasuries/ handling funds, transporting 4-H youth, volunteer screening, use of 4-H name and emblem, and so forth, they are in place to keep us on a positive and productive track with minimum risk. Check out the 4-H policies at: http://www.ohio4h.org/policies/. You and the people you serve will be better for it.
Thanks,
Tom
Reminder:
Impact reports for 2009 Ohio 4-H Foundation Grants are due NO LATER than January 31, 2010. Please send impact reports to Christine Drennen, 4-H Foundation Program Manager, drennen.18@cfaes.osu.edu.
Poster or Display at 4-H Professionals February In-service
The 2010 In-service Planning Committee invites 4-H Professionals to highlight with a display or poster any exceptional programs or activities that can be shared at the February 1st 4-H Professionals In-service. Please contact Travis West, west.222@osu.edu to make arrangements for space. We ask that you provide your own easel and any setup equipment you will need. There will be limited table space available.
2010 Ohio Volunteer Award Winners
Thank you for your nominations for the 2010 Ohio Volunteer Awards! At the link below you will find the winners of the Community Service, Innovator, Leadership, Meritorious Service, Recruitment, Friend of
4-H, and the Ohio Hall of Fame awards.
Please feel free to notify the winners from your county. These winners will be recognized at the Ohio Volunteer Conference and Bob Evans Recognition Banquet on March 13, 2010 at the Greater Columbus Convention Center. They will be receiving an official invitation to the banquet from the State 4-H Office in the next few days.
Each county will be receiving a copy of the letter within their county mail packets this week.
State 4-H Ambassador, State 4-H Fashion Board, and Ohio 4-H Teen Advisory Council Opportunities
This is a reminder that applications are being accepted through February 1 for 2010-11 State 4-H Ambassadors, State 4-H Fashion Board, and the Ohio 4-H Teen Advisory Council. Please let prospective candidates in your county know about these opportunities and encourage them to apply. Links to more information and application materials for each group include:
State 4-H Ambassadors: http://www.ohio4h.org/youth/ambassadors/index.html
State 4-H Fashion Board: http://www.ohio4h.org/youth/FashionBoard.html
Ohio 4-H Teen Advisory Council: http://www.ohio4h.org/youth/Ohio4-HTeenCouncil.html
"4-H Share Fair" at the 2010 Ohio 4-H Teen Conference
You'll want to remember this year's conference by visiting the 4-H Share Fair. The 4-H Share Fair will feature educational displays, National 4-H Supply items, and promotional materials. Does your county have a cool 4-H Teen Activity or program that you would like to tell other 4-H teens about? CLICK HERE for the 2010 Ohio 4-H Teen Conference "Share Fair Request Form" and send to Janet K. Wasko Myers, myers.31@osu.edu by January 29th to reserve display space. We'll provide the table – you provide the display and handouts.
Sharing Quality Assurance Program Dates
Counties/EERA’s who want to share their 2010 Quality Assurance Program Dates with other counties/EERA’s can do so by sending the following information to Lucinda Miller at miller.78@osu.edu: (1) County/EERA, (2) Date(s) of Program(s), (3) Pre-Registration Deadline for In-County/EERA participants if applicable, (4) Pre-Registration Deadline for Out-of-County/EERA participants if applicable, (5) Time(s), (6) Location(s), (7) Fee if applicable, and (8) Contact Info (include contact person’s name, phone, and email address). I will post information received on the password protected Educator’s site at http://4hansci.osu.edu in an Excel spreadsheet. If you have specific questions about Quality Assurance Programs, contact Paul Kuber at kuber.2@osu.edu.
Openings on Marketing Action Team
Efforts on the Marketing Action Team are about to be ramped up, even if it’s just to identify the one or two marketing pieces that would most help marketing efforts at the county level. Would you like to join us? We have representation from across the state, but still could use members from these EERAs: Buckeye Hills, Crossroads, Erie Basin, and Heart of Ohio. This is a short-term commitment on an ad hoc committee, and we don’t even have funding! That just means we have to be extra creative in a short amount of time. To join us, please send a letter (email) of interest to Jane Wright, Curriculum Manager, at wright.646@cfaes.osu.edu. Thanks!
Much Ado about Scrapbooking
Just in case scrapbooking-the-project versus scrapbooking-at-the-fair seems confusing, here is some clarification. Scrapbooking: A 4-H Guide to Preserving Memories is a beginner/intermediate level project, which is defined in the Family Guide as youth ages 8 to 13. Youth participating in scrapbooking at the state fair attend Creative Arts Day in either the junior class (age 13 or younger) or senior class (age 14 or older). Junior class participants are expected to use the project book; senior class participants are still completing scrapbooking as a self-determined project and are free to use whatever resources they like, including the new project book. Questions? Please contact Tammie Hull at hullsoh@aol.com.
Identifying State Events that Need OSUE Professional Assistance
In the past, there was a coordinated effort to identify Extension Professionals who would be interested in providing professional assistance to State 4-H Opportunities. When this was done, a mailing was made to everyone in Extension with a list of the events, trips, contests, etc. and Ohio Extension Professionals were given the opportunity to indicate their interest. The major advantages of this process were that recruitment was consolidated and there as a potential of volunteers from a wider audience.
This process was discontinued a few years ago, in part, because many of those recruiting help found it easier to recruit individually, or they had people who consistently volunteered year after year, and therefore, no new help was needed.
However, some people would like to re-initiate this process. It would fit nicely with a web-based survey. If you are interested in recruiting assistance for the 4-H Opportunities for which you are in charge, please complete the form, CKICK HERE and return to, archer.3@osu.edu or Lisa, jinks.2@cfaes.osu.edu by January 15. We will consolidate into a web-based survey,, and launch that survey to All Extension by January 22, so that we can have responses completed by early February.
Military Childcare/Youth Development Internship Program
A new partnership between the Cooperative Extension System and the Department of Defense has provided the funding for a national, military childcare/youth development internship program. Through this initiative, students and recent graduates will have the opportunity to develop professional skills in childcare and youth development through practical work experience with military children, youth, and families. Interns’ compensation will include travel to and from the internship site and housing for the duration of the placement. Interns will be placed on military installations across the United States with some opportunities for international placement.
The Military Extension Internship Program is accepting applications through January 29th for internships beginning June 6th and lasting through the summer. More information and application materials can be found at www.extension.purdue.edu/military, and we are happy to answer any questions you may have.
Application materials for Fall 2010 internships will be available later this spring.
Ohio 4-H Featured in Our Ohio Magazine
Check out the January/February 2010 Edition of Our Ohio Magazine for an artilce "A sySTEM of attracting new students"
Wood County 4-H Quilters Featured in National Publication Again!
The Wood County 4-H Quilters have been honored with a publication in the National Quilting Magazine "Quilting Quarterly" from the National Quilting Association. CLICK HERE to see the magazine cover and the page one article and page two article. Contgrats!.
Teen Conference Registration
The registration materials are now posted for the 2010 Teen Conference. Saturday, February 20, 2010. Both the registration booklet and registration form are posted for your use in prompting this excellent educational opportunity for our older 4-H youth. Please keep in mind that we will be in Ballrooms 4-5 for Teen Conference this year. The ballrooms are located on the second floor at the north end of the Convention Center.
The on-line registration site is also available at: www.ohio4h.org/register.
Ohio Volunteer Conference Registration
The registration information is now posted for the 2010 Ohio 4-H Volunteer Conference, Saturday, March 13, 2010. You can find the registration booklet and registration form at: www.ohio4h.org/volunteerconference.
On-line registration is also available at: www.ohio4h.org/register.
