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Staff News & Notes - Week of January 18, 2010
Hi,
Way back when I was a little kid, I used to spend a lot of time with my Father. Whether it be riding with him on the corn picker or visiting the hardware store, I usually was with him most of my non-school time until my teen years. Dad was a social creature. If he went to the hardware store to buy twenty feet of ½ inch rope to make cattle halters, he would often spend what seemed like an eternity talking with the store owner, Hugo Meyer. Then, when he finally finished, and we were back in the vehicle on our way home, Dad would always say, “He sure is a windy cuss!” Of course, my thought was that it takes two to carry on a conversation that long!
But Dad was onto something that I had yet to learn. Most of what we do in life, and how we get along doing it, depends on the relationships that we build with others. I also know from various resources in my professional life, that our relationship with any one person is a function of the quality of our last communication with that person.
Today we have more methods of communication than ever before. To carry out our work, we Extension professionals once depended on meetings, face-to-face individual contacts, mailings, the print media, maybe a radio or TV vignette, and of course, the phone. Now we have moved to the internet and all the communication opportunities that it provides, from email, to web sites, to social media. It is great to have all these possibilities, and no doubt we make more contacts with all the communication vehicles that we have.
But I sometimes worry about the quality of that communication. Time-consuming though it may be, nothing beats face-to-face. The phone is still probably the best substitute for face-to-face communication. With the prevalence of voice mail, I cannot remember the last time that I called a phone number and received a busy signal, so though we may play “phone tag” with someone with voice mail messages, even using the phone for communication has improved.
I think that sometimes we depend too much now on email communication. It is just too easy now to send a message to a large number of people 24/7. I receive email messages from 4-H Professionals that are time stamped all hours of the day and night. I think email has diminished our ability to plan ahead, people are not as careful with grammar and punctuation, and brevity and abbreviations seem to be goals.
All this diminishes the quality of our communication, and thus lessens the relationship with the recipient of that communication. So, I personally have resolved for 2010 to make more of my communication either face-to-face or through the phone. But then again, there is no way that I am going to see or call each of you every week … hmmmm. I guess communication takes effort and there is a certain amount of balancing in methods that we must use.
Thanks,
Tom
Registration Open for One Day 4-H Professional's Inservice
Feburary 1, 2010
Nationwide and Ohio Farm Bureau 4-H Center
Check your e-mail for registration information.
For more details, contact Lisa Jinks, jinks.2@cfaes.osu.edu.
Registration will close at
5:00 p.m. Tuesday, January 26, 2010.
State Achievement Awards & Scholarships
Thanks to all for your involvement with the revision of the Achievement Awards and Ohio 4-H Scholarships over the past few years. The goal for the 2010 awards process is to continue to improve the process.
Key points for the 2010 system:
- Applications are due to Allen Auck in the State Office, no later than 5 p.m. February 1, 2010. Achievement Award & Scholarship Applications may be brought to the 4-H In-Service on Monday, February 1. Applications postmarked on February 1, 2010 or later will be late and therefore ineligible for consideration.
- Counties must submit a State Achievement Award Transmittal Form. This will better enable the selection committee to make sure that each application has been considered in all the categories in which they may have applied. This form is found at: www.ohio4h.org/aauck/. It will be on-line early next week.
- Counties must submit State Achievement Award/Scholarship Application information on-line. This will better enable the selection committee to make sure that each application has been considered in all the categories in which they may have applied. This form is found at: www.ohio4h.org/aauck/. The on-line form will be available next week.
- Counties must submit a State Scholarship Ranked Nomination form. This form is found at: www.ohio4h.org/aauck/
- 4-H members must submit an application for each award applied for. Photocopies are acceptable if there are no changes in the applications for multiple award areas.
- Separate out the applications for State Junior Fair Board. Finalists will be invited to the Teen Conference for a personal interview. You can nominate two males & females.
- Each Achievement Application must have the appropriate color coded State Achievement Information sheet stapled to it. These are found at:http://www.ohio4h.org/aauck/
Selections will take place February 17, 2010.
In cases where an applicant will be reviewed for more than one award area, the County will indicate on the Information Sheet the area of the 4-H member’s primary category/interest. That will be used only if the 4-H’er is a finalist for multiple awards.
For example, if Chris Clover is selected as the top youth in both Beef and Leadership, (but is only eligible to receive one award), AND if the county has indicated that Leadership is Chris Clover’s primary area of interest, then the selection committee will award Chris the Leadership award and the Beef award to another 4-H member.
County educators will be asked to serve for one day of awards selection in Columbus. Teams of two educators will be put together to review no more than 40 applications, ideally within the educators area of specialization. Efforts are being made to develop teams that include state and county staff, as well as a good mix of educators from all geographic areas of the state.
Don’t Forget:
- State Achievement Information Sheet, stapled to each application, indicating the member’s primary interest and/or strength.
- County Transmittal Form (a summary of every application submitted to state office).
- State Scholarship Ranked Nomination form
- Submit information on-line
- Deadline, February 1, 2010, 5 p.m. to Allen Auck, auck.1@cfaes.osu.edu at the State 4-H Office
Science Alive 4-H School Enrichment
A new Science Alive 4-H School Enrichment folder is available from eStore for no charge to counties. (This is the same one distributed at our October 22 meeting.) Meant to help 4-H professionals promote their school enrichment activities to local education administrators and teachers, the folder can be used to deliver specific descriptions of the Science Alive curriculum you offer. Updated descriptions, including crosswalks with 2007 Ohio Department of Education Science Standards, are located on the revamped Science Alive 4-H School Enrichment webpage at www.ohio4h.org/sciencealive. Questions? Please contact Jane Wright (wright.646@cfaes.osu.edu, 614.292.0909) or Amanda Forquer (forquer.13@cfaes.osu.edu, 614.292.6942). Thanks!
Learning Outcomes for Afterschool Agriculture: Acres of Adventure
Local teachers, after-school care providers, and home-schoolers in your county may find it helpful to know what learning outcomes, including national education standards, are addressed by each of the activities in the Afterschool Agriculture: Acres of Adventure books. Check out the Summar```y of Learning Outcomes, Acres of Adventure documents (one for each book) now available on the staff resources page under school enrichment. These documents are the result of someone’s request, so please keep asking for information you would find helpful. Questions? Contact Jane Wright (wright.646@cfaes.osu.edu, 614.292.0909). Thanks!
Youth Travel Opportunities with Ohio 4-H
Ohio youth with a desire to learn about other cultures can travel the globe through Ohio 4-H! We’ll offer 1-month international exchange programs to Australia, Costa Rica and Norway during summer 2010. Each adult-chaperoned program allows youth to stay with a local host family and explore the culture and language first-hand. The application deadline is Wednesday, January 27, although it will be extended if spots are still available. Dates and prices vary by country and scholarships of at least $600 are offered to all selected participants. If you have any interested youth I’d be happy to answer questions and guide them through the process. Please see www.ohio4h.org/youth/international or contact Mary Lynn at thalheimer.1@osu.edu for details. Thanks for helping get the word out about these unique educational opportunities!
International Program Materials for Counties
In this week’s county mail you’ll receive a copy of our new “2010 International Programs Booklet.” Thank you for alerting your families and youth to the hosting and traveling opportunities in the publication. It is available electronically at http://www.ohio4h.org/youth/international/documents/Booklet10.pdf. You can also pick-up more hard copies at the Feb. 1st In-Service. A second publication is entitled “At-a-Glance” – a 2-page flier that is easy to include in any county newsletters or other mailings. You can find it at http://www.ohio4h.org/youth/international/documents/Glance10-a_002.pdf, or pick-up additional copies on Feb. 1st. Questions? Please contact Mary Lynn at thalheimer.1@osu.edu. Thanks for your support of the Ohio 4-H International Program!
National 4-H Headquarter Chartering Requirements
The 4-H website is being updated to reflect more closely the National 4-H Headquarter Chartering Guidelines. Please refer to the National Headquarter factsheets at http://www.national4-hheadquarters.gov/library/4h_polregs.htm
or
4-H CLUB DEFINITION:
A 4-H Club is an organized group of at least five youth from three different families who meet regularly with adult volunteers or staff for a long-term, progressive series of educational experiences.
Research Funding Opportunities - for Staff
Learn strategies for finding funding through this hands-on training. Also learn how to use the COS Funding Opportunity System as well as the Funding Alert System and the Research Expertise profile system.
Location: Research Foundation, Room 113 Computer Lab
Date: Wednesday, 02/03/2010
Time: 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM
For more information, please contact: Froilan.2@osu.edu
Farm Credit Scholarship Deadline Approaching
Louisville, KY – January 19, 2010 – A February 26 deadline is fast approaching for applications for Farm Credit Services of Mid-America (FCS) scholarships. FCS, a $16 billion agricultural lending cooperative serving farmers, agribusinesses and rural residents in Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana and Tennessee, is committed to educational success and is offering scholarships to college students enrolled in agricultural programs. Thirty-six scholarships – ranging in value from $1,000 to $1,500 – will be awarded to children of members of Farm Credit. This is in addition to awarding over $60,000 in scholarships to students attending universities with ag colleges as well as the 4-H and FFA, bringing FCS’s total scholarship investment to over $100,000 annually.
To apply, go online to www.e-farmcredit.com and click on Community Support to download the application. Or call 1-800-444-3276 to talk the closest office about obtaining an application.
A Note From Dan Martin, President, Ohio Fair Manager Association
Dear Extension Professionals,
On behalf of the Board of Directors of the Ohio Fair Manager Association I would like to Thank You very much for your participation in the 2010 Ohio Fair Managers Convention. The success of the Jr. Fair program is because of your help in putting on the different programs for our young participants.
We had approximately 650 Jr. Fair participants at this years convention, down from the almost 1100 last year. Thanks to those of you that were presenters and also to those that braved the bad weather to bring your youth to the convention. Hopefully everyone that attended got something from one or more of the sessions.
I would be remiss if I did not Thank my partner in crime Julie Dalzell (she made me add this) for all of her help in putting the program together.
Once again, Thank You for all that you do for the Jr. Fair youth.
Animal Sciences Dairy Calendar Updated
Calendar of event dates will be posted as new revisions are made. Please note a new program in April, "Dairy COWreers Day." www.4hansci.osu.edu/dairy
REINS Volunteer Program
Application Deadline Extended
To accommodate this interest and include applications for which not all recommendations have been received, the deadline for application materials is extended to February 1.
The annual conference, scheduled for February 20-21 at the OSU Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Columbus, is open to all those interested in attending, not just REINS applicants. The registration fee for the 2-day conference is $70 ($35 for REINS applicants) and includes lunch on both days. The tentative conference schedule and registration form are available online at http://4hansci.osu.edu/horse/horseResources.php.
2010 North Central Region Volunteer Forum News: Head to the Michigan “Mitten” for a “Heads On! Hands On!” experience
Ohio 4-H volunteers are invited to participate in the 2010 NCRVF being held October 7 to 10 at the Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan.
This is the last Annual NCRVF and you don’t want to miss the great opportunities that will be made for Extension staff and 4-H Volunteers (adult and youth) from your state.
Participants will: Gain knowledge and insight
Learn new teaching skills to take home and share within your 4-H clubs
Develop healthy youth and adult educational partnerships
Have a Great time making new 4-H friends and exchanging ideas!
Check out the link to the fast paced, educational and Fun events that await you during this spectacular fall event on campus.
http://web1.msue.msu.edu/msue/cyf/youth/ncr4hvf/index.html
See all the details for the Conference information, Cost, and Pre-conference Tours
Find the Requests for Proposals for educational sessions (PDF), deadline February 12
For more information on how to get involved as a youth or volunteer, contact Julie A. Chapin, Telephone: 517-432-7608, EMAIL: chapin@msu.edu
4-H At National Conservation Training
Education Programs for Youth: School’s Out
Maria Arnold, Youth Development Program Specialist, 4-H National Headquarters, National Institute of Food and Agriculture, USDA, Phone: 202-720-8857, E-mail: marnold@nifa.usda.gov will be representing 4-H at Fish and Wildlife Service, National Conservation Training Center course titled, “Education Programs for Youth: School’s Out.”
She will participate on March 10 of this 3-day course - http://training.fws.gov/NCTCWeb/catalog/CourseDetail.aspx?CourseCodeLong=FWS-OUT8162.
4-H programs focusing on ecosystems and wildlife study programs for youth in non-formal settings will be showcased. Maria asks for your assistance – either by sending information or web links about such programs by February 16.
If anyone would like to participate in the workshop, you may register on a first-come, first-served basis, until the class is full or no later than February 12. See the link above to connect with the course contacts.
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.
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.
