Table of Contents
Focus on Youth
News for OCES staff working with youth.
4-H is a community of young people across America learning leadership, citizenship and life skills.
November/December, 2006
Dear
4-H Educators, Members, Volunteers and Parents,
This time of year brings cooler days, when it is nice to stay inside and
work on 4-H projects as a family or to catch up on record books. Fall also
reminds us of hay rides and football games. Recently the volunteers, members
and parents of the Payne County 4-H clubs worked together to build the sweepstakes
float for the OSU Homecoming Parade. As you can see there were many hours
of hard work committed to this project.
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While many counties do not have opportunities to participate in events
of this magnitude, parades and festivals are always a good way to market the
4-H program. Another
thing you might consider doing next fall for 4-H Month is painting the windows
of local business with images that help tell your local 4-H story.
Recently a team of Extension staff traveled to Ft. Worth to visit with urban
extension staff. Our goal was to learn about their programs and to get
ideas for promoting 4-H and other Extension
programs to an ever-increasing number of urban legislators. One of
the things I observed was that they are not doing many programs
that are different from what I have seen from our staff in Oklahoma. They
are just doing a better job of communicating their story.
With this issue of Focus on Youth, I want to encourage you to
think about ways you can help make yourself and your programs more visible
in your local county. As our educators work on new plans of work, it
would be wise to plan time and ways to tell your story. You are doing
great things. Let
folks know about it.
If you have an innovative idea you would like to share, please send it
to me.
Sincerely,
Charles Cox
Interim Assistant Director, 4-H Youth Development
Youth Judging Clinic
Attached is information regarding a National Reining Horse Youth Association Reining Judging Clinic to be held on November 25th, 2006. It is for youth ages 10-18 years of age. For more information, visit their website at www.nrhya.com
Kansas City 4-H Global Conference
Registration forms and information for the Kansas City conference can be found at:
http://oklahoma4h.okstate.edu/events/kansascity.htm
This years’ conference will be held March 7-10, 2007, at the Kansas City Airport Hilton, Kansas City, Missouri. Registration forms and payment are due to the state 4-H office prior to December 8, 2006. If you have questions, please contact Tracy or Judy in the State 4-H office
Citizenship Washington Focus (CWF)
Information regarding the upcoming CWF trip can be found on the 4-H website at http://oklahoma4h.okstate.edu/events/cwf.htm
This year’s conference will be July 5-15, 2007. If you have questions or need additional information, please contact the State 4-H Office.
Application for Trip Chaperones
Attached is the form to be completed by educators and/or volunteers who are interested in chaperoning an upcoming 4-H out-of-state trip. All applications must be sent through both the county and the district offices. The applications are due to district offices by December 14, 2006.
Do you know the 4-H Brand?
The first step in promoting 4-H is to have a clear understanding of what you are promoting – what the 4-H brand symbolizes. There is a website filled with resources that will help you consistently market 4-H. It is also a place for you to share your successes.
National 4-H Photo Calendar Contest
National 4-H Council needs winning photos from state and
county fairs (2002-2007) to create the 2009 4-H Calendar. The winning
photos will be on display at the National 4-H Conference Center from
September 2007 through November 2007 and also posted on our web site.
VERY IMPORTANT - Submissions will only be considered if
they meet these criteria:
- Full NAME and AGE of person submitting photograph.
- Affiliation with 4-H.
- Complete return address (for both UPS delivery and USPS First Class Mail).
- Telephone number.
- List of awards that each submitted photograph has received (county, state, 4-H or other) - If it has not received some prior award or recognition, it will not be considered.
- The photographer's thoughts about the photograph, in 25 words or less (include title of photograph).
- Photo submissions should be 8"x10", in color, and in a horizontal format. Vertical shots will be accepted only if they can be cropped to fit the horizontal format of the calendar. Black and white photos will not be considered for this full color calendar.
- Please do not submit photos printed on a home printer, color photo copies, or low resolution digital prints. Have the print developed at a photo processing store.
- Email address (if applicable).
Please submit photos to:
2009 4-H Calendar
National 4-H Supply Service
6931 Arlington Road Suite T-400
Bethesda, Maryland, 20814
The deadline for submissions is March 1, 2007
The Entry Form is available at: http://www.4-hmall.org/Calendar/images/2009Calendar/2009PhotoEntryForm.pdf
4-H Omniplex Camp February 16-17, 2007
4-H members, volunteers and families from across the state will have the opportunity to learn about science by camping in at the Oklahoma City Omniplex February 16-17. Four-H’ers can explore the spectacular science exhibits, see stunning scientific demonstrations, travel to the planets and beyond in planetarium shows, and sleep in unimaginable places, like under a dinosaur, in a giant mouth or next to a tornado.
The camp in is open to all ages. Bring your 4-H group or 4-H families. The choice is yours. This change is due to requests made by older 4-H members with an interest in science. We are still waiting on the Omniplex to give us a selection of themes for this year’s camp in. I will send it out as soon as we receive the information. The cost of the camp is $29 for youth of any age and $15 for adults.
Encouraging Entrepreneurial Volunteering
Excerpt….
It was the discussion about the term “civic engagement” that sparked this Hot Topic. While Coming of Age and the Center itself are deeply involved in supporting volunteering of all sorts, these colleagues took pains to distinguish their efforts as “bigger than just volunteering.” Pressed to explain further, they quoted research and observation that Baby Boomers want something “different” from traditional volunteer work, particularly more entrepreneurial, take-this-and-run-with-it opportunities.
On one hand, there are some uses of the term “civic engagement” that are indeed broader in scope. For example, it can include urging people to vote or even to run for office – to exercise their obligations and potential power as citizens. It can mean participation in school board hearings, protesting zoning changes, and other public action for the political common good. While one could argue that such activities also fit under the broad umbrella of “volunteering” (as they are voluntary and unremunerated), they also could be seen as the exercise of the responsibilities of citizenship rather than the “above and beyond” of volunteering for a cause.
….The Light Bulb Comes On
In the days following this lunch conversation, I found myself mulling over the implications. First I thought the usual: if only volunteer program managers were better (or louder) at telling the story of all the incredible activities volunteers are already doing. But then I saw the entire situation in a completely different light.
I am a strong advocate of applying targeting marketing techniques to recruit the best volunteers. To do this, I advise designing meaningful volunteer position descriptions first. And this process works.
But this traditional approach also reinforces the conventional idea that it is the role of the organization both to define the needs and to select the ways the needs will be met. This is fine up to a point. But it perpetuates the notion that volunteers are “helpers,” the enthusiastic labor bringing the organization’s strategies to life. Pre-developed assignments also do not welcome totally new approaches to the problems at hand, may not evoke discovery of unexpected talents offered by a prospective volunteer, and therefore can lead to squeezing square pegs into round holes.
What would happen if, instead, we crafted at least some of our recruitment messages differently? What if we described the needs but then put out a call for people with creative ideas for how to meet them? That would even go beyond civic engagement to social entrepreneurship, yet another 21st century phrase adding some pizzazz to volunteering.
To see the rest of this article go to: http://www.energizeinc.com/hot/2006/06Nov.html
State Officer Candidates
The following materials are due February 1 in the state 4-H officer for state officer candidates:
- Candidate profile form
- Photo release form
- News Information Sheet
Forms can be down loaded at http://oklahoma4h.okstate.edu/leadership/file.htm
Materials can be sent electronically to Judy Talley.
Down to Earth
You don’t need to go on an archeological dig to find the Earth’s hidden treasures. Through the process of EarthCaching, treasure hunters of all ages can discover ancient mountains, sunken forests and countless other gems. Unlike Geocaches, which entail the hiding and seeking of man-made objects, EarthCaches already exist in the natural world. Be it a fossil bed, a crater, a peninsula or another geological wonder, EarthCaches reveal how a place was formed and the scientific value of that place. With little more than Internet access, a GPS receiver and a sense of adventure, EarthCachers get a “behind-the-earth” view of Mother Nature’s marvels. In addition to learning about existing caches, youth/adult partners can teach others about caches in their own community. Start Earthcaching.
Going Places
Nebraska City’s Arbor Day Farm. Gettysburg’s Land of Little
Horses. Nashville’s Adventure Science Center. These are just
a few favorite places of 4-Hers across the country. And, thanks to Youth
Favorite Places (YFP), each spot is on the 4-H map—major
landmarks, best-kept secrets and everything in between. Launched in
summer 2003, YFP gives young people a chance to highlight their beloved
haunts with colorful photos and descriptions. While playing tour guide,
each youth also becomes familiar with digital photography and GPS mapping,
research and technical writing, database entry and other valuable skills.
Read
registration info.
Kid’s Helping Kids – Ronald McDonald & 4-H Fund Raiser
This is another reminder to encourage your 4-H clubs to participate in the 20th year of this very special fund raiser. Remember that a full one third of all the money collected stays in your county for use by either you or the local club that raises the money. Last year more than $8,300 stayed in the counties. And local 4-H members earned more than $3,000 in savings bonds were awarded to county and state fund raising winners. For more details on the program go to the state 4-H web page and click on the button for “Kids Helping Kids” There you will find information for educators and volunteers. If you have any questions, please give me a call.
County Accounts in the 4-H Foundation
In the past few months several counties have inquired about how to set up local foundations. I just want to remind everyone that you already have a foundation, and its one that takes all the work out of having your own foundation. We have established a dedicated account for each county in the State 4-H Foundation. When a donor asks that their money go to a county, we put the money there. If you need a 501.c.3 to receive a gift from someone or some organization we can put your money there and issue the tax receipt. If you have money coming from 4-H Day ticket sales, or some other fund raiser, we can put that money in your account. If you want to build a fund that you can use for local program support, you can contribute to your account and then draw the money when you need it. These accounts were set up to help support YOUR county programs. Please let me know if you have questions about how this might work, or let me know if you have funds that you would like us to manage in the State 4-H Foundation.
Publications Corner
Dairy Science Project: 151-Let’s Learn About Milk; 153-The Yearling Dairy Heifer; 155-Trimming a Dairy Heifer’s Feet; 156-Selecting Your First Dairy Heifer; 157-Training and Showing Dairy Heifers; 208-Dairy Quiz Bowl Review Questions, plus Animal Farm Link to Milk—A Dynamic Adventure.
Horse Science Project:597-Oklahoma 4-H Horse Proj. Hippology Prog. Ldr Guide; 494-Horse Breeds Quiz-Gram; 600-Horses and Kids: Safety on the Ground; 601-Horses and Kids: Preparing to Ride; 602-Keeping Track: Income/Expenses (Used & Ldr Guides); 266-Oklahoma Horse Rules & Regulations 2006; F-3915—Training Horses Safely (Int/Adv). Order two items by email: Rosalyn.Weston@okstate.edu-
599-Horse Quiz Bowl Parent/Ldr Guide (no cost); Progressive Skills Leader’s Guide (no cost).
Meats Science Project: 541-Special Food Needs of Family Members; 550-Red Meats and Vegetarianism; 614-Understanding Grades for Beef & Lamb; 617-Buying Beef in Large Quantities; 635-Identifying Meats Cuts Handbook (OH--$2.30 ea.) order by email: Rosalyn.Weston@okstate.edu.
Wood Working Project: 402-Varnishing FS (in process); 405-Wood Block Bookends; 406-Hot Pad Holder; 408-Bird Houses (Building Birdhouses); 409-Semi-Circular Tie Rack; 410: Doghouse Bookends;
411-Fishing Rod Holder; 412-Make a Spice Shelf; 412-Gun Cabinet; 414-Building a Dog House; 415-Building a Shoe Shine Kit (in process); 421-Wood Puzzles and Games (in process).
No. 148—National Land Judging Manual: Through December, 2006, the Land Judging Manual cost will be .50 each for counties in Oklahoma. Starting first of January, these manuals, due to reprint costs, will be $1.00 ea. The electronic manual is available on 4-H website and www.landjudging.com
Environmental Science Project: 19-Water Quality of Streams & Lakes; 20-Water Quality of Streams/Lakes Sheet (ages 12-14); 21-Aquatic Organisms (Ages 12-14); 24-Understanding Human Impact on Streams; 25-Understanding Human Impact on Streams sheet (Ages 15-18); 29-Stream and Lake Critter Identification; 720-721-4-H Wildlife Exhibit Preparation Project Ideas and Guidelines; F-1514- Using Vegetation for Erosion Control/Construction Sites (Int./Adv); 149-National Rangeland & Wildlife Values Manual (Quail, Eco-systems Plant ID, Stewardship) ($2.00 ea.); National Wildlife Habitat Eval. Manual ($12.00)& WHEP CD ($10.00) Rosalyn.Weston@okstate.edu.
Okla. Ag In The Classroom Lessons include all 4-H projects in lesson forms updated each month and very good informative material on how Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Family Consumer Sciences are included in everyday life.