Focus on Youth

News for OCES staff working with youth.

oklahoma4h.okstate.edu

May, 2010

4-H is a community of young people across America learning leadership, citizenship and life skills.

Table of Contents

• ATV Safety

• Plant Science Academy

• 2010 Key Club Award Inductees

• 2010 Key Club Luncheon

• 2010 National Congress Delegates

• 2010 Blue Award Group

• Mastering the Basics

• Risk Management Essentials Now Available

• Southern Region Volunteer Forum - Workshop Proposals Sought

• What Hat' pens when Green meets Orange?

• Newsletter for 4-H Volunteers

• Scholarships - 4-H Parent-Volunteer Conference

• State Parent-Volunteer Conference

• State Volunteer Service Project

• State 4-H Leadership Team Retreat

• 4H PetPALS (People and Animals Linking Successfully)

• OSU Vet Camp

• West Nile and Pets

• Update on ACCESS 4-H Online Enrollment is here

• 4-H Zoo Snooze

Clover Corner News

Charles Cox
Assistant Director, 4-H Youth Development

ATV Safety

Between 2006 and 2008 Oklahoma reported 38 ATV-related deaths. Close to 90 percent of ATV crashes occur with drivers under age 16 driving an adult-sized ATV. Recent research demonstrates that children under the age of 16 continue to suffer a disproportionate share of injuries, do not wear a helmet, and they fail to receive formal ATV training.

Recenlty Kourtney Coats, Extension educator ag and 4-H from Logan County, attended a week-long national 4-H ATV training workshop. As follow up to that training, he is working with some national trainers from Arkansas to offer an introductory training in Oklahoma.

As an Extension Educator or certified volunteer working with 4-H youth and adults, you have the opportunity to participate in a 4-H ATV (All-Terrain Vehicle) Safety Trainin,g at the Cleveland County Fairgrounds May 21, 2010. We will begin registration at 9 am Friday and conclude between 3:30 - 4 pm. Mike Klumpp, Associate Professor, 4-H Youth Development, and Darrin Henderson, Madison County Extension Agent - Staff Chair, with the Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service, will be conducting the program. Both Mike and Darrin are ATV Institute RiderCourse licensed instructors. Over the past three years the University of Arkansas CES has made a major comittment to provide ATV safety educational training to their youth and adults statewide. Arkansas has trained 24 Cooperative Extension Service county agents and state faculty as licensed instructors to deliver the ATV Safety Institute ATV RiderCourse to counties and communities in each of their three Extension districts.

At this workshop you will experience a training that would normally be provided to a youth attending a half-day training workshop.  You will also learn more about how you could become involved in providing this kind of programming in your county.  For more details see the attached link.  Enrollment is limited so please act quickly.

Charles Cox

Plant Science Academy

The OSU Plant Science Academy will be held June 8-10, 2010.  Students attending the camp participate in personal development activities; get hands-on experience collecting data from real field experiments; and network with industry representatives, faculty and graduate students in the department.  Dr. Sarah Lancaster is organizing the Plant Science Academy, with help from Drs. Chad Godsey, PaSS Cropping Systems Specialist and Brett Carver, PaSS Wheat Breeder/Geneticist, as well as Dr. Mary Ann Harris, CASNR Coordinator of Student development.  The Academy will be free to participants; however a short application is required.  For more information and to complete the application, visit http://pass.okstate.edu or contact Dr. Sarah Lancaster at 405-744-3525 or sarah.lancaster@okstate.edu.

Dr. Sarah Lancaster

2010 Key Club Luncheon

Key Club Alumni are invited to attend the Key Club Luncheon to be held July 29 during State 4-H Roundup. If you are a 4-H Key Club alum and you are interested in attending the luncheon, please let Jessica know by June 1. Call at 405-744-7960 or e-mail jessica.stewart@okstate.edu.

Jessica Stewart

2010 National Congress Delegates

Congratulations to our National 4-H Congress winners! They will be recognized during Honor Night at State 4-H Roundup, July 29.

Sarah Burrows - Pontotoc
Noah Cannady - Washington
Sarah Coffey - Murray
Lucy Dieman - Muskogee
Whitney Dockrey - Pottawatomie
Emily Eller - Payne
Blair Gee - Murray
Taylor Harbuck - Washita
Austin Kindschi - Logan
Terra LaRue - Washington
Chase Lowe - Muskogee
Charles Maloy - Rogers
Emily Morrow - Cleveland
Kendra Rash - Payne
Meagan Rhodes - Major
MaKenna Rogers - Pittsburg
Lauren Schrank - Cleveland
Sami Jo Scifres - Pontotoc
Maddi Shires - Bryan
Alison Slagell - Custer
Kayla Thomas - Pontotoc
Caitlin Tulloh - Cotton
Brooke Walters - Washita
MeKayla Weber - Canadian

2010 Blue Award Group

Congratulations to our Blue Award Group!

Mastering the Basics

By Carlye Christianson, Senior Counsel and Director of Special Projects

I thoroughly enjoy the NCAA "March Madness" series of tournaments which began this year on March 17. This year's line-up includes 65 men's teams and 64 women's teams playing in single elimination games. The tournament concludes on April 6th with the final match-up. NCAA tournament games provide some expected results, some storybook endings and the occasional agonizing loss.
It's hard not to be in awe of the players' skill, stamina, focus and teamwork. They seem to completely understand the notion that "there is no I in team" and often demonstrate what appears to be an intuitive sense of their fellow players' intent. Watching members of a team pass the ball before guiding it into the hoop is art in motion.

At many levels, these games also provide a study in risk management, which we define at the Center as a "discipline for dealing with uncertainty." No matter how often or closely a team studies its competition, it is certainly impossible to predict accurately what a single player or cluster of players will do during a current game or whether any disabling injuries will occur. Over the weekend I watched Michigan State play Maryland. Shortly before halftime, Michigan State was leading when one of the team's players, Kalin Lucas, ruptured a tendon. This was a major set back for the team and its chances for a win. But as it turns out, Michigan State had a succession plan. They were prepared to win even without a key player.

The missions of nonprofit organizations are too vital to leave to chance. Every nonprofit should have a succession plan for key players whose presence and performance are vital ingredients for a winning game. It's a basic. What will happen if a leader needs an extended period of leave, but plans to return? How will the organization cope when a senior leader opts for a more rewarding professional experience but provides only minimal advance notice of her departure date? What if the board decides that the chief executive's continued service is a liability rather than an asset?

We would be derelict in discussing the "basics" without providing a reminder of several favorites from Taking the High Road: A Guide to Effective and Legal Employment Practices for Nonprofits. During tough times it's relatively easy to forgo nonessentials. Three essential commitments are:

• Strive for fairness.
• Strive for consistency.
• Honesty is always the best policy

Article continued at http://www.nonprofitrisk.org/library/enews/enews.shtml April 2010 Issue.

Risk Management Essentials Now Available

The March edition of the NonProfit Risk Management Center's newsletter, Risk Management Essentials, is now available. Click here to read or download the attached PDF of the issue.
 

Southern Region Volunteer Forum - Workshop Proposals Sought

The planning committee is pleased to provide the opportunity to present at the Southern Region 4-H Volunteer Forum, Sept 30-Oct 3, 2010, at Rock Eagle 4-H Center. Each year more than 500 volunteer and staff gather together for education, fun and fellowship.

Attached are two items. One describes the workshop proposal system, while the other is an application.  The Forum does not provide any funding for travel or registration for presenters.

Proposals are due to Arkansas before June 1st.

Liz Taylor, Oklahoma's 2012 SRVF Volunteer Chair

 What Hat'pens when Green meets Orange?

The State 4-H Leadership Council was able to purchase all remaining OSU caps during a Saint Patrick Day special.  All profits from the sale of hats will go toward a 4-H Foundation Endowment being established for State Council Uniforms.  If you would like to purchase a hat contact your Cluster Representative.

Karla Knoepfli

Newsletter for 4-H Volunteers

Approximately 20 years ago this newsletter was printed and mailed to our volunteers.  With internet capabilities and the start of a new century in Oklahoma 4-H it is now in color and available electronically.

Attached is the second quarter issue of the "Volunteer Connection" newsletter.  It will be published quarterly for parents and volunteers.  Publication months are January, April, July and October.  Current and past Issues of the can be located at http://oklahoma4h.okstate.edu/volun/vol.htm.

The newsletter was emailed to club leaders, volunteers who have attended the PVC over the past four years and volunteer lists provided by other program areas.  To assist us in distributing the newsletter these individuals were asked to share the link with parents and volunteers in their local club.

Based on responses, Oklahoma volunteers are receptive to receiving the quarterly periodically.  If county volunteers want to be included in the electronic mailing have them send their name, county and email address to judy.talley@okstate.edu .

Please let me know if volunteers and educators have ideas and suggestions for the publication.  Our goal is to develop an educational piece which will help volunteers in managing clubs, developing youth and increasing the number of volunteers working with youth through local project groups.

Karla Knoepfli

Scholarships - 4-H Parent-Volunteer Conference

Oklahoma 4-H received a grant from National 4-H Council, in partnership with Monsanto, to underwrite our State Parent-Volunteer Conference for a fourth year.

"4-H is supported nationwide by a dedicated network of volunteers who know the value of strong, positive youth development. Partners like Monsanto make it possible for 4-H to continue to build and sustain our volunteer base and ensure that even more youth enjoy fulfilling 4-H experiences," said Donald T. Floyd, Jr., president and chief executive officer, National 4-H Council.

"Monsanto has a long-standing tradition of providing support for 4-H," noted Jim Tobin, director, biotech business development, Monsanto, who presented the $500,000 training award to 4-H. "Many company employees were 4-H members, and tell us that they credit 4-H for many of the skills they use today to do their jobs, a real credit to the 4-H volunteer leaders who assisted them in their learning process."

Monsanto Company is a leading global provider of technology-based solutions and agricultural products that improve farm productivity and food quality. For additional information, please visit www.monsanto.com.

Our funding will be used for Langston University and Oklahoma State University to enhance our volunteer certification process by encouraging new volunteers to attend the Conference.   Up to one-hundred (100) $30 scholarships would be awarded to "certified 4-H adult volunteers" applying to attend the conference for the first time.

To be eligible for the scholarships the volunteers must all ready be certified - paper work, screening and orientation completed prior to making application.  The volunteer must complete the scholarship form and have it signed by the county educator/university representative prior to submitting the scholarship application.  Scholarships will be dated as they are received in the state 4-H office.

If awarded a scholarship the volunteer is expected to do a presentation at their local club for parents/volunteers or at a county Parent-Volunteer Association meeting.  Scholarships will not be awarded in counties where the 2009 reporting process was not fulfilled.

County educators please be sure volunteers making application are committed to attending and returning home to share their experiences.  We want all scholarships to be used the day of the conference.  Any one who chooses not to make use of their scholarship will need to notify the state office 1 week prior to the conference so alternates can be notified.

Karla Knoepfli

State Parent-Volunteer Conference

"Set Sail with 4-H...Charting Our Future" is the theme of the 2010 State Parent-Volunteer Conference.  The conference is schedule for July 17, in Stillwater.

There will be four tracks of workshops each with a different focus:
Track 1 - "Enlightening" 4-H Parents and Volunteers - Diverse 4-H experiences and opportunities develop capable youth.
Track 2 - "Encouraging" 4-H Parents and Volunteers - Establish and nurture support networks with fellow volunteers, county, district and state extension staff, district officers, state ambassadors and state council members.
Track 3 - "Educating" 4-H Parents and Volunteers - Information Literacy develops project leaders, committee members, club leaders, parents, leadership teams, as well as club and county programs.
Track 4 - "Enjoying" being a 4-H Parent and Volunteer - Hands on workshops, better known as Fun Shops in the areas of recreation, educational crafts, food science, model rockets, etc.

The conference will include door prizes, as well as a silent and live auction.  Proceeds from the live auction will go towards the endowment of a Volunteer Development Scholarship with the Oklahoma 4-H Foundation.

During the luncheon Oklahoma 4-H will recognize volunteers who have been selected by their county for Volunteer of the Year and Life-Time Service awards and announce the District and State award recipients.

The early bird enrollment fee of $30 and enrollment form are due on or before June 18.  Any enrollment postmarked after June 19th will be responsible for the full enrollment fee of $40.  Conference registration and program will be posted May 1 at http://oklahoma4h.okstate.edu/volun/eduopp.htm.

Share Fair - County Parent-Volunteer/Leaders Associations are encouraged to develop a display for the Share Fair.  The displays should showcase successful service-learning projects, 4-H promotions or 4-H partnerships (organizations and/or individuals who help make your county's 4-H clubs successful).  Each county is limited to one display which must be registered by June 1.
State Volunteer Service Project - Operation Military Kids Family Night Package (see the following article)

Debbie Wilson, State Volunteer Board President

State Volunteer Service Project

Operation Military Kids Family Night Package
To encourage and support quality family night activities of our OMK families we are hopeful volunteers will prepare and bring family night packages to the PVC.  Family night package might include: a snack and a game; a snack and a movie; craft or cooking activity; family dinner or picnic; etc.
Ideas:

• Snacks - Popcorn, mixes for Brownies, Cookie, soup, etc.
• Family Dinner - family favorite recipes/dinner plan/picnic: starter kit and decorations that everyone could take part.
  • Games - Board games, cards, outdoor games, etc.
  • Movie - DVD
  • Craft - an activity that the whole family could take part in constructing
  • Other - Movie, Park, Zoo passes

Be creative. Think about what your family would enjoy doing if they had been or were going to be separated for a long period of time.  Attached are pictures for county newsletters and web sites.

County Parent-Volunteer Organization/Leaders Council is encouraged to prepare family night packages and send them to the Stillwater for the state conference.

This service project is part of a Southern Region Volunteer service project supporting OMK.

Liz Taylor, Oklahoma's 2012 SRVF Volunteer Chair

State 4-H Leadership Team Retreat

For any county with new or returning Ambassadors, District Officers or State Council members - Leadership Team Retreat is June 7-9 in Stillwater.  This is a mandatory activity for all three branches of the state leadership team.  In the past ambassadors did not attend on the first day. Starting this year they will be attending all three days.

Cathy Allen, Karla Knoepfli and DPS

4H PetPALS (People and Animals Linking Successfully)

On June 5th, 2010 we will be offering a 4-H PetPALS training for 4-H Certified Volunteers wanting to organize a PetPALS club.  This Master 4-H PetPALS Volunteer Training is for adults who desire to lead 4-H PetPALS clubs and teach youth who are interested in becoming 4-H PetPALS. Volunteers MUST complete a 4-H PetPALS Volunteer Leader Training to be able to advise a 4-H PetPALS club.

4-H PetPALS is an intergenerational program linking youth and their pets with senior adults. Master 4-H Volunteer Leaders teach youth the skills needed to interact with residents in healthcare facilities, such as assisted living and skilled nursing facilities, enhancing intergenerational relationships. 4-H members learn to select, socialize, and train their pets to participate as youth-pet teams in animal-assisted activities.

Youth and their pets, accompanied by adult volunteers, visit senior healthcare facilities.  Youth apply the lessons and activities taught in this 214-page, 10-step experientially based leader directed curriculum to expand their capacities to develop leadership and citizenship skills in an intergenerational environment. 4-H PetPALS allows young people to be models for residents in healthcare facilities and the community at-large of the significance of human-companion animal interactions and the importance of intergenerational relationships.
 
Master PetPALS job descriptions and applications are available online at http://oklahoma4h.okstate.edu/events/animal.htm.  In order to ensure quality training, participation is limited to 15 volunteer leaders.  

Steve Beck

OSU Vet Camp

OSU College of Veterinary Health Sciences will again host the Veterinary Medicine in Agriculture Summer Exploration Camp. The students invited to the program must be finishing their junior or senior year of high school. The camp emphasis is on food animals. The camp is scheduled for July 21 - 23, 2010. Students must submit an application high school transcript, 2 letters of recommendation (teachers, counselors) and a personal letter describing how the student became interested in the profession and why they want to attend the summer camp. Applications are available through the Admissions office of the Center for Veterinary Health Sciences.

Please contact Anna Teague for applications (anna.teague@okstate.edu, phone 405-744-6961) Deadline for application submission is May 1, 2010.

West Nile and Pets

The best way to protect yourself, your family and pets is to prevent exposure to mosquitoes especially from July to November when the highest incidence of West Nile Infections tends to occur in Oklahoma.

To reduce mosquito exposure for pets:

– Prevent access to any animal carcass especially birds that may have been infected with WNV.
- Only use mosquito repellents that are approved for use in pets.

Many human insect repellants contain chemicals that are toxic to pets. Always read the label and to be sure the product is safe for pets.

– Protect them from mosquito infested areas between dusk and dawn.

Many communities have started mosquito control programs since the introduction of WNV. Even though approved pesticides used by professionals to control mosquitoes will typically pose a minimal poisoning risk to pets, it is best to limit your pet's exposure to any pesticides. Pets should be kept indoors when pesticides are being sprayed and bring in all pet bowls, toys and any items they might put in their mouths.
Remember, if animals such as horses and birds are sick with the WNV in the area you live, then there are mosquitoes infected with WNV that can potentially infect humans. For more information about West Nile virus and mosquito control, consult county health personnel and your local veterinarian. Information is also available from the Oklahoma State Department of Health.

Steve Beck

Update on ACCESS 4-H Online Enrollment is here

It is the most important element of the National 4-H Movements digital commitment and is designed to address the unique needs of the 4-H system.
ACCESS 4-H:

• Provides sound data for states to fulfill national ES237 requirements
• Aggregates accurate data about 4-H and its impact - influencing funders, and national, state and local leadership
• Anticipates enhancements such as fair and event management, support of multiple LGU's in a single state, and real-time project-specific reporting and impact tracking
• Builds on Council's core principles - promoting learning and innovation, and enabling the system to optimize its impact on young people and their futures.

ACCESS 4-H offers feature-rich system that saves state and local 4-H offices valuable staff and budget resources.

Additional tools will enhance the core enrollment features and functions, helping staff perform their jobs more effectively, enriching the 4-H experience for youth.
Key features the system will support include:

• Online projects
• Record books
• Impact tracking

In the months ahead, youth, volunteers, and staff will begin managing content on their public web pages linked to 4-H.org. Working with state program leaders and enrollment specialists, we will continue building innovative new features and capabilities.
At this time we are building our interface to move your county 4-H enrollment data to the new Oklahoma Access System and by fall we plan to have all the system in place so every county can be using the new system.

If you would like to be one of the first counties to use ACCESS 4-H in Oklahoma send a message to Carl Hamby to let him know you are interested.

Charles Cox

4-H Zoo Snooze

On June 23rd we will be offering another OKC Zoo Snooze opportunity for 4-H families.  They are invited to come spend the night at the OKC Zoo and learn from Zoo personnel about many of the similarities and differences that their pets have in common with wild animals.  Then venture outdoors for a night hike through the zoo.  The hike will be followed up by 4-H activities.  In the morning we will slip out for an early tour while the animals are up and having breakfast.   The rest of the day is yours to spend at the zoo.  Make plans today, it's sure to be a "Wild" time!  Registration is available online at http://oklahoma4h.okstate.edu/events/animal.htm.  Registration is limited and will be on a first come/first serve basis. 

Steve Beck