A NEWSLETTER FOR 4-H VOLUNTEERS

Did you know that we have about 200 4-H club members in York County? Our 4-H youth are involved in so many different projects and activities that I couldn’t possible list them all here. They include; puppetry, small engines, animal sciences (sheep, horses, dairy, beef, llama, rabbits, goats, chickens, and others!), community service, crafts, textiles, environmental studies, rocketry, cooking, art, and so much more!

Our volunteers play such a huge role in making 4-H a success for our youth in York County.

On February 21 the Extension office will celebrate our fabulous leaders with dinner, entertainment and awards at our annual Leaders Appreciation Night. Invited to the dinner will be all enrolled 4-H volunteers and their spouses.

If you are a volunteer, keep your eyes open for the invitation to this event – and save the date!

March 24-29 National 4H Conference 2007, at the National 4-H Center in Bethesda, MD

As part of Fallfest in November, clubs and individuals were asked to bring in nonperishable food items to donate to a food bank. Here is the thank you note we received because of your generosity:

11/20/06

Thank you all so very much for your donation to the Food Pantry at the Hollis Center Baptist Church!

Last month we helped 55 families with over 4,000 pounds of food. Your willingness to give and serve others makes a big difference!!

On December 29th, the Serene Caprines 4-H goat club spent a good portion of their Christmas party making and decorating approximately 50 gingerbread cookies to donate to the York County Homeless shelter in Alfred. Everyone had fun making them, and they were able to enjoy a few of the leftover cookies. Our club leader Jennifer Mellett, our club president Kendra Miller and the Hussey family were able to deliver the cookies later that day.

Welcome Our New 4-H Aide – Lynn Osgood

Dear York County 4-H Club youth, parents and volunteers,

I’m so pleased to introduce you to Lynn Osgood, our new 4-H Aide. Lynn began working at the Extension office on January 25, and we are just thrilled to have her on board. Lynn lives in Cape Neddick with her husband, Russ and two children. Russ is a 4-H leader of the Coastal Clovers 4-H Club, and Lynn and Russ’ 2 children are members of the club. Lynn has been an active parent and volunteer in the club.

Lynn brings unique skills to the 4-H Aide position. In addition to being active in 4-H, Lynn has been very active in Girl Scouts, where she is leads volunteer recruitment and training in the greater York area. She also leads the Sunday school program at her church. I’ve told Lynn that we welcome ideas from her varied experiences in youth development programs, and have encouraged her to share her 4-H experience with these other groups as well.

In addition to her experiencing in supporting volunteers, Lynn brings terrific energy and enthusiasm to the role. Her positive energy is contagious and wonderful. During the next few weeks and months, Lynn will be “learning the ropes”, and will be communicating with you directly. One of her primary roles will be to serve as a primary point of contact for our volunteers – beginning with taking over responsibility for the newsletter!

Lynn will generally be in the office on Thursdays, and you may reach her at her home phone anytime at 363-4469. Her email address is lynno@umext.maine.edu.

You’ll be hearing from her directly, but I wanted to let you know that Lynn is on board and just how happy we are to have her with us. Please help make her feel welcome as she moves into this role!

Sincerely, Jon Prichard

The Forum will take place Bangor on March 2nd and 3rd. We already have a group of 4, (Jon Prichard, Seth Kenneway, Russell and Lynn Osgood) going. There is still room for a couple more if you are interested.

The Forum will start at 3 p.m. on Friday and include some basic 4-H leader trainings and local entertainment options. The forum will continue on Saturday at 9 a.m. up to 3 p.m. Room and board will be furnished for those volunteers attending. The forum on Saturday will be an interactive session, where we will ask the adult volunteers their opinions on a variety of 4-H volunteer issues in Maine.

The forum is a "mini-strategic planning" session, where we will take the results to produce a working Maine 4-H Volunteer Plan. To create more diversity we will be asking counties to consider sending a new 4‑H volunteer (less than 4 years), a livestock oriented volunteer and a 4-H volunteer who works with 4-H members in non-traditional projects. Please contact Lynn Osgood if you would like to go. lynno@umext.maine.edu or 363-4469

Oxford County 4-H has traveled to the Big E to do the New England Center Program for the past 25+ years. The program covers the entire time period that the Big E runs and different 4-H programs from the New England States participate. Maine has gone the second weekend of the fair traveling on Saturday and presenting on both Sunday and Monday. The presentations include 8 hands on display areas in which 4-H members demonstrate 4-H projects from crafts, food and nutrition, to sciences, and cultural projects. There is also a stage area that we are responsible for during each day. We have created hour long performances and repeated them 3 or 4 times during the day. In the past two years there have been situations where the New England Center building has not been covered, this has been midweek when school is in session. There is an opportunity for another group from Maine to join in with this project and cover a couple of open days, or some room for a group or club to join the Oxford Program. If any one is interested in finding out more about the New England Center Program please call Susan Jennings at 1.800.287.1482 or 743-6329.

Intent forms need to be filled out by the following dates. This does not mean you are automatically on a team. Once the Intent Form is received further information will be mailed to you. Intent to Participate forms are available at: www.maine4h.umaine.edu

Tanglewood 4-H Camp and Learning Center in Lincolnville is proud to announce the release of the 2007 catalog which includes an array of new programs for all seasons. Offering affordable outdoor learning experiences for 25 years, Tanglewood continues the tradition with the addition of programs like Teen Quest and Focus Plus! that allow campers to get the most out of their time at camp. Blueberry Cove, the seaside camp in Tenant’s Harbor also has new programs that take participants on adventures on surrounding islands. It’s never too early to register for summer sessions. Call the Extension office for a catalog or visit tanglewood4h.org for more information.

If you are planning to attend the CWF this summer your application is due to the County 4-H office by March 30, 2007. This is a leadership program conducted by the National 4-H Council for high school youth ages 15 to 19. This summer, the Maine delegation will leave on June 30 and return on July 7, 2007. You will stay at the National 4-H Conference Center just outside Washington, DC. Visiting the most popular sites in Washington will be a part of the trip.

Let 4-H give you the edge when it comes to planning for your future! If you are between the ages of 11 and 15, we’re inviting you to come to campus May 19 and 20 for the 2007 4-H EDGE Weekend at the University of Maine! EDGE will ENGAGE you with some of the great things you can study at the university and the faculty, who teach them through hands-on workshops, find out ways to your DIRECTION as you look forward to your future college experiences. and help you set GOALS for future success. You will participate in workshops all around campus, sleep in a residence hall, eat in Memorial Union, and take part in an evening of fun, challenging and relaxing activities. Sunday morning we’ll do an on-campus community service project. There will be a special session for parents Saturday morning on the things they need to think about as you prepare for college as well as a session for you and your parents on planning ahead for college expenses.

Have you ever used the 4-H curriculum with your club members? Why not try something new this year! All of our 4-HCCS curriculum is designed to be used experientially; through experiences where they can see, touch, smell and interact with the subject matter. The activity guides are filled with fun and engaging activities that have been designed and critiqued by professionals at land-grant universities throughout the United States.

The Extension office has sample curricula that you are welcome to preview before making a purchase. Or visit the website at www.n4hccs.org to see descriptions of the curriculum, sample lessons and additional on-line project resources. You don’t have to be an expert in the project area to use the curriculum and it’s a great way for you to learn along with the youth!

Computer Power Unlimited – This series will help anyone who uses a computer learn something new! It provides youth new skills and challenges to increase their competence and value in the digital community regardless of their current computer skills.

Exploring 4-H Robotics – This robotics curriculum using the LEGO Mindstorms project is an ideal way to introduce science, math, engineering and technology skills while teaching life skills. You learn to build and program a robot to perform increasingly difficult tasks.

Afterschool Agriculture – Each of these theme-based guides contains 40 hands-on lessons designed to increase agricultural literacy while developing youth understands, appreciation and application of science through a variety of agriculturally-based activities.

Keeping Fit and Healthy – Youth practice first aid skills, use a self-assessment tool to identify personal talent areas, and design their own personal fitness plan.

Microwave Magic – Contains exciting youth activities that focus on using the microwave to prepare everything from simple snacks to complete meals.

Bicycle Adventures – Start a bike club and learn essentials for riding safely, practice bike maintenance, and design a bike events and activities that the whole group can enjoy.

* There are also guides available for animal projects: from meat goats and dairy cattle to horses and poultry, these are great resources!

Do you itemize your tax deductions? If so as a 4-H Leader some of the materials, cash donations, or even mileage may be deducted. Make sure to check out IRS Form 8283 , www.irs.gov before you file. It may save you a bundle!

I pledge my Head to give children the information I can, to help them see things clearly and to make wise decisions.

I pledge my Heart to encourage and support children no matter whether they have success or disappointments.

I pledge my Hands to help children's groups; if I cannot be a leader, I can help in many equally important ways.

I pledge my Health to keep children strong and will work for a better world through 4-H, for our children's groups, our community, our country, and our world.

Top 10 Simple Steps to

Reduce Global Warming

1. Action: Recycle (paper, plastic, metal, glass)
Carbon dioxide reduction: 2400 lbs of carbon dioxide/year by recycling half of all household-generated waste

2. Action: Wash clothes in warm/cold water (not hot)
Carbon dioxide reduction: 100 pounds of carbon dioxide/year

3. Action: Don’t overheat or overcool rooms
Carbon dioxide reduction: 200 lbs of carbon dioxide/year per household for every 2-degree reduction

4. Action: Turn water heater down to 120 degrees
Carbon dioxide reduction: 200 lbs of carbon dioxide/year for every 20-degree reduction

5. Action: Buy CFL light bulbs
Carbon dioxide reduction: 500 lbs of carbon dioxide/year for replacing home’s most-used lights

6. Action: Insulate walls and ceilings
Carbon dioxide reduction: 2000 lbs of carbon dioxide/year

7. Action: Use your most fuel-efficient car for short trips, less fuel-efficient car only when needed
Carbon dioxide reduction: 2000 lbs of carbon dioxide/year by shifting 3,000 miles from a car that gets 24 mpg

8. Action: Replace old appliances with energy-efficient models
Carbon dioxide reduction: 600 lbs of carbon dioxide/year by replacing old a/c unit with Energy Star

9. Action: Only run the dishwasher when full, don’t use heat to dry dishes
Carbon dioxide reduction: 100 lbs of carbon dioxide/year

10. Action: Caulk and weather strip around doors and windows to plug air leaks
Carbon dioxide reduction: 650 lbs of carbon dioxide/year (fightglobalwarming.com)