4-H Connections
A Newsletter for 4-H Volunteers and Families January, 2006

YORK COUNTY 4H NEWS

Welcome to 4-H 2006!

To our returning 4-H members and leaders, thank you for sending in your new enrollment forms for 2006.

And to our many new members, thank you for enrolling, and welcome to York County 4-H!

You should have received your 4-H membership card by now.  If you have not, call the office and we’ll be sure to get one to you.

4-H Highlighted at Annual Meeting

4-H was the program focus at this year’s annual meeting of YCEA.  Extension Educator Jon Prichard presented an enlightening historical perspective of 4-H as it developed in the United States and Maine, and then gave an overview of the wide range of 4-H programs currently available to our county’s youth

Do you know who was involved in York  County 4-H in 2005?

4-H club program
220 club members
55 active adult leaders

4-H Discovery Arts program
Over 225 youth 

Vaughn Island 4-H Camp
110 campers
18 teen leaders

School-based 4-H programs
110 high school students
190 middle school students

Capping off the evening, 4-H member Kendra West gave an enlightening talk on her experience as a representative in the Citizenship Washington Focus (CWF) program.  CWF participants travel to Washington, D.C. where they spend a week receiving leadership training, exploring our nation’s capitol, visiting with members of our congressional delegation, and getting to know CWF participants from other states.

Kendra was one of three York County participants in CWF this year.  The other two were Greg Goodrich and Elizabeth Hilton (you may have seen their display at Fallfest last November!)

Planning Ahead for Animal Projects

It’s a new 4-H Year and time to plan ahead for your animal projects even if you don’t yet have your project animal! 

Remember that:

·      You need to have re-enrolled as a 4-H member before December 31^st !

·      Animal approval forms for all animals are due June 10 (unless an earlier date is designated by a fair premium book)

·      Baby Beef must be owned and in possession by January 1^st.

·      ESE Horses need to be owned or leased before April 1^st.

·      ESE Dairy must be owned or leased by May 1^st.

·      All Working Steer must be owned or leased before May 1^st.

 4-H Leaders Association Meeting January 18

All 4-H leaders are members of the York County 4-H Leaders Association and are encouraged to attend Leaders meetings, held about 8 times per year. 

At our meetings we plan new 4-H programs, learn about new county, state and national 4-H opportunities, hone our skills as leaders, support one another in our 4-H club work, and have fun!

January 18 Meeting Agenda

·         4-H Schedule for 2006 (State and York County)

·         Hollis Woodlot Update

·         4-H Leaders Recognition Event in February/March

·         New 4-H Aide for York County

·         The York County 4-H Partnership and how we divide roles and responsibilities

ü      Educator (Jon)

ü      Aide (Vacant)

ü      Extension Office support staff (Sheila and Donna)

ü      Volunteers

ü      Parents

ü      Club Members

·         Other

 What is a Chartered 4-H Club? 

·         A 4-H club must have a minimum of four members between the ages of 5 and 18 (members should be at least 5 years old as of January 1 and not have passed their 18^th birthday on January 1.) 

·         A 4-H club must have an official club or group name.

·         4-H clubs should offer youth leadership opportunities, such as elected or rotating officers.

·         The 4-H club must have at least one certified volunteer organizational leader and volunteer project leaders as appropriate.

·         Each 4-H club should have at least six or more regularly scheduled club meetings per year.

·         Each club should have a written “4-H Club Yearly Plan” that provides a variety of learning experiences.  A copy of this plan should be sent to the County Extension office by the end of January.

·         4-H clubs are encouraged to develop membership “Standards of Behavior” (often, members can assist in developing these standards.)

·         If a club has a treasury, they must follow “4-H Financial Guidelines, Maine 4-H Youth Development Program Policies, Procedures and Guidelines” obtainable at:  www.maine4h.umaine.edu/manual.doc

The Club and all 4-H members and leaders must be currently enrolled at the County Extension Office with the 4-H members enrolled in at least one 4-H project experience. 

The goal of the Chartering Process is to make existing and future 4-H clubs the best environments for positive youth development as they can be.

The charter process is an agreement clubs make to work toward providing the most optimal environment for their members and families.

Clubs who are not chartered or who do not meet the above requirements cannot use the 4-H emblem nor can they fundraise.

New Leader Training (VOLT) Scheduled for January 25

On January 25, we will offer 4-H orientation and leadership training for new York County 4-H leaders.   This training is a way to educate our new leaders regarding:

·         4-H philosophy, goals and history

·         The connection of 4-H to Extension and the University of Maine

·         Strategies for leading a successful 4-H club

·         Opportunities within 4-H, local, county, state and national.

They are also an opportunity for new leaders to get to know one another.

Who should attend?

·         Required for all new 4-H leaders.

·         Encouraged for any veteran 4-H leader who would like a "refresher" and the opportunity to meet our new leaders.

·         Encouraged for parents or those helping out in clubs on a regular basis.

Registration is required by January 18 by calling the Extension office.

STATE AND NATIONAL NEWS

UMaine Day at the Legislature, March 13

This day allows the University of Maine Cooperative Extension, Maine Agriculture Center, and Maine Agricultural & Forest Experiment Station to come together to showcase to the Maine State legislative community how “research, education and Extension respond to key issues in Maine.”

The Hall of Flags has been reserved and if you are interested in participating or would like to reserve booth space please let us know!  Call Jon at the Extension Office to find out more.

Citizenship Washington Focus

CWF is a week-long program, held at the National 4-H Conference Center in Chevy Chase, Maryland, just outside of Washington, DC. 

The program is sponsored by the National 4H Council and includes workshops and activities that let you experience the processes of U.S. government, visit your congressional delegation on Capitol Hill and see many of Washington’s most famous sites. 

The Maine 4H delegation will be attending CWF July 8-15, 2006.  Registration materials and information will be coming our way soon, so be sure to read upcoming newsletters for updates and registration information. 

There are a limited number of slots for this trip, so if you want to go, let Jon know if you’re interested.  And talk with 4-H members Kendra West, Greg Goodrich or Elizabeth Hilton about their experiences in 2005.

National 4-H Conference and Congress

Now is the time to consider applying for a State Award to National 4-H Congress or National 4-H Conference.  Both of these national programs are excellent opportunities to meet 4-H members from across the nation.  Participants learn about the many career options, and learn through educational workshops at Congress or become a part of a team making recommendations to National   4-H Council at Conference.

“National 4-H Congress was the best educational conference I have ever attended.”
 – Daniel, 4-H Teen

“I was impressed by the people, the work, the planning, the national sites, the presentations, and the seriousness our organization had for our thinking, opinions, experiences, and recommendations.” 
- Audrey, 4-H Alumni, past teen participant of National 4-H Conference

When are the programs held?

• National 4-H Conference – in March

• National 4-H Congress – in November, immediately following Thanksgiving

4-H club members will receive a separate mailing in the near future. Please consider applying for these great opportunities and adventures!

Apply by completing your 4-H Story and 4-H Resume and sending them to the York County Extension Office by April 5^th.

The New Offices of York County Extension

We’ve enjoyed visiting with those of you who have stopped by to see our new offices located at the old Nasson College campus in Springvale.  If you haven’t stopped by yet, we hope you will.  We love our new space, and the two classroom spaces that we will be using for 4-H events and activities in the days to come.

If you need directions to our new offices call the office or visit our website. 

Cooking with the kids

Nutritious, Delicious & Good For You Carrot Bread

1 cup whole-wheat pastry flour

½ tsp baking soda

¼ tsp salt

3 Tbsp apple-juice concentrate

¼ cup vegetable oil

1 ripe banana, sliced

1 tsp baking powder

2 tsp cinnamon

½ C raisins

1 egg

1 tsp vanilla

1 cup finely grated carrots

Stir together dry ingredients in a large bowl.  Heat raisins and apple-juice concentrate in a small saucepan.  Boil about 3 minutes or until raisins are soft.  Pour raisins and jiuice into a blender container and process until smooth.  Add egg, vegetable oil, vanilla and banana.  Blend until smooth.  Add blender mixture to dry ingredients and stir well.  Stir in carrots.  Pour into greased loaf pan and bake at 350º for 45 minutes.

Makes 12 servings.

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