Presenting . . . Dr. Denise Legvold, Assistant Dean and Director, 4-H Youth Development, University of Illinois Extension. Plan to meet and greet our Number One 4-H person in the State!

Legvold, a former 4-H member from Mahaska County, Iowa, has a vast repertoire of 4-H experiences not only as a member, but as a leader, volunteer, and judge. She has Extension experiences that include Alabama Cooperative Extension System, Michigan State University Extension, Iowa State University Extension, as well as, South Suburban Cook County, University of Illinois Extension. Legvold, received a Ph. D. from Mississippi State University in 2008 from the Department of Agriculture Information Science and Education with an emphasis in extension administration.

Plan to join us as Denise shares the "Vision of 4-H" and its future. And how the "Big M" theory pulls it all together. 4-H Ambassadors will be available to talk about 4-H Club meetings and new curriculum activities (Leadership, Horticulture, and Cooking 301) will be shared.

Please RSVP by Tuesday, December 1 by calling the Extension office or registering on line.

Horse Bowl and Hippology

Next meeting will Sunday, November 22, 2009 at PARDS in Urbana, IL from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. Please ask your club members interested in this opportunity to call the Extension office: 217.333.7672 before November 20, 2009 if they plan to attend.

Girl Talk

Girl Talk is scheduled to meet on December 1, 2009. Join Jamie Kleiss in the Children's Auditorium of the Urbana Free Library. This event is open to all middle and high school girls and there is no charge for this activity. Want to find a creative and inexpensive way to give gifts from the heart? Join us as we make thoughtful gifts for under $5. Door prizes, snacks, and much more! Ask members to email Jamie or call 217.333.7672 before November 30. Encourage members to bring along a friend.

Knitting Workshop

Always wanted to learn how to knit? Plan to attend the Knitting Workshop offered on December 19 at the Extension office from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. This is open to anyone interested in learning to knit or those needing a bit more help. Experienced knitters, if you would like to come and lend an extra hand or bring a project to work on, you are most welcome. There will be a short introduction and explanation about knitting tools and yarns and some Champion knitting projects will be on display. Participants will have plenty of time to cast a few stitches and take home a project. RSVP to the Extension office by December 16, 2009 by calling: 217.333.7672 or register online. There is no cost for this introductory workshop. Future knitting workshops and projects will be posted to our website.

The Peoria Rivermen

The Peoria Rivermen Hockey Team will once again be sponsoring 4-H Night on Saturday, January 16, 2010. Special guest, David Henrie "Justin Russo" from Disney's Wizards of Waverly Place will be in attendance signing autographs from 6:30-9:00 p.m. Tickets are $10 for Upper Bowl; $15 for Lower Bowl. Ticket order deadline is January 2. Click here for ticket information.

Project Workshop!

Mark your calendar for Techy Home- Ecy Workshops on January 9 from 9:00 a.m. to noon at Parkland's Tony Noel Center. Watch for registration and workshop details on our website.

Leaders, please share these opportunities with your members!

National 4-H Conference

Chevy Chase, Maryland, March 20-26, 2010

This conference is a working conference and delegates will travel to Washington D.C. to attend workshops and discuss issues to suggest future programming for 4-H on a national, state and local basis. Delegates will met with Federal Legislators on Capitol Hill to discuss the impact of 4-H and Extension programming in their local areas.

Upon your return home, delegates are expected to report to the State 4-H Staff and Youth Leadership Team on the conference and commit to one year of work on a special project. This project may be from previous years or may be a new project of the delegates design.

This conference is open to 4-H Youth 15-18 years of age by January 1, 2010. Applications are due December 7, 2009. Click here for the registration link and application.

2010 Illinois Citizenship Washington Focus

July 10-17, 2010

Citizenship Washington Focus is a week long program that will provide youth (ages 14 – 18 by May 1, 2010) with many insights into the workings of our Federal Government. Youth will learn about Federal legislation, the political parties, the Bill of Rights and how they can make a positive impact in their own communities. Illinois delegates will have appointments to meet with Illinois Congressmen and share information about 4-H and University of Illinois Extension.

Illinois 4-H members age will have the opportunity to visit Washington D.C. and attend citizenship workshops and stay at the National 4-H Center with youth from across the United States in July, 2010. The State of Illinois offers this trip only every other year. The minimum cost is $1,050 and a deposit of $350 is due along with the registration before December 15. Credit Card payments are encouraged. The fee includes program registration, transportation to, from and around Washington D.C., most meals and housing. An increase is possible depending on the number of delegates who register. The final cost will be determined after December 15 initial deadline.

Click here for registration information. Registrations must be completed by December 15, 2009 and will be accepted on a first-come, first serve basis until all spaces are filled.

International Travels

4-H members between the ages of 12-18 years of age are invited to consider this opportunity to connect to the global world around them. 4-H members will have a wonderful experience learning and understanding cultural differences through the 4-H International Exchange Program by Australia, Costa Rica, or Japan. January 15 is the last day to register form this opportunity. For more information about the International Exchange Program contact the Extension Office. Or click here.

The 4-H Great Debate

February 12 – 13, 2010

The debate will again be held at the Lake Springfield Christian Academy and all delegates will get to debate in the Illinois House of Representatives in Springfield.

Two Champaign County 4-H members are serving on the planning committee. This year, the debate committee opened up this great opportunity to non-4-H high school youth as well. This is a great experience for high schoolers to meet kids from other parts of the state, learn about our state government and how our representatives' debate bills—using the chairs, buzzers and computers are legislators use every day!

During the two-day event, participants will:

• Learn about persuasive speaking
• Learn how to find information on the legislative process
• Develop an understanding of the legislative process
• Debate "mock" bills in the Illinois House of Representatives
• Meet people from other areas of the state

Cost to attend is $60 per person. Click here for registration information. Last day to register is January 22!

Junior Leadership Conference

February 19 – 20, 2009

Help motivate your junior high 4-H members into exploring their leadership abilities! This two-day, weekend conference held at Lake Williamson Camp & Conference Center near Carlinville, IL focuses on building delegate skills and knowledge as young leaders in their local 4-H clubs and county 4-H programs.

While learning new things to take back to their home clubs, delegates also have a great time meeting other junior high 4-H members from across the state. Workshops, special activities, a speaker, and loads of fun keep participants smiling and motivated to go home and try all the things they learned!

JLC is open to Illinois 4-H members who are currently in 7th or 8th grade. There is a limit to how many people can attend, so register early! It's first-come, first-served – Click here for more information.

Illinois Shooting Sports program has received final approval to move forward. Champaign County is seeking a few good volunteers to complete the three-day training and are willing to help out with this project.

This program is being offered with some specific requirements:

· Volunteer Training has been scheduled for April 9, 10 and 11, 2010 at 4-H Memorial Camp in Monticello. More details and registration information will follow.

· All instructors will be certified by the Illinois 4-H Shooting Sports Committee and State Coordinator to teach specific disciplines and must complete and pass Illinois Volunteer background screening.

· A county shall not sponsor or schedule any shooting sports activities conducted by anyone other than a 4-H trained, screened and certified Shooting Sports instructor of the appropriate discipline.

· Instructor training and certification sessions will be scheduled and conducted by the Illinois 4-H Shooting Sports Committee as a group. No certifications will be given by individual state instructors.

· The Illinois 4-H Shooting Sports Program is not an individual 4-H project and will be taught as a group project.

· 4-H Adult Volunteers will receive training in positive youth development.

The "Holly Daze" is just around the corner! The Extension Office will be closed December 24 through January 1.

See you next year!