New officers for this year for the 4-H Federation include: Christina Barnes - President, Janette Hays - Vice-President, Abigail Wood - Secretary, Jill Reifsteck - Treasurer, Kevin Hays - Parliamentarian, and Sarah Hays - Reporter.

The Federation members will be active participants in the 4-H Achievement Celebration Sunday, October 25. They will also direct the leadership of the 4-H Day activities.

The purpose of the 4-H Federation is to provide leadership for countywide 4-H events through the guidance of the unit staff and committees of 4-H youth. Active participation in the planning and carryout of an event is not limited to those who attend the monthly meetings. All 4-H youth aged 13 and older are encouraged to take a leadership role and to develop their leadership skills.

Many youth cannot attend specific meetings, but would like to be involved in at least one activity a year. We encourage this as we know you are very busy with school, sports, and other community events.

Leadership activities needing youth volunteers include:

• Serving food at the Illinois 4-H Foundation Tent, U of I Football game - November 7

• 4-H CAN Make a Difference food collection - in your local club, community and at 4-H Day, U of I - Saturday, November 7

• Make It/Take It–Holiday Style - November 21

• Attending club meetings to explain the benefits of being involved in 4-H - ongoing

• Public service announcements for 4-H events – ongoing

• Bowling Tournament - February, 1999

• ACES Open House - March, 1999

Call Gerry or Fran NOW to volunteer!

The intercultural program materials, information, and applications for foreign country travel are available in our office. October 15 is the application deadline for many of the 1999 programs. Countries participating in the programs vary including many European, South American, Southeast Asian and Caribbean countries. The Japanese exchange program application deadline is February 1, 1999.

Exchange programs include:

International Representative
19-30 year old alumni
3 or 6 months stay-- live and work with several host families

International Ambassador
15-19 year old youth
4- 6 weeks during summer – "living by doing" experience

International 8-State
16-20 year old youth – live with a host family
4 weeks at the end of June, 1999
Host in 2000

Japanese Exchange
12-18 year old youth
immersion in Asian culture – stay with host family
month long mid July-Aug

Host Families
Host youth or adults from other countries

Cultural kits are also available for use with your club or school class. This year our region has kits from Germany, Japan, Poland, Switzerland, Denmark (mini), and Austria (mini). We have reserved Germany during December and Japan during April. Call to schedule a time to use the kit. If you wish to have any of the other kits, we will try to schedule them for our county.

4-H Achievement Celebration

The Champaign County 4-H Federation will conduct a program to recognize those 4-H members who have excelled this year. The 4-H Achievement Celebration will be held at the Champaign County Extension/Farm Bureau Auditorium on Sunday, October 25, at 3:00 p.m.. Refreshments will be served by the Youth Committee. Please call the office to confirm your attendance by October 21. Come join in the celebration to honor our youth and leaders. Premium checks for summer shows will be distributed.

New Projects for 1998-99

The Illinois Clover lists several projects having new project books.

• Electricity has three new manuals that go along with the series that match the Entering Electronics book that was new last year.

• Child Care has a new series of three project books that are designed to be used with the American Red Cross Babysitting Guide.

• Clothing and Textiles has a new series of member books covering serging, sewing, buying, and caring for clothes. Nancy Zieman's Let's Sew is to be used with these.

• Computers is a new resource to be used for all levels of computer studies. Access to the Internet is desirable for this project. (www.4-H.uiuc.edu)

• Dairy Foods project is back–new and improved!

LCP Award

The Leadership, Citizenship, and Professionalism Award, sponsored by the Illinois Farm Bureau and its affiliates, is granted to youth who are juniors or seniors in high school, or freshmen in college. The application highlights a 4-H'ers leadership, citizenship, and professionalism in the 4-H program. Applications are available in our office. The top ten 4-H youth, together with ten FFA youth, participate in the Premier 20 Young Leaders Conference in Bloomington. November 1st is the deadline for applications to be turned in to our office.

Insect Expo 1998

Are you interested in bugs? See a live bee hive! Visit the Insect Virtual Reality Tunnel! Learn about what veterinarians have to do with insects and arthropods! The Illinois Natural History Survey is sponsoring an Insect Expo in the Illini Union, Rooms A, B, and C on October 30 (9am - 3pm) and 31 (10am - 3pm). Events for the expo include: a costume contest, create your own insect model contest, insect quiz bowl, and a petting zoo. Dan Capps and his insect collection which was recently featured at Disneyland's Epcot Center will return.

Insurance for 4-H Club Events

As a 4-H leader or parent we want to keep our young people safe when they are attending activities, meetings, or other events. But accidents do happen. Therefore, the Extension unit office now has a blanket policy through American Income Life that covers all 4-H sponsored events where a leader is present.

What this means to members and leaders is if you are injured while attending a 4-H event and require medical attention, this coverage will pay the first $1,500 of expenses. One's personal insurance will be responsible for charges beyond that.

If such an accident occurs, contact our office for claim forms. Horse project members and leaders - this includes riding events you have involving 4-Hers and leaders.

UI 4-H Day Is November 7

There are several ways 4-H members and their families can be involved in 4-H Day. Not only can you attend the game and lunch by purchasing specially priced tickets, but also there are ways to volunteer for community service.

4-H Can Make A Difference - You are familiar with the successful canned food drive that is sponsored by 4-H at the Illinois State Fair. Similarly, the State 4-H Office, U of I Athletic Department and Champaign County 4-H will team up to collect can foods for the Eastern Illinois Food Bank prior to the game and at the entry gates to the stadium.

4-H Clubs CAN - Volunteer to collect food items prior to the game in your community and clubs or be a CAN volunteer to stand with a U of I athlete at one of the stadium gates to collect cans from football fans. Call our office to tell us what your club will do. (This replaces the former can drive held in February) 4-Hers Adriane Musselman and Jill Reifsteck, chairpersons, need lots of help to plan the publicity and carry out this project.

Illinois 4-H Foundation Food Tent - Volunteers are needed to serve the food, decorate and set up tables. Abigail Wood chairs this committee, with members Sarah Hays, Sara Wood, and Mrs. Hays as the adult helper.

Activity Involvement Recognition

Here's the opportunity for 4-H'ers 13 and older. Complete at least one of the following activities per month between October 1998–July 1999.

• Attend a 4-H Federation meeting or event.

• Help on a planning committee for a county-wide event.

• Attend a regional/state event.

• Help with special preparations for an event by volunteering to help the office staff.

Next July 31, Extension staff will verify which 4-Hers have completed at least one activity per month. These outstanding 4-Hers will be guests at a special outing, yet to be determined. Watch for details in the coming months.

Premium Checks

Premium checks will be written to individual 4-Hers. You are responsible for cashing them promptly! 4-H premium checks are VOID after 60 days. Checks will be given out on Sunday, October 25 at the end of the 4-H Achievement Celebration.

School Enrichment

The 4-H School Enrichment program is off to a vigorous start. Teachers are calling for enrichment kits such as: Illinois Trees, Birds, Talking With T.J., and other curriculum materials. Extension staff members are instructing Character Counts, Welcome to the Real World, Healthy Hands/Healthy Kids and other Enrichment programs in the schools. Contact our office for more information about the programs offered.