Please join us in saying good-bye to Fran Streitmatter. She will retire at the end of May after working 18 years for the Extension organization. Please note the invitation to her reception on this page and, please, plan to attend.

Saying good-bye to a colleague like Fran is always difficult. All of the staff enjoy working with her and respect all her efforts in providing youth programs. We will miss her kind and considerate ways.All of the staff enjoy working with her and respect all her efforts in providing youth programs. We will miss her kind and considerate ways.

- Marilyn Brengle

After 18 years of service to University of Illinois Extension, Fran Streitmatter, 4-H Youth Development Educator, will retire at the end of May. We thank her for her years of dedicated service to Champaign County youth and wish her well as she pursues further interests. Articles on this page were written by 4-H members highlighting activities in their clubs. We offer these as testimony to the great support and encouragement Fran has given to young people in Champaign County. See 4-H & Youth area for comments from Fran.

Friday April 22, the Champaign County Shamrocks visited Restoration Urban Ministries (R.U.M.) located on Parkland Way in Champaign. Club members met with employee Jennifer Knapp for a tour of the facility. Ms Knapp explained that the goal of the ministry is to house people in crisis up to 9 months, teaching them life skills, like how to handle money or how to get and hold a job.

The ministry also serves the entire community through a food bank open to anyone. The 4-H members provided 30 cans of food for the food bank. Most of the food from the food bank is provided by the Central Illinois Food bank, although some is provided by local businesses and small private donors. Panera Bread Company provides bread on a regular basis. According to Knapp, R.U.M. gives about 50 boxes of food away daily.

The housing is small apartments in what used to be a hotel. The apartment that the members saw had two beds, a refrigerator, sink, television and bathroom. Elizabeth Nielsen said, "It wasn't much bigger than my room." The fire code allows a family of up to six people in an apartment.

R.U.M. resident and housekeeper, D. C. (not her real name), talked to the club members. D. C. got into drugs and lost her job, house, and family. Going to jail made her decide to change. "Drugs and alcohol don't only hurt yourself, but your whole family," she said. The people at R.U.M. wouldn't accept her excuses for her behavior and didn't give up on her. D. C. hopes to go back to school and especially wants to be a good example for her grandchildren.

Knapp told the 4Hers that community help is always appreciated. The ministry needs donations of food, furniture, labor, money, and tutoring services. The Champaign County Shamrocks normally meet in rural Seymour and have members representing Mahomet, Seymour, Champaign and Rantoul. The 4-H club will be visiting the Rantoul air craft museum next month.

- Elijah Gioja, age 8, rural Champaign County, and Abigail Nielsen, age 9, Mahomet

Around 150-175 kindergarteners through fifth graders attended the Share 4-H with Garden Hills Elementary event on Tuesday, April 19. There were twelve projects the kids worked on. They included planting tomato seedlings, cookie decorating, sewing a counted cross stitch smiley face bookmark, and doing foil rubbings. Other activities were making computer birthday cards and cropping Illini pictures. A horse display included a model riding course and information on horse body and saddle parts. The other projects were making marshmallow ants, straw rockets, and putting together bead candles. The kids also made (and ate) a dairy parfait.

Champaign Mixed Clovers, Champaign Helping Hands, Mahomet Happy Helpers, Champaign Shamrocks, Dream Catchers, and Silverbuds 4-H clubs ran the activity stations at Garden Hills. The Garden Hills PTA requested the 4-H activities.

Myrtle Ali and Alison Donoho from the 4-H Extension office manned a display with information about 4-H. The Share 4-H with Garden Hills Elementary turned out great! The students that came loved it and had a fun time!

Thanks to Roger Cramer of Ropps Flower Factory in Gibson City for donating the tomato plants, and also Elaine Peppers from Forget Me Not Florals for donating the potting soil, foil, and pots for the plants.

- By Sarah Lindner, Champaign Mixed Clover 4-H Club

You are invited to a retirement reception
Honoring the career of Fran Streitmatter
Youth Development Educator
University of Illinois Extension

Tuesday, May 24, 2005
4:30 to 6:30 p.m.
Champaign Extension Office
801 N. Country Fair Drive
Champaign, IL 61821

5:15 p.m. Remarks

Gifts in Fran's honor may be made to
Champaign CountyExtension Education Foundation

As of March 1, 2005, all three credit bureaus have available free credit reports for Illinois residents. U of I Extension Educator Lois Smith reports that some consumers have had difficulty with imposter web sites. The "official" central web site is www.AnnualCreditReport.com. So far, 98 imposter web sites have been reported so consumer groups are recommending you to use the phone or send your request by mail.

The toll-free central service phone number is 877-322-8228 or send a request form to: Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, Ga. 30348-5281

Forms are available at our office so contact us at 333-7672 and we will send a request form to you. Consumers are entitled to one free credit report annually from each of the three main credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. You may request all three reports or stagger your requests throughout the year. Reviewing your reports at regular intervals can alert you to potential credit problems and help prevent identity theft.

- Steve Ayers

The next Unit Council meeting
will be Monday, May 9 from 7-9 p.m.