Congratulations to the clubs, members and club leaders who earned awards for 2008-2009. Be sure to review your score sheet and look for ways to take your project work up a notch. Thank you to those who helped judge and score officers' books and member records: Records and Recognition Committee - Carol Protz, Kyle McKinney and Louise Vassay. Thank you Lincoln Railsplitters and Kickapoo Ramblers who donated refreshments, beverages, served the food and helped with set-up and clean-up. Awards winners were:

MEMBER RECORDS:
Pins & awards sponsored by Coles-Moultrie Electric Cooperative:

Participating Members:
1. Michelle Clinton, Blue Ribbon Go-Getters
2. Mattisen Boswell, Southsiders
3. Rhydon Vassay, Lincoln Railsplitters

Honor Members:
1. Erin and R.J. Konesko, Blue Ribbon Go-Getters
2. Timothy Lading, Golden Spur
3. Karlie Lading, Golden Spur

Outstanding Members:
Haylie Lading, Golden Spur

INDIVIDUAL AWARDS:
Schultz Memorial Award: MariaLynn Jaeger
Today's 4-Her—Tomorrow's Volunteer: Becky Wilson

INTERCULTURAL AWARDS:
International Understanding - Illinois 4-H Foreign Youth Exchange - Harold & Regina Birch Family

4-H International Activity - Lincoln Railsplitters

CLUB AWARDS:
Patsy Luedke Community Service Award - Oakland Oakleaves

Club Challenge:
1st Place Blue Ribbon Go-Getters
2nd Place Golden Spur

Club of the Year - Oakland Oakleaves

4-H ALUMNI AWARD - Ed and Caryl Strader

Ed and Caryl were leaders of the Oakland Oakleaves for three years. One of their fondest memories is taking 4-H'ers on field trips as rewards for accomplishments. Caryl was a 4-H member and learned many things from her cooking and sewing projects that help her now as a homemaker and wife. Ed showed cattle, learning organizational and management skills. Ed is President of the Coles County Extension Foundation.

Ed and Caryl believe in 4-H families who pass down the virtues and values from generation to generation. They believe that 4-H members are the best behaved, most respectful and are most likely to succeed in school and future occupations. They believe in the legacy of 4-H.

No horse required, must like horses. Any 4-H member who likes horses will enjoy this hard working team. Learn about the equine musculoskeletal system, disease, nutrition, breeding, facility management, parasitic problems, injuries and tack. Contact Joyce Luedke at 348-1248 for times of practices starting in November.

Thank you Alysa Eubank, Honorable Misfits and Hannah Coziahr, Showstoppers for helping with the County Board treat bags for National 4-H Week.

Club officers elected at the September meeting are:
President – Jake Bough
Vice President – Jesse Cox
Secretary – Hayley Plummer
Treasurer – Becky Wilson.

Federation members chowed down on pizza at the October meeting thanks to Dan Plummer and his "hit 20" challenge. Members reviewed the awards program, talked about county service projects and set up a committee to plan the Club Officers' Training in November. Jake Bough reported on his seat on the Coles County Extension Council and about upcoming training as a youth delegate for the "Speak for Illinois 4-H" program. For fun, members used toilet paper for a warm up activity, "passed the hoop" and then warped the hoops.

The next meeting is November 17, 7:00 p.m. at the 4-H Extension Center. Plans will be finalized for a group service project and a county project, First Aid Kits and who knows what else they'll come up with. All 4-H'ers 14 and older should plan to attend.

Training is scheduled for November 19.
Call officers in your club - get a carpool together. From PresiDenT to TreaSurer to ReCreaTion ChaiR - every officer can get new information and have fun. The program is 7:00 – 8:00 p.m. at the 4-H/Extension Center. Federation members are planning the program and will see you then!

Club Challenge points – 2 points/officer.

Old but good-as-new projects:
Gardening – new vegetable gardening project manuals are "See them Sprout", "Let's Get Growing", "Take Your Pick", and "Growing Profits".

Veterinary Science - new project manuals are "From Airedales to Zebras", "All Systems Go", "Animal Health & Our World-Self Study", and "On the Cutting Edge".

Foods – Cooking 301 for the culinary delightful chef's in 4-H.

Goats – Pygmy class dropped.

New Projects:
"The 4-H Filmmaking Studio & Workshop". An online project about how to make a film. Includes a virtual workshop and 'Clips & Tips'. Learn how to tell your story, upload footage to share with others. Discover this fun project at www.4-H.org/curriculum/filmmaking.

Scrapbooking – county project for the creative side of kids.

Everyone, members and leaders, must use the Individual Enrollment forms to keep records current and officially belong to 4-H. Club members must also use the GREEN Project Enrollment form to select 4-H projects for the year. Members must enroll in at least one project. The forms are due to club leaders by January 15. If Project Enrollment forms are turned in by this date, project books will be available for the February club meetings.

If you showed a project at a 4-H show last summer, you will receive a premium check from your club leader. The checks must be cashed by November 21.

Illinois 4-H program staff has found it necessary to implement a program fee this year. This will allow Illinois to continue providing a high quality 4-H youth program. A minimum $20 per year program fee will be applied to members who are part of the 4-H experience beginning this fall.

What does this mean for Coles County 4-Hers? Good news—we've had two donors step forward to underwrite a portion of each 4-H member's program fee. For this year, the National Wild Turkey Federation and the Coles County 4-H Federation are covering $8 of the $20 fee. Clubs will only be assessed $12 per 4-H member enrolled. Community clubs can decide whether they will collect from members, hold a fundraiser, or use money from the club treasury. The club treasury will be responsible for paying the fee at the Extension office.

Regina Birch, Rod and Gail Helton, Showstoppers' club leaders, are stepping back to enjoy some free time. Regina was a leader for five years. Rod and Gail served as leaders for 14 years. We will still see them at upcoming 4-H activities and shows. Rod and Gail will continue to help with the 4-H Swine Show, Home & Family show and BBQ events. Regina plans to lend a helping hand at 4-H events. Thank you Regina, Rod and Gail, for being dedicated 4-H volunteers for the youth of Coles County.

Kickapoo Ramblers has two new leaders. They are Stan and Linda Metzger who will be assisting Jeff and Brandi Ames with club management and activities. Showstoppers welcomes LeeAnne Reed as a new co-leader with Nelda Campbell.

Have a good first year LeeAnne, Stan and Linda!

Find Out About 4-H Party – January 12

Roller Skating Party – January 17
The roller skating party is the most popular party of the year. And why not when you can roller skate at the Silver Star Roller Rink for only $2.50/person. Skate rental is available for $1.00/pair. Skating is 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.

4-H members really interested in their aerospace project and space - see how to build the International Space Station and the timeline needed. This is extraordinarily amazing! Go to
http://i.usatoday.net/tech/graphics/iss_timeline/flash.htm

The official 4-H Clover emblem is available in downloadable gif and tif versions at http://4-h.org/d/ Pages/Layouts/brandnetwork.html

'Apples 'and More' - online Extension program with information on varieties, selection, and recipes. Kids can be introduced to Juice Moose. Find it on the 'Nutrition & Health' page at www.extension.uiuc.edu/coles/

Thanksgiving - Closed November 26 & 27

Christmas/New Year - Closed December 24 thru January 3, 2010, pending Extension Council approval

For more information about 4-H, the newsletter, Fair & Policy Handbook or downloadable forms, click on:
www.extension.uiuc.edu/coles/
University of Illinois Extension office 217-345-7034