December 24 - January 1

Extension Office closed for Christmas Holiday

January 4

4-H Club Grant application deadline

January 7

4-H Federation Movie & Pizza Party, Extension Office, 6 p.m.

January 12

Digital Photography Workshop, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m., Frontier College Foundation Hall

January 14

4-H Foundation Meeting, Extension Office, 6 p.m.

January 21

Extension Office closed in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day

January 21

Deadline to order tickets to 4-H Family Day with the Salukis

January 26

Team Matrix

February 8

Donate-An-Animal Application Deadline

February 9

4-H Bowling Party, NuBowl Lanes in Mt. Vernon, 2-4 p.m.

February 23-24

Junior Leadership Conference

March 1

4-H Family Day with the Salukis

March 1

Legacy of Leadership Scholarship application deadline

Premium checks were given to 4-H Club leaders at Achievement Night for distribution to 4-H members. Please cash those checks. The bank only has to honor them for 60 days.

Tom Ulrich, internationally known wildlife photographer and author, from West Glacier, Montana, in cooperation with the Geff Chatter's 4-H Club, will present a digital photography workshop on Saturday, January 12, 2008, from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM at Frontier Community College, Foundation Hall.

Many topics related to digital photography will be covered, including but not limited to, types of cameras, composition, lenses, flashes, close-up shots, shutter speeds, f-stops, software, and saving, enhancing and emailing photos. Workshop participants are encouraged but not required to bring their digital cameras to the workshop.

Tom conducts digital photography workshops nationwide and we are very fortunate to have him present in southern Illinois.

The workshop is open to all ages. The cost of the workshop is $35.00 and registrants will receive an autographed copy of a book Tom has authored. Since space is limited, pre- registration is required. To pre-register contact Ted Davis at (618) 842-7741 or tdavis65@verizon.net

The Federation will host a Movie & Pizza Party on Monday, January 7 at 6:00 p.m. at the Extension Office. The movie "Open Season" will be featured. A short business meeting will be conducted prior to the movie.

All Wayne County 4-Hers are welcome to attend any and all Federation meetings and activities. Come see what Federation is all about.

Are you running out of ideas for a program at your club meeting? Why not learn about a different country by using a Culture Kit? These kits contain articles, information, and insight to the country's lifestyle and geography. This year we have several kits available in our region. Call the office to reserve a kit and month. Kits available are: Argentina, Croatia, India, Japan #1, Korea and New Zealand.

Put "pledge their hands to larger service" into action this year by making the third "H" a priority. The Illinois 4-H Foundation is again supporting 4-H club outreach by funding community-related service projects supported through a donation from Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc., and Country Insurance and Financial Services. Areas of focus include community improvement projects OR health and safety related projects. Grant monies ranging from $50 to $250 per club are available. Applications are available from the Extension office or at www.4-h.uiuc.edu/events/grants. html. Applications are due January 4, 2008.

The planning is done and Team Matrix is a go! If you are in the grades 7 or 8, mark your calendar for a day of fun and learning on January 26 from 9 a.m.-9 p.m. The event will be held at the Hamilton County Courthouse basement. The day will include breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks. Participants will enjoy lessons, mixers, team building activities, a community service project and dance. All participants will be taking the Matrixx System personality evaluation. This will give you a better understanding of why you think the way you do. Mark your calendars now for this date and invite a friend to join 4-H before the retreat!

High school students are needed to serve as chaperones. If you are interested please call the Extension Office at 842-3702.

Invitations have been sent to all eligible members in Hamilton, Wayne and White counties, but this fun event will also be open to other 4-H'ers in surrounding counties. If for some reason, you didn't receive an invitation and are in the 7 or 8 grade, please call the office and a form will be mailed to you right away. Please note that there is a registration deadline of January 11. Cost is $20.

Focus on your leadership skills and have some fun at the same time by attending the Illinois 4-H Jr. Leadership Conference (JLC) for 7^th and 8^th graders! JLC is scheduled for February 23-24, 2008 at the Holiday Inn in Urbana, IL.

Participants will strengthen their leadership skills, plan personal goals, increase their project skills, improve their decision-making habits, engage in healthy lifestyles, and meet other teens.

Information and registration materials are available at the Extension office or at: http://www.4-h.uiuc.edu/events /annual013jlc.html. Individuals will be able to register on-line, paying either by check or credit card. Registrations are due January 28. Attendance is limited to the first 125 youth.

Adult chaperones are also being recruited. Chaperones should complete the new 4-H Overnight Chaperone Orientation on-line at: http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/4hchaperone.

Looking for something fun to do in February? Why not make plans to attend the unit-wide bowling party for 4-H families and friends from Hamilton, Wayne and White Counties. This unit-wide activity is scheduled for Saturday, February 9, 2-4 p.m., at NuBowl Lanes in Mt. Vernon. A discounted fee of $5.50 will include two games and shoe rental. Please contact the office by February 8 to register.

The 2008 4-H Legacy of Leadership Scholarship application is available online at: http://www.4-h.uiuc.edu/events/events2.html. Illinois will be awarding $1,000 scholarships this summer to 4-H'ers finishing their senior year in high school or who are already attending an approved post-high school educational program (junior college, 4-year university, trade school, etc.). Members must have been enrolled in the 4-H program a minimum of five years. Completed applications are due postmarked no later than March 1.

As your clubs begin to reorganize, here are just a few things to keep in mind:

• All leaders must have Volunteer Screening Forms on file at the Extension office.
• All clubs must turn in a slate of elected officers to the Extension office.
• Any spending of money from the club treasury must be voted on and approved by a majority of the members at a scheduled meeting.
• The best way to keep informed of upcoming 4-H events is to check the monthly newsletter, and possibly even reading it at your meetings.
• All enrollment forms are due to the Extension office no later than May 1.
• It is Wayne County 4-H policy that all 4-H members must attend at least 4 club meetings before the 2008 Wayne County 4-H Fair to be eligible to exhibit at any 2008 Wayne County 4-H Show or to sell an animal at the 2008 4-H Auction.

Please remember that 4-H is a special and unique educational program that allows youth to develop and explore individual talents, while making friends and always having fun.

I pledge my HEAD to give my child the information I can, to help him see things clearly and to make wise decisions.

I pledge my HEART to encourage and support my child, no matter whether he has successes or disappointments.

I pledge my HANDS to help my child's club. If I cannot be a leader, I can help in many equally important ways.

I pledge my HEALTH to keep my child strong and well for a better world through 4-H, for my child's club, our community, our country and our world.

Are you interested in a Swine, Goat or Rabbit project, but thought you'd never have the chance to show one? Well then this is the year for you! The Wayne County 4-H Livestock Committee has again agreed to organize the Donate-An-Animal project for 2008. There will be one goat, one swine and one rabbit (subject to availability) donated. Applications may be picked up at the Extension office. Preference will be given to non-livestock exhibitors. However, all are still encouraged to apply.

In addition to the application, the 4-H'er must write a short essay titled "Why I Would Like to Take a Swine/Goat/Rabbit Project to the Wayne County 4-H Fair." It must include how the 4-H'er plans to care for the animal, where they plan to keep it, what they will do with it after the fair, etc. Winners of the 2008 Donate-An-Animal MUST exhibit the animal that they win at the 2008 Wayne County 4-H Fair. A parent or guardian's signature must be included on the application.

Please remember that once the animal is turned over to the 4-Her, it becomes their complete responsibility. The responsibilities include, but are not limited to daily care, veterinary costs, feed costs, transportation to and from weigh-in and fair, etc. Failure to comply with any of the listed rules will result in turning the animal back over to the 4-H Livestock Committee in the exact condition it was in when they received it. Applications and essays are due to the Extension office by February 8, 2008.

Wayne County 4-H activities and events may be cancelled in the event of bad weather. Please listen to WFIW radio 104.9 for 4-H cancellation announcements.