With the beginning of the new 4-H year, it's time to plan for a very successful coming year. The newsletter contains information in each issue about workshops, requirements, deadlines, and other important matters. Please read carefully, since that is how the office communicates with each one of you!

Project enrollment is going on through the clubs. Carefully choose projects you want to take for this year. Remember — projects can be added or dropped only until March 1, 2010. Remember that you need to enroll in each project you want each year.

Your 4-H Clubs will make your year much more enjoyable. Parents, grandparents, and older members should ask the club leaders what you can do to help make the club even better. You could volunteer to organize an activity, teach a workshop, or help with project manuals. Anything will help!

Best of luck as the year gets rolling!

Make sure your club is enrolled/re-enrolled by January 1, 2010 (due to Holiday Schedule, we need this IN OUR OFFICE by December 23, 2009!!) Please refer to last year's showbook or contact the office to find out deadline dates for specific project enrollment (some animal/livestock have early in the year enrollment deadlines). LAST DAY TO ADD 4-H PROJECTS IS MARCH 1, 2010 — NO EXCEPTIONS!! If you are not enrolled in your project area by March 1, you will not be allowed to enter that project in any of our 4-H shows.

If you receive an award for your work on your 4-H records at your club-level achievement/recognition, please thank your sponsors! Sponsors are listed on the label attached to your award, or you may contact the 4-H Office (at 732-8289) to find out the sponsor.

A youth that enrolls in a 4-H club/group, but fails to attend any meetings, tours, workshops, or other activities sponsored by the club/group cannot be viewed as a 4-H participant/member. Therefore, the youth is NOT eligible to take part in 4-H exhibitions (shows), receive 4-H premiums, or other 4-H awards and recognitions.

What this means: If you do not attend meetings/tours/activities held by your club (which can be verified by your Club Leader) prior to entering for the 4-H show(s), you will NOT be allowed to exhibit any 4-H projects, receive premiums, be considered for 4-H awards, 4-H scholarships, or be in the 4-H auction at the Fair. Excused absences WILL NOT be accepted in lieu of attending actual meetings/tours/activities. Make sure that you attend your 4-H club meetings!

No-Sew Blanket Workshop

Just in time for the colder winter months, a No-Sew Blanket Workshop is planned for Monday, November 9th from 7–8 pm. These blankets will be made from fleece and end up lap blanket size. Cost will be $8.00 and must be paid in advance so that supplies can be purchased. We need at least six interested to hold this workshop. Please contact the 4-H office at 732-8289 to register to attend and send your payment in by Nov. 2nd.

Theater Arts Workshop Series

On November 14th & 21st (Saturdays) from 3—4:30 pm each day, a 4-H Theater Workshop series will be held at the Johnston Center for Performing Arts on the Lincoln College campus. This workshop series is being planned for 4-H by advanced theater students at Lincoln College and will include a couple of mini sessions each Saturday such as mask-making and applying stage make-up. Cost will be $10.00 for the two sessions & must be paid in advance. We must have at least six interested to hold this series. Call the 4-H Office at 732-8289 by Nov. 10th to register so that you can learn more about drama & theater from some "experts"!

Handcrafted Holiday Cards

A Handcrafted Holiday Card Workshop will be held on Monday, December 7th from 6:00—7:00 pm at the Extension Office. 4-H members will learn to make five clever embellished cards for the holidays using stamps, ribbon, brads, etc. Five different designs will be available. Cost is $5.00 & can be paid that evening. We need at least six interested to hold the workshop. Call 732-8289 to register by Dec. 1st.

Tasty Treats Workshop

A Tasty Treats Workshop for youth will be held on Tuesday, December 15th from 3:30 pm — 5:30 pm. Those in attendance will learn to make several different types of candy & treats, and will take home an assortment of each. Just in time for those holiday party platters! Cost to attend the workshop will be $10.00. We need a minimum of eight interested to hold this workshop. A maximum of 15 will be accepted. To register for this workshop, fill out registration form which can be found under 4-H resources on our 4-H & Youth Page: http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/logan/4hyouth.html and send in fee by Thursday, December 10th. No phone in registrations will be accepted—when your registration form & fee is received, your spot is reserved.

Club Window Display: First Place—The 4 Corner Clovers, Second —Middletown 4-H'ers, Third—Atlanta Town & Country 4-H, Fourth —Wide-a-Wake 4-H, Fifth—Topper 4-H. Poster: Rachel Skelton

Congratulations to all winners! Also participating with a window display was Hollander's 4-H club. Thank you for helping us promote Logan County 4-H! It's always good to see the pride that shows through in these windows about being part of the Logan County 4-H program. Be sure to check out the website to see photos of all the windows for National 4-H Week!

Any youth 14 or over submitting their Illinois Award Application on to the State Level must have them to the 4-H Office by Tuesday, January 5, 2010! Please plan your time accordingly and work on updating your records before that time. Keep in mind, any 4-H member who makes it to the semi-final stage will be required to go through an interview process. If you would like any help on updating records before submitting them to state, feel free to contact the 4-H office (732-8289) to talk to Amy or Patty.

Scholarships valued at $1250 are available for high school seniors whose families are electric coop members. Applicants must be a son or daughter of an electric cooperative member who resides in Illinois and is receiving service from the cooperative at the time the scholarship application is submitted. If you are a high school senior who meets this requirement, more info and an application is available at www.cornbeltenergy.com — scroll down page and click on Scholarships for high school seniors. Copies of application are also available at the Extension office. Applications are due by January 1, 2010.

BEASON AG —We recently had election of officers, served Lincoln Ag meal, and visited Gail's Pumpkin Patch and carved pumpkins.

HOLLANDERS 4-H — Recently we have discussed selling Goody's coupon books and doing a pizza fundraiser. We also talked about International Night Program and painted fire hydrants in New Holland.

TOPPER 4-H — At our October meeting we elected officers and discussed upcoming 4-H meeting ideas. We will have a weiner roast in November.

Citizenship Washington Focus is a weeklong program that provides many insights into workings of federal government. You'll learn about federal legislation, political parties, Bill of Rights, and how to make a positive impact in your community. This bi-annual trip to Washington, DC is scheduled for July 10—17, 2010 where members will stay at the National 4-H Center. 4-H members ages 14-18 are eligible to participate and the cost at minimum will be $1,050. Logan County 4-H Foundation will pay $150 toward the trip (sent with final payment) for two Logan County 4-H members. Just two delegates per county may attend. Registration will take place online and the first deposit of $350 will be due on December 15th. Payment schedule includes $350 Dec. 15th, $350 February 1st, and $350 (Final payment) - May 1st (Foundation will pay $150 of final payment so 4-H'er will pay $200 of the final payment). If you have an interest in learning more about CWF, please contact Patty at the 4-H office for a brochure and additional details.

For those interested, there is an overnight chaperone training website. It is very important that volunteers participating in any overnight 4-H function (for example, chaperoning youth at State Fair dormitories, taking out of state trip) take this training. There are seven sections that make up the Overnight Chaperone Orientation. It outlines the expectations for volunteers who serve in the overnight chaperone role. When you have finished all sections, there is a quiz to complete that will notify our office and the State 4-H Office that you have successfully completed training. Website is: http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/4hchaperone/

Bonnie Little, long-time secretary at the 4-H Office, will be "officially" retiring from Extension in December after 30 years of service. A retirement reception in her honor will be held at the Extension Building on Friday, December 4th from 2—4 pm. Light refreshments will be served and we hope a number of 4-H leaders and members might be able to stop by the reception to wish Bonnie well. Cards may also be sent to Bonnie to congratulate her on her retirement. Send to: Bonnie Little, 904 21st St., Lot #108, Lincoln, IL 62656. Be sure to note the date for her reception on your busy holiday calendars now!

International Night was held Monday, October 12th. Five 4-H clubs participated in the program with about 60 in attendance. Chester 4-H studied Germany, Hollanders 4-H studied Turkey, The 4 Corner Clovers studied Brazil, The Pioneers studied Ireland, and Wide-A-Wake studied France. Many tasty and interesting foods were part of our meal that night! You can view photos from the International Night program on our website in the photo galleries on the 4-H page.

Evens Sanon, a student at Lincoln Christian University studying ministry, was our speaker this year from Haiti and gave a presentation & shared information about his life in Haiti.

To find out more about participating in International Night next year, contact Amy at the 4-H Office (732-8289).

The ONLY animals which are allowed to be leased and then shown in Logan County 4-H shows and State Fair Jr. Shows are Horses & Dogs. All other animals MUST be owned by the 4-H exhibitor (in their OWN name). Horses must be leased by May 1 for State Fair, and June 1 for Logan County show. Dogs vary by division.

If you have suggestions for judges for any of the 4-H shows, please give their name and contact number to John Fulton. Anyone who wishes to make a suggestion is welcome to forward names onto John. Please put this in writing with name, 4-H area of expertise, and contact number listed. We appreciate the suggestions.

Our office now has a limited number of the "Favorite Recipes of Illinois 4-H Through the Years" cookbooks. These cookbooks are compiled recipes from 4-H manuals through the years and have been a very popular seller. Cost of the cookbook is $15. Stop in at the 4-H office to get your copy today! It would make a great Christmas gift for someone!!

For those who like to do advance planning, here are the 2010 Fair Dates:

LOGAN COUNTY FAIR -- August 3 - 8, 2010 (Our 4-H Dept. W Day will be Aug. 2)

ILLINOIS STATE FAIR -- August 13 - 22, 2010