Club Audits – Important!

4-H Clubs that have a treasury are required to complete an audit and turn it in to the local extension office each year. Starting for the 2007-2008 4-H year the Extension office is required to file a 990-N e-postcard for ALL 4-H Clubs. All club audits for 2007-2008 must be received by October 30^th, 2008 – no exceptions. A fact sheet is available online from National 4-H at: http://www.national4-hheadquarters.gov/library/fs-electronic_filing_v2-08.pdf. If you have questions please contact us. ***We only need a COPY of the inside of the Treasurer's Book.

4-H Volunteer Orientation & Screening – October 28 – 6:30 – 8 pm ---- NOTE Time Change!

• Who? Parents, leaders, superintendents = 4-H VOLUNTEERS
• When? October 28, 2008, 6:30-8 pm
• Where? Extension Office, 402 N Hershey Rd.

Why? To ensure that all 4-H youth in McLean County are with caring screened adults who are concerned about their safety. The U of I Extension State 4-H Office requires youth to be with screened volunteers at ALL times at 4-H events. Please help us protect our 4-H youth. You cannot be recognized as a 4-H leader if you have not gone through screening. This process involves CANTS screening (child abuse and neglect), criminal background check, and personal reference checks. Please RSVP online or call the Extension office.

4-H Volunteer Leader Update, October 30, 6:30 – 8 pm, Extension Office

Please register online today for the 4-H LEADERS' / VOLUNTEERS' UPDATE. This meeting is a great way to begin your 4-H year, to meet and exchange ideas with other 4-H volunteers and leaders, to hear an update on programs and activities that are "in the works", and to receive the latest on the new McLean County 4-H program fee. McLean County 4-H volunteers are some of the best in the nation, and we consider it a privilege to work with you to "make the best better"!

Recognition of Excellence Ceremony – November 9, 3 pm, Olympia High School

Sunday, November 9^th marks the 21^st year for the Recognition of Excellence Awards Ceremony! This year the event will be at the Olympia High School auditorium at 3 pm. A short reception will follow the event. ALL 4-H members, parents, and extended family, leaders and alumni are invited to attend. Members receiving awards will receive special instructions in their invitation. Award winners will need to arrive between 2:30-2:45 pm. Make it a club event! New this year: 5-Year Pledge Recognition for 4-H members who have achieved the standards of excellence for 5 years of 4-H and have 5 years remaining in the program. A special gift will be given to those in attendance. Tom Laxton of State Farm will motivate us on the future of youth!

Learn & Fun Day January 24, 2009

It's that time of year again! We are now looking for 4-Hers and leaders to present fun hands-on workshops for 4-H members at Learn & Fun Day. Last year over 50 workshops were presented. We would like to repeat that again! Please fill out the Workshop Presenter Form by October 31, 2008. More information can be found online at: http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/mclean/4hyouth2597.html

Welcome new 4-H clubs!

This past spring we welcomed Big Dreams 4-H led by Meg Musselman and The Best of All 4-H Club led by Linda White! This fall we welcome three more new clubs: 4-H 4Art led by Betty Broadfield, Gold Star Clovers led by Tammy Stewart, and Brigham 4-H Bobcat Heroes Club led by Barbie Price. Exciting times as 4-H is GROWING in McLean County!!! We currently have 54 community clubs and 20 Cloverbud groups.

When Electing Officers in your club….

If your club Reporter or Secretary is interested in being an "author" on the 4-H Club Chatter Blog, please pass along their email. They can then post their own articles on to the 4-H Club Chatter blog. It's really easy and fun! All posts will be monitored. Articles posted may be put in an Extension newsletter if there is space. If you have club reporters or other members that are into blogging send their names to the Extension office!

The website is up: http://mclean4-hclubchatter.blogspot.com/

New 4-H Projects!

Cooking 201, Computer Science, Dairy Goats and Welding are the new 4-H projects or 4-H projects with new manuals this year. See the Illinois 4-H Clover for more information: http://www.4-h.uiuc.edu/projects/clover.pdf

Learn more with Educational Kits

4-H Leaders can check out educational kits by contacting us at the Extension Office. Kits include: Advanced Visual Arts, Clothing & Textiles, Cultures – German, Japan etc, Electricity, Geospatial, Get Up & Move, Foods, Photography, Robotics, Leadership, Walk-In-My Shoes, Robotics and Wonderwise Kits. See the Illinois Clover for descriptions on Page 37-38.

VALUED Volunteers Training

The VALUED Volunteer Orientation program is designed to help volunteers better understand their role in impacting the future of youth through 4-H. Each participant is asked to complete six one-hour training sessions over the course of the year on topics ranging from program planning and experiential learning to positive youth development and effective communications. Telnets will be offered on the following topics. All sessions will last one hour. The registration deadline will be one month prior to the session in each topic area. Information will be available later this fall on how to register for these sessions. Materials will be mailed directly from the State 4-H Office to the registered volunteers. Contact Theresa if you are interested in attending any or all of these telnets:

• Positive Youth Development – January 8, 13, and 14
• Communications in a 4-H Club – January 22, 26, and 27
• Public Presentations – February 3, 11, and 19
• Parental Involvement – February 4, 10, and 17
• Risk Management – March 3, 11, and 19

(In Plastic Bags, that were available at the Leader Celebration)

These packets were available at the 4-H Leader Celebration, and we have 12 4-H Clubs or Cloverbud Groups that have not picked them up yet. They contain important information for the new 4-H year, please pick them up right away.

4-H Enrollment Forms (White Sheet) & Project Enrollment Forms (Green Sheet)

The Project Enrollment Form has been revised – and the projects are organized by Award/Curriculum Area.

Illinois Clover - (One per family)

Please pass out to your 4-H families. There are several "new" projects to choose from!

4-H Folders (IL 4-H Foundation) – (one per member)

We encourage you to send a "thank you" to the sponsors that are listed on the folder.

List of past leaders for enrollment – (club specific)

In an effort to save paper and time, please have current 4-H leaders sign the form and update any information. No White Enrollment Form is needed if there are no major changes. All new 4-H leaders must fill out a White Enrollment Form and attend a 4-H Volunteer Orientation (October 28).

Organizational Leader/Club Information Sheet

This form is required to renew your 4-H club each year and also lists when & where your club gathers.

Community Service/Fundraising Report Form

This form is to be filled out for each activity that your club is participating in. The form is to be turned in at least one week prior to any event!

4-H Club Officer List

Please return this form as soon as possible.

4-H Financial Statement of Plans, Secretary's Book, and Treasurer's Book

Special Resources Page

If you have any questions please contact our office.

4-H LCP Award & Premier 20 Leadership Conference

This award conference is for ten 4-H members and ten FFA Section Presidents. Leadership development is the focus of training. The event is sponsored by Illinois Farm Bureau & their Affiliate Companies. The conference is April 22-24, 2009. The target audience is outstanding teen leaders; 2 per county, age 17-18 by September 1, 2008. The application is due December 10, 2008 to the Extension Office because the state deadline is December 15. The application for next year can be found at: http://www.youthed.org/DownloadDocs/2008-09%20LCPapp.pdf.

4-H State Awards Selection – Help Needed!

Judging will take place on Saturday, January 24, 2009 at the Springfield Extension Center at the state fairgrounds. We will begin at 9:00 a.m. with an orientation. Judging is done in teams with each team working on a specific awards area. Depending upon categories and the number of applications, judging is generally completed by mid-afternoon (3:00 or so); however some larger categories may take longer. If you are interested please contact Theresa or Deb Stocker at dstocker@illinois.edu.

Thank you to those that assisted with County Records Evaluation:

Alisa Clary, Annette Noud, Judy Hinshaw, Jeanie Wager, Kathy Weinzierl, Annie Schwoerer, Anita Thul, Nancy Todd, Debbie Phillips, Kim Hunt, Erin Kinsella and Deb Wheeler.

2009 Illinois 4-H Jr. Leadership Conference, February 21-22, 2009

Get this weekend on the calendars of your junior high age members NOW! The 2009 Illinois 4-H Jr. Leadership Conference is set for February 21-22, 2009. The Illinois State 4-H Youth Leadership Team will be hosting this event at a new location – Lake Williamson Retreat Center near Carlinville, Illinois. It will be open to 4-H members currently in the 7th and 8th grade. More details and registration information will be in the next issue of Illinois Leader.

With 4-H's connection to environmental efforts, youth participating in environmental science, and 4-H's new partnership with Nickelodeon's The Big Green Help, "Keeping it Green" shows how 4-H is bridging old ideas with new to teach youth environmental stewardship and connecting youth to science-related issues. The green theme also can showcase 4-H beyond the environmental focus as 4-H's green brand is a direct connection to the organization as a whole. Materials are available at www.4-HBrandNetwork.org.

4-H Million Trees Project

Members of the Pacifica (California) 4-H Club launched the 4-H Million Trees (4HMT) project, a large-scale service-learning project with the goal to plant 1,000,000 trees across the United States to beautify America, absorb atmospheric carbon dioxide, and combat global climate change. www.4hmilliontrees.org

National 4-H Week Science Experiment Results

Check out what youth are sharing around their national science experiment! http://www.surveymonkey.com/sr.aspx?sm=4sj6jGhL7Dq3zYsGVFyoMnNNb36DgliyRt9YHLHtcK8_3d

408 youth have already logged in. It looks like at least a few IL youth/clubs/groups have already participated. This conversation will continue all month, so it's not too late to participate! If you would like to do the experiment please go to http://www.4-h.org/pdf/NationalScienceDay_long.pdf.

Children's Discovery Museum Science Activity

Chemistry Day October 25^th 10am-2pm

Presented by the American Chemical Society - Celebrate National Chemistry Week with the theme of "Having a Ball with Chemistry!" Children will enjoy a variety of activities throughout the museum to highlight the chemistry of sports.

Equestrian Lifestyle Expo & Holiday Market, November 22-23 at Arlington Racecourse

Dr. Randall Raub, PhD, head of equine research at Purina Mills' 1,100-acre 75-horse research farm, will join equine industry leaders in presenting programs at the Horsemen's Council of Illinois' new Chicagoland Equestrian Lifestyle Expo & Holiday Market November 22-23 at Arlington Park Racecourse. Purina is a sponsor of the Expo.
In addition to giving attendees the opportunity to meet with experts, the expo will present "everything equestrian," for current horse owners and the one in three households wanting to own or ride a horse in the future, according to Horse Industry Alliance research. Program details – topics, presenters, times – will be available at the Expo website www.HorsemensCouncil.org.

Cowboy hat approved for Riding

New ASTM/SEI approved cowboy hat looking riding helmet by Troxel. http://www.troxelhelmets.com/products/features.php?ProductID=36 This would meet the helmet requirements at the State Jr show.

Just for Fun – Horse Riding Game: http://www.horseridingcoach.com/jumporama/

Be an International Traveler through IFYE

Outbound Travel Programs through the International 4-H Youth Exchange:

IFYE Ambassador -- offers a 4-week opportunity for individuals 15 - 18 years of age (depending on country).

Tentative Dates for 2009:

• Australia – June 17-July 16
• Mexico – TBA
• Finland – June 13 – July 14
• Costa Rica – June 20 – July 18

4-H CAMPaign

You can help improve the facilities at 4-H Memorial Camp! A major fundraising campaign is in the works with a renovation of the Dining Hall set to start after this camp year. There are several ways your club can get involved with this CAMPaign!! Fliers will be distributed through Organizational Leaders.

http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/4hmemorialcamp/campaign.html

Habitat for Humanity

Is your club looking for a community service and educational opportunity? Habitat for Humanity has created age appropriate resources for groups like 4-H clubs and schools to use. The website has great information with ideas on getting youth involved with Habitat for Humanity in McLean County. Check out: www.habitat.org/ccyp

4-H Activity Calendar

Please update your calendars! We have set dates well into 2009 and will update the calendar periodically on our website.

Illinois 4-H Ambassador Program

The Illinois 4-H Ambassador Program provides youth and adults the opportunity to become active partners in the marketing and promotion of their organization. Members that wish to attend Legislative Connection as an Ambassador need to apply by filling out the enclosed form: http://www.4-h.uiuc.edu/opps/leg_ambassador_app.pdf Another opportunity on the state level as an ambassador is to help with the 4-H Can Make a Difference food drive at the Illinois State Fair.