• September 14 – 4-H Premium Checks – due back to office
• September 25 – National 4-H Week Promotional Challenge Form
• October 22 – 4-H Volunteer Screening & Orientation registration
• October 30 – 4-H Club Audit form return
• October 30 – 4-H Club Re-enrollment Form return
• October 30 – 4-H Learn & Fun Day workshop presenter form return

4-H Premium Disbursement Policy

In order to meet the state guidelines for premium disbursement:

1. Checks should be picked up by 4-H Organizational leaders now.
2. All checks MUST be signed for by the 4-H member or parent/guardian.
3. Signature sheets MUST BE RETURNED TO THE EXTENSION OFFICE.
4. Please return all unclaimed checks and the club signature sheet to the Extension office by September 14.
5. Checks are VOID 60 days from printing.

Team Youth kicks off new year September 18, 6:30 – 8 pm

4-H members 10-14 are invited to the UNITY Community Center 632 Orlando Ave in Normal to attend service learning sessions regarding Animal Shelters in the fall. The group will eventually volunteer at one, but we will be researching and learning them first. Fall dates for Team Youth are – September 18, October 23, and November 13. These are Friday's. Special thanks to Ann Clary, of Home Spun for assisting with this group! If you have a High School age 4-H member that would like to help lead activities with team youth, contact Theresa.

Register online: https://webs.extension.uiuc.edu/registration/?RegistrationID=3371

4-H Leader Update September 30, 6:30 – 8:30 pm

Learn about new curriculum and revised projects for the 2010 4-H year, share with other 4-H leaders and learn about some 4-H club essentials that may need revisiting in your group. If you would like to assist with this meeting please contact Theresa or Sandy. Register online: https://webs.extension.uiuc.edu/registration/?RegistrationID=3372

4-H National Youth Science Day Kick-Off – October 3, Children's Discovery Museum, 9-12 am

On 4-H National Youth Science Day – October 7, 2009 – millions of young people across the U.S. will participate in a live demonstration of how organic materials can be converted to fuel to supply energy. McLean County will kick off National Youth Science day on Saturday, October 3 from 9:30 – 11:30 am. We are looking for 4-H clubs to volunteer to lead the science experiment with attendees at the museum during this time. A total of 10-15 youth volunteers and five adults are needed to assist in leading the experiment.

The experiment offers several activities to showcase how cellulose and sugars in plants can be used to create ethanol. The National Science Experiment will encourage a national youth debate to discuss the "best" biofuel based on experiment outcomes. Youth will be engaged before, during and after the experiment via several popular communication mechanisms and through the www.4-H.org web site. To download youth and facilitator guidebooks go to www.4-H.org/NYSD.

Please consider adding this activity to your list of leadership opportunities for your members. Interested clubs and names of potential volunteers need to contact Theresa no later than September 18.

4-H Officer Camp – October 12, 8:30-11:30 am, Extension Office

Do you know what it takes to be a 4-H officer in your club? Can you make a motion and call for a vote? Learn the basics of parliamentary procedure, officer roles and become a confident candidate for upcoming club elections. Start your campaign on October 12 (Columbus Day) from 8-12 (program from 8:30-11:30) at the Extension Office, 402 N Hershey Rd, Bloomington. Target age 8-12. Limited to the first 40 4-Hers that register by October 2, older 4-Hers, Adults and Leaders are welcome to help and observe but must register online or by calling the Extension office.

Register online: https://webs.extension.uiuc.edu/registration/?RegistrationID=3373

4-H Leader Learn & Fun Day, October 17, 8 am - 12:30 pm

Stay tuned for more information regarding this workshop!!

4-H Hippology Dates set for Fall - September 24 and October 22

Hippology is an activity that can make learning fun for 4-H members, by letting them exhibit their knowledge and understanding of equine science and husbandry in a friendly but competitive setting. The group meets once a month at the UNITY Community Center, 632 Orlando Ave, Normal from 6:30 – 8 pm. Meeting dates set for fall are: September 24 and October 22. For more information contact Jill or Bill Schenk, volunteer coaches at jillnbill90@msn.com.

4-H Find Out Party/New Member Meeting, November 21, 9:30-11 am

Please pass along this opportunity for 4-H members to learn more about 4-H. This is for 4-H members 8+ and their families. Hands-on activities for the 4-Hers while the parents get to ask questions about 4-H and learn more about the Illinois Clover, picking out projects, forms and deadlines.

Register online: https://webs.extension.uiuc.edu/registration/?RegistrationID=3370

Leadership Opportunities for 4-Hers and adults

We need 4-Her and adult assistance for the following activities. If interested please contact Theresa ASAP.

• October 12 – 4-H Officer Camp, Extension Office, 8:30 – 11:30 am
• November 8 – Recognition of Excellence, location TBA
• November 21 – 4-H Find Out Party/New Member Meeting, Extension Office, 9:30 - 11 am
• January 23 – Learn & Fun Day, Heartland Community College, 9-2:15 pm
• March 6 – 4-H Technology Academy, WDC, HCC, 9-2 pm
• March 13 – 4-H Find Out Party / New Member Mtg, Extension Office, 9:30-11 am

Inquire by emailing: techamb@illinois.edu

4-H Learn & Fun Day – Workshop Presenters NEEDED!!

Have your club members led a workshop at Learn & Fun Day? If not, why not? 4-H Learn & Fun Day is successful because of the adults, leaders, parents, and 4-Hers that volunteer their time to lead workshops! This is a good leadership opportunity for 4-Hers 13+. We have over 50 workshops each year and need more presenters. The form is included in the packet and can also be downloaded online under Forms & Downloads on the 4-H program page. All workshop submission requests are due before October 30.

Access the form online: http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/mclean/4hyouth2795.html

New or Revised 4-H Curriculum for 2010

Check out the new projects and/or curriculum resources listed below.

• Bicycle 1 & 2: Bicycling for Fun, Wheels in Motion, and Helper's Guide
• Cloverbud: Exploring Farm Animals; Vegetable Gardening A—See Them Sprout and Helper's Guide; and Veterinary Science 1—From Airedales to Zebras and Helper's Guide
• Foods & Nutrition: 4-H Cooking 301
• Horticulture: Vegetable Gardening A-D—See Them Sprout, Let's Get Growing, Take Your Pick, Growing Profits, and Helper's Guide
• Leadership: Leadership Skills You Never Outgrow 1: for Grades 3-6
• Veterinary Science: Veterinary Science 1-3—From Airedales to Zebras, All Systems Go, On the Cutting Edge, and Helper's Guide
• Video: Filmmaking (available online only)
• Wind Energy: Power of the Wind and Facilitator's Guide

2010 4-H Great Debate Conference, February 12-13, 2010

The Great 4-H Debate is a conference for 4-H'ers from across Illinois who converge in Springfield to debate bills and learn about the legislative process. The 4-H Great Debate is for all high school age U of I Extension 4-H youth development program participants who are interested in learning about how Illinois state government works.

During the two-day event, youth will:

• Learn persuasive speaking
• Learn how to find information on the legislative process
• Develop an understanding of the legislative process
• Meet people from other areas of the state

Besides all the work, participants will meet youth from across the state and enjoy games and music on Friday night.

This conference is open to Illinois 4-H youth. Registration fee for the conference is about $60. The deadline for registration is at the end of January. Lodging will be at Lake Springfield Christian Academy. Delegates will need to bring bedding, towels, and toiletries in addition to clothing. Conference Website: http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/mclean/greatdebate/index.html

2010 Illinois 4-H Jr. Leadership Conference, February 19-20, 2010

Get this weekend on the calendars of your junior high age members NOW! The 2010 Illinois 4-H Jr. Leadership Conference is set for February 19-20, 2010. 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.

National Orienteering Day – September 19, 10 am at Comlara Park on Evergreen Lake

Expand your geospatial skills!! Orienteering is an exciting and challenging sport that calls upon your ability to navigate in the woods or at a park. Between checkpoints marked on your map, you choose your own route – around the hill on a trail or cross-country over the top. The event is free, but groups should pre register.

Flier online: http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/mclean/downloads/19215.pdf

4-H Million Trees Project – Good Service Learning Opportunity!

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

Virtual 4-H Filmmaking Studio & Workshop

The Virtual 4-H Filmmaking Studio & Workshop, located at www.4-H.org/curriculum/filmmaking. was developed in collaboration with Montana State University. The Filmmaking Studio and Workshop is the online place to find tools and resources about video production and "how to make your own film". On the home page of the site, you'll find the main Filmmaking Workshop—an 11 module "virtual workshop", geared toward youth interested in making Science, Engineering, and Technology (SET) films. The workshop discusses SET as a primary topic area and delivery mode, but the learning modes and principles apply across mission mandate areas—SET, Healthy Living, and Citizenship.

This is a BETA release and feedback is encouraged, via the "Give Feedback" button on the home page. Additional resources will be added and tweaked over time, so stay tuned. Happy Filmmaking!

IL 4-H Shooting Sports coming soon! (2011 4-H year)

Youth development will be the number one goal of the Shooting Sports Program. The program is an excellent way to provide life skill development and to establish a caring relationship with an adult mentor. The program is an active program, attractive to both youth and adult audiences. 4-H curriculum will be designed to assist young people in personal development, personal environmental ethics, and lifelong vocational and avocational activities. The program will help to promote self confidence, responsibility, teamwork, self esteem, decision-making and the identification of realistic personal goals. If you are interested in being a part of the program in McLean County, please contact the Extension office.

Looking for a unique fundraiser?

Lonestar Steakhouse has started a community outreach program called Take Steak. You can work with Lonestar to pick a day, Monday thru Thursday, where you distribute flyers for your participants. The flyers are then brought in to us and collected. 10 % of all sales (pre tax) are then given back to the organization by way of check. That is just the basics. If you are interested in more info, please contact either Mike, John, Heather at the 309-663-7827, or e mail Mike Johnson at: lonestar.bloomington@steakco.com

Service Calendar

Ever wonder when National Green Week is? Or World Kindness day? Save this link in your browser: http://tinyurl.com/seasonsofservice09

Favorite Recipes of Illinois 4-H Through the Years…

Remember snickerdoodles, wheat bread, funny cake, or chocolate crinkles? Do you remember these goodies from your 4-H experience? These and many more recipes from 14 University of Illinois Extension 4-H foods project books can be found in a new "favorites" cookbook available through the Illinois 4-H Foundation.

More than 150 of your old favorites from 4-H foods project books such as You Learn to Bake, ABC's of Food, Adventures in Cooking, It's Fun to Cook, Milk and Eggs, Meat in Your Meals, Pastry in Your Meals, and Yeast Breads in Your Meals are included in this 8 ½" x 11" spiral bound cookbook. Recipes are listed by 4-H project book, alphabetically, and by food category for easy reference.

Website: http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/4hfoundation/. Proceeds from the cookbook will support current 4-H foods project resources and training for 4-H volunteers and can be purchased at the Extension Office.

4-H CAMPaign

You can help improve the facilities at 4-H Memorial Camp! Construction has started on the kitchen at 4-H Camp. This is a great opportunity for your 4-Hers to support Camp. There are several ways your club can get involved with this CAMPaign!! http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/4hmemorialcamp/campaign.html

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 23-25, 2010. The target audience is outstanding teen leaders; 2 per county, age 17-18 by September 1, 2009. The application is due December 10, 2009 to the Extension Office because the state deadline is December 15. The application for next year can be found at: http://www.youthed.org/.

4-H Key Award – Revised for 2010

The 4-H Key Award has been revised. It will be a separate application process and is due in February. More information will be provided at a later date.

New Year Packets – don't forget to look at all of the forms due this fall!

Illinois Leader – State Publication

Treasurer's Book - 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, 2009 – 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.

North Central Regional Volunteer Forum, October 1-4, Lincoln, NE

The North Central Region 4-H Volunteer Forum (NCRVF) is held annually, and involves 4-H staff and volunteers from the 12 states in the North Central Region (including Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin) and the Canadian Province of Manitoba. Registration deadline is September 15. Scholarships are available from the Timeless Clovers 4-H Alumni Association if you are interested in attending please go to: http://4h.unl.edu/volunteers/forum.htm

4-H Volunteer Orientation & Screening

Who? Parents, leaders, superintendents = 4-H VOLUNTEERS

When? October 22, February 17, and May 11 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.

Register online: https://webs.extension.uiuc.edu/registration/?RegistrationID=3374

Fall Program Planning – Have one meeting at HCC!

IMPORTANT – opportunity! Heartland Community College – Use of Facilities by 4-H Clubs

Through a great relationship with HCC I am excited to announce that 4-H clubs have been given the opportunity to schedule a meeting at their facility for special programs/speakers. Have you ever wanted to have a speaker come, but they wanted to show a Power Point or needed an overhead projector? Want to use a computer lab to have your 4-Hers learn about Geospatial/Robotics project activities? Would you like to have an Extension Staff member teach your 4-Hers a workshop? This is a one or two time per year opportunity for your club to use an HCC classroom or computer lab for a 4-H meeting. IF your club would like to schedule a meeting at Heartland Contact Lisa Sleevar at 309-268-8016.

You will need to contact her 4-6 weeks in advance.

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/

National 4-H Council Grants portal

National 4-H Council is pleased to announce our new grants portal! This portal will be a one-stop resource, housing a wide variety of funding opportunities and related forms (applications, reports, etc.). The site can be found at http://grants.4-H.org. You will need to register to begin using the system and to review the benefits this new software provides (there is a brief instructional guide on how to register and apply for grants).

You must have your Club FEIN number in order to create an account. Grants that are being offered are also on this page: http://4-h.org/programs_mission_mandates.html.