Dear 4-H Organizational Leader:

Whew, another great 4-H fair under our hats and a great week of fun and new friendships made! I hope you each found some "good times" during the county fair and are looking forward to making new pathways this next 4-H year!

With a theme "Got Green?" – 4-H members were buzzing all week during the fair of how excited they were to showcase their 4-H enthusiasm to others! We have decided to sell these t-shirts and profits will go towards our new county wide community service – Make A Wish Foundation! We hope to raise $5,000 to sponsor a "wish" for a child. Nothing compares to youth helping each other through the 4-H motto – "to make the best better".

I hope you have a successful year with your 4-H clubs. Please contact us if you need assistance or have questions!

We are looking forward to an exciting year – thank you for helping us make a difference in the lives of youth.

Tina Veal

Extension Educator, 4-H Youth Development

- Tina Veal

Records Due

2005 4-H Recognition of Excellence

DUE: Wednesday, August 31^st-No later than 5pm

Enclosed are:

• Standards Award Checklist - preprinted with the names of your 4-H members according to age and the award the 4-Her can earn -- all you need to do is mark "yes", they completed the standards for their age group or "no" they did not complete the standards for their age group.
• Club Progress Award Application
• IL 4-H Standards of Excellence for 4-H Groups
• 4-H Alumni Award Application
• 4-H Federation Dues
• 4-H Leader of the Year Nomination
• Holder & Mosbacher Scholarships
• Club of the Year

August

16 – Records Workshop @ Ext. office

22 – Federation Meeting @ Ext office 7pm

31 – RECORDS DUE by 5pm

September

8 – Records Judging – Volunteers Needed!

14 – Leaders Banquet @ Castle Theatre

16 – Got Green? T-shirt orders due

26 – Federation

October

1 – Window Displays In Place

3-9 – National 4-H Week

5 – 4-H Leader Meeting – 7pm

8 – Scrapbooking Workshop – 9-11am

16 – Recognition of Excellence, Radisson

24 – Federation

27 – Jr. Federation Planning Mtg, 5:30-7pm

November

3 – Volunteer Screening, 7-9pm

10 – New Member Meeting – 6pm

10-13 – North Central Leader Forum

12 – Cloverbud Bowling Fun, 2-4pm

17 – Officer Training/Federation

December

15 – Federation Meeting

January

10 – 4-H Leader Meeting – 7pm

21 – Learn & Fun Day @ Heartland

31 – Volunteer Screening

February

4 – 4-H Roller Skating Party

18 – 4-H Can Make A Difference Day

27 – Federation

March

4- 4-H Electricity School @ Heartland

28 – Federation

April

6– New Member Meeting – 6-8pm

11 – 4-H Leader Meeting – 7pm

20 – Volunteer Screening – 7pm

24 – Federation

May

1 – Enrollment Deadline

22 – Federation

June

26 – Federation

August 1-6, 2006 – McLean County 4-H Show

***This is not a complete list of dates for all activities. More to be announced as planned.***

ATTENTION CLUB LEADERS!!!!

The Department of Agriculture is again enforcing a guideline on all counties that a signature from the 4-H member is required to receive all fair premium checks! Therefore, we need your help! Premium checks will be distributed to club organizational leaders.

­ 4-H Leaders Banquet – September 14 @ Castle Theatre 6:30-9:30pm

Invitations to be mailed soon! RSVP's are available online at www.mcleanextension.org

Recognition of Excellence – October 16^th at Radisson Hotel & Conference Center

­ Invitations will be mailed to award winners upon receipt of award application and judging.

A twelve-member team has been elected to represent 4-Hers in McLean County in planning and conducting county events.

President

Heather Miller – Downs Top Notchers

Vice President

Aaron Phillips – Home Spun

Secretary

Sarah Rutledge – Old Town

Treasurer

David Shier – Space Age Pioneers

Reporter

Laura King – Home Team

Historian

Michae Jacobs – Home Spun

Sentinel

Kathryn Shallenberger – Ardent Tillers

Program Manager

Alyssa Bane – Ellsworth Tip Toppers

Directors

Erin Dirks – Ellsworth Tip Toppers

Emily Parks – Home Spun

Jon Clary – Home Spun

Taylor Dirks – Home Spun

Each club should have two voting delegates to attend 4-H Federation Meetings! Other youth ages 12 & up are also invited to participate and meet youth from across the county! This group plans and conducts many countywide activities! A great leadership program to be involved in as a teen!

4-H Federation Program for 2005-2006

August 22 - Federation Fiesta @ Ext. Office

September 26 - Weiner Roast @ Banes

October 24 - Glow in the Dark Putt Putt

November 17 - Officer Training @ Ext.**

December 15 - Serve a Meal at Mission

January 23 - 70's Disco Night with Alumni

February 27 - "Dinner & A Movie" Night - "Bring A Friend"

March 27 - Cookie Decorating Contest

April 24 - Make Your Own Pottery!

May 23 - Bowling

June 27 - Grady's Family Fun Center

July - New Board/Old Board/Teambuilding

** Meeting held on different day than 4th Monday

An opportunity for youth ages 10-14 years old to gain some leadership experience on the county level. This group will meet 4 x per year and work with the 4-H Federation Board members!

Watch for more information to come!

This event will take on a new look this year! Clubs will be asked to do some type of community service activity that day to make it a county wide community service day for 4-H. This could include a canned food drive, visiting shut ins, organizing an event in the community, etc. A new look to our February canned food drive as many locations no longer have access to a grocery store or other venue. This could be a great media event to promote 4-H!

Be creative!

Interested in learning more about 4-H records?

Want to see a completed application? No other way to learn, than by helping serve as a 4-H Records Judge on Wednesday, September 8^th. Judges are needed from 1-4pm and 6-9pm to grade local records. You may not judge in areas where your children are submitting records. No prior experience needed!

If interested, please call Theresa Chambers at the Extension office at 663-8306 or register online at www.mcleanextension.org.

Due to popular demand, we have added a third orientation/screening evening to the 4-H calendar for club volunteers! This should provide everyone the opportunity to meet the proper requirements to become leaders and assist you with 4-H club work!

The Volunteer Orientation/Screening meetings provide an overview of the 4-H program, introduction to how a club meeting works, experiential learning and guidance of how to make meetings fun!

The following dates for Orientation are:

• November 3^rd
• January 31^st
• April 20^th

Mark your calendars and encourage your 4-H parents to attend!

Theme: Got Green?

Window Displays will need to be in place by Saturday, October 1^st. Secure your window today! Information was sent to organizational leaders.

November 10-13, 2005
Rapid City, South Dakota

Come experience a great leaders forum to learn and share with other4-H leaders!

More information can be found at: http://4h.sdstate.edu/2005NCRVF/patmast/NCRVFHomePage.htm

4-H Alumni will provide scholarships for 4-H Leaders attending. Please contact the Extension office for more information!

Got green? T-shirt

Order forms are available online or will be sent with your 4-H premium checks. McLean County 4-H Federation will sell the Got Green T-shirts for $10.00/each. Orders will be processed and bundled by club. Forms will be available with 4-H members premium checks or online. Please share with all members! Youth and Adult Sizes are available.

Proceeds will go to the Make A Wish Foundation

4-H Leader Meetings

Several 4-H Leader meetings are scheduled this year:

Be sure to mark your calendars for the following dates:

• October 5^th – cool door prizes!
• January 10^th , 2006
• April 11^th , 2006

If there are things you would like to see covered, please let me know! I look forward to seeing you at upcoming 4-H leader meetings to keep up to date with programs and county planning!

What is Jr. Leader University?

An online course for 4-H junior leaders that uses University of Illinois online software and server.

What is in it for 4-H members?

• Experience in navigating around a real online course
• New ideas about what they can do as a 4-H junior leader.
• A chance to practice leadership skills and make their 4-H club better.
• A certificate of completion and other recognition as a junior leader.

How do youth enroll?

After completing screening and enrollment as a Junior Leader, complete the Junior Leader Enrollment Form provided by the Extension office.

What will 4-H members have to do and how long will it take?

1. In each of the four lessons, members will:

• View a powerpoint presentation narrated by 4-H members.
• Print out the handouts used in completing the suggested activities.
• Complete one of the activities suggested in the lesson.

Reviewing the lessons and printing the handouts will take approximately 30 minutes. The minimum time to complete two of the suggested activities is about 1 hour.

2. When you have completed all 4 lessons and 2 activities (or more), return to the website and complete the course quiz.Attheend of the semester you'll receive a survey either in the mail or email.

Seeking 4-H Leaders who would like to expand their knowledge on topics ranging from:

• 4-H Enrollment
• Projects
• Committees
• Policies to Program Planning
• Communications
• Experiential Learning

The training will include about six hours of information on the above topics.

This series was developed as a result of the 4-H Leader forum survey from last spring. 90% of the new leaders indicated they would be willing to attend such an orientation. 80% of the tenured leaders also indicated they they would be willing to participate in an orientation.

A variety of formats will be used for this educational series, including face to face meetings, fact sheets, discussion guides, self-study packets, web-based learning, and telephone conference sessions. 4-H volunteers will be asked to enroll in this series and commit to attending the six hours of educational sessions during the 2005-2006 4-H year. Those who complete the series will receive special recognition.

If interested, please contact Tina to let her know. Counties need to register by September 1^st.