Dear 4-H Families,

Hopefully this newsletter finds you in the midst of a fantastic fall experience! We are pleased to say that we survived another frenzied 4-H fair season, and we are excited to embark on a new adventure into 2008!

This newsletter contains information about enrollment deadlines, ownership deadlines, upcoming programs, and more!

If you are a new 4-H family this year, we would encourage you to ask lots of questions!!! Help others know how to help you so that you have the stellar experience we all want you to have! If you are a seasoned 4-H family, extend a helping hand to those who are new!

Wishing you all the best,

Debbie Moser Jodi Baumgartner

Unit Educator Community Worker

Youth Development 4-H Youth Development

If you're planning to attend a 4-H event this fall/winter, but driving conditions are questionable, call before coming! We will notify WRHL radio station (AM 1060, FM 102.3) of cancellations.

The Extension office will be closed November 22 & 23 for Thanksgiving. The office will also be closed December 24 - January 1. The office will reopen on January 2.

CLUB ATTENDANCE POLICY

Ogle County 4-H members who wish to exhibit at the 2008 Ogle County 4-H Fair must have...

§ Attended a minimum of 50% of the club meetings held since joining. (Note: The "join" date is September 1 for all youth who are continuing membership for consecutive 4-H years. The "join" date for new members is the first club meeting attended.) You must be present for a minimum of 45 minutes of a club meeting to be counted present.

OR

§ Fulfilled those obligations established and agreed upon in a properly signed and filed 4-H Agreement (contract).

*It is the responsibility of club leaders to insure that this policy is enforced and attendance data is maintained. The Extension staff will resolve any problem situations that occur in the process of applying this rule. Their decisions will be final.

From September – December we will have Greece available and from February – May we will have Australia mini available. If you are interested in either of these, please contact the Extension Office and we will make arrangements. Culture kits are plastic tubs containing artifacts from various countries. Examples of items that may be included are: maps, coins, stamps, flags, clothing, recipes, common household items, cassettes, and slides. Ideas for using the kits in an educational setting are also provided.

By now, most everyone has probably written and sent thank you notes to their 4-H Fair award donors, sale buyers, etc. If you have not, please take time to do so! It's not too late! If you're not a big writer, that's okay. Just buy a greeting card or pop one off of your home PC and stick a picture in of you and your exhibit (or something). Thank you notes like that are worth a million bucks! Need an address? Call the Extension office, 815/732-2191.

• Australia Exchange – (ages 16-18) a 4 week stay the months of June & July. Delegates will live with a farm family to work alongside the host families.
• Finland Exchange (ages 16-18) – a 4 week stay in the months of June & July.
• Japan Exchange (ages 11-18) – a 4 week stay the months of July & August.
• Mexico Exchange (ages 15-18) – a 3 week stay during the month of July.

Each exchange program is a national exchange program where youth from all over the country participate. All the youth travel as a group and are accompanied by chaperones that stay with host families in the same region of the country. Each program has a different cost and the exact dates have not been set for the year. For more information, contact the office for details

If you are interested in a free kitten, contact Cathy Anderson at the Extension Office at 732-2191. They will be available mid-November.

As club reporter it is important that you write a brief article about your club meetings and special events. Those reports can be sent to the local newspapers as well as the Extension office. To be included in the 4-H newsletter, reporters can send their reports to:

Jodi Baumgartner

University of Illinois Extension

421 W Pines Rd, Suite #10

Oregon, IL 61061

E-mail: jbmgrtnr@uiuc.edu

FAX: (815) 732-4007

If you need contact information for the local newspapers you can contact the Extension office.

If your son or daughter is enrolled in 4-H this year and is away at college, we will be happy to send issues of the 4-H HOTLINE to them if you contact the office with their mailing or e-mail address.

The new Illinois 4-H Foundation website includes information about the foundations board, funding priorities project partners, recent news and the 2005-2007 Illinois 4-H Hall of Fame classes. Visitors to the site can apply online for a number of 4-H awards and also make online gifts to the foundation. The site was developed by Rod Stoll, Director of Development, Illinois 4-H Foundation. Please visit the site at

http://www.4-HFoundation.uiuc.edu/

Bits 'N Reins – Tina Vincent, 562-9552

By-Y-Badgers – Stephanie Hanlin, 234-4807

Carefree – Brenda Baker, 732-7179

Circle M – Angie Miller, 938-2626

Forreston Friskies – Thelma Meeks, 938-2323

Grand Detour Greens – Debbie Lowry, 652-4543

Hayseed Kids – Geri Cox, 562-5965

Hub Hickory Nuts – Pat Kloepping, 453-2345

Leaf River Busy Beavers–Melinda Charbonneau, 732-2191

Leaf River Soaring Eagles – Julie Voss, 738-6127

Mighty Clovers – Lisa Woodworth, 393-4536

Ogle Jolly – Debra Bonne, 645-2771

Pine Creek Valley – Katie Shuman, 946-3435

Polo Pioneers – Lisa Fike, 232-1938

Summerhill Huskies – Jolene LeClere, 938-9011