Dear 4-H Families:

Thank you for you participation in and support of winter programming. It has been a pleasure to see so many new faces and experience the energy that our members, both new and tenured, have brought to each activity!

As spring arrives, we are excited about the activities just ahead: 4-H day camps, Wilderness Day, 4-H camp, and of course, fair preparations!

If your family has not already begun to work on individual projects, now is the time to get started. Begin by flipping through your project manuals, picking out a few cool activities from each to do this year, and writing down some learning goals. Your goals go on the front of your project goal sheet record forms. Then, start plugging away at the activities: the learning will take care of itself! To do your activities, you may have to visit the library, go online, take some short trips or tours, or even visit with some experts. Be creative! ...As you work try to think of a way to show that you are learning with others by teaching a workshop, given a class presentation, or doing a simple service project in each project area. These experiences are considered leadership and service efforts, and they will pay off big later in your 4-H career when you apply for 4-H scholarships and State records honor.

Best wishes for a fantastic year!!

Debbie Moser Jodi Baumgartner

Unit Educator Community Worker

Youth Development 4-H Youth Development

Training is available for new and less tenured 4-H volunteers. The benefits to 4-H volunteers will allow them to gain basic information and progress to more advance training important to the success of your 4-H club and Extension programming, enhance skills to strengthen a 4-H club, become aware of additional resources, and receive quality, consistent training from University of Illinois Extension. For more information contact the Ogle County Extension Office.

Club reporters–don't forget how important it is to write a brief article about your club meetings and special events! We need to keep the public informed of the good work that 4-H is doing! News releases should be sent to the local newspapers, as well as the Extension Office. To be included in the 4-H newsletter, reporters can send their news releases 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 call the Extension Office.

Does the high cost of fuel have you rethinking your summer vacation plans? Does your family like to learn about new cultures? If so, University of Illinois 4-H has an opportunity for you to consider. Families have an opportunity to experience a different culture this summer without leaving their home. University of Illinois 4-H Youth Development is currently recruiting host families for 50 Japanese youth and their adult chaperons for an American homestay July 21- August 18, 2008.

The 4-H Japanese Exchange program consists of youth who are learning to speak English in language acquisition programs. Like 4-H clubs, the Japanese programs (LEX and LABO) meet monthly to help youth become more fluent in English and base their activities around the family unit. Japanese youth, ranging in age from 12-17, are placed in an American family with a host brother or sister. To obtain more information or a host family application packet contact the Extension Office at 732-2191.

Seven baby bunnies are free to any 4-H member. Two of them are 8 weeks old and 5 of them are 4 weeks old. They are "mutts"; half mini rex, half dutch. For more information call Angie at 938-2626.

Free ducks and geese are available to 4-Hers. Please call Denise at 815-969-8356 for more information.

The wonderful stories shared by National 4-H Hall of Fame laureates at their induction became the inspiration for this project. The laureate's stories were inspirational, funny, sometimes "tear jerker's", always heartfelt and too valuable to be lost.

The NAE4HA's Public Relations and Information Committee is collecting stories for a book from the entire 4-H family including members, volunteers, staff, donors, family members and others. The stories included in the book will be selected by the Editorial Team. Stories not chosen will be saved for future use.

Here is what they are looking for:

- Stories from all 50 states sharing positive personal experiences on the value of 4-H, activities/events, learning experiences, funny situations, etc.

- Stories about 4-H folks who have inspired, motivated and made a difference in the lives of others.

- Stories should include information about the setting/situation and approximate time frame and must include your name, address and contact information.

- Up to three double spaced pages in a Word document using a 12 point Times New Roman font and one inch margins

- Send your story as an email attachment to dtabler@umd.edu.