Dear 4-H Family:

I was at a meeting recently and listened to a 4-H parent tell me a VERY disturbing story about their child's 4-H experience. First, I must say that the child has very much enjoyed doing their projects and meeting with a judge to learn more about their project. So, that's the positive experience this child has gained from 4-H. Here's the part where we all need to step in.

The mother told me that her 4-H'er has gone to every meeting for the last year – 12 meetings. This 4-H'er has made attempts to participate in the club meeting, and has made attempts to talk to other 4-H'ers. After 12 meetings and several attempts, this child has not made ONE friend. Not one friend.

Can you imagine being this child? 4-H'ers, think about that, can you picture yourself going to 12 club meetings and never making a friend? How would you feel? Parents, how would you feel if you were in the situation of this 4-H'er? And what if you were that parent? Would you be sad? Would you wonder why you're coming back month after month? Would you want to come back?

These are all questions that I've been asking myself since I heard this story. I keep thinking, "What is keeping this child from quitting?" All I can come up with is personal satisfaction and self-esteem beyond this child's years. That, and some patient parents.

I told this story at Officer's Training and a deafening silence fell over the room. I asked them how they would feel if it were them that had experienced this. I got answers like, "sad, hurt, frustrated, angry..." And then in an effort to make this story a positive learning experience I told the officers that it is their job to step away from their friends sometimes and welcome and befriend those who are new and don't know anyone in their clubs. They should set the example for younger members by making an effort to be welcoming and friendly to "the new kid".

After thinking about this some more, I thought I better make sure everyone in 4-H remembers that they were once new and didn't know anyone. This non-welcoming, non-inclusive environment isn't the 4-H way, and it certainly isn't going to help us get and keep new members. Let's all do our best to make sure even everyone feels like they are at home when they come to our club meetings. Make them feel comfortable and wanted. It's ALL OF OUR JOB, not just the officers or the leaders. Let's help people realize what a great thing we've got going here in 4-H and remind each other to not leave anyone feeling lonely or sad.

Take Care of One Another, Kim

National 4-H Week

Thank you to everyone who took part in National 4-H Week activities. Whether you helped promote it by doing a 4-H window display, had a sign in your yard, submitted a newspaper article, or attended the Skating Party at Skate Station, we appreciate all that you did to make the week a success. A special congratulations to the two clubs that that won the free skating parties, large club: Freeport Fantastics, and small club: Whiz Kids. We hope that all of you enjoyed the week's activities!

Thank you to the leaders that helped set up National 4-H Week activities, it couldn't have happened without you! The leaders that helped were: Pennie Miller – PSA's: Janine Tessendorf & Yvonne Knight - flyers in schools: Kathy Baumgartner & Barb Curry – Window Displays: Jeanette Lincicum – Skating Party: Linda Meier & Julie Miller – News Releases. Thanks ladies!! A very special thank you to Skate Station for, once again, providing the Skating Party at no cost to the 4-H'ers & their families and also awarding the Skating Parties for the clubs with the top attendance. Your continued support of the Stephenson County 4-H program is truly appreciated! Thank you!! We hope that everyone enjoyed the week's activities and shared 4-H with someone new!

4-H Week Window Displays

Thank you to all the clubs that put up window displays for National 4-H Week and thank you to our judge who said she spent an enjoyable week driving about Stephenson County judging them. The winning clubs will receive Papa Murphy discount cards for all their families. The results are as follows:

Most Eye Catching Display – Snappy Snazzers – Orangeville Community Bank (The judge thought this was a very catchy display and was sure the bank's customers slowed down to look at it.)

Best Promotion of 4-H – Lucky Lancers - Immanuel Lutheran School (The judge stated this display showed a very nice use of 4-H projects and other materials to convey what 4-H is all about – a great effort for their small, but mighty club!)

Honorable Mention – Davis Rockets – for their wonderful display on the railroad bridge as you drive into Dakota!

Other clubs with displays were:

ˇCountry Cuzins – Dakota Post Office, Dakota

ˇDavis Rockets – Country Cheese, Davis

ˇFreeport Fantastics – Christian Supply Center, Freeport

ˇLena Live Wires – Village Voices & Shopper's Guide, Lena

ˇLena Lucky Clovers - My Friend's Closet Thrift Shop, Lena

We be holding two Silent Auctions in Memory of Lisa Woessner again this year. Lisa was a Youth Educator in the Rockford Center that passed away a year ago. Lisa was a life-long supporter of youth and 4-H. There will be two auctions, one at Achievement Night, November 15, 2005 and one at Volunteer Banquet, November 28, 2005. We have many great items to bid on, including baked goods, craft items, gift baskets, photography, and much more! All proceeds will be given to the Illinois 4-H Foundation Science & Technology Grant created in Lisa's memory.

500 Youth Members

4-H enrollment is in full swing. Enrollment should be completed through your club leaders ASAP! Prior to turning in your enrollment forms to your club leader, be sure to check everything over to ensure that you enrolled in the projects that you want to be in. Please return the forms to your leader, as soon as possible, so that they may look them over and sign them. The sooner you turn in your forms to your leader, the sooner you will get your project manuals for the year. Don't forget to also complete the medical form that is attached to your enrollment papers. This form must be completed and returned with your enrollment forms. If it is not returned, you will not be reenrolled until we receive it. We appreciate your cooperation.

Tell your friends, neighbors, family members all the great things 4-H offers!

2006 Goal: 500 youth members (Let's Recruit!)

Some projects that you might enroll in have ownership deadlines that apply. We have included a listing of those deadlines with this newsletter. Please take time to review it and be aware of the dates that apply to you and your projects. Be sure that you are aware of ALL enrollment, ownership, and/or lease deadlines that apply and get the necessary paperwork completed on time! This makes life easier for you and for the office.

ALL DEADLINES WILL BE ADHERED TO IN ORDER TO BE FAIR TO ALL!

Please be aware of our Releasing Youth Procedure from 4-H events. In order to reduce risks, and get a better hold on who is picking up the kids at the end of an event, or when the meeting is over, we are suggesting that at any event in which the parents or guardians are entrusting their child(ren) to our care and direct supervision (such as camp, clinic days, etc.), that we use a sign-out register in order to track who we should release the youth to at the end of the event. This will be a simple form which will be completed by the adult that drops the youth off. They will designate who will be picking-up the youth and an alternate to pick-up the child in case an emergency arises. Then at the end of the event the 4-H Leaders, volunteers, or staff will be sure to only allow the youth to leave with the designated individual(s). We understand that this may not be necessary for every event, but we will use it for those events that youth are in our care. It may seem like a hassle, but it will insure the safety of our youth. The adult picking up the child(ren) will need to see the leader or volunteer in charge of the event before their child(ren) will be released. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation in keeping our youth safe! Parents please note that after Federation meetings we require you to come to the building to pick up your child. Thank you for your understanding!

The theme for the new 4-H year is

4-H... Take the Trip!

Start thinking now of program book designs and club booth decorations!!

If you wish to browse online, here are some websites that you might find of interest:

U of I Extension: www.extension.uiuc.edu

Illinois 4-H: www.4-H.uiuc.edu

National 4-H: www.4-H.org

National 4-H youth site: www.4-Husa.org

In a continuing effort to assist the southern farmers affected by the devastation of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, several local people have coordinated an effort to collect fencing material. The fencing material will be trucked from local drop points to Southern Louisiana and other Gulf Coast areas to be used by farmers faced with damaged or ruined fencing.

Wire, steel posts, wood posts, electric fencing, and other fencing material, new or used, can be donated at Stephenson Service Co. locations in Ridott and Stockton, and at the Farm Bureau/Service Co. on Meridian Road in Winnebago County. Don Brown, Jr. of rural Davis is coordinating the collection. Anyone with questions about fencing or feed donations, can contact Brown at 238-8372 or Wes Winter at 235-4125.

The Parenting 24/7 website is now online at:

http://parenting247.org

Parenting 24/7 is a free "one-stop" site for parenting news and information from University of Illinois Extension.
On Parenting 24/7, users can get access to:
- breaking news on children and families
- research-based articles and special features on raising children and managing family life
- links to the best parenting resources on the web
- video clips of real parents and how they manage "Parenting 24/7"
- monthly electronic newsletter for parents of infants and toddlers
- free optional registration for email updates, ratings and commenting on articles

November:

15 Achievement Night, 6:30 p.m.

21 Federation Meeting, 6:30 p.m

24-25 Extension Office Closed

28 Volunteer Banquet, 6:30 p.m.

December:

12 Pizza Sales begin

13 State Award Applications due to Extension Office

14 Federation Meeting, 6:30 p.m

26 Extension Office closed until Jan. 2nd