Thank you to all of the clubs that decorated a cookie jar for National 4-H Week. Everyone that received their jars were very appreciative. All of the jars were great and really helped promote the 4-H Program during National 4-H Week! We took pictures of each of the cookie jars individually as well as a group photo. Copies of the photos were put in leader's folders for your scrapbooks! Thank you again for all of your support and help! The following is a note we received and wanted to share with everyone:

Dear Barb and members of "The Flock"

I am eating my third cookie from my "sheep" cookie jar. Kim and Pam delivered this wonderful treasure. I cannot thank you enough and I promise you I will treasure it.

I did not realize that you were a new club and all of you are involved with showing sheep. Do keep up the great work and again many, many "Thanks".

Warm Regards,

Jim Sacia

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, participated in International Night, 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: Country Cuzins, and small club: Country Critters. 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: Kathy Baumgartner, Denise Hayunga, Bonnie Campbell, & Martha Ebbesmeyer - flyers in schools; Linda Meier– Window Displays; Jeanette Lincicum – Skating Party. 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 around Stephenson County judging them. The results are as follows:

Blue Ribbons

·Country Cuzins – Dakota Post Office, Dakota

·Davis Rockets – Country Cheese, Davis

·German Valley Golden Eagles - German Valley Bank, German Valley

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

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

·Rainbow Rangers–Murphy & Gustafson, Freeport

Red Ribbons

·Freeport Fantastics – Hair at 18 W. Stephenson, Freeport

·Lucky Lancers–Immanuel Lutheran School, Freeport

We will 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 2 years ago. Lisa was a life-long supporter of youth and 4-H. There will be two auctions, one at Achievement Night, November 20, 2006 and one at Volunteer Banquet, November 27, 2006. 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. If you or your club is interested in donating an item to the silent auction, please call the Extension Office by November 10, 2006.

The 4-H Academy Awards are quickly approaching. They will be held Monday, November 20^th, at 6:30 p.m. in Building H, Room 201, at Highland Community College. All 4-H'ers, parents, and leaders are invited to come out and honor all the 4-H'ers. We've got many exciting awards to give. There will be door prizes for 4-H'ers, a small gift for everyone in attendance, and a Silent Auction.

We have a large selection of dresses available for borrow for this special event. DRESS LOAN HOUR: Monday, Nov. 13, 5:30–6:30 at the Extension Office. Please call to come in and check them out. Make sure you come at 6:30 p.m. to walk the red carpet. You never know what celebrities you may see! Even if you do not want dress up in formal attire, please don't feel like you shouldn't come – we want everyone there!

The Volunteer Academy Awards will be held on Monday, November 27^th, at 6:30 p.m. at 4 Seasons Banquet & Facilities at 1100 W. Galena Ave. (In the Four Seasons Bowling Alley Building in Freeport). The Leadership and Awards Committee have planned a star-studded evening for our volunteers! During the evening, we will be honoring our Adult & Youth Volunteers of the Year, 4-H Organizational Leaders, and ALL our many program volunteers. Be sure to dig out your formal wear to walk the red carpet when you arrive! Even if you do not want dress up in formal attire, please don't feel like you shouldn't come – we want everyone there!

We really appreciate volunteers that help 4-H reach the youth of today and make a difference in their lives and this is our opportunity to thank them. Each and every volunteer that helps Extension in any way is truly special to us and we thank you for your time and efforts!! So make plans now to attend. RSVP's due by: Friday, November 17^th. Invites are coming to your home soon!

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 is 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!