Moving on....

As I mentioned in last month's Focus, I will be leaving the Freeport area. Let me first say "thanks" to all the people who have called, emailed, or came to the reception that the office held for me. It continues to show that we have such a great bunch of people in Stephenson County 4-H! I'm really going to miss all of you!

I will be taking a position with the Rock Island Extension Office, in East Moline. I'm very happy to be staying with Extension–it's a very good place to work, and I'm looking forward to new challenges. We have bought a house in Coal Valley, IL–it's just 10 minutes from some very good shopping!

My work email (sreilly1@uiuc.edu) will still be good, so feel free to stay in touch! I'm planning on being back for Super Saturday, and Kim and Pam keep THINKING that I'll be back for fair! (We'll let them think that, it keeps them calm–at least for now!)

Take care, and perhaps our paths will cross again.

~Sue

We just wanted to update all of you on what Kim and Pam have been working on over the past month. While continuing to work with the traditional 4-H Program, both have also been working on programs including: Teen Conference, Earth Day in the schools, Keepers of the Land, Science Siesta, Survival Camp, Boomerang, Advanced Science Siesta, and many more. We have been working with the traditional 4-H Program through planning for upcoming clinics, Leader Super Saturday, Super Saturday, newletters, Sue's Going Away Party, and Beef Weigh-In to name a few.

Just a reminder, adults possibly attending the State Fair with the State Fair Trip or in the dorms must go through the volunteer screening now. Volunteers must have submitted their paperwork by May 1^st. Those that have not applied by May 1^st will not be able to stay in the dorms.

The 11^th annual 4-H Legislative Connection is scheduled for Tuesday, March 27, 2007, at the Illinois State Capitol in Springfield. This is a great time to get our message to the lawmakers that "4-H makes a difference in the lives of Illinois youth, their families, and communities in which they live." We hope to make an impression on the lawmakers with the talent, poise, leadership, communication skills, and personal achievements of our 4-H youth. State Fair Superior Award winners that have not attended the event before have received an invitation directly from the State 4-H Office. We hope lots of our 4-H'ers take advantage of this wonderful opportunity to learn and to share how 4-H does make a difference for us all!!

Photos are wanted for the 2007-2008 Illinois Clover. Color & black and white photos for submission may be prints of electronic files (.tif or .jpg). Please identify any people, and include club name, county name, and event or description of activity. Submit photos to the Extension Office by April 1^st.

We have a correction! In last month's list of leaders we missed Susan Grindey who is one of the leaders for the Snappy Snazzers 4-H Club. We're sorry for the mistake Susan!

Any youth that enrolls in a 4-H club/group, but fails to attend any club events (meetings, tours, workshops, or other activities sponsored by the club/group) cannot be viewed as a 4-H participant/member. Therefore, the youth is not eligible to take part in 4-H exhibitions, receive 4-H premiums, or other 4-H awards and recognitions. Don't lose out–make sure you participate and make the most of your 4-H experience! See Club Attendance Policy for further information (next article).

2006-2007 CLUB ATTENDANCE POLICY

We'd like to remind everyone of the attendance policy for exhibit requirements. There is a 1/3-club attendance policy for meetings. The rule reads as follows: from September 1^st, 2006, to August 31^st, 2007, in order to exhibit at any of the 4-H shows, the 4-H'er must attend at least 1/3 of the club's meetings after joining (by the enrollment deadline) and prior to specific show dates at which the 4-H'er intends to exhibit. Each leader will turn in a form listing those that do not qualify to exhibit by the required deadline. Any questions, call the Extension Office for further clarification.

CLOVER CHALLENGE

Are you 15-18 years old?

Have you successfully completed all levels of your project area?

Do you want to continue to study in your chosen project area?

If you can answer "yes" to each of these questions, then Clover Challenge may be the option you need! Clover Challenge is an advanced study unit for state

4-H projects (not county projects). This is an option only after the 4-H member has successfully completed all other levels in a particular curriculum area. To assist members who enroll in Clover Challenge, a Clover Challenge Agreement, which each member must fill out, can help the member design his/her project. For more details, and a copy of the agreement, contact your leader or the Extension Office.

As you are all finishing selling for this year's Foundation Pizza Sales, remember Foundation profit from pizza sales pays for things such as:

·Super Saturday & Leader's Super Saturday

·Farm Safety Day

·Day camps

·4-H manuals

·Ribbons (trophies are fully sponsored)

·Year pins, project medals, awards, etc.

·Judges' fees for shows and fair

·Scholarships for National 4-H Congress, camp

·Scholarships for Volunteer Leader's Forums and other volunteer events

·Volunteer banquet

·Achievement Night

·County Fair passes

·Postage & printing monthly newsletter, program announcements, etc.

If you use the 4-H Clover, please be aware of the clover use rules, and that the 4-H Clover is protected by law. Be sure that the only lettering or writing that is on the Clover is the H's that are in the leaves. Anything else, including clipart, on the Clover is an illegal use of the Clover. Also be aware that the Clover colors are limited to four colors that it can legally be printed in, those colors are: green, white, black, and gold. Any other color or mixture of colors is not legal. Call the Extension Office for more information if you plan to use the Clover for something.

You Spoke, We Listened

This column is in response to questions received in our office.

Comment/Question: Award applications are very confusing Can this process be changed?

Answer: We are currently looking at the award application process, to try at come up with a way to make it easier to understand for 4-H'ers filling them out. We are looking into better example pages in order to help those filling applications out with better assistance. We feel that award applications are very important and also help when youth are older and filling out information on scholarship forms.

Comment/Question: How do I know when my animal paperwork is due into the office?

Answer: The different animal species have different paperwork deadlines. We have printed the dates in the Focus; they will be in the white pages of the Program Book and the dates are listed in the Calendar of Events found in this newsletter. If you have any questions about when your paperwork is due, please call the Extension Office and we will gladly help. Please remember that 4-H'ers turning paperwork in after the deadline will be eligible to show; however, they will not be eligible for champion, reserve champion, trophy, or State Fair selection.

We are collecting egg cartons and film canisters for this year's Earth Day program in the schools. We are needing egg cartons that hold a dozen eggs. We are also needing cereal boxes for this year's Cloverbud Super Saturday Session. If you have either of these items please bring them into the Extension Office no later than March 1^st. Thank You!