Due to schedule conflicts, this year's Officer's Training date has been changed. The new training date is Wednesday, November 7^th from 6:30–8:30 p.m. This year's training is going to be different from any previous years and is sure to be a worthwhile event to attend. Please mark your calendars now, so you won't miss this training for all officers.

Are you responsible, reliable, action-orientated, and enthusiastic? Are you looking for a way to make a difference, interested in problem solving, do you strive to make changes happen? Well, we are looking for you to serve on one or more of our various committees! Some of the committees include:

Volunteer Screening- screen potential volunteers in Stephenson County

Expansion and Review – evaluate how to improve the 4-H program, implement improvements, and help the 4-H Program grow in Stephenson County.

Fair Committee – prep for the Fair, decorate the 4-H Building, and help the week of Fair

Leadership and Awards – choose and set up trophies, plan Achievement Night, Volunteer Banquet, and Awards Judging.

Job requirements vary from committee to committee, so please call the Extension Office ASAP if you are interested in any of these committees. We really need some new members!

If your son or daughter is enrolled in 4-H this year and is away at college, we would be glad to send a monthly issue of the "4-H Focus" to them. Let the office know their mailing address. Remember anyone who has not yet reached his or her 19^th birthday as of September 1, 2007 is still eligible to be enrolled. So if you are of college age, or know someone who is, and are still

eligible to be in 4-H, we would like to hear from you! Give the Extension Office a call A.S.A.P. We would love to keep you in 4-H another year.

Hannah Alber

Hunter Asche

Lydia Bendorf

Wesley Bennehoff

Zach Brinkmeier

Mark Bronkema

Kayla Brooks

Virginia Clukey

Jenny Cobb

James Curran

Matthew Elsasser

R.J. Ferguson

Lindsey Filer

Aaron Folk

Shelby Gahm

Samantha Goeke

Aaron Huston

Kiel Katzenberger

Paige Kerchner

Asa Lake

Dylan Leverton

Sabrina Lewis

Elaine Martindale

Kim Medler

Brock Musser

Kelli Nichols

Hannah Pieper

Elizabeth Saery

Tyneshia Swanigan

Meg Tessendorf

Alex Turman

Eric Turman

Teens and healthy relationships will be represented by anti-violence activist and educator, Terry Lilley. Keeping kids safe from Internet Predators will be presented by the State of Illinois Office of the Attorney General High Tech Crimes Bureau. This program will be held at Highland Community College on Wednesday, September 26, 2007 from 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Leaders, don't forget about the September 25^th Leader's Meeting. There will be a meeting at 12:30 p.m. (note the time difference) and 7:00 p.m. These will be potluck meetings. We will provide the meat, drink and table service. Please bring a dish to pass. We will hand out the new Illinois Clovers and

enrollment information at this time, so we really need a representative from each club to be there. Please call the office and let us know that you plan to attend.

Conservation and Agricultural Partners Foundation is hosting Barn Tours October 14^th 12:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m. in the German Valley area. If any 4-H'ers have pumpkins, gourds, and/or Indian Corn and would like to sell them, we have a space available at one of the stops on the tour. For more information please call Rhonda Kasten at (815) 362-2800.

As the school doors open for the year, we hope everyone puts their best foot forward, make sure you get your assignments done on time, (preventing a lot of unwanted stress in the end), and most of all ENJOY school. All too soon you will be entering the "real world", so make the best of what you have now!

The 2007 North Central Regional Volunteer Forum will be held October 12^th-14^th in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The theme is "Catching the Spirit". The forum offers a great opportunity to gain new club management skills, different project resources, and activity ideas to strengthen the local 4-H club. This year's forum will be focusing on: youth and adult partnerships, reaching diverse audiences, and experiential learning. Scholarships are available for leaders to offset the cost. Contact the Extension Office for more information! And it's close to home - let's make a great showing for Stephenson County!

National 4-H Week will be celebrated October 7-13, 2007. More information about National 4-H Week will be sent to your home soon! However, we are currently seeking 4-H'ers that are willing to write a news article to be sent to the local papers. You can use your 4-H stories from your award applications or just tell how

4-H has impacted your life. If you are interested, please call the Extension Office so we can get the information submitted to be used during National 4-H Week.