Dear Leaders,

It's been a long winter and full of lots of events and boatloads of snow! FYI - we are still missing several 4-H'er enrollment forms - we look forward to seeing them soon!

As we move toward this year's shows, we encourage you to take the time to remind your 4-H'ers that 4-H is a program for learning. It is very important for them to have ownership and self-sufficiency with their projects, instead of mom and dad doing it for them. Also, just a quick reminder for club meetings, please remember that everyone receives the Focus newsletter, so you can just highlight major events at club meetings rather than going through the whole newsletter.

~ Kim & Pam

Just a reminder for all of you. Please considering sharing the load with others. We hope that all of you are working together to share the load of your 4-H clubs. We know that no one person can or should be doing everything for the club. If everyone helps a little, it will make a lot less work. Please considering using the Share the Load materials we have provided to you, so that all club volunteers can be utilized to the best of their abilities. If you need a new copy, give us a call or email us, and we'll send them right away!

Take a look at the Stephenson County 4-H Program Book as soon as it comes out. If you have any questions about particular projects, and if you still don't get the information that you need, feel free to give us a call at the Extension Office. For members taking animal projects, make sure that they are aware of the I.D./registration paper deadlines. There are different deadlines for different animals, so be sure that everyone is aware of these dates (these are listed in the program book on page XX). Ownership papers for horses and dogs, and swine ear notch forms can be found on our Stephenson County website at www.stephenson.extension.uiuc.edu under 4-H Youth Development, Livestock Ownership Papers.

-H'ers MUST enroll in Public Presentations to participate in the Public Speaking Contest in any of the categories. All members wishing to do a Food Demonstration should also be enrolled in the Public Presentations (Communications) project and the specific food project. The food demonstration must relate to that specific food project. 4-H'ers have until April 1st to add a project if they are going to be competing in the Public Speaking Contest.

Another reminder to be forwarded to 4-H'ers: All 4-H'ers MUST be enrolled in the project area that they plan to show in. Just because a 4-H'er was enrolled in the project last year doesn't mean they are still enrolled in it. They MUST re-enroll in each project that they intend to show in every year! These shows include: General Project's Day, the Stephenson County Fair, the Dress Revue, etc....

LAST DAY TO ADD A PROJECT IS APRIL 1^ST!!!

Just a reminder... or perhaps you never realized it, but we have quite a few project kits that any leader or 4-H'er can check out at the Extension Office. These kits are a set of materials that have been created with hands-on activities that have already been planned for you; all you have to do is gather some of the supplies (most are in the kits) and lead the activities. Below is a list of the kits that we currently have available. Your club Organizational Leader should also have a copy of our current school programs booklet, which lists all of the resources available to you and your club. If you would like to check one out please call the Extension Office and we can help you out!

Bicycle Kit, Cloverbud Kit, Clean Hands Kit, Cat Kit, Dog Kit, Rabbit Kit, Computer Kit, Electricity Kit, Entomology Kit, Geology Kit, Walk in My Shoes Kit, Talking with T.J. Kit, Club Jeopardy, & Officer Training Kit.

ALL Organizational leaders should be attending either the afternoon or evening Leader's Meetings. Every club must be represented. The meetings are very informative and are sometimes the only way that you, as a leader, are able to get the information, ask questions, and clarify activities or events that are coming up. Please take time to be a part of these meetings; it will make your job a lot easier. Remember, we are here to help you, AND you don't have to be an Organizational Leader to attend these meetings - everyone is welcome! Leader's Meetings are always held the 4^th Tuesday of every other month. Call the Extension Office for details. We understand if you have to miss every once in a while; however, when staff have to go over the whole Leader's Meeting with 3 or 4 leaders (individually) who missed, it takes a long time. Please plan to attend these meetings! Thanks!

Don't forget that any 4-H'er planning on exhibiting any livestock at the state level must have completed the Quality Assurance & Ethics training. It is available on line at: http://qaec.outreach.uiuc.edu. Again to participate in state contests with their livestock, including horses, all 4-H'ers must have this completed the training by June 15th for horses, and July 1st for all others!

Science Siesta is a very special pajama party for girls completing grades 4-6. It will be held at the Discovery Center Children's Museum and Burpee Museum of Natural History in Rockford from Friday, May 2, 2008 at 5:00 p.m. until Saturday, May 3, 2008 at 8:30 a.m. This is a great opportunity for girls to learn about women in science career fields as well as have fun with girls from seven different counties! The cost for the event is $35.00 and should be sent in with registration forms. Registration is limited and tends to fill up quickly. Fees and registration materials are due no later than Friday, April 11^th. Please encourage the girls in your 4-H clubs to attend this event. They should have received a flyer in the mail, from their school, or they can download a registration packet from the following website: web.extension.uiuc.edu/RockfordCenter/ScienceSiesta. If you have any questions, please call Kim at 815-235-4125.

4-H International Night will be held during National 4-H Week on Wednesday, October 8 from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. at the Freeport Public Library. This event will be open to all 4-H families and the general public. Leaders have been asked to have their club pick a country. If you have already discussed the country you would like, please call the Extension Office (we have a list started). We are once again asking that your club create a display with a hands-on activity and a sampling of food for the public to participate in. The display should fit on a table no larger than 8 feet.

By: Cloverbud Superintendent, Denise Hayunga

5 & 6 year olds and 1^st time Cloverbuds:

We highly recommend: Kids In The Kitchen, Watching My Garden Grow, Caring For My Room, Caring For My Pet, and Arts & Crafts for Cloverbuds in the above categories. These projects are fun and easy to understand for the 5 year olds, 6 year olds, and those who are 1^st year Cloverbuds

7 year olds and those Cloverbuds who are looking for a challenge:

Aerospace I, Wildlife I, Bicycle Adventures, and Theatre Arts projects are much more challenging than the above projects. They are recommended only for older Cloverbuds who are purposely looking for a

challenge. Some Cloverbuds may not be able to tackle the tasks that these projects require without some adult assistance.

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, 2007, to August 31, 2008, 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. Please remember that new members who enroll after the April 1^st deadline WILL still be able to show at the July Shows and Fair but WILL NOT be eligible for State Fair, Trophy, Champion, or Reserve Champion as long as they have attended the 1/3 of club meetings after joining.

The Stephenson County 4-H program relies on its volunteers to help implement and carry out much of the our programming needs. We do, however, realize that sometimes interests and commitments change, and volunteers may not be able to fulfill their volunteer role in our program. In cases where the volunteer is inactive for one year, or not able or willing to fulfill the duties of the volunteer role, we will remove the volunteer's name from this position. We will make several attempts to secure commitment yearly; if volunteers choose not to respond to communication from the Extension Office, we will regard the lack of response as a resignation from the volunteer position. Volunteer opportunities will be reconsidered in the future, if circumstances change.

The 2008 North Central Region Volunteer's Forum will be held November 6^th-8^th in Columbus, Ohio. The theme is Realize Energize Visualize Volunteers Unlimited Potential. 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!

National Volunteer Week is rapidly approaching! It is April 27^th - May 3^rd. Please remember to thank your club volunteers during this week. It's a very special time that provides us all with an opportunity to show all of our volunteers how much we appreciate their time and service to our organizations.

Progress Towards Goals

(Green Sheet) DUE 11/01/07

Pearl Valley Rangers

4-H Program Books: DUE 11/30/07

Pearl Valley Rangers

Signatory Cards: DUE 11/30/07

Country Critters

Florence Crickets

Pearl City Hornets

Pearl Valley Rangers

The Flock

Affirmative Action Statement/Club

Re-enroll: DUE 10/01/07

Pearl Valley Rangers

Please turn these forms in as soon as possible. The Program Books and Signatory Cards are REQUIRED by the state. (When you turn these in, we will quit bugging you!)

March 13^th Cloverbud Party

March 15^th Super Saturday

March17^th Federation

March 18^th Counselor Training

March 24^th Expansion & Review Committee Meeting

March 25^th Leader's Meeting

April 19^th Counselor Training

April 21^st Federation

April 26^th - Jr. High Adventures in 4-H

April 27^th- May 3^rd National Volunteer Week

May 2^nd-3^rd Science Siesta

May 16^th - 17^th - Counselor Training Weekend

May 19^th - Federation Meeting

May 26^th - Extension Office closed for Memorial Day

May 27^th - Leader's Meeting