Focus on Youth
News for OCES staff working with youth.
October, 2009
4-H is a community of young people across America learning leadership, citizenship and life skills.
Table of Contents
Dear Extension Family,
What a crazy time of year it is, with fairs and all of the other fall activities! Thank you for the long hours you have been putting in with the goal of advancing positive youth development! We often forget to tell you "Thanks!" In this issue there are several opportunities for you to make your 4-H program more visible and for you to have input on surveys which may very well impact some major future funding. I hope you will take a few minutes to read through the few articles included in this newsletter and consider becoming involved.
By the time you read this, we hope that the Cowboys will be 2-1 and the 300 plus who attended the 4-H Gameday will be pumped up about the good time they had at the game and on campus. These events are offered for 4-H families as a way to do something fun and non-competitive. We will soon have details available about basketball games, and currently there is information on the website about the 4-H Maze and activities on October 10. I hope you will come out and have a day of fun as we celebrate our birthday.
Charles Cox
Assistant Director, 4-H Youth Development
Share your community service activity
You can earn national recognition by going to http://serve.gov/ to post any community service activities going on in your area. When Lani and I attended the National Service and Volunteer conference this summe,r the challenge from President Obama was to encourage everyone serving in their communities to share their stories. Others sharing their personal stories of serving were Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and First Lady Marie Shriver, First Lady Michele Obama, and actors Matthew McConaughey and John Bon Jovi. Much to our surprise these people all made guest appearances that were not publicized until we got there, and security was high.
I went on the site this morning to post the items collected from our district for the military youth during state 4-H Round-Up. It is very simple and easy to do. Also there are tool kits related to different topics, like "Organizing a Book Drive," "Clothing Drive", etc. You can click on these for planning future projects.
This is not to add to your already full plate. Anyone can go to this site to post service activities if they have access to a computer. All we are asking is that you consider spreading the word about this opportunity to 4-H volunteer leaders, 4-H youth, 4-H parents, other volunteers, OHCE, and anyone else connected with OCES who might have a story to tell. Also please consider sharing this information in your county newsletters or e-mail groups.
We need to let the people in Washington D.C. know we exist, and what better way to do it.
Special Service Opportunites
Four-H, as part of the Citizenship mission mandate work, will be a partner for the January 18, 2010 MLK Day of Service. We recognize that there are currently many opportunities for young people to be involved in service and that there are ongoing service projects conducted by 4-H members that are meeting significant needs in our country. It is our hope, that those wishing to mobilize around a particular issue and/or day, will consider this opportunity. This is an outstanding opportunity to partner with another program area in Extension and with community partners.
We invited you to review the attached document that outlines our focus of 4-H: Mobilizing Head, Heart, Hands and Health to Assist Families Coping with Tough Times and consider how your county may participate. The attached provides an overview and an opportunity to begin discussions with more information to be shared on September 15, 2009.
National Youth Science Day: Biofuels Blast
On 4-H National Youth Science Day, October 7th, young people across the nation will get a chance to examine one of the most important issues facing our nation today—energy. Youth will discover, learn and have a blast exploring alternative fuels through Biofuel Blast, the National Science Experiment. Developed in conjunction with the University of Wisconsin-Madison Extension and Wisconsin 4-H, the experiment is designed to spark an early interest in the sciences—all part of 4-H’s bold goal to engage a million new young people in science, engineering and technology programs by 2013. You can find everything you need to participate in 4-H National Youth Science Day online at www.4-H.org. The site has lots of useful information, including the experiment facilitator’s guide, interactive tools, event planning kits and much more. Plus, new features, information and promotions will be added in the months and weeks leading up to October 7th—so make sure to register to receive event updates today. We’re looking forward to another successful 4-H National Youth Science Day! |
National SET/STEM Surveys
I realize you are tied up with Fair season. The timing is bad, but National 4-H has asked Oklahoma and other select states to participate in a study of our SET/STEM programs. If you could please take a little time and complete the linked survey it could help set us up for future funding opportunities.
The survey is at the following link. It will ask you to identify and tell them about each SET/STEM programming in your county. Please remember SET/STEM programs are not just limited to technology, environmental, robotics, geospatial, rocketry, and general science lessons.
All of you are involved in SET/STEM programs through animal science, plant science, Ag in the Classroom, nutritional, and food sciences, or other research based education.
http://vovici.com/l.dll/JGs94C8616172lbTD9U197327J.htm
National 4-H is asking that every county complete the survey by Thursday, October 1st.
Once again, I realize this a bad time and a short notice, however, your cooperation and participation will promote Oklahoma 4-H nationally and help position us for future funding.
Thank you for your assistance,
(as you complete the survey ignore the meter on the bottom of the page, I completed the survey before it hit 15%)
2010 Team America Rocketry Challenge Accepting Applications
Registration is open for the Team America Rocketry Challenge 2010, a
national model rocket competition for U.S. students in grades 7 through
12. Thousands of students compete each year in the Team America Rocketry
Challenge, the world’s largest model rocket contest.
Teams of three to 10 students are challenged to design, build and fly
a model rocket that will climb to 825 feet with a raw egg payload and
stay aloft for 40 to 45 seconds. The payload must then return to earth
unbroken. Cash prizes are awarded to the top finishers. NASA invites
top teams to participate in their Student Launch Initiative, an advanced
rocketry program.
Participation is limited to the first 750 teams who register by Nov.
30, 2009. For more information, visit http://www.rocketcontest.org/ .
Questions about this contest should be sent to rocketcontest@aia-aerospace.org.
Ambassador Webpage
Check out the new 4-H Ambassador website. The website contains information about Oklahoma 4-H Ambassadors, history of the program, how to become an Ambassador, Calendar of events and our new on-line reporting system for current Ambassadors.
Butterfly WINGS
A new curriculum has been added to the National 4-H Curriculum Collection! Butterfly WINGS is now available for sale and will be offered at a special introductory discount of 35% from August 25th – September 30th! The new curriculum consists of one Youth Guide (product #08392) and one Facilitator’s Guide (product #08393). Each book is priced at $7.95, but will be available during the introductory period for $5.17 each! To order, visit the 4-H mall.
4-H Volunteer Recruitment Toolkit
A
new addition to the 4-H Brand Network— a 4-H Volunteer Recruitment Toolkit. Professionally-voiced
radio public service announcements have been added in three formats:
an urban voice, a generic voice, and a Spanish translation. Each
is 30 seconds long and includes background music. They are ready for
you to download and work with your local radio station(s) to add a tagline
with your contact information before broadcasting. These PSA's,
along with templates for a brochure, bookmark, ads in various sizes,
poster, and web banner, are available at: http://www.4-hbrandnetwork.org/apply/kitsvolunteer.aspx
The Volunteer Recruitment Toolkit has been funded by Monsanto but there
is no mention of the company on the announcements or in the other templates.
We hope these will be useful as another resource to help you continue
to recruit volunteers and engage more adults and youth in your 4-H program.
Club Management Updates - 2009
Each county is receiving an Excel spread sheet for chartered clubs in
the county. Please update all information and make necessary changes
to club leadership, contact information - addresses, - phone numbers
and add email addresses. List only “Organizational Leader(s)” for
the chartered club. We do not want information for all certified volunteers
serving the club on this spread sheet.
We will be corresponding with each club leader via email or post card
to confirm the information. If it is incorrect the county will be held
responsible for providing current information.
Certified Volunteers – Adult and Teen
All clubs (community or project) must have a minimum of one certified
volunteer as the club leader but should be making a significant effort
to target a “volunteer to youth ratio” appropriately based upon the developmental
level and needs of youth, setting and projects. An appropriate “youth-adult
ratio” should exist in a 4-H club to be successfully managing risk
and more importantly to be providing our youth with positive relationships
with caring adults. County Educators should not be the primary contact/club
leader for any 4-H club; including a Teen Leader Club.
5-8 year olds - Cloverbuds |
9-14 year olds |
15-17 year olds |
|---|---|---|
One Adult to 6 youth |
One Adult to 8 youth |
One Adult per 10 youth |
It is important that county educators team with club leaders to
certify and train multiple adult volunteers to work with any “one” 4-H
clubs. All teens and adults who have direct and unsupervised contact
with children must be certified volunteers. Certification applies
to more than just “Club Leaders.”
Existing Clubs –A charter is perpetual or until
the club 1) ceases to function, 2) does not meet the Oklahoma criteria
for a “charter
club” or 3) the USDA Secretary of Agriculture changes. It
is the county educator’s responsibility to annually review
criteria (using “Club Charter Renewal” form, pg 89 CMS) and
to document and file all counseling sessions conducted with club leadership. If
a club fails to meet the criteria after due effort has been made to counsel,
train and educate club leadership and membership, the charter will then
be revoked by the state office.
Remember, only chartered clubs are authorized to use the 4-H name and
emblem. When a club is dissolved any funds held by the club are
deposited with the county 4-H program. This should also be reported
to the State 4-H Office so the club can be removed from the IRS list.
Establishing New Clubs - In establishing a new community or project club,
refer to and follow procedures outlined in Appendix 1, of the Club Management
System Manual (CMS). When starting a club, use the form titled “Request
for Official Approval for Establishment of a 4-H Club.” When
all six criteria are met, send as confirmation, a “copy” of
the Official Approval Form to the State Office. The state office
will issue the Charter and letter from USDA.
EIN Numbers - See page 20 and Appendix 7 of the CMS manual for information
on obtaining an EIN number.
In December 2009, when Oklahoma 4-H updates the list of club charters
with the IRS we will list the county office as the “address” and
the CED as the “principal officer.” This means, that
at some time in the future forms will begin coming to the extension office
and will be verified by the CED not a club leader; however, at this time
and in the future the Club Leader will still be responsible for submitting
the 990-N which can be done electronically from the County Extension
Office.
It is imperative that the Extension Educator be responsible for seeing
that all clubs complete and have on file in the county office a copy
of the club’s Annual Income and Expense Report, (currently required
as part of the annual Charter Renewal process). The CED will need
the information to accurately complete the report to the IRS.
2010 Dates Set - PVC and DU
Parent-Volunteer Conference will be July 17, 2010 in Stillwater, OK.
Discovery Unlimited will be May 21-22, 2010. Location TBA.
Introducing - Everyone Ready®
Everyone Ready is an exciting new professional development opportunity on volunteerism for all Extension staff.
As part of the 2010 in-service/professional development opportunities, Oklahoma staff can enroll in Everyone Ready® and participate in on-line training.
What is Everyone Ready®?
Everyone Ready® is an online volunteer management training
program developed by Energize Inc. National 4-H Council, through a grant
from Monsanto, is making this program available to all Extension staff
nationwide regardless of program area or title. There is no cost
to states or individuals (an individual training value of $495 per year).
The launch date for Everyone Ready® is September 21, 2009. Each month a new volunteerism topic is introduced – either as an Online Seminar or as a Self-Instruction Guide. In addition, Extension staff will have access to e-Volunteerism: The Electronic Journal of the Volunteer Community (a $40 value) and will be able to purchase volunteerism resources from the Energize online bookstore with a 20% discount. New topics are introduced on the third Monday of each month but will be archived for Extension use for the 3 years of the grant.
Register for Everyone Ready®
Extension professionals who work with volunteers are
encouraged to enroll and actively participate in the Everyone
Ready® program
over the next 3 years. To do so, they may enroll at anytime. However,
the initial launch is Sept. 21. 2009, and the introductory
online seminar will be offered for 30 days beginning on Sept. 21. Modules
will be archived and be accessible after the initial posting.
To register go to www.4-h.org/volunteerism. Go
to the Everyone Ready® section and click
on "Register." Once
registration is completed, you will receive an email confirmation and
will then have a user name and password that can be used to enter the “Extension” Everyone
Ready® page.
The pages contain a number of useful tools and resources as well as
the link to the “real” Everyone Ready® page. Your
user name and password will allow access to online seminar or self-instruction
guide each month beginning on the third Monday of the month. Once
registered there will be two email messages a month reminding you of
the current and upcoming topic.
Time Commitment: The monthly online modules will take
about one hour to complete. In addition, staff may want to review
some related articles in the e-Volunteerism Journal or
read some additional information available through the Energize Inc.
web site. In
addition, we hope that staff will think about ways to engage in conversations
about the monthly volunteerism topic at county/unit staff meetings,
regional/district youth development meetings, and/or other staff gatherings.
Attachments
- 4-H 36 Cycle of Topics from Everyone Ready® - this lists the topics of the online seminars and self-instructions guides that will be available on the third Monday of each month.
- Welcome Guide for Everyone Ready® - this is a brief introduction to the Everyone Ready® web site. There is a more detailed Welcome Guide available on the “Extension” Everyone Ready® website which you may access after you register for Everyone Ready®.
- Promotional Flyer – Sept. 09 Online Seminar – Building the Foundation for Volunteer Involvement – this is a promotional flyer that you may share with staff that lists the trainer, learning objectives, and other information about the introductory seminar which launches on Sept. 21!