4-H Tip Sheet
January 2004

Items of Interest:

All of us here at the State 4-H Office wish you a Happy Holiday Season and a Wonderful New Year

Dog Care and Training Workshop -- The Action Team is conducting a workshop to better prepare leaders and judges on the standards of 4-H obedience, showmanship and agility. The training is available to anyone interested in the 4-H Dog Care and Training project as observers (older members and project leaders) and potential dog show judges who will receive an opportunity to actually score classes and test their knowledge via a written test. The workshop will be January 31 - February 1, 2004 at the Sedgwick County Extension Center, 21st and Ridge Road, Wichita. For your Registration Packet please visit:
http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/4h/DogCareTraining/Events/dogtraining.pdf    Adams

State 4-H Ambassador Training will be held March 26-27, 2004 at Rock Springs
4-H Center. Please be watching your e-mail for additional details after Annual Conference. Hinshaw/Buchele

Unlocking Program Potential through Key Volunteers - The first training session of "Unlocking Program Potential through Key Volunteers" was a success. Extension professionals assessed their overall 4-H volunteer management system and were able to identify a key volunteer position they would recruit.

Many of you were interested but could not attend. We have set two more training dates: Wednesday, January 21, at the Rush County Extension Office and Wednesday, February 18 at the Lyon County Ext3ension Office. Each training will begin at 10 a.m. and conclude by 3 p.m. Cost is $10 which included lunch. We encourage you to invite a 4-H PDC member to attend with you. As a team, this will strengthen the volunteer management system plan you make that day and give ownership to those who can help in the implementation when you get home.

What would it mean in your local 4-H Program to have one, two or even three more volunteers taking on the program or activity management tasks that consume much of your time? What kind of key volunteer do you need in your county or district? What do we know about programs that have Key Volunteers in Place? Research shows that a 4-H volunteer program is strengthened when agents enable key volunteers to perform more management tasks to reach program goals.

As Extension professionals allow volunteers to carry out some of the tasks that they have done in the past, these volunteers assume more program ownership. As a result, agents can devote more time to becoming program developers.

You have implemented VIP, you conduct volunteer orientation and training and your program does have a strong volunteer base. Why not build upon these things to strengthen your overall 4-H youth development program. Current trends have meant fewer Extension staff, tighter budgets and heavier workloads for all us.

Please e-mail Roberta Huddleston at rhuddles@oznet.ksu.edu, SW Area Office by January 15 to RSVP for the Rush County site or Karen Walters at
kwalters@oznet.ksu.edu  SE Area Office by Feb. 10, to RSVP for the Lyon County site. Buchele/Mack/Hinshaw/Barker

2004 Citizenship Washington Focus - The 2004 Kansas Citizenship Washington Focus program will be June 9-20. Up to fifty-five (55) 4-h members and sponsors (50 teens and 5 adults) may participate. The program will be held at the National 4-H Center in Chevy Chase, Maryland and on the road to Washington D.C. Please let your 4-H families know of this exciting opportunity. it is an excellent program for mature 4-H'ers, and the local 4-H program will definitely benefit from having participants. For your registration packet, please visit: http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/4h/CWFhomepage/citizenship_washington_focus.htm
or Rod Buchele at 620-275-9164 or rbuchele@oznet.ksu.edu

Horse Panorama information for 2004 can be found on the horse program page at
http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/4h/horse/horsepanoramasubpg.htm
Remember that any senior (age 14 and older) must have passed all three sections (knowledge, leadership and skill) of Level 1 and Level II prior to the deadline for the Panorama. Please do not wait until the last minute to accomplish this as our office is closed between Christmas and New Year's. We have no control over the closing.
Domsch

The State 4-H Horticulture Judging Contest and the 4th Annual 4-H Photography Extravaganza will be held at the Wichita Garden Show in Century II convention Center, Wichita. The Horticulture contest will be Saturday, March 6. The 4-H Photography Extravaganza will be Friday, March 5, and Saturday, March 6. Contest brochures and registration forms were mailed to each county/district. The information will also be posted on the state 4-H website. If you need additional brochures or forms please contact Eric Otte, at eotte@oznet.ksu.edu or 316-722-7721.

The pre-registration deadline for both contests is Friday, February 12. Late registrations will be accepted, but will not receive free admission tickets. Registration forms need to be mailed to Eric Otte, Sedgwick County Extension Office, 7001 W 21st St N, Wichita, KS 67205-1759. If you have photography contest questions contact Eric Otte at 316-722-7721. If you have horticulture contest questions contact Evelyn Neier 316-722-0932.  Neier/Otte

Discovery Days - June 2-4, 2004 - The Discovery Days Action Team has designed an exciting framework for the 2004 conference, built upon the strong traditions of the past an adding new dimensions based upon the '03 Caucus focus groups. The theme will be "Discover Your 4-H Spirit". Serving as Co-Chairs are Robyn Eubank, Seward Co. FCS Agent, and David McCandless, Shawnee Co. 4-H Alumni. Heather Baumberger, Saline Co. 4-H Alumni, is serving as the recorder. The Action Team set a goal of bringing 550 teens to the campus and hop that you'll help them reach that goal. The education Sub-Committee has finalized the process for the submission of classes. Information has been sent electronically to Extension offices. Class forms are due to Pam Van Horn by January 15th. Your help in recruitment of classes and instructors will be greatly appreciated. Classes will be held on Thursday only, June 3rd. Their goal is to offer a broad spectrum of classes focusing on careers in a variety of subject matters. Pam Van Horn is serving as the chair of the Education Sub-Committee.

Spirit Building is one of the key elements for the conference, with the keynoter, Bill Cordes from Great Bend, at the helm of the activities. Teens who have previously attended Discovery Days and who have an enthusiastic and charismatic leadership style will have the opportunity to apply for a new leadership position - the spirit Leader. More details of this will be rolled out in January, with Al Davis, Johnson Co. 4-H Agent serving as the Chair of the spirit Building Sub-Committee.

FYI, registration information will be sent in February/march to all Extension Offices. The next meeting of the Discovery Days Action Team is Monday, January 5th, in Manhattan. McNally

State 4-H Venturers - The Venturers are headed back to Philmont, August 4-13, to spend 6 days and 5 nights backpacking in the wilderness areas of the Sangre De Cristo mountains west of Cimarron, new Mexico. The 2004 program is limited to 36 teens and adults - there are a few open slots yet to be filled. Registration information was sent to all Extension Offices in late August and can also be downloaded and printed from the Venturers website: www.oznet.ksu.edu/4h/Venturers  Designed for teens (14 years old by January 1, 2004) and adults who thrive on outdoor adventures and re seeking an opportunity to test their physical and mental stamina, the Venturers program is a unique partnership with the Boy Scouts of America. Giving leadership to the program is the State 4-H Venturers Action Team.
McNally

National 4-H Camping Institute - Kansas is hosting the National 4-H Camping Institute, February 7-11, 2004, at Rock Springs 4-H Center. It's not too late to submit your registration forms nor is it too late to share the news about this outstanding staff development opportunity with partnership organizations and agencies in your counties. It is vital that each camping group has a minimum of 4-8 people in attendance - your 4-H campers will thank you for brining fresh new program ideas to their camp and for being re-energized in your commitment to design a safe, action-packed, kid-oriented program in their counties.

We are pleased to announce that 49 different workshops will be presented on Monday and Tuesday, February 9-10. Exhibitors will also be with us on those two days.

An incredible variety of topics will be presented by folks all across the country - and each workshop will be presented only once!

The schedule and descriptions of the workshops are available on our website:
www.oznet.ksu.edu/4h/NCI/NCIhomepage.htm

Don't forget that the Early Bird Registrations are due January 14th and that part-time and daily registrations are also an option. The full-time registration fee is $250 until January 14th; late registration fee is $300, due January 31st.

Part-time Registration Fee, Monday-Wednesday: $175; Monday-Tuesday: $140
Daily: $100

Please contact Shawna Mitchell (620-241-1523), Jo Ellen Arnold (785-229-3520) or myself (785-532-5800) if you have questions pertaining to NCI or the registration process. McNally

State 4-H Volunteer Forum 2004 - Please mark your calendars, November 20-21, as the State 4-H Volunteer Forum will be held the same weekend as the Kansas Youth Leadership Forum at Rock Springs. Details for this conference will be sent to Extension offices next summer. The forum is a project of the Kansas Association of 4-H Volunteers. McNally

Collegiate 4-H  is currently scheduling spring dates for County Club Days Judging. Interested counties should contact Ben Glass at bwg3737@ksu.edu
Collegiate 4-H members are asking that counties try to avoid the following dates since it may be difficult to have enough members available:
February 18-22: National Collegiate 4-H meeting
March 13: Three programs are scheduled this weekend
March 20-28: Spring break
April 10-11: Easter weekend
Collegiate 4-H Advisor, Sharon Dobesh

Healthy Lifestyles Grant Program - Established by Kraft Foods, Inc. in partnership with Cargill. To help communities create educational programs and public awareness that will confront the climbing trends of obesity, National 4-H Council with funding provided from Kraft Foods, Inc., and Cargill is offering local grants of $7,500 to develop or expand innovative and fun programs that partner youth ages 5-12 with adults to reverse these trends. Applicants must have demonstrated interest and experience in dealing with the issues of obesity, fitness, nutrition, and healthy lifestyles.

The application is available at www.grants.n4h.org under the 'healthy Lifestyles" link on the left. The application deadline is Friday, January 23, 2004.

For more information, contact Diana Friedman, Program Coordinator, national 4-H Council, dfriedman@fourhcouncil.edu, 301/961-2819, fax 301/961-2894.  Gerhard

Animal, Ornament and Denim Sales - Thanks for your support for this fund raiser for the State 4-H Youth Council and the Kansas 4-H Foundation. There are tie dye animals and ornaments, aprons, totes and 4-H socks still available. Call ahead to the State 4-H Office to check availability.

Order forms are on the State 4-H Website under County/District Resources, go to order forms in the drop down box.
http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/4h/countyresourcepage.htm         Hinshaw
 

4-H Master Calendar
January - December 2004

Southwest Area KAA screening at the Gray County Extension Office, Cimarron

All educational programs and materials available without discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, or disability.

The information here is maintained by the State 4-H Office and Staff.  The administrative assistant contact is Kathy Zimmerman at 785-532-5800 or e-mail kzimmerm@oznet.ksu.edu