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Deadlines:

Outbound International Exchange Applications Past Due
We have received or have in process several applications for international travel in 2007  from Kansas 4-H members and alumni. They include 5 for Japan, 1 for Finland, and 1 for Australia with chaperoned groups and 2 for the IFYE Representative program for those over 19. If you know of any prospects who have not had you sign their applications, it is not too late to be included if the applications can be expedited. We are not limited in the number Kansans we select for any of the exchanges, but the applications must participate in interviews which are being arranged for December 8-9 in Manhattan.  The interviews attempt to determine if the applicants are ready for the type of experience for which they are applying. We also begin orientation that weekend. Please have anyone who wants to be included contact me directly as soon as possible at 785-238-3631or munsonm@nqks.com .  Information and application materials are on the web page www.Kansas4-H.org/worldcitizenship. You will find the forms including the 2007 Exchangees Information, ”Agents Confidential Reference Form.”  We recently received information that the exchange with Puerto Rico will not be initiated until 2008, but all other experiences described are available in 2007.
Munson

2007 Summer Japanese Exchange Commitments Needed!
In September, Gary Gerhard e-mailed Extension Units asking interest in participating in the Japanese Exchange for next summer. We need commitments from your District/County! Units that did not respond previously are needed and welcomed. Please consider trying this popular program this year.
 

The main thing you need to do is locate a volunteer coordinator to recruit, screen and prepare 5 families to host 5 Japanese youth or adults. The exchangees will be members of LABO or LEX in Japan, our long-time partners with 4-H for two-way exchanges. I will take it from there, providing training, materials and support for the coordinators. Coordinators get a base stipend (approx. $100) to help cover their expenses. This can be a low maintenance program for agents if you want it to be or join in all the fun. Your clientele will get much enjoyment and satisfaction. This world citizenship program continues to be rated very highly in its impact on youth life skills by parents who have hosted. (Watch for 2006 impact results to be reported soon.) The dates we expect the Japanese will be in Kansas Counties are July 22-August 17.
I need to know who will participate by December 29.  

Please click on the following link Japan Exchange Application.doc  to get the application, complete it and and return it to me via e-mail rose@threeriversinc.org. Counties that responded to Gary's interest survey in September need to send in this commitment form to confirm their participation. Include the name and contact information for your coordinator and an agent who will serve as liaison. We will set the date for training based on responses at the end of the application. A mailing will go to participating coordinators and counties shortly after the deadline. 

Feel free to contact me at 785-388-2009 or (c) 785-565-3197 if you need more information.

Scott

Participation Forms

The new 4-H year is underway...Enrollment Forms along with the Kansas 4-H Participation Forms are coming into the Extension Offices. Take a moment to review the youth forms for completeness to avoid risks later.

Important information needed:

Participants and parents are responsible for completing the Kansas 4-H Participation Form in its entirety. The K-State University Attorney’s Office has indicated that "failure to complete this form in its entirety will result in the person being ineligible to participate in 4-H activities."

Van Horn

National Western Catch A Calf Program
Applications are due to the State 4-H Office by Friday, November 17, 2006 for the National Western Catch a Calf Program. Those wanting an application should call the state 4-H office for an application to be faxed to them. This year, FFA members are also eligible, but must request an application from 4-H. Applicants must be between the ages of 12 and 18 as of December 31, 2006.
Adams

Adams jadams@ksu.edu

According to the Josephson Institute’s 2006 Report Card on the Ethics of American Youth, today’s young people reveal deeply entrenched habits of dishonesty. The report, released as part of National CHARACTER COUNTS! Week (October 15-21) reveals high rates of cheating, lying and theft.

More than one in four (28 percent) of the 36,122 high school students surveyed admitted stealing from a store within the past year (32 percent males, 23 percent females). Twenty-three percent said they stole something from a parent or other relative; 81 percent confessed they lied to a parent about something significant and 39 percent said they lied to save money (47% males, 31% females).

Cheating in school continues to be rampant. A substantial majority (60 percent) cheated on a test during the past year (35% did so two or more times) and one in three (33 percent) said they used the internet to plagiarize an assignment.

As bad as these numbers are, it appears they understate the level of dishonesty exhibited by America’s youth as 27 percent confessed they lied on at least one or two questions on the survey. Experts agree that dishonesty on surveys usually is an attempt to conceal misconduct.

Despite these high levels of dishonesty, these same kids have a high self image of their ethics. A whopping 92 percent said they were satisfied with their personal ethics and character and 74% said that "when it comes to doing what is right, I am better than most people I know."

According to Michael Josephson, president and founder of the Institute and one of the nation’s top ethics experts, "The good news is that things aren’t getting any worse – the 2006 results are almost identical to those reported in 2004. The bad news is that unacceptably high rates of dishonesty have become the norm. It doesn’t bode well for the future that so many kids are entering the workforce to become the next generation of corporate executives and cops, politicians and parents, journalists, teachers, and coaches with the dispositions and skills of liars, cheaters and thieves."

Following a benchmark survey in 1992, the Josephson Institute has conducted a national survey of the ethics of American youth every two years. Data were gathered through a national sample of public and private high schools. Surveys were conducted in 2006.

The report addresses honesty and integrity and is the first based on the extensive data gathered. Additional reports will be issued in the ensuing months focusing on violence, drug use and other issues and analyzing the impact on values, attitudes and behavior of sports, religious convictions and other factors. Released, October 15, 2006: Josephson Institute of Ethics, Los Angeles.

GERHARD ggerhard@ksu.edu

• An Introduction to Character Counts!

• A Preview of Character Education Possibilities in 4-H and Communities

• An Understanding of the Six Pillars of Character

• Ideas for Implementing Character Counts!

Other opportunities to promote 4-H during the release of "Charlotte’s Web" will be shared in Clover Corner News and on www.4-HBrandNetwork.org .

Stay tuned for more information!

McNally

Cost is $50 and is due by January 15, 2007.  Registration will begin in December on the Kansas 4-H registration web site. The fee covers two in-depth sessions, lunch, and breaks.  Participants who are registered by the deadline will receive a set 4-H CCS or other 4-H materials as part of the registration fee for their two sessions.  For more information check out the team’s official web site at: http://www.Kansas4-H.org/SpaceTech/.  For questions you may contact Deryl Waldren at the K-State Research and Extension Office in Colby at 785-462-6281 or e-mail:  dwaldren@ksu.edu.  Waldren/Buchele

 4-H Youth Development Program Management Updates

Join us for the 2006 4-H Youth Development Program Management Updates from 9:30am to 3:15pm

      December 5 NE Area – Manhattan

    December 6 SE Area – Fredonia

          December 7 SW Area – Garden City

December 8 NW Area – Hays

Registration and the agenda are available on the 4-H Online Registration System.  Registration will be $15 and lunch will be served on site.  If you have questions, please contact your Area 4-H Specialist.  Please register by November 22, 2006.

Hinshaw/Mack/Buchele/Waldren

Citizenship Washington Focus 2007
The National 4-H Center has moved up the registration dates for 2007 and consequently in Kansas we must also adjust our dates. Delegate application forms, deposits and nomination forms from agents will be due Friday, December 1, 2006. This is six weeks earlier than previous years.  Selection notices will be sent to agents by December 15 with confirmation requested by December 20. 

The registration cost will again be $1,300 which can be made with the application or by payments including the $250 deposit due December 1, $500 due February 1, and the remaining $550 due March 1.

The tentative dates for the Kansas delegation to attend Citizenship Washington Focus are Wednesday, June 13 through Sunday, June 24. Application forms and details are available on the state 4-H website.
Slater/Wiebers

Discovery Days Spirit Leader Applications Available
Spirit Leader Applications for Discovery Days 2007 are available on the web. Applications are Due to Whittney Kimball by December 15. There will also be a Spirit Leader workshop at the Kansas Youth Leadership Forum for anyone interested in applying.
Wiebers

Volunteer Development Program Focus Teams

I would like to invite 4-H folks who want to spend some time learning about Volunteer Development to select the Volunteer Development Program Focus Team as their team. It will be a valuable experience and will benefit you and the system.

Buchele rbuchele@ksu.edu

Kansas City 4-H Global Conference
Kansas City Global Conference is coming up March 7-10, 2007. Kansas 4-H members, 15 years and older, are invited to experience the world of science, technology, business and other cultures. Tours include the Harley Davidson manufacturing plant, the Kansas City Board of Trade, and there will be workshops conducted by NASA and U.S. Secret Service as well as several others on science, engineering, journalism and more! The cost for youth delegates is down $25 to $240 and for adult chaperones is down $20 to $315. For states’ night out, the Kansas delegation will go to The Legends at Village West shopping and entertainment center where participants will have dinner on their own.

Registration will be conducted on-line from January 1 through January 16, 2007. Registration worksheets and workshop/ tour descriptions are available on the Kansas 4-H website. All on-line registrations will be contingent upon Extension Agent approval, fees paid through local Extension Offices, and submission of a current and complete Kansas 4-H Participation Form. 
Wiebers

Find the 4-H Essential Element Program Planning Tool at National 4-H Headquarters website: www.national4-hheadquarters.gov/ . Access the 4-H Essential Elements Program Planning Tool http://4htools.cals.arizona.edu/assessmentTool.cfm

The 4-H Essential Elements Program Planning Tool project was led by Karen Hoffman-Tepper, Ph.D. of the John and Doris Norton School of Family and Consumer Sciences http://cals.arizona.edu/fcs, in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences http://cals.arizona.edu at the University of Arizona http://arizona.edu, and National 4-H Headquarters http://www.national4-hheadquarters.gov CSREES/USDA and acknowledges the hosting of this website by the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Funding for this project was generously provided by National 4-H Council http://www.fourhcouncil.edu.

For more information, contact Suzanne LeMenestrel slemenestrel@csrees.usda.gov or Barbara Stone, bstone@csrees.usda.gov

McNally

State 4-H Horse Panorama – February 10-11, 2007 Rock Springs 4-H Center
Watch for details for online registration for the Horse Panorama scheduled for Feb.10-11, 2007.

All registrations must be done on-line or directly through your local Extension office by January 19, 2007. Pay all fees and complete your MG-35 (Kansas 4-H Participation Form) for all youth and ADULTS by this date at your local Extension office. Each adult sponsor should also have a copy of MG35 for each individual with them as they travel.Hopefully this will be available by mid December!
Adams

State 4-H Ambassador Workshop

The Kansas 4-H Ambassador Action Team invites all County/District 4-H Ambassadors and their advisors to the 2007 State 4-H Ambassador Workshop, starting Friday evening March 23, and running through Saturday afternoon March 24 at Rock Springs 4-H Center. The 2007 theme is “Rocking and Rolling with 4-H”, and the conference will build upon last year’s successful conference.   

Some of the workshop sessions that will be offered include:  “Grace Under Fire” (Personality IQ), “Leadership Styles,” “Writing for the Media,” “4-H Branding/Marketing,” “4-H Advisors, So What Do I Do Now?”, “Interview Skills and Résumé Building” and “Mentorship 101, Walking the Walk”. Participants will be able to choose workshops during three different sessions Saturday morning, and two sessions Saturday afternoon.

Registration cost will be $75 and is due by March 1.  Late registration will cost $85.  The Kansas 4-H web site registration system will be used.  Local Extension units determine who may attend this workshop.  For final details and forms, visit the Kansas 4-H website in mid-December:  http://www.kansas4-h.org/Events/Ambassador/ or call Deryl Waldren at 785-462-6281 or e-mail him at:  dwaldren@ksu.edu.  

Waldren/Buchele

Photography Opportunity

4-H has been invited to participate in the Landon Center on Aging (KU Medical Center) Images of Aging photography contest. Full details will be posted under the Photo Action Team web site by Dec. 1. The theme of the contest is "Working Past Retirement". Winning photos will receive cash prizes and be used on the Center on Aging Calendar and website. Photos are due Feb. 23. Here is the link to the rules for the contest: http://www2.kumc.edu/coa/Photo_Contest/center_on_aging_photo_contest.htm

Follow this link to see photos from previous contests, http://www2.kumc.edu/coa/

Buchele rbuchele@ksu.edu

National Extension Conference on Volunteerism

Rock Springs 4-H Center is the site of the 2007 National Extension Conference on Volunteerism, April 16 - 19. Extension personnel from all over the US in many Extension program areas will be meeting to strengthen their volunteer and volunteer development programs. A number of slots are being held for Kansas folks. If you are interested in this great opportunity, check out the following web site http://4h.sdstate.edu/2005ncrvf/2007NECV/Precon.htm and contact me rbuchele@ksu.edu. The cost will be $280 to $310 and registration will begin Dec. 1 through www.Kansas4-H.org.

"The National Extension Conference on Volunteerism will feature Keynote and Cap Note speakers, Workshops, Poster Sessions, Research Reports and Updates presented by your colleagues addressing critical current issues and concerns relating to Extension volunteers, leaders and community collaborations. Focusing on the theme of Volunteers: Our "Extension" of Community, workshop subjects will include: volunteer training, episodic volunteering, character focus, Multi_generational volunteers and building community partnerships."

Buchele rbuchele@ksu.edu

4-H VIP FAQ

Do you have a question about 4-H VIP or anything connected with 4-H VIP? Want to find the answer quickly? The answers to your question may be at http://www.Kansas4-H.org/Volunteer/VIP/, go to the last item on the list (under Agent resources) and click on 4-H Frequently Asked Questions. Or, click on this link to go directly to the VIP FAQ http://intranet.oznet.ksu.edu/4h/Volunteers/4HVIPFAQ.pdf

If you do not find the answer to your question, please contact your Area 4-H Specialist or me. Buchele rbuchele@ksu.edu

4-H VIP II

As you are working with the 4-H VIP process and tracking volunteers through the process, don’t forget the last step. In order to be registered 4-H Volunteers of the Extension Unit (county or district), the volunteer needs to be appointed by the Extension Executive Committee or District Governing Board. The procedure for the appointment is found in the VIP FAQ’s referred to above. It is question section VI question 1.

Buchele rbuchele@ksu.edu

Congratulations to the KSU Collegiate 4-H club!

During the North Central Collegiate 4-H Regional Meeting held in Rapid City, South Dakota, October 20-22, KSU Collegiate 4-H won the 2006 Collegiate 4-H North Central Scrapbook of the Year award.  This is the second year in a row they have won this honor.  This year they had a strong showing of 6 members attending regional conference.  A fun, yet educational, time was had by all who attended.

Dobesh

County Club Days Coordinator

Collegiate 4-H’s County Club Days Coordinator is Grace Tucker.  She can be reached at gtucker@ksu.edu or by phone at 785-230-4968.  Looking ahead to spring semester, please try to avoid the following dates due to conflicts which keep Collegiate 4-Hers from participating:

• February 15-18 (National Collegiate 4-H Meeting in Louisiana)

• March 17-25 (Spring Break)

• April 6-8 (Easter Weekend)

Dobesh

Citizenship in Action
The Kansas 4-H Youth Council is pleased to announce the dates for Citizenship in Action; the state 4-H legislative visit to Topeka.  Check-in will be the afternoon of Sunday, February 18 and the formal program will conclude after lunch on Monday, February 19.  The hotel this year will be the Capitol Plaza Hotel next to the Kansas Expocentre. Lodging, dinner Sunday evening, breakfast and lunch on Monday will be provided as part of the registration cost of $115 this year.  Registration details are being finalized and will be available soon. 

Wiebers  

Photo Display Stands Upgrade
At State Fair you may have noticed the aluminum end pieces added to the Photography Display Stands. They added a great deal of stability to the display. They can now be ordered from Landoll, the company that made the stands.

Here is the information to order them:

The end pieces can be ordered from Landoll Corp. at a cost of $5.74 each and it takes four per display. The part number to order is 141598 and can be ordered by contacting Susan Kosar at 785-562-4729.

Thanks go to Bob Harlan from the 4-H Photography Action Team who continues to work to upgrade the display stands. If you have any questions, please contact me.
Buchele rbuchele@ksu.edu

Adams

Wichita Garden Show 4-H Photography Extravaganza

The annual 4-H Photography Extravaganza will be March 2^nd and 3^rd at the Wichita Garden Show. Brochures are available from the Garden Show Office, 316-946-0883, or email wichitagardenshow@sbcglobal.net.

We will also put the brochure on our Photo Action Team web site.

A great slate of activities are planned for participants including; youth photography workshops, the chance to meet with a photography judge to have two photos critiqued, the Photography Judging Contest, adult workshops (including a mini judging contest) and the very special opportunity to take photos of the Garden Show exhibits after all others have left the show late the evening of March 4th. Participants can then enter their four best photos in the Garden Show photography contest.

Save the date, let everyone know (they don't have to be enrolled in the photography project to participate) and plan to be there March 2^nd and 3^rd.

Otte/Buchele