Discovery Days
Discovery Days registration information will be posted on the web by March 1.  We’ve had problems getting enough workshops, but they will be finalized soon and information will be available as quickly as possible.

Spirit Leader Discovery applications are posted on the Discovery Days web page. Applications are due February 20 to the Johnson County Extension Office.

A pre-written 4-H newsletter article, tentative schedule, and logo are available on the Discovery Days web page.

One of the new features this year will be informal workshop sessions called “4 to 5ers”.  These sessions will be an open time when youth or adults can teach other delegates about anything that interests the instructor.  It could be a game, a lesson, a hobby, a recipe, a craft, or any other topic.  Additional details will be available after the Discovery Days Action Team meets in February.

Another item you can be promoting is the Talent Show.  This was extremely popular last year and could be the next level for members who performed well at your Club Days. Wiebers

On-Line Registration Training Via Conference Calls. In response to requests for training, several conference call training sessions are being scheduled for anyone who would like help going through the process of setting up an account, registering for an event, and checking to see if participants are registered.  Using the conference call format will hopefully minimize the impact of travel time and allow people to use their own computer (so an Internet connection will be required while on the call).

Conference call sessions will be:
Tuesday, February 28 from 2:00 to 3:00pm
Tuesday, March 14 from 2:00 to 3:00pm
Thursday, March 16 from 10:00 to 11:00am

To register for one of these sessions, please e-mail jwiebers@K-State.edu with the subject “On-Line Registration Training”.   Please be sure your first and last name, county or district, and the date you want to participate are included in your message.  If these first three conference call sessions fill up, additional sessions will be scheduled and promoted in the Tuesday Letter. Wiebers

And don't tell anyone, but there will be a social activity time to meet new friends connect with old friends and have some fun.

Full information is available at: http://www.Kansas4-H.org/Events/Ambassador/Default.htm
On-line registration is encouraged. On-line registrants will be able to select their class sessions as they register. If they can see the session they can register for it. No more waiting to see what classes they got. Buchele rbuchele@ksu.edu

Wildlife Habitat Evaluation Contest - April 1, 2006, Flint Oak Ranch near Fall River, Kansas. The 4-H Wildlife Habitat Evaluation program is now well established in Kansas. We have good participation from high schools, FFA groups and some 4-H clubs. For the past 17 years, Kansas has held state wildlife habitat evaluation contests in which the winning team advanced on to the national contest. The contest is about teaching young people about wildlife, the needs of wildlife, and their habitat. Quail Unlimited provides most of the financial support through donations derived from sportsmen's interest in habitat conservation and youth education.

There are two age groups in the competition, 7 - 13 and 14 - 18 years of age. You can enter as a member of a team, such as your 4-H group, FFA group, or any group of 3-4 individuals or you can enter the contest as an
individual. The major objectives are for youth to gain an understanding of wildlife management including ecological principles, basic life history of a variety of species, use of management techniques to enhance habitats, and
for participants to develop leadership skills.

There are five main parts to the contest are (1) identifying foods eaten by wildlife; (2) ranking wildlife habitat by observing aerial photographs; (3) choosing wildlife management practices for predetermined species of wildlife
and a particular land area; (4) writing a one-page management plan for a rural setting; and (5) drawing a map of a management plan for an urban setting.

All the information needed to compete in the contest is contained in the Wildlife Habitat Evaluation Handbook 2nd Edition. The handbook covers some species of wildlife that occur in Kansas and Nebraska as well as the food
requirements and management practices that benefit each species. The manual was revised to more closely follow the National manual which covers all the major regions of the United States. That updated manual and helpful
leader's guide are available for $5 each from my office or can be viewed and downloaded at
http://www.asi.ksu.edu/DesktopModules/ViewDocument.aspx?DocumentID=3560 I will provide a single copy to each coach at no charge if you let me know of your interest.

If you are interested in participating as a member of a team or as an individual in the 2006 contest, please contact Charles Lee, Extension Specialist, Wildlife, Room 131, Call Hall, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506 or call me at (785) 532-5734 by March 1, 2006. The required registration form and medical consent form are pdfs. Due to the increased cost associated with hosting the event at Flint Oak, we will charge a $10 per student fee.
Lee

CHARACTER COUNTS! Pillar One- Trustworthiness. Trustworthiness is made up of four parts: integrity, honesty, promise-keeping, and loyalty. Integrity is moral wholeness demonstrated by a consistency of: thoughts - “what we think”; words - “what we say”; deeds - “what we do”; and duties - “what we should do”. People without integrity are often called hypocrites or “two-faced.” People who cannot be consistently counted on to demonstrate integrity cannot be trusted. People with integrity stand up for their beliefs openly and boldly. They listen to their consciences and live by their principles no matter what others say and no matter the personal cost. They are honorable and upright in all actions and have the courage to do what is right and try new things even when it is hard, costly or failure is probable. People with integrity build and guard their reputations. They don’t do anything they think is wrong and they don’t lose heart if they fail. A person of integrity consistently behaves according to firm convictions about right and wrong. Living up to principles means that we resist the temptation to do what we know is wrong even when doing so will get us something we want or keep us out of trouble. What is right is right even if no one else is doing it! What is wrong is wrong even if everyone is doing it!

There are two types of honesty: communications and conduct. Honesty in communication requires us to be truthful, sincere and open. Honesty in conduct requires us to play by the rules - no cheating! It also requires us to be trustworthy with others’ property - no stealing! A person of character is expected to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth; be sincere and forthright and candid with information. Honest persons do not lie, cheat, steal, be sneaky, tricky or deceptive.

Promise-keeping is a vital moral aspect of reliability. Promises create duties beyond legal obligations. People have a right to rely on us to perform what we commit to do whether or not there is an enforceable obligation. There is an ethical dimension to good work habits - the work ethic - when others depend on us to show up on time, prepared and ready to do our work and dedicated to stick with the job until it is done well. Promise-keepers keep their word. They honor their commitments. They are dependable, doing what they are supposed to do, returning what they borrow and paying their debts. They show up where and when they are supposed to and come prepared with what they need to do their work.

Loyalty implies a steadfast and devoted attachment that is not easily turned aside. Synonyms include: constancy, devotion, fidelity, faithfulness and allegiance. Loyal persons stand by, stick up for and protect their families, friends, school, 4-H group and country. They are good friends. They look out for those who care about them. Persons of loyalty keep secrets. When we act with disloyalty we may betray a trust, allow friends to hurt themselves, and do anything that is wrong, even for a friend or just so others will like them. Persons who are not loyal spread hurtful rumors or gossip.

Trust is essential to meaningful relationships, enduring and rewarding friendships, and successful associations in school, extra-curricular activities (like 4-H!) and the workplace. Trust is an essential factor in achieving sustainable success. Every lie or deception is like a time bomb. Towers of trust are built stone by stone, yet no tower is so tall or so strong that it can stand when lies and deceptions undermine the stones at its base. People of character understand the importance of trust and pursue a life that makes them worthy of trust.

“Rather fail with honor than succeed by fraud.” - Sophocles, Greek playwright (496 BC-406 BC)
Gerhard ggerhard@ksu.edu
 

State 4-H Venturers Are Headed to Colorado  Designed as a sampler of outdoor adventure activities, the 2006 4-H Venturer's program will take place June 24-July 2 in central Colorado. The program activities include white water rafting, rock climbing, hiking, mountain biking, canoeing/kayaking, caving, camping and outdoor cookery. Teens and adults will work in partnership as they explore the great outdoors in the Flat Top Wilderness Area. The program fee for the 9 day trip is $500, which includes training programs, transportation, meals, equipment, program and campground fees. Teens must be 14 years of age by January 1, 2006 and adults must be VIP Registered Volunteers. The Shakedown Training is mandatory, taking place June 2-4 at Rock Springs 4-H Center. Last December, each office received a CD containing a Power Point Presentation as well as both a black and white and color version of the 2006 marketing flyer on the 2006 Summer Adventure. These can also be found and downloaded from the 4-H Venturers website, http://www.Kansas4-H.org/venturers   Another great marketing tool is the 4-H Venturers Video, which is available for purchase ($10) from Distribution. Knowing that a picture is worth a thousand words (or more!), we thank you for sharing these visual marketing pieces with your 4-H leaders and members.  Check out the 4-H Venturer's website, for more details. Registrations are due April 1st in the State 4-H Office.  McNally

"K-State For Kids" Stickers  Your State 4-H office now has the round "K-State For Kids" stickers available. They are approximately 1 1/2" in diameter and have a green and white background with a green 4-H logo in the middle and a purple KSU powercat logo at the top. The words "K-STATE for KIDS" are also printed in purple. Each sheet contains 30 stickers and costs only $2.00 plus shipping. If you are interested, contact Karen Knox at 785-532-0742 or email her at ksknox@ksu.edu.  Knox

Centennial Service Project -- Have you shared the Centennial Service Project Information and Report Forms with your 4-H Clubs?  A number of 4-H clubs annually work to fight hunger in their local community and we want to hear about it. In 4-H we pledge our hands to larger service, and specifically this year to celebrate the Centennial we are pledging to fight hunger in Kansas. There are needs right in your community wherever you are.  Hunger and food insecurity in Kansas are not limited to poor families in urban communities; a Kansas Health Institute study found that rates are similar in rural and urban parts of our state. We are asking that when 4-H clubs or groups collect food, work in a food bank or soup kitchen or donate money or homegrown produce to hunger causes, that they report it.  We will be taking reports through mid August and are excited to highlight our collective effort at the Kansas State Fair. 

Information about the Hunger Project:
http://Kansas4-H.org/Events/Centennial/ServiceProject/ServiceProjectInfo.pdf
Simple Reporting Sheet: http://Kansas4-H.org/Events/Centennial/ServiceProject/projectreport.pdf     

Please share your neat projects.  You have already seen several highlighted in News Briefs and we are looking for more neat ideas.  Also be thinking about county or district wide food drives, could you do that is cooperation with 4-H Day?  The County Fair?  A judging contest?  Another county or district event? We look forward to hearing from you. Hinshaw/Neier

State 4-H Events Posters Available. The 4-H Events posters designed by Lisa Pryor that were featured at the State Fair and at KYLF are available on a limited basis.  The State 4-H Office is providing one set of 10 posters for each local Extension Office that requests a set by March 1st.  Additional sets will be available through Distribution sometime later in the year. The posters are 11” by 17”.  Click here to see a PDF contact sheet featuring all 10 posters.  To order a free set of posters for your local Extension Office, e-mail jwiebers@K-State.edu with the subject line: “Events Posters Order for _____ County”.  Wiebers