View the Entire Kansas 4-H Calendar

Deadlines:

State 4-H Program Rally
Thanks to each of you that attended the State 4-H Program Rally.  It was two days filed with great interaction and new information.  A special thanks to our sponsors, The Kansas 4-H Foundation, Epsilon Sigma Phi and the Farm Credit Associations of Kansas.  If you would like to send a note of  appreciation, our Farm Credit guests and their addresses are as follows.  

Janet McPherson and Ruth Wege
2401 N. Seth Child Road
P.O. Box 1807
Manhattan, KS 66505-1807

Brian Creager
1221 East 12th Avenue
P.O. Box L
Emporia, KS 66801-735049

Ed Frye
7940 W. Kellogg Dr.
PO Box 12800
Wichita, 67277-2800

The Kansas 4-H Foundation and Board of Trustees address is as follows:

Kansas 4-H Foundation
116 Umberger Hall
Manhattan, KS 66506

The committee will be meeting soon to go over evaluations and make recommendations for the future.  Committee members were: Beth Hecht -Leavenworth County, Ross Mosteller-River Valley District, Beth Hinshaw –SE Area, Andrea Burns-Ford County, Tara Solomon-Neosho County, Rod Buchele-SW Area, Aliesa Woods-Post Rock District, Deryl Waldren-NW Area, Diane Mack -NE Area and Pam Van Horn-State 4-H Office.
Hinshaw
 

Kansas State Fair Entry Collection Processes
We are looking for a better way for Extension Offices to collect entries from 4-H members who qualify to exhibit at the state fair. Do you have a check list, a sign up sheet, a card system or something else that works really well in your county to determine who wants their exhibit to go on to the state fair?  Some Extension Offices simply enter every exhibitor who qualifies; knowing that not all exhibitors will want their project to go to Hutchinson.  Obviously that doesn’t help department chairs prepare for judges, display space, ribbons, etc.  Before we add 9 year old exhibitors at the state fair in 2009, we need a better way to anticipate the number of exhibits coming to the fair.

Please share your entry collection system or ideas (including any forms or sample lists you use) by e-mailing them to ks4hreg@ksu.edu   We would appreciate your suggestions by April 1 so there is time to review submissions and share them with everyone before the fair season starts.
Wiebers
 

Blue Ribbon Training Sessions
Basic Enrollment
Wednesday, January 30  2:00-3:00pm
Thursday, January 31  10:00-11:00am
This conference call training session (offered two different times) will teach new users the basics of enrolling 4-H members, leaders and other 4-H and Extension contacts.  We will also cover creating and maintaining club codes, project codes, activity codes, award codes and tracking VIP registrations. Register on-line at: http://www.Kansas4-H.org/Register/

Reports and Exports
Wednesday, February 6   2:00-3:00pm
Thursday, February 7  10:00-11:00am
This conference call training session (offered two different times) will teach users how to extract various reports including address labels, statistics, various lists, and filtering and exporting data using the member query. Register on-line at: http://www.Kansas4-H.org/Register/
Wiebers

2008 Kansas 4-H Ambassador Training
The 2008 Kansas 4-H Ambassador Training will be held Friday evening, February 22, and run through Saturday afternoon, February 23, at Rock Springs 4-H Center. The workshop is for all Kansas County or District 4-H Ambassadors, their adult advisors, and Extension staff.

This year's training includes Barrett Smith, motivational speaker, plus mixer and specific training sessions for advisors and hands-on workshops for ambassadors. Participants will also experience a dance, movie and games on Friday evening.

Youth workshops and presenters:
  Cool Things to Do with Kids – Amanda Lott and Michelle Koenig
  True Colors – Libby Curry
  4-H: What It Is, and Where It Came From – Barrett Smith, Nathan Stitt and Adam Knepper
  Fantastic 4-H Event Planning – Andrea Schmidt
  Presenting Yourself Well and Interview with the Media – Eric Atkinson and Rhonda Atkinson
  Promotional Tips 101 – Staci Woodcock and Jake Pannbacker
  Basic Web Site Design – Neal Wollenberg
  County Planning, Angela Lindquist, facilitator

Adult Advisors Only
  “So What Do I Do Now?” - David Lott, facilitator
  Advisors’ Question and Answer Roundtable – David Lott, facilitator
  Advisors’ Panel Discussion – David Lot, facilitator

The registration fee for the training is $75.00 due to the Kansas State 4-H Office by February 1, 2008. A late registration fee of $85.00 will be accepted from February 2-7, 2008. Local Extension Offices determine who may attend this workshop, and the final local registration deadline. Please contact your local or district Extension office for further details and for questions about registering or contact Deryl Waldren at 785-462-6281 or e-mail dwaldren@ksu.edu. Visit: https://4hyp-ts.oznet.ksu.edu/wconnect/ace/home.htm to register on-line on the Kansas 4-H system. For information about the event, visit:
http://www.kansas4-h.org/Events/Ambassador/.
Waldren
 

Strong
 

Application Deadline for International Exchange Group Chaperones Near
All applications to chaperone 4-H teens to Australia, Costa Rica, Finland, Japan or Norway must be in Seattle February 1.  If you know of anyone planning to apply, contact Mary Kay Munson at 785-238-3631 immediately because interviews must be completed and references collected in time to for all the documents to reach Seattle by February 1.
Munson
 

Host Families for Summer International Exchanges
Kansas 4-H families may apply to host teens (15-18) from Costa Rica, Finland and Japan for one month this summer on programs administered for Kansas 4-H by the States’ 4-H International Exchange Programs.  For hosting Costa Rican 4-S members and Finnish 4H members, applications must be submitted through Kansas Coordinator Mary Kay Munson and are due in Seattle March 1 or until all exchangees are placed.  Japanese placements are handled through Kansas host counties under Rose Scott’s coordination.  Kansas also expects to host IFYE representative from Germany, Austria, Norway and perhaps Taiwan.  They will be placed with several families each for about three weeks between late June and December depending on their arrival dates and length of stay.  IFYE placements are assigned here in Kansas.  Applications to host are posted on the 4-H web site www.Kansas4-H.org/worldcitizenship.  Applications require two references (forms on the web site) and an in home interview.   We appreciate the assistance of agents and IFYE alumni in conducting in home interviews.  Contact Mary Kay Munson for information at munsonm@nqks.com or 785-328-3631.
Munson
 

Hosts Sought for Japanese High School Students
Japanese students who have spent a month with an American 4-H family have the opportunity to apply for a few placements in the U. S. as year-long high school students. Yeong-Soo Lee is currently living with the Dan and Teresa Frieb family and a Barton County 4-H’er.  We hope we have placed a girl and boy for 2008-09, but additional families are needed to provide hosts for Japanese students since a state’s 4-H administration cancelled the program after committing to host.  If you know of anyone who might like to explore this opportunity, send their contact information to Mary Kay Munson, 785-238-3631 or munsonm@nqks.com.  If we know of their interest in January, we can request a student who matches more closely the family, but let Mary Kay know of interest after that date, as well.
Munson
 

Eight 4-H Teens and Alumni Approved for International Travel in 2008
After completing scheduled state interviews December 8 and weather-delayed makeup interviews on January 5, seven current 4-H members are approved to travel this summer under the Kansas administration of States’ 4-H International Exchanges and one alumna has been approved for the IFYE Representative Program.  Country assignments will not be confirmed until after February 1 when applications are submitted to the States’ Exchange, but the 4-H’ers, counties and their first choice of countries are as follows:

Australia:
Shayla Lowry, Geary
Bonnie Murphy, Harper County, Oklahoma
Shelbie Smith, Edwards

Costa Rica:
Steuart Helsleigh, Jefferson

Finland:
Samantha Baumann, Osage
Lindsay Kallenbach, Stevens

Japan:
Kathleen Wilson, Geary

Genna Gehrt, Wabaunsee County 4-H alumna and K-State student is approved as an IFYE Representative and accepted for 6-8 weeks in Germany next summer
Munson
 

International Exchange Orientation and IFYE Gathering February 29-March 1 in Salina
Orientation has been scheduled to all of the Kansas-Sponsored Outbound Exchange delegates on February 29 in the evening and March 1 in Salina.  The location has not been confirmed as of this writing.  All 2008 delegates are expected to attend both days.  In addition, anyone interested in international exchanges is welcome to attend the Saturday evening dinner and program when 2007 delegates will be welcomed home and report on their travel experiences.  The 2007 travelers include:  Emily Schneider (Austria and Germany); Martha Schneider (Sweden and Norway); Liz Ford, Joe Kondziola, Shannon Layne, and Rhys Young (Japan); Erin Carroll (Finland); and Kathryn Zalenski (Australia).  The program will also include a send off for the 2008 delegates listed above.  Contact Alison Guthrie at 620-357-8473 or alisonsguthrie@gmail.com.
Munson
 

Windows to Asian Cultures Curriculum Available for Pilot
We have received a set of 24 units of a comprehensive curriculum on several Asian cultures targeted to third-eighth grades prepared by Youth Development Educators in University of Illinois Extension for pilot.  The subject matter relates to China, Japan, Korea, India, The Philippines and Vietnam.  Lesson plans are appropriate for 4-H meetings, workshops or school classes.  Each is experiential and value-driven with targeted life skills and pillars of character identified.  Learning and Social Emotional Standards for Illinois and National Learning Standards have been coded for each lesson.  Anyone interested in piloting these lessons is expected to complete the pilot this spring and return reports for each lesson piloted to Illinois Extension by May 31.  Contact Mary Kay Munson if interested at munsonm@nqks.com.
Munson
 

Caring adults do not forget to encourage or praise children. Nor do they permit a child to hurt others with harmful statements and behaviors. They don’t allow children to become numb to the pain and suffering of others. In your 4-H club/group in February you may want to choose one of the following activities in consideration of the Caring Pillar of Character:

"Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?" Martin Luther King, Jr.
GERHARD
 

4-H Discovery Days Class/Tour Leaders and Spirit Leaders Needed!
http://www.Kansas4-H.org/Events/DiscoveryDays/
4-H Discovery Days will be June 3-6 and for the first time in several years, will not conflict with the State FFA Convention.  We are expecting larger numbers than usual and consequently we’ll need more classes and tours than usual!

We still need Classes and Tours!   Have you thought of a class or tour that would be really fun?  You don’t even have to be the one to do it if you can twist someone else’s arm!   Please submit a proposal form ASAP!  The current deadline is 5:00pm February 1 (or until we have enough spaces to offer 700+ delegates).  Delays in getting enough classes and tours lined up will cause delays in getting registration information out on time, so your assistance is greatly appreciated!

Discovery Days Spirit Leader applications are posted on the Discovery Days web page. Due to the increasing number of delegates at Discovery Days the need for Spirit Leader is growing as well to accommodate those delegates. If you know youth who haven't applied to be a Spirit Leader, please urge them to sign-up!   If you have youth who have applied, they should try to get at least one of their 4-H friends to apply! The deadline for the applications has been extended to February 1 and applications are online at the 4-H website.  Jessie Furnish jfurnish@ksu.edu
Wiebers
 

Last Call for Kansas 4-H SpaceTech Educators’ Workshop 
The Kansas 4-H SpaceTech Action Team and K-State Research and Extension are sponsoring the third annual SpaceTech Educators’ Workshop on Saturday, February 9, at the K-State Salina campus, 8:00 a.m. – 5:15 p.m. The workshop is for Extension staff, community 4-H club leaders, project 4-H leaders, teens from 13-19-years-old, and educators working with 4-H and other youth programs.  No youths 12-and under will be accepted in 2008.  For complete details about the 2008 workshop, visit the Kansas 4-H web site:  http://www.kansas4-h.org/Events/SpaceTech/Default.htm.

Cost for the one-day event is $55.00 and registration is due immediately.  A late registration of $65.00 will be accepted from January 16-22, 2008.  The registration fee covers two in-depth workshops, lunch, breaks, and materials.    Registration is open on the Kansas 4-H registration web site.  Visit:  https://4hyp-ts.oznet.ksu.edu/wconnect/ace/home.htm.   Workshops will be offered in astronomy, aviation, robotics and rocketry.  Participants will select two of eight in-depth workshops offered.  For questions you may contact Deryl Waldren at 785-462-6281 or e-mail:  dwaldren@ksu.edu. 
Waldren
 

I recognize that with the early Easter holiday and Spring Breaks there will be some conflicts but would very much encourage you to help. Judging begins at 9 AM and concludes at 4 PM. Your lunch will be provided. Please return the form (Enclosure 4) that was sent to Extension Offices with Area Screening and State KAA Judging information in November. We hope to hear from you by February 1, or as soon after as possible.
GERHARD
 

While there is a delay incurred using the VIP process, you can still give the sense of involvement by providing some general 4-H information and some specific information about the role they are volunteering for. The November/December 4-H Journal is full of resources that would serve this purpose. Give new volunteers a copy of it and ask them to read it. Then get the VIP process going right away.
Buchele

If you want to take a look at the site and review the course just go to K-State Online http://public.online.ksu.edu/ and sign in using your K-State eid and password. Most agents are already enrolled. If you are enrolled in the class it will appear as an option.. If you are not, then contact ks4-hvip@ksu.edu to get enrolled. To enroll volunteers send their name and e-mail address to ks4-hvip@ksu.edu. We will enroll them and send them (with a cc to you) directions to take and complete the class.

Kansas 4-H policy is that a volunteer cannot work with youth through 4-H until they have completed the VIP process and been appointed by the local Extension Unit Board. The online option is a very timely way to complete the orientation requirement.
Buchele
 

The Kansas Association of 4-H Volunteers is recruiting for a Consultant to do Publicity and Promotion for the Volunteer Association. This is a paid opportunity. The tasks for the consultant include maintaining the membership and mailing list, doing a quarterly newsletter and maintaining the Association website. This can be done from most anywhere (with internet access) and would be great for a college or grad student or home based person. First screening will start shortly after Feb. 1. Please help by letting folks know of this opportunity.

For the announcement follow this link: http://www.kansas4-h.org/Volunteer/Association/KA4-HVPandPConsultantannouncement.pdf

For more information on the Association, click here: http://www.kansas4-h.org/Volunteer/Association/
Buchele

Hold November 4 - 5, 2008 for the Kansas Extension Conference on Volunteerism sponsored by the Volunteer Development Program Focus Team. The theme will be Foundations of Volunteer Management and Next Generations Volunteers. Dr. Jim Rutledge, former State 4-H Leader in Oregon will present the keynote his presentation will be on "Getting Agents and Volunteers on the Same Page". More information will be out soon, for now hold the dates and be sure it is on your professional development plan. See you at Rock Springs November 4^th.
Buchele
 

A Message from your 2008 State 4-H Youth Leadership Council President
As the new year kicks off, so does a new Kansas State 4-H Youth Council. The best and brightest youth leaders from around the state made their way to the Youth Council Retreat January 5-6, where I, Shane Oram, was elected as the 2008 Kansas State 4-H Youth Council President. At Rock Springs, we got acquainted with each other and started to bond as a team. The ideas started flying as the council started discussing our goals and vision for the upcoming year and how to positively impact the youth of Kansas as well as the communities in which they live in.

Once divided into committees, the council worked on ways to improve Kansas Youth Leadership Forum, Citizenship In Action, and Campference. Each committee came up with ingenious ideas on how to allow delegates to get the best out of the event and maximize their leadership, citizenship and life skills and, most importantly, have FUN.

A major goal for the Council this year is to reconnect with the county and local levels. To reach these goals, we set some aggressive steps that will benefit youth and adults alike. When divided into areas, we picked “partner” counties that each council member was responsible for. These council members will serve as a link between the State Council and county units. State Council members are eager to get out into the counties and meet kids throughout Kansas. Some activities we brainstormed that counties might benefit from having state council members at were: County Council/ Club meeting, County Fair, Achievement Night, or/and Special Activities. So if you have an event you would like a state council member at, PLEASE let Justin Wiebers, Beth Hinshaw or me know and we will gladly work something out with you!

The State Council is excited to bring another great year of 4-H activities to Kansas and will strive to make the best BETTER whenever possible.
Bleedin’ Green
Shane H. Oram
President, 2008 KS4-HYC
Oram
 

Agents Resource Library
http://www.Kansas4-H.org/Resources/Library/
The Agents Resource Library was developed for 4-H agents to share and receive credit for curriculum resources they have developed.  In a time when 4-H agents are concerned with working smarter; not harder, this site will endeavor to serve as a place where agents can share lesson ideas they have developed, and utilize lessons developed by other agents.

If you have a lesson plan, flyer, publication, etc., you would be willing to share, please e-mail it to Justin Wiebers at jwiebers@ksu.edu  Documents will not be altered or modified before being posted, and file format will be left to the discretion of the person submitting.
Wiebers

Questions have arisen concerning the 4-H Participation Form and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). The following fact sheet was written after researching HIPAA and procedures other State 4-H Programs follow. The fact sheet has been reviewed by the K-State University Attorney.

Kansas 4-H Participation Forms & the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)

1. Kansas 4-H does not fall under, and therefore is not bound by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) for the follow reasons:

a. Kansas 4-H is not a health insurance provider;

b. Kansas 4-H does not provide health services for a fee; and

c. Kansas 4-H does not act as a clearing house for health programs, insurers, or programs.

2. Even though Kansas 4-H is not bound by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), the law does have important implications for how medical information is shared within the 4-H program including camps. The information recorded on the participation form should be considered with the same respect as "Protected Health Information" is considered under HIPAA, which protects all "individual identifiable health information". Therefore, 4-H leaders should make all reasonable efforts to see that:

a. Only authorized individuals have access to health, medication, and related information.

b. Kansas 4-H Participation Forms and related health information is securely filed to prevent casual access.

c. Training is provided to professionals, volunteers and staff (including camp personnel and chaperones) regarding the importance and process of protecting and respecting the privacy of privileged and sensitive health information.

Steps for Handling Kansas 4-H Participation Forms:

The document may also been found on the 4-H Web Page at http://www.kansas4-h.org/Forms/Participation/
Van Horn
 

Basic 4-H Operations Training
Basic 4-H Operations Training will be held April 14 & 15 in Manhattan. We invite you to attend this training where we share critical information for handling 4-H managerial issues that may and often do arise.

Basic 4-H Operations training begins at 1 p.m. on Monday, April 14 and goes through 5 p.m. on Tuesday, April 15. This training is part of the New Agent Training Cycle, but anyone in the system that would like a refresher course is welcome.

Topics to be addressed include: 4-H Financial Management, VIP, Accountability to the 4-H mission, Learning through Events, Risk Management, Program Planning, Program Management and more.

Cost to attend is $20 payable to the Kansas 4-H Foundation. Please contact Diane Mack dmack@ksu.edu by April 4 if you plan to attend.
Mack/Hinshaw
 

Judging classes from past Garden Shows and State Fair judging contest are online at: http://www.kansas4-h.org/actionteamPhotography/judging/judging.htm They would be useful for judging practice.

A great slate of activities are planned for participants including; youth photography workshops, adult workshops (including a mini judging contest), the Photography Judging Contest, and the very special opportunity to take photos of the Garden Show exhibits after the general public has left the show, late the evening of March 7th . Participants can then enter their four best photos in the Garden Show photography contest. Participants do not have to be enrolled in the photography project to participate.
Otte/Buchele
 

Information is available at: http://4-h.k-state.edu/Events/Photo/2008/Multi-CoPhotoWrkshp4-08.pdf

Registration is due March 20th.
Buchele
 

Scholarships for first time campers (limit of 5), parent/child combo discount of $50.00 off the parent registration (limit of 5), children of deployed servicemen/women can attend camp for scholarship price ($75.00-proof of deployment required-no limit) Cost is yet to be determined, but will be close to last year’s fee of $150. Full information and registration will be up on www.kansas4-H.org by Feb. 1. See "What’s Hot".
Buchele 
 

Our team is looking for additional members. If you are creative and have a passion for creating marketing items to help recruit new 4-H members, this team is for you. E-mail me at dmack@ksu.edu if you are interested.
4-H Marketing Action Team/Mack