 |
TENNESSEE 4-H IDEAS VOLUME 03 - Issue 11 IN THIS ISSUE 4-H/LABO Japanese Exchange Program UPCOMING EVENTS March 30-April 5
March 31
April 12
April 13-15
April 15
April 15
April 30-May 2
May 1
May 1
May 1
May 6-7
May 8-9
May 16-17
May 16-19
May 20
May 20
May 22
May 22
May 27-28
Tennessee 4-H Home Page: www.utextension.utk.edu/4H/ Online version of Ideas: www.utextension.utk.edu/4H/ideas03/ Ideas index: www.utextension.utk.edu/4H/ideas03/03-index.htm 4-H/LABO JAPANESE EXCHANGE PROGRAM Profiles of 17 eager Japanese youth have arrived! We will have 10 girls and 7 boys coming to visit Tennessee. These children have put together some beautiful portfolios. Their excitement to visit Tennessee and share with a host family is very evident. If your host families have not turned in their forms, please have them do so as soon as possible. We are also looking for host families for two adult chaperones. In January, packets of information were sent to each county with guidelines and host family application forms. We are looking for families who have a child in the 11-18 year old range and are willing to open their home and their hearts to a child for approximately 4 weeks. This is also a wonderful way for our youth and their families to experience a new culture. International activities are a part of the 4-H citizenship project. Please encourage qualified families to apply. Forms need to be completed and signed by the county agent and returned by April 1. I will start matching LABO delegates to host families as soon as I get all the host family applications. The delegates from Japan would like to start corresponding with their host brother or sister and are waiting for host family forms! I appreciate all you support and efforts in making this experience possible. Carmen Burgos 4-H S.O.S. MINI-GRANT PROPOSALS DUE APRIL 15 4-H S.O.S. is now accepting proposals for mini-grants of up to $2000 to fund youth-led service learning projects. Download the request for proposals from the forms page of the 4-H website at www.utextension.utk.edu/4H/forms&materials/. Proposals are due to the state 4-H office by April 15, 2003. Mini-grants are to fund projects that offer youth a true learning experience and clearly demonstrate youth involvement in every stage of the service learning cycle: plan, serve, reflect, and celebrate. Due to federal grant restrictions, the mini-grants cannot fund any projects that are considered fundraisers for an organization. Please note that 4-H S.O.S. will disburse half the mini-grant award at the beginning of the project and will reimburse the second half after receiving the final report, evaluation surveys, and receipts. Counties should work with recipients to plan ways to fund the second half of the project until the expenses are reimbursed. If you have questions about the proposals or funding procedures, please contact Lori Jean Mantooth at 865-974-2128 or LMantoo1@utk.edu. Lori Jean Mantooth 4-H’ERS RECEIVE PRUDENTIAL SPIRIT
OF COMMUNITY AWARDS The annual Prudential Spirit of Community Awards honor young people for outstanding volunteer service to their communities. It is the largest youth recognition program for youth based solely on volunteering. This year, 24,000 youth across the country were considered for recognition. Three 4-H’ers were among the state’s six Distinguished Finalists.
Congratulations to these outstanding young volunteers! Lori Jean Mantooth ELECTRIC CAMP REGISTRATION SITE UP AND READY The 4-H Electric Camp registration site is up and ready for use. The URL is ext1.ag.utk.edu/4H/electricRegist.nsf. The process is similar to that used for State 4-H Congress. Simply take the information from the registration cards filled out by your 4-H’ers and enter it on the registration site. Registration and payment will be through the district offices. Your district office will share additional information regarding due dates for payment and registration completion. Registration cards are available from the forms page at www.utextension.utk.edu/4H/forms&materials/. Steve Sutton MAKE IT AN HONOR TO BE IN HONOR CLUB Honor Club is the first step in Tennessee’s three-level recognition program... Honor Club, All Stars and Vol State. Honor Club recognizes members for participation. Membership does not involve being the winner in any kind of competition. Members receive points just for participating. Any 4-H’er qualifying with the minimum number of points on the application can achieve Honor Club recognition. How can you make it an honor to be in your county Honor Club? One way to make Honor Club special is to stage an impressive induction ceremony for all your new initiates. Recognize your initiates at an appropriate time in front of their parents, peers, county officials or others they view as important to them. The Tennessee 4-H Honor Club Recognition Ceremony (EC750) is a step-by-step guide to staging a candlelight Honor Club initiation ceremony. The publication comes complete with a script, list of materials needed and staging diagram. If you do not have a copy in your office, you can order it from the mail room. Just ask for it by publication number. Honor Club recognizes members for meeting a standard of excellence and recognition is a strategy for helping young people become more capable and confident. Through the acknowledgment, affirmation, and positive reinforcement of members’ efforts, feeling of competence and capability increase and participation continues. An impressive initiation ceremony can be the first step in building that competence and capability in your Honor Club members. Steve Sutton MEET THE STATE 4-H STAFF! - CHRIS FLEMING We want you to know more about the people who work in the state 4-H office. We will be featuring a different staff member each week in Ideas. Keep reading to find out about another one of our team. Chris Fleming holds a 50% appointment with The University of Tennessee Agriculture Extension Service and a 50% appointment with the Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation. Chris' position was created five years ago under the direction of Dr. Charles Norman, Ms. Martha Jo Tolley, Mr. Julius Johnson and Mr. Charles Curtis. The Extension Service and Farm Bureau work together on several programs, such as the Young Farmers and Ranchers (YF&R). The YF&R is a county level committee of the Farm Bureau with advisory assistance provided by the county Extension director. Dr. Charles Norman, Herb Lester and Charles Curtis serve as advisors at the state level. Chris assists the state committee with the implementation of YF&R goals, which include the areas of education, organization (leadership development), service and recreation. Chris serves Tennessee as the Associate Director for Agriculture in the Classroom (AITC). AITC is a national program sponsored by the USDA. In Tennessee it is directed by the Foundation for AITC which is housed at TFBF headquarters in Columbia. The Foundation is made up of representatives of all major agricultural commodities, agricultural and educational institutions and organizations. The Foundation is funded by over 1500 individuals, 40 major donors and various grants each year. Chris' duties include program and curriculum development, grant writing, coordinating the work of ten educational consultants, planning training for educators from public and private schools, 4-H and volunteer groups. The Foundation also grants funds to schools, 4-H clubs and FFA chapters to establish and maintain outdoor classroom gardens for use by students. Chris assists with the administration of the garden program. Chris' responsibilities with the 4-H staff include providing training on the use of AITC materials, the garden grant program, working with county YF&R groups and curriculum development. He also assists with state events such as State 4-H Congress and Roundup. After graduating from UT Martin, Chris began his teaching career at McNairy Central in Selmer. While there, he completed his master's degree at MTSU. After ten years at Selmer, Chris and his growing family moved back to Middle Tennessee and started an agriculture program at Hampshire School in Maury County. While at Hampshire he developed a working relationship with the AITC program receiving an aquatic classroom grant and working with the K-8 students about agriculture awareness. Upon learning of the newly created "joint position" between UAES and TFBF he realized a longtime dream of serving agricultural education at the state level by applying for and receiving the position. Chris and his wife, Teresa have three boys, Jed, Luke and Adam and live on the family farm in Loretto. Jed has just started in 4-H by enrolling in the goat project, being involved in the poster contest and giving demonstrations. The Fleming family looks forward to a long career in 4-H and its ability to make the “Best Better.” Alice Ann Moore MORE ON THE LISTENING SESSIONS Last week I listed the emerging issues and concerns in the 4-H program statewide that were discussed in the listening sessions. This week I will share with you the ways in which the state 4-H staff can assist in supporting the county 4-H programs.
We should not forget that we have one of the best youth organizations in the world. Alice Ann Moore Level I and Level II records are due from each county in the state 4-H office by May 1. Please use the following address:
If you want to bring your books to the TAE4-HW meeting in Knoxville, April 30-May 2, we will be glad to transport them to the state 4-H office for you. Please contact me if you have any questions about your records. Steve Sutton SHOW “UNLIMITED SUPPORT” AT STATE 4-H CONGRESS Delegates to 2003 State 4-H Congress can show their support for U.S. troops overseas by taking part in Project Unlimited Support. 4-H’ers, Extension staff, volunteer leaders, and others can collect toiletry items such as soap, shampoo, toothpaste, toothbrushes, deodorant, mouthwash, and antibacterial hand sanitizer. They can also bring cards (without envelopes) addressed to “Dear Military Member.” There will be a station set up at Congress for delegates to create additional cards and letters of support. For more information on Project U.S., visit www.projectus.org or the 4-H Seeds of Service website at www.utextension.utk.edu/4H/sos/. Lori Jean Mantooth STATE 4-H CONGRESS DELEGATE ORIENTATION/LEGISLATIVE VISIT INFORMATION To make the “Congress experience” more meaningful to your delegates and to ensure a well-informed delegation, we suggest you conduct an orientation session with them prior to their arrival in Nashville. You should discuss the following with them:
We also strongly recommend that you make an appointment for your
volunteer leaders and Congress delegates to visit your legislator
during free time on Monday afternoon. The afternoon assembly will
be over at approximately 3:30 p.m. You could schedule an appointment
between 4:00 and 8:00 p.m. Please visit with your leader and delegates
about the visit during your orientation session. Your delegates
might want to present a 4-H memento or gift made by one of the delegates
related to their project work. Be sure your leader knows
where the visit it to take place and the correct time.
This is a great opportunity for 4-H to be seen in Nashville, but
it is imperative the There will be no group meal event on Monday evening. There are several restaurants in the immediate vicinity of the hotel. The evening assembly will being at 8:30 p.m. so delegates may choose to visit the observation area of the House or Senate chambers prior to that time if sessions are in progress. Thank you for your advance preparation. With your help the 56th Tennessee 4-H Congress will be a rewarding, educational experience for the more than 500 Tennessee teens and volunteers in attendance. For additional information, please visit the State 4-H Congress web site at www.utextension.utk.edu/4H/stcong/. Steve Sutton TIPTON COUNTY TEAM WINS STATE LIFESMARTS COMPETITION The 4-H Science Bowl team from Brighton High School in Tipton County was named the state champion LifeSmarts team in competition Saturday, March 8 in Lebanon. Their coach is Jinx Rasmussen, a teacher at the school. Team members are Josh Michael, Courtney Nute, Hanna Paschall and Tiffany Parrett. The state winning team will compete in the National LifeSmarts contest in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, April 26-29, 2003. The Madison Clovers team, coached by Sharon Tubbs from Madison County, was the runner-up in the competition. Team members are Natalie Newton, Robby Appleton, Christi Collins and Kisha Martin. The team members received $100 savings bonds in recognition of their accomplishments. Teams making it to the semi-final rounds were Brighton High School 4-H Gold team and the Cannon County High School 4-H team. Other teams competing included the Brighton High School FFA #1 team, the Brighton High School Green team, the Marion Couny 4-H team, the Robertson County 4-H team and the Putnam County 4-H team. A total of 40 high school students on nine teams representing six counties participated in the event. LifeSmarts is a consumer education competition that tests teens in grades 9-12 about personal finance; health and safety; the environment; technology; and consumer rights and responsibilities. Teens must pass three levels of online competition in order to qualify for the state contest. The top scoring teams in the online competition are invited to the state contest. In Tennessee, 446 teens from 40 teams participated in the online phase of the contest. Tennessee is among the top states nationally in the number of teams and coaches registered for the online contest. In addition, the online team scores were among the top scores nationally. The state contest is a quiz bowl format in which teams advance through rounds by answering real-life marketplace issues. LifeSmarts is a program of the National Consumers League. For more information, visit www.lifesmarts.org, email lifesmarts@nclnet.org or call the National Consumers League’s communications department at 202-835-3323. You may learn more about the Tennessee contest by visiting the Tennessee LifeSmarts web site at www.utextension.utk.edu/fcs/lifesmarts/lifehome.htm. Denise Brandon THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional.
|
