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4-H on the Move
A Newsletter for 4-H Families
National 4-H Week Exhibit At Belfast Free
Library
“Researching and collecting data for the library exhibit
shown at the Belfast Free Library has been a
fulfilling and interesting volunteer experience.
Getting insight into where 4-H began, who was responsible
and why was enlightening.
Although times have ‘changed’, the general course of project choices has only expanded and hopefully 4-H enrollment will along with it.”
- Anne Ambrose, 4-H Volunteer
Anne Ambrose, who worked with her
mom and family,
made this 4-H Exhibit possible at the
Belfast Free Library for the entire month of October
Important Notice on Waldo County 4-H Newsletter
The December 2007 issue of the Waldo County 4-H newsletter will be the last paper copy everyone will receive. We, and most other counties, have received a good response to county on-line newsletters. If you would like to keep receiving the 4-H newsletter in a paper form, you must contact the office and let us know. Each month an email will be sent out letting you know that the new newsletter has been posted to the web page, and a link will be included in the email. Please update (if needed) your email address with Sónia santunes@umext.maine.edu. With the rising cost of postage and the strain on our natural resources, paper and time, we will continue to use available and evolving technology. We appreciate everyone’s willingness to accommodate this process.
4-H County News
Volunteer Question Corner
Q. How many kids should a volunteer work with in a club?
Day and Overnight Educational Events:
Policies - Maintain appropriate youth/adult ratio (6 to 1 with 5-8 years old and 10 to 1 with 9-18 years old), always with a two-deep policy in place. A two deep policy means that an adult volunteer is never alone with a child who is not related to them. http://www.maine4h/umaine/edu/risk/events.htm Source: UMCE 4-H Policy and Procedures Manual
Minutes - 4-H Leaders Association Meeting - October 24, 2007
The Waldo County Leaders Association meeting was called to order by Marilyn Schofield at 6 PM.
Members present were: Frank, Marilyn and David Schofield and Joyce Weaver.
Following are topics we discussed:
Achievement Night:
We decided to figure on 100 people. Marilyn’s club will supply the plastic
ware, plates, cups, napkins, coffee, and milk. Joyce and Jane will supply cider.
Anne will get green tablecloths and the leaders will reimburse. (If she can get
them to the office I will pick up to have for setting up.)
Dessert Auction: Everyone is asked to bring desserts to be auctioned off with the proceeds going to the Leaders Association.
Joyce will email everyone that was on judging selection committee and ask them what we did last year with regards to gifts. Did we recognize everyone regardless if they turned records in or did we only recognize ones getting awards? Also, how do they feel about giving to members that did records but were never enrolled?
Agenda items for next meeting:
Consider no 1st and 3rd Wed. nights for meetings. Election
or how do we want to run meetings? David is going to research what other
counties do to bring more clubs together. Discuss Form 990 for $25,000 or less
now or lose non-profit status.
Order of business for Achievement Night:
Meeting closed at 7:30 PM.
Project Records
It’s a new 4-H Year and as we review your records from last year, we thought we could make your job easier this year if we presented a few record-keeping ideas in our newsletter. So when your members ask you these questions, you’ll know just what to say!
Q. Why do we do project records?
A. If you speak with adults who were once 4-H members, they will often tell you that the most important skill they learned in 4-H was record-keeping. It’s a skill that successful adults use every day.
When you leave our 4-H program, we want you to have one of the most important benefits we can give you! On a more immediate level, record-keeping gives you an on-going picture of your current project and a permanent record of your previous work.
Also, before you move out on your own to support that horse or that art hobby or whatever your passion is, you will need to understand how much it costs to participate in that activity. That’s why you need to include in your project records the value of things people GIVE you, like animals, grain or hay, or cooking supplies.
And certainly not the least important, your 4-H records and resume will be invaluable as you apply for 4-H opportunities such as CWF, 4-H Congress, 4-H Conference and college scholarships.
Why are we talking about project records right now? We just started in the new 4-H year!
Your record should start at the same time your project does. Starting at the beginning lets you set your goals and learning plan BEFORE you do your project. Keeping records as you do projects makes the whole process more valuable and SO MUCH EASIER than waiting until next fall.
Note: Please watch for changes pertaining to Cloverbuds and project records this fall.
Source: Hancock County, October 2007 4-H Newsletter
Library Exhibit during National 4-H
 |
|
Anne at the Belfast Free Library |
Special Thanks go out to the Anne, her family and the wonderful support of the Belfast Free Library for providing the space recognizing National 4-H Week. Your 4-H Volunteer Project is First-Rate! Congratulations!
“We went to see the 4-H Exhibit. It looks awesome! The kids really enjoyed it.” April Turner, Waldo County 4-H Volunteer
“One of the things I like about the fairs is 4-H. My dad had a 4-H card for entering sweet corn and potatoes and having this card is really special to me especially where my dad has passed.” Rick Flood Sr. of Morrill, Visitor of 4-H Exhibit
 |
|
Collage at the Belfast Free Library |
“We raise rabbits and goats and want to make cheese.
We want to do 4-H!!” Orrin – Age 11 Ethan – Age 12 Naomi – Age
15
Letter To The Waldo County 4-H Program “We saw your 4-H information at the Belfast Library Exhibit. We think 4-H is a rewarding experience that can be a huge benefit to the whole family. Our kids are anxious to learn more and possibly show their goats sometime at an exhibition or fair. Please send us any information you have about 4-H in our area.” Harding Family, Visitors of 4-H Exhibit and 4-H Family when we lived in Pennsylvania
Directions and Map to Larrabee Gym, Shibles Road, Knox
From Rt 137 at the gulley where the bridge is at Knox Center take a right or left depending on your directions (From Knox Ridge take left and from Belfast take right) and bear left onto Bailey Road, take next left onto Shibles Road. When you get to the large dairy farm it is across from the house. The building is on your right and is a Quonset with a green roof.
From Rt 139 you can take Oakes Rd or Knox Station Rd. From Brooks take a right and from Thorndike take a left. When you go on Oakes Rd you come to a four corners which is where Knox Station crosses Oakes Rd. Go straight through the four corners on Oakes Rd and at the next intersection take a left on Shibles Rd. Go to the large farm and it is on your left across from the house.
How Are 4-H Cloverbud Clubs Different From Other 4-H Clubs?
With Maine’s recent adoption of the Cloverbud policy, you might find this information helpful as you work with our youngest members between the ages of five and eight. In most instances you will find that only minor changes will need to be made in your clubs. If you have Cloverbud members integrated into your 4-H club with older members, a bit more creativity may need to go into how you design your 4-H time to meet the age-appropriate needs of all your members.
Cloverbud clubs do not conduct formal business meetings or elect officers. Five to eight year olds are not yet ready to fulfill the responsibilities of club officership and require much more adult guidance when making group decisions. However, a structured routine is important to this age group. Starting each meeting with the same opening ritual, roll call and pledges to the American and 4-H flags, provides structure while introducing the children to some of the elements of a business meeting. Use of a closing ritual is also recommended. Members can be assigned an “office of the day” to help conduct these rituals. This prepares Cloverbuds for future roles as club officers when they become old enough to assume such roles.
Cloverbud clubs do not conduct nor participate in competitive events. Five to eight year olds are sensitive to criticism and do not accept failure well. They cannot easily separate the “doer” from the thing that is done – so, failure in an activity is translated into personal unworthiness. Their development is uneven making it nearly impossible to “level the playing field,” a necessity if competition is to be fair. For these reasons participation in competitive activities is developmentally inappropriate for Cloverbuds. Even evaluation that does not compare one child’s work to another’s but simply defines a level of achievement (excellent, good or worthy) is ill advised. Cloverbud activities should be conducted in a positive environment that focuses on the members’ strengths rather than analyzing their deficiencies. Cloverbuds need opportunities to practice skills, discover talents and learn about fairness in a non-judgmental environment. Their work should be proudly displayed and their participation recognized. Recognition should be informal with all members being recognized equally.
Cloverbud clubs follow a set of program guidelines based on developmental appropriateness. While Cloverbud activities relate to the same set of program areas, as do projects for older members, they are designed to suit the cognitive, social, emotional and physical development of children within this age group. That often involves using different kinds of equipment or providing more adult supervision. (See the Maine 4-H Cloverbud Policy for information about specific program areas.) Sometimes a Cloverbud will be physically capable of doing something but will not be able to understand the reason for the process or the result. Participation in that activity would be just as inappropriate as participation in an activity that is unsafe because of physical limitations.
Credit: Jen Lobley from 4-H Happenings, Hancock County
4-H Achievement Night
Saturday, November 17, 2007 - 5:30 PM Larrabee Fun Building, Knox
Families are asked to bring a main dish or salad, and a dessert for the dessert auction and a few dollars to participate in the dessert auction.
RSVP no later than Tuesday, November 13th, to jweaver@umext.maine.edu or 1-800-287-1426
4-H Achievement Presentations and Poster Exhibits
If you would like to give a short 4-H talk or share a 4-H poster exhibit, please email jweaver@umext.maine.edu AS SOON AS POSSIBLE! Thank You!
“I enjoyed this project even when my market lamb refused to behave.” - Natalie Market Lamb Project
I learned how to cover my face and roll. - Daniel Fire Prevention & Safety Educational Activity
NEW OFFICE HOURS FOR JOYCE WEAVER
As of Oct. 30, 2007
Joyce has new office hours!
Tuesday and Thursday 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Wednesday By Appointment
Funds Available for Volunteer Development
Since October 2003, the Waldo County 4-H program has funded volunteer development activities. These activities may include in-service training which benefits the professional development of the volunteer. After a volunteer has been enrolled for at least one year, each volunteer may apply for up to $50 per year. Use of these funds should benefit the individual in ways that will contribute to the benefit of the Waldo County 4-H program, and must be approved by the Waldo County 4-H staff. A written request is expected from the volunteer, addressed to the 4-H staff, outlining the activity, the cost, the relation to the volunteer’s plan of work and what the anticipated benefit to the Waldo County 4-H program will be. A copy of the Request Form is available on the Waldo County 4-H web site by clicking on www.umext.maine.edu/Waldo/4H or calling Joyce Weaver.
Natalie Marceau is a Maine Youth Candidate for the 2008 National 4-H Conference
Natalie Marceau has been selected as a candidate to represent Maine 4-H at the National 4-H Conference on March 29-April 3, 2008. The interviewing committee was “especially glad to see the depth of Natalie’s leadership skills and desire to improve them in order to help younger 4-H members grow.”
The overall purpose of National 4-H Conference is to provide an opportunity for youth, adult volunteer leaders and Extension staff to work together in addressing the issues of youth and how the 4-H Youth Development program can best meet the needs of youth at the local, state and national levels through educational programming.
National 4-H Conference has long been a model of youth/adult partnerships. Everyone attending Conference is a delegate with equal voice in the matters of Conference: consulting groups, operations committees and development recommendations.
National 4-H Conference is held in April at the National 4-H Center in Chevy Chase, Maryland. Maine selects four participants annually based on records of their 4-H and community involvement and candidate interviews.
For more information about National 4-H Conference go to http://www.umext.maine.edu/4h/events/conference.htm.
The Pine Tree 4-H State 4-H Foundation will graciously fund the trip with a maximum scholarship valued at approximately $900, with each participant contributing $200 towards the total cost of the trip.
Congratulations Natalie! We look forward to hearing what you have learned through this experience.
Regional, State and National 4-H News
4-H Enrollment Forms are Due
Re-enrollment -
If any leader or any independent member has not received their packet or if you
have any questions,
please contact the Extension Office as soon as possible.
Leaders, please be sure to complete ALL paperwork and return it to the Extension
Office by December 31st.
There will be no exceptions!
ESE Beef Intent to Participate Form
Mark the date!!
The deadline to submit ESE Beef Intent to Participate Forms is
January 10, 2008.
Family Meal Time – Does It Have A Place In Your Home?
Recent research has shown the importance of family meals in adolescents’ lives. Using school based survey data during the 1998-1999 school year, it showed that one-third of middle and high school students watched TV during family meals. Adolescents watching TV were found to have a lower intake of vegetables, calcium-rich food and grains and a higher intake of soft drinks when compared to teens not watching TV during meals. However, watching TV during family meals was associated with a more healthful diet than not eating regular family meals.
Family meal time is a chance for caring adults to:
Read more about the importance of family meal time:
Associations between Watching TV during Family Meals and Dietary Intake Among Adolescents, “…regular family meals are associated with improved dietary quality among adolescents”
I’m, Like, So Fat - 2005 paperback. Subtitled, "Helping Your Teen Make Healthy Choices about Eating and Exercise in a Weight-Obsessed World,"
4-H 4-Generational Family
Henry, Teresa and Andrew Hardy with Marilyn Schofield and Marjorie Larrabee as Andrew receives his $10,000 scholarship from Nelnet at his Senior Awards Night. Andrew is the grandson of Marilyn and the great-grandson of Marjorie.
4-H is a community of young people across America who are learning leadership, citizenship, and life skills.
Maine 4-H Youth Development Mission
Educate and empower Maine youth through hands-on and community based experiences.
Maine 4-H Youth Development Vision
Maine youth acquire the knowledge, life skills, leadership abilities and attitudes to help them succeed now and in the future
through effective collaborations, hands-on experiential education and self-directed learning.
Putting knowledge to work with the people of Maine
A Member of the University of
Maine System
Last Modified:
10/21/08
These pages are currently being maintained from the
Waldo County Office, University of Maine Cooperative Extension.
Send comments, suggestions or inquiries to
santunes@umext.maine.edu
Information in this web site is provided purely for educational purposes. No responsibility is assumed for any problems associated with the use of products or services mentioned in this web site. No endorsement of products or companies is intended, nor is criticism of unnamed products or companies implied.
If you are a person with a disability and will need any accommodations to participate in a UMCE program, please contact your county office to discuss your needs. For assistance via a TTY line call 1-800-287-8957.
