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County News

 Project Records                                                                                                                                                             

This is a reminder that if you need Cloverbud Activity Records (5-8 year olds), and Maine 4-H Record Sheets (9-19 year olds), they are available at www.umext.maine.edu/4h/youth/projectrecords.htm or by calling your local extension office to request the number of copies you need.  Forms can either be mailed or picked up.  We prefer picked up, of course, since it saves postage!  If you want to pick them up, please call before coming in so that the quantity you need will be ready when you arrive.  If picking them up is inconvenient, please request that they be mailed.

 Fair Dates                                                                                                                                                                       

Wondering when your favorite fair will be this year?  Check out the Web site on the Maine Department of Agriculture’s site:  www.getrealmaine.com/visit/maine_fairs.html   

Wanted:  4-H Clubs and Independent Members                                                                                                           

4-H’ers are needed to help with the Annual Child and Parent Day, on Saturday, April 5, 2008, at the Waldo County YMCA from 10 AM – 2 PM.  Can you help us out?  This is a great Community Service opportunity for 4-H Clubs and independent members.  The day is to engage kids and parents in making things or playing and having fun.  It would be great if you could help us out.  For more information, please contact Patrick Walsh at 338-2200 ext 109.

Tanglewood Volunteer Opportunities                                                                                                                           

Tanglewood is The University of Maine Cooperative Extension’s 4-H Camp and Learning Center.  Tanglewood relies heavily on volunteers to help with program enrichment, facilities upkeep and general administration.  There are numerous opportunities for individuals, families, organizations, businesses, and clubs to give of their time and energy.  Here are some ways you can be involved:

·        Facility Support:  The Tanglewood and Blueberry Cove camp facilities always need help
        with carpentry and painting projects.

·        Office Volunteers:  Help out periodically with mailings at the camp office in Lincolnville.

·        Garden:  There’s a need for planting, weeding, hoeing, harvesting, and teaching in the Lincolnville garden,
        and help with reestablishing the garden at Blueberry Cove.

·        Trail Work:  Help maintain and develop our hiking and skiing rails.

·        Artists:  Create a display for either site, or teach your skills to others.

·        Guest Presenters:  Share your knowledge of natural history, arts, music, cultures, etc., at summer camp,
        family or adult programs or special events.

·        Program planning and development:  Volunteers can serve on committees to help design new
        programs and create long range plans.

·        Elderhostel:  Become a volunteer host for a week or more of Elderhostel.

·        Board of Directors:  Tanglewood’s financial and program oversight is the responsibility of a dedicated board.

·        Work Days:  Bring the whole family or your community group to help us this spring or fall. 
        We can arrange for groups to do special projects.

To sign up for any of the above opportunities,

Please contact Sarah Shepherd

At 789-5807

Or e-mail her at sshepherd@umext.maine.edu

Volunteer Question Corner                                                                                                                                           

Question:  What good is it to complete the portfolio?  My Story?

Answer:  Filling out the 4-H portfolio and writing a 4-H Story is a lot of work on top of school and other commitments that youth have. Sitting down to collect all your thoughts about your 4-H experience through the years, however, can be a really enriching experience. When youth think through all they have learned through their 4-H projects, they begin to see skills they’ve acquired, contributions they have made to the community, and a sense of confidence as they look to their future.

Some 4-Hers have taken the information in their 4-H Portfolio to use in college applications. One 4-Her I know showed her portfolio to an admissions counselor during a college visit and she was accepted on the spot and given a scholarship! That was pretty exciting. 4-H Portfolios are required for some 4-H Scholarships and the 4-H Story is required as part of the application to National 4-H Conference and National 4-H Congress.   It is a lot of work to put together a 4-H Portfolio but sometimes the most worthwhile things in life do take an extra measure of effort. I think the 4-H Portfolio is one of them. Michaele Bailey, State 4-H Office

Connie Clements is retiring!                                                                                                                                           

Many of you have interacted with Connie in her multiple roles in Cooperative Extension and dairy farming. Connie is getting set to retire in February and we want to wish her the best in her new endeavors (painting…gardening...and oh yeah…feeding those calves!)

Connie has served many roles in her work with Extension. She started working for Waldo County Extension in 1989 as a 4-H consultant, then 4-H Aide in 1994, then Support Staff in 2000.  And we couldn’t forget her service as a 4-H volunteer for 17 years and a current member of the Monroe Extension Homemakers Group for nearly 50 years.

For many years as a 4-H volunteer leader, Chairman of the Waldo County Extension Homemakers Council, Executive Committee member and most recently as an Administrative Assistant in our office three days a week, Connie has seen and done it all. Many credit her tireless work to the successful passing of the county bond issue that built our facility some 22 years ago! All of this while doing endless hours of volunteer work with other organizations such as the Rebekahs.

Connie’s last day in the office will be February 13th. If you get a chance, give her a call or send a card to wish her the best!

Minutes – Waldo County 4-H Leaders’ Association Meeting                                                                                           

January 3rd at 6 pm at the Waldo County Extension Office

Present at meeting: Marilyn Schofield, Frank Whiting, Anne Ambrose, Dave Marceau

Marilyn called the meeting to order:

There were three items on the agenda for discussion.

Calendar update:  Prices will be cut to $5.00 per calendar as of January 1st 2007. Dave Marceau and Marilyn Schofield will notify town news columns with the information on reduced prices and availability. Please try to purchase or sell calendars to help cover the cost of expenses.

Remaining calendars will be mailed out to a selection of persons who may find them of interest and we will consider them as a promotion for 4-H throughout the county.

Frank generously offered to help offset some of the mailing expense as an inquiry confirmed that the Leader’s Association could not receive funding for mailing costs from the State office.

As of 1/3/07 we had sold a total of 16 calendars at $10.00 each.

CWF:  Marilyn will contact Connie at the WCE office and get a fixed number on the eligible CWF 4-H members for Waldo County.

CWF packets have been mailed out to potential candidates and when the Leader’s Association has a number of applicants we will further discuss scholarship possibilities.

Volunteer Forum:  A discussion of the Volunteer Leader’s Academy Forum and the request for four volunteers from the county led to some topics that would be of interest for coverage at the forum. At present Waldo county has one volunteer who has offered to attend the forum which has been re-scheduled for the first Friday evening and Saturday in March.

Many of you have already viewed the survey sent out last month. If you have not had time to complete and return it could you please try to do so. The topics that will be covered at the forum should be of importance to the state volunteer population. They will be more clearly defined if you return your survey with concerns and suggestions.

In addition to the three agenda items we did discuss the need to clarify the "ownership" of funds located in the Leader’s Association treasury and our goal to organize new fund raising methods if necessary.

Marilyn closed our meeting and the date confirmed for our next meeting is February 13th at 6:00-8:00pm at the Waldo County Extension Office. Please consider attending if at all possible.

 

State and National News

Planning Ahead for Animal Projects                                                                                                                            

It’s a new 4-H Year and time to plan ahead for your animal projects even if you don’t yet have your project animal!!  Do some homework.  What breed would suit your situation best?  Where can you get the best animals?  What kinds of care will your animals need?

Remember you must have re-enrolled before December 31st, 2007 to participate in “Market Events”. 

• Baby Beef must be owned and in possession by January 1st

• Market Hogs need to be born between January 1st and February 15th, owned and in possession by April 15th.

• Market Lambs born between December 15th and February 15th, owned and in possession by May 1st.

• Horses need to be owned or leased before April 1st.

• Working Steers owned or leased by May 1st.

• Dairy must be owned or leased by May 1st.

There are very specific rules for market lambs and steers going to Windsor and/or Fryeburg Fairs.  Intent to participate forms for these fairs are due January 3rd at our 4-H Office.

The due date for all animal approval forms is June 30.  Approval and Lease forms are available at the 4-H Office.

 

Hoard’s Dairyman 78th annual Cow Judging Contest 2008                                                                                       

All Entries must be postmarked on or before March 27, 2008

 Participants look at prints and judge five classes of dairy cows. It’s that easy! Divisions include: Seniors 19 years of age and older; Juniors 8 to 18 years of age; Families with at least one parent; Special Entry Blanks are needed for: 4-H Clubs, FFA/AG-Ed Chapters, College Teams and AG-Ed Instructors.

For a copy of the 2008 materials, please contact hoards@hoards.com (920-563-5551) or through your local extension office.

Tanglewood 2008 Program Catalogs are in!                                                                                                               

Camp is a place for young people to get outside, unplugged, and back to the best of things in life—friendships, fresh air, discovery, self-confidence, and a sense of belonging.  Tanglewood summer programs emphasize community living, respect for others, fun, safety, responsibility and the joy of being a part of the natural world. Whether it’s Day or Residential Camp, Discovery or Leadership Programs, our summer campers make friends and feel good knowing they can just be themselves! 

For summer of 2008, we are expanding our offerings to include several new programs, including residential and family camps at Blueberry Cove Camp in Tenant’s Harbor.  You will also notice that we are introducing a sliding scale payment plan this year.  After many years of subsidizing our summer programs, our board of directors has determined that we need to “walk our talk” and that means being financially sustainable. You will find more information about our new fee schedule in the registration/payment section.   We hope you enjoy reading about the exciting summer opportunities at Tanglewood and Blueberry Cove.  We know that choosing to go to camp is a big decision, and please contact us if you have any questions (jdecke@umext.maine.edu or 207-789-5802).  We are always willing to learn about your concerns and to share our thoughts with you.  We look forward to seeing you at camp this summer! 

Sincerely,                               
Jim and Cindy Dunham, Summer Camp Directors
Jessica Decke, Summer Program Coordinator

For a brochure or inquiries about summer camp registration, please contact us at (207) 789-5868 or 1-877-944-2267 (Maine only).

New Cloverbud Activity Record                                                                                                                                       

The 4-H Cloverbuds web page has now been updated and is located on the Maine 4-H web site at: www.umext.maine.edu/4h/cloverbuds.htm. This is where you will find the updated Maine 4-H Cloverbuds Policy, as well as the 2008 Activity Record and instructions on this web page.  Please note – the Cloverbud Activity Record has replaced the Beginner Project Sheets.

The Cloverbud Activity Record is used to give 4-H Cloverbud members an age-appropriate introduction to 4-H recordkeeping.  If possible, members should fill in the record themselves.  However, if they cannot yet write independently, they may dictate their record to an adult or older member.  Working on records during club meetings is a good way to help young members learn about the parts of the record and how to fill them out.

Cloverbud records are not judged, but should be reviewed and feedback provided in a positive manner.  All Cloverbuds should receive the same form of recognition for their records.  For a list of Cloverbud resources and activities, go to Maine 4-H Cloverbud Program at www.umext.maine.edu/Waldo/4H/Resources.

 

Citizenship Washington Focus (CWF)                                                                                                                         

Start making plans now to visit our Nation’s Capitol during the week of July 5-12, 2008. Citizenship Washington Focus is a leadership program conducted by the National 4-H Council for high school youth ages 15 to 18.  Delegations of 4-Hers from across the country spend six days touring the city and attending leadership skill-building workshops. This summer, the Maine delegation will leave on Saturday July 5 and return on July 12. You will stay at the National 4-H Conference Center just outside Washington, DC. Visiting the most popular sites in Washington will be a part of the trip.

Contact your county 4-H office to find out how to apply for this trip. Each county has their own selection process.  For Waldo County: go to the Waldo County 4-H Web calendar and click on 2008 CWF County Participation Contract at www.umext.maine.edu/Waldo/4H/Calendar.

 

UMaine Day at the Legislature - 4-H Honorary Page Program                                                                               

UMaine Day at the Legislature, Thursday, March 27^th, is quickly approaching.  Since legislators like to see 4-H members from their districts, 4-Hers [recommended age 13 or older] are encouraged to serve as Honorary Pages. The Maine 4-H program has reserved 25 spots for Honorary Pages.

What does a Page do?
Pages hand out information to Representatives or Senators or place the paper information on their desks.  They also hand phone and other messages to Representatives and Senators on the floor.  To learn more about what Honorary Pages do, visit the website listed at the end of this article.

If you are interested in serving as a page on March 27^th, please contact Jane Haskell, Extension educator in Waldo County at 1-800-287-1426 x1013 or jhaskell@umext.maine.edu.  She will be serving as the coordinator of the 2008 program. We will attempt to have pages from different parts of the state. Slots, representing different state senators and representatives, will be filled in the order they are received.  If the slot for your legislative district has been filled, your name will be added to a wait list in the order it is received.  If you are leaving a message, please be sure to say “I am interested in serving as a 4-H Page at the Legislature on March 27^th”.  Your slot will be reserved if you leave your:

full name  age  mailing address  county  phone number  email address  name of your school  grade in school  name of your 4-H Club  name of your Maine State Representative  name of your Maine State Senator

4-H Honorary Pages will be in the Capitol from 8:30am – 3:00pm. A parent or  4-H volunteer provides transportation and chaperoning.  For a complete list of expectations and duties, visit the 4-H Honorary Page Program webpage at www.umext.maine.edu/Waldo/4H/Pages.  Deadline to register is March 10^th

 

 Tanglewood 4-H Camp Offers February Vacation Day Camp                                                                                     

Tanglewood 4‑H Camp and Learning Center, has announced a February Vacation Day Camp for children aged 6-14. The program will be at Tanglewood's Lincolnville campus and will take place on Thursday, February 21st and Friday, February 22^nd 2008, from 9am to 2pm. each day.  The cost is $20 per child for one day and $35 for both days, and all materials and supplies are included (participants must provide own bag lunch). For more information or to register, contact School Program Director Heather Francis by phone at 207-789-5805 or by e-mail at hfrancis@umext.maine.edu.

Participants will take part in a “Winter Ecology Adventure” while learning how to be wildlife trackers, discovering how animals adapt to survive the winter and doing winter tree identification.   We will be hiking over two miles while exploring, so be prepared to be active!  Snowshoeing will be available for ages nine and above. 

 

2008 Brain Power Engineers Week Expo                                                                                                                   

Saturday, March 1, 2008
University of Maine Orono
For more information go to www.EngineeringME.com
Cost: $2.00 per person donation suggested
 

 Volt Training Corner                                                                                                                                                   

On the following Saturdays in 2008 - April 12, July 12, and October 11 -  VOLT training will be held in Penobscot and Piscataquis Counties.  Select one of those dates to attend from 9:30 am to 3:30 pm. Please bring your lunch, completed application forms, and a $5.00 fee for the notebook and materials.  No one will be turned away for lack of money.  Location will usually be in Bangor at the Penobscot County Cooperative Extension office, 307 Maine Ave, but we may hold one in Piscataquis County in Dover if we have enough requests. So, register ahead of time by calling 942-7396 and speaking with Stacy (Barb, or Theresa).
 

 4-H Horse Project News                                                                                                                                               

Happy New Year to all in the Maine 4-H horse project. We would like to remind you of some up coming dates and ideas. See Maine 4-H website for more information on these:

Study groups will be offered starting in February at several high school sites throughout Maine. This is a chance for you to get together with others and study for the Eastern States Exposition (ESE) tryouts knowledge test or to gain more information for the National teams

April 1:  All animal approval forms must be on file at the county office for ESE participation, and Intent to Participate at the ESE tryouts is also due on April 1. See Maine 4-H web page for forms

A 4-H Horse Get-Together Day is being planned for later in March or April. Come meet others and learn about the state events: Maine 4-H Days, Eastern States Exposition team, Communications, Horse Judging, Horse Quiz Bowl and Hippology teams

Eastern States Exposition tryouts: will be open to teen leaders, riders and DRIVERS this year. You may only try out in one area. Packets must be postmarked by May 10. Tryouts will be held June 20, 21, 22 at the Skowhegan Fairgrounds.

z Maine 4-Hers - to try out for the horse team can download the packet or call their county Extension office
4-Hers who intend to participate in the Horse Tryouts also need to fill out an Intent to Participate form and send it in by April 1. Also your horse approval form is due by April 1 only if you are trying out for Eastern States.

Maine 4-H Days                                                                                                                                                       

Mark your calendars now for Maine 4-H Days this summer at Windsor Fairgrounds, June 27, 28, and 29. It will be a weekend full of personal enrichment workshops as well as livestock events. Camping is encouraged and entire families are welcome.

 

Meat Goat Seasonal 4-H Project

Do you want to raise two meat goat kids this year as a 4-H Project?  If so, the University of Maine Cooperative Extension is launching a pilot project where 4-Hers purchase castrated buck kids from meat goat producers in Maine for the purpose of raising them to market weight for resale.

If you are interested, you can find more information on the 4-H website at www.umext.maine.edu/4h/resources/goat/seasonal.htm.  You can also contact Extension Educator, Richard Brzozowski at 1-800-287-1471 or rbrz@umext.maine.edu for more information.

 

National 4-H Trips                                                                                                                                                   

It is time to apply for the National 4-H Trips, Conference and Congress. To apply, please fill out an application and submit your 4-H Story and your Resume. Mail your completed application to the State 4-H Office. Guidelines for writing your 4-H story can be found at www.umext.maine.edu/4h/events.htm and click on the event you wish to apply for.

You may also pick up an application at your local County Extension office. National 4-H Congress will be held in November in Atlanta and National 4-H Conference will be held in Washington DC in March 2009.

Applications must be postmarked by April 15, 2008.

 

 4-H EDGE Weekend 2008                                                                                                                                           

Don’t forget to mark your calendars for…
The 4-H EDGE Weekend: Connecting Kids to Campus – May 17 and 18, 2008

The  4-H staff is hard at work on plans for this year’s 4-H EDGE Weekend.  The event promises to be bigger and (dare we say) better than last year!  We look forward to a wide variety of workshops for all you 4-H members ages 11-15 along with the on-campus experience that we hope will set you on the track for college!  Sleep in a residence hall, eat at the University Marketplace, take advantage of recreational activities, find out what interesting places are tucked away around the campus, and try out activities related to just some of the many majors and career paths available through the University.

Older youth, ages 16-18, are invited to a day-long set of sessions on Saturday that will prepare you for the college life that is right around the corner for you.  Practice some of the skills you will need for admission, learn how to deal with some of the pitfalls of college life such as drug and alcohol abuse and (too) easy credit.  Find out how to position yourself to receive scholarships and financial aid.  Think the University of Maine is too close to home?  Find out how UMaine can be a springboard to study across the nation and around the world!

Of course, there will also be parent workshops.  Get comfortable with the admission process.  Learn that application for financial aid does not need to be scary or impossible.  Find out what your child needs to do to be “scholarship ready”.  The registration forms will be ready about the beginning of March so watch the mail and save the date!!  Get ready to get “connected to campus”.

 

PAWSitively Youth Pre-Printing Specials                                                                                                                   

NRAES is preparing to publish PAWSitively Youth: A Guidebook about Dogs for Community Outreach Leaders. The guidebook includes science-based information on behavior, anatomy, nutritional needs, breed characteristics, and over population issues that will be useful in developing excellent educational programs for youth ten and older. It will be available in March 2008.

For more information, including a two-page flier, sample pages, and a table of contents, go to www.nraes.org.  You can place your order for books or sponsorship on NRAES secure website.

  

Congratulations to Holly Whitcomb and the Maine 4-H Dairy Judging Teams                                                       

This year two 4-H Dairy Judging Teams represented Maine at national competitions. The first team went to the World Dairy Expo in Madison, Wisconsin, September 28 to October 3, 2007. The 4-Hers were Alison Moon of Freeport, Alyssa Kenny of Gray, Jessyca Rankin of Cornish, and Devon Dekoschak of Levant. Leanne Moon and Chris Kimball were their coaches.

The second dairy judging team participated in the North American International Livestock Exposition in Louisville, Kentucky November 3 and 4, 2007.  Holly Whitcomb (Waldo, ME), Alan O’Brien (Windham, ME), Marjorie and Andrew Hardy (Farmington, ME) proudly competed as the Maine 4-H Dairy Judging team. Betsy Bullard, Mary Briggs, and Henry Hardy coached the team in preparation for these National competitions. The team finished 16^th out of thirty one 4-H dairy judging teams.