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February 2006 |
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#1 - Message from Marilyn What a great start to a new year! There are many great educational activities and learning events scheduled as noted in the many newsletters that are sent to us. We have a lot of new things to integrate into our programs both this year and next and I hope this transition is going well. Be sure to send a copy of your Plan of Work and Report of Accomplishment to us so that we have a good idea of your successes. The Focus Teams will be meeting in March to prepare the state report so we’re looking forward to reading a lot of good success stories and making sense of everything that you reported. It is VERY important that your volunteers and youth are informing decision-makers of the positive qualities of your program and how important it is to support the IFAS number one legislative priority. This month and next are critical for individuals to show support of 4-H and FCS programs. PLEASE take this seriously and strongly encourage local phone calls and visits. We are awaiting the Governor’s budget to find out an exact line number in the budget. We will be at the
State Capitol twice in April. On
April 5th, many of us will join with UF as they celebrate
the Best wishes for a great February! MarilynNEWS TO KNOW #2 - 4-H
Showcase at the State Fair
#3
- Camps
Info
Be
on the look out by the end of next month on the Camping Operational
Guidelines being sent to your county office. Thanks to
everybody on feedback during the summer program meetings on American
Camping Accreditation and Planning Camp areas. Hopefully our
in-service meeting was helpful. If you have any questions
about planning your week this summer please feel free to contact me.
Wendi Zimmerman at
wazim@ufl.edu.
~ Return to Top ~ #4
- Youth
Leadership 70 male youth 14 Adult Male
#5
- 4-H
Day at the Capitol RECOGNIZE & REWARD #6 - 4-H Families Count: Family Strengthening AwardsThe 2006 4-H Families Count: Family Strenthening Award program offers five awards in the amount of $15,000 each to programs within the Cooperative Extension System that focus on family strengthening in rural communities. The application form is now available on the website at http://www.fourhcouncil.edu/4HFamiliesProgram.aspx. The deadline is June 1, 2006.
Many of you heard more about the program at the NAE4HA meeting in Seattle. We are so proud of our first five award winners and are anxious to hear about the training and education they provide to our system during the next few months.
The first step of course is applying for the Programs of Distinction through National 4-H Headquarters. The website with that information is http://www.national4-hheadquarters.gov/about/pod.htm
We hope that all of you will think of one or two programs in your state that could apply for this prestigious award. $15,000 as an unrestricted cash award is a wonderful addition for program resources! Please feel free to contact either Sharon (sanderson@fourhcouncil.edu) or Audrey (aadams@fourhcouncil.edu) regarding this award or Dr. Suzanne LeMenestrel (smemestrel@csrees.usda.gov) regarding the POD process.
#7 - Know an Exceptional 4-H Youth? Tell us about it! We all know why 4-H is special, but we need your help to tell everyone out there who doesn't yet know! We're looking for stories about exceptional youth who are making a difference through 4-H—outstanding leaders, unique activities and other stories that we can develop to tell the story of 4-H Afterschool across the country. For example, there’s a 4-H teen in Kentucky who raises money to outfit police dogs with bulletproof vests and a 4-H youth who makes blankets to send back to the orphanage in Russia she was adopted from. Do you know of a story that’s interesting, inspiring or unique? You don’t have to write it, just call us and talk—we’ll do the rest. Repeat, you don’t have to write it! A short conversation will go a long way towards promoting 4-H across the country. It helps increase awareness of the good 4-H does for our youth, and ensures continued funding for our programs. So please take a minute, think about all the great things 4-H youth and programs do, and TELL US! E-mail us at wow@fourhcouncil.edu or call Gretchen at 301-961-2829. GIFTS & GRANTS #8
- Hope
Venture Grants / Music Television (MTV) / Youth Venture: Offering
Assistance to Hurricane Katrina Victims PROGRAM:
Music Television (MTV) and Youth Venture are offering the Hope Venture
Grants to support young people who want to launch a venture that will
aid those affected by Hurricane Katrina. First priority will be given
to proposals that support the creation of sustainable ventures that
aid the citizens and communities who have lost so much from this
disaster. A second priority will be for proposals to start
organizations solely for the purpose of raising and distributing funds
for those in need. Hope Venture Grants will be offered every week for
the next six months to groups of two or more young people (ages 13-20)
with the most compelling venture ideas to assist the people and
communities affected. DEADLINE:
March 17, 2006. FUNDING:
Individual awards up to $1,000. ELIGIBILITY:
Groups of two or more individuals between the ages of 13 and 20 years
old. Any team member under the age of 18 must obtain the signature of
a parent or legal guardian on all written documents submitted in
connection with this promotion. CONTACT: Susan Hamilton, Youth
Venture, Attn: Hope Venture Grants, 434 W. 33rd
Street, Twelfth Floor, New York, New York 10001. You may
visit the website at http://www.youthventure.org/index.php?tg=articles&idx=More&article=1276&topics=368.
#9
- Let's
Just Play Giveaway / Nickelodeon (Nick): Playing
Throughout the Nation PROGRAM:
Let's
Just Play is a nationwide program dedicated to promoting fun,
sportsmanship, team spirit and fitness. Let's Just Play will work
with parents, schools and other community organizations to put fun
back into play and play back into YOUR day. DEADLINE:
Entries
must be postmarked by May 31, 2006, and received by midnight, June
7, 2006. FUNDING: Individual
awards up to $5,000. ELIGIBILITY:
Six to fifteen year olds as of May 31, 2006, with assistance
from a parent, teacher or after-school program director, can apply
through their after school community based nonprofit 501(c)3
organizations. Winner's
school or organization must: (1) be an elementary or middle school,
grades K through 9, (public or not-for-profit private) and/or an
after-school community based 501(c)(3) organization; (2) use the
prize for play and/or physical activities; and (3) be willing to
sign an affidavit stating that it will use the prize as described.
SEE WEBSITE FOR ADDITIONAL ELIGIBILITY DETAILS. CONTACT:
Nickelodeon,
P. O. Box 929, New York, NY 10108, Attn: The Let's Just Play
Giveaway, (212) 846-4333. You may visit the website at http://www.nick.com/all_nick/everything_nick/ljp_grants.jhtml. #10
- GIS SOFTWARE GRANTS FOR
2006 OPTIONS & OPPORTUNITIES
The
Elements
of Effective Practice Toolkit from MENTOR
contains materials and information to help you start or maintain a
quality mentoring program. The free toolkit can be downloaded from
the MENTOR website. The new toolkit can help you, whether you are
new to mentoring or have been working with young people for many
years. It is designed to accompany MENTOR's Elements
of Effective Practice, or guidelines to ensure quality
mentoring. The Elements of Effective Practice has four components:
program design and planning; program management; program operations;
and program evaluation. The toolkit includes step-by-step
instructions designed to help mentoring programs implement and
adhere to each of the four parts.
The Elements of Effective Practice Toolkit also contains more than 160 tools and templates that mentoring programs can customize according to their needs, depending on whether they are starting or strengthening a program. The toolkit includes almost 100 references to additional resources and a "Checklist of Program Progress" for existing mentoring programs to help them confirm that they have the proper components in place to grow a quality, sustainable program. To
download the free toolkit from MENTOR, visit: www.mentoring.org/eeptoolkit. #12
- 4-H and the Latino Community Did
you know Latinos will make up half of the growth of our country during
the next two decades? This group comprises 14 percent of the US
population, or about 41 million people, and nearly 14 million are
under age of 18. The population is expected to reach more than 55
million by 2020. 4-H
is a diverse organization that welcomes youth of all cultures from all
parts of the country. National
4-H Council is looking at ways to reach out to Latino communities in
our country through 4-H programs. We'd like to know if you're doing
any work with this community, and if so, if you could share with us
what you are doing. Email Gretchen Hilburger at ghilburger@fourhcouncil.edu to share your work and ideas. ¡Muchas gracias! #13 - 4-H
Night With The Orlando Magic! February 4, 2006 ENDNOTES
#14 -
E-mail Your News Tip
About Florida 4-H If you are not sure if your idea is a news tip, please fill out the online form, and we will contact you. https://4h.ifas.ufl.edu/newsandinfo/NewsPhotos/EmailNewsTip.htm. ~ Return to Top ~ #15 - Take Note: Dates to Remember
#16 -
Editor’s Notes |
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