- Author: Darlene McIntyre
Camp Applications
Camp Applications for Camp Sylvester are due Monday May 23, 2011. There is a late fee charge for applications that come in after the 23rd so hurry and get your application turned in. Camp will be held June 24-28, 2011. The cost is $150 per camper. 9th graders are eligible to sign up for camp as campers this year. We will be offering a special Leadership Training with fun activities for the 9th grade campers. Applications can be downloaded from the Merced County 4-H website or you can pick them up at the 4-H office at 2145 Wardrobe Ave Merced. Camp is open to non 4-H members also, so if you have friends that would like to attend have them sign up.
State Field Day
Signups for Presentation for State Field Day can be done on line on the State 4-H website at http://www.ca4h.org/. Click on programs, events, then State Field Day. Presentation Day sign ups are due by May 23.
Milk Bar and Friends Helping Friends Sign-ups
There are still several slots available. If any project groups would like to take a shift please let your club leader know or call the 4-H office at 385-7418. There does need to be an adult 4-H fingerprinted volunteer working at each shift to supervise.
Record Book Due Date
Record books are due at the county level on July 25, 2011 at the 4-H office. We will also need one judge per every ten books turned in per club.
Equine Herpes- 1 Virus
4-H equine Projects: there has been an outbreak of equine herpes-1 virus. Don Klingborg has provided us with web links for information about this highly infectious disease and CDFA has the outbreak status.
On the School's website: http://www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/whatsnew/article.cfm?id=2390
CDFA also has info available about the status of the outbreak at: http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/ http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/egov/Press_Releases/Press_Release.asp?PRnum=11-021
The animal projects do need to be aware the risks of disease transmission and risk management when raising an animal. 4-H now has Bio-Security Project curriculum available to use with animal projects or as a separate project. We encourage the clubs to use this curriculum. Merced County is going to be the pilot county for proficiency levels. For more information on the Bio-Security curriculum call the office at 385-7418.
Club Leadership
New 4-H clubs in the county and some existing ones are looking for new community club leaders. Club leaders are appointed by the county on a yearly basis. The primary club leader serves as the contact person between the county 4-H staff and the 4-H members, parents and project leaders. The staff at the county office is here to support the club leaders whenever necessary.
There are a variety of ways clubs handle the leadership responsibility. Some clubs have one Community Club Leader; others have a Community Leader and a Co-leader. Some of the clubs have a club leader and a group of 3 or 4 other volunteers that work on different parts of the club operation. Each club needs to decide what works best for them.
We know the following communities are looking for club leaders. They are Gustine, Stevinson, Winton, Atwater and Weaver. If you are interested or know of someone that is interested in becoming a club leader please contact the 4-H office at 385-7418.
A club leader workshop will be held in July for new club leader. The workshop will be open to returning club leaders also, if they are interested.
State Leadership Conference
Registration is now open for State Leadership Conference. The Conference will be held July 28-31, 2011. Applications can be done on line at http://ucce.ucdavis.edu/survey/survey.cfm?surveynumber=6257 or for paper registration click on www.ca4h.org/files/84618.pdf. Please print a copy of your registration and turn it into the county 4-H office along with your payment. If this is your first time attending the conference the county 4-H office will pay $200 toward your conference fees. If you have questions please call 209-385-7418. Applications are due by June 17, 2011.