- Author: Darlene McIntyre
Welcome back to a new 4-H year. I hope you had a great summer. Please be watching for notices from you club for enrollment information. Don’t forget to ask your friends to join 4-H.
Leadership Retreat and Officer Training
The Leadership retreat will be held Saturday August 25, 2012 at OLM School, 1400 E. 27th Street, Merced from 9:00-4:00. Please have your club officers and junior and teen leaders sign up. They may register at: https://ucce.ucdavis.edu/survey/survey.cfm?surveynumber=6974
2012 California 4-H State Leaders Forum
Tick, tock. Tick, tock. The 2012 California 4-H State Leaders’ Forum will be here before you know it! Get ready for the learning, networking, and just plain fun that awaits you at “4-H in a Minute” at Asilomar in Pacific Grove from November 9-11. Highlights of this year’s Forum include:
- A keynote address by Nancy Franz of the Iowa 4-H program that will transform the way you present 4-H to your community.
- A schedule that balances informative workshops with time to enjoy the Asilomar Conference Grounds and the adjacent state beach.
- Assemblies filled with both fun and information.
- Opportunities to network with your 4-H peers from throughout the state.
Registration fees will increase after September 1, so go to http://ucanr.org/slf2012 now for complete information and links to the online registration survey and printable registration forms. Don’t be caught napping when the alarm goes off for this outstanding annual event. “Nothing is a waste of time if you use the experience wisely.” ~ Rodin
2012 State 4-H Leaders’ Forum
November 9-11, 2012 at Asilomar Conference Center, Pacific Grove
$60 registration; $235.50-374.50 per room
http://www.ca4h.org/Programs/Conferences/SLF/
The State 4-H Leaders Forum provides a weekend retreat for 4-H volunteers across California to gather for networking, education, relaxation, and fun. Volunteers of all ages, experiences, and locations share this opportunity to further their volunteering "career," find new inspirations, and bring new ideas home to their counties and clubs.
- Workshop proposals: Due June 30, 2012 at http://ucanr.org/2012slfworkshop
- Registration is by online survey or paper form with check mailed to the Registrar. Please register by September 1 at http://ucanr.org/slfregister
- Room reservations due by September 9 at http://www.ca4h.org/files/141178.pdf
Announcing the New Highest California 4-H Youth Award!
The Incentives and Recognition Advisory Committee is pleased to announce the launch of the California 4-H Diamond Clover Award. The Diamond Clover is awarded to the highest achieving 4-H youth members through an application and essay process. All youth who achieve the qualifications are eligible for this award. Applications may be submitted at any time during the year and while a young person is between 17 and 19 years of age. Each quarter, applications are reviewed by the Incentives and Recognition Advisory Committee and awards are given. Awardees are announced annually at the State Leadership Conference. Applications are available now for submission beginning July 1, 2012 at http://www.ca4h.org/Administration/Advisory_Committees/IR/
Rationale: Most youth serving organizations have a highest honor—Boy Scouts have Eagle Scouts, Girl Scouts have the Gold Award, Camp Fire USA has the WoHeLo Award. While the 4-H State Ambassador Program is a very high honor, it is a working honor and is prohibitive to many who may be deserving of a highest youth award.
2013 Salute to Excellence 4-H Volunteer Awards.
The National 4-H Salute to Excellence Volunteer Recognition Award recognizes 4-H volunteers who demonstrate exemplary service to 4-H, while promoting service through volunteerism as both an opportunity and a privilege. Additional information is available at
http://www.4-h.org/resource-library/grants-awards/opportunities/salute-to-excellence-awards/.
The categories are as follows:
- The Volunteer of the Year Award is for individuals who have served as 4-H volunteers for less than 10 years at the local, county, district or state level.
- The Outstanding Lifetime Volunteer Award is for individuals who have served 10 or more years at the local, county, district or state level.
- Mail completed nomination packet(s) to the State 4-H Office, Attn: Shannon Dogan, University of California, Davis, One Shields Ave., DANR Bldg., Davis, CA 95616. If you FED EX the packet please send it to the State 4-H Office, Attn: Shannon Dogan, DANR Building, 225 Hopkins Road, Davis, CA 95616. Nominations should be received by October 2, 2012 to be considered. The State 4-H Office will verify with county 4-H staff that the volunteer is enrolled and in good standing. All nomination packets will be reviewed by the 4-H Incentives and Recognition Advisory Committee who will recommend one nominee for each category to the Associate Director of 4-H Program and Policy for final approval. Please note there is no limitation on the number of nominees from each county.
JOIN The Revolution of Responsibility! $1,000 is available to 4-H Clubs and Groups
Due September 15, November 15
To JOIN the revolution, 4-H members, with the help of an adult 4-H volunteer mentor, should follow these steps to plan a project.
- Identify an issue or problem in your community.
- Find community organizations to collaborate with.
- Plan the project: form goals, outline tasks, list needed resources, and prepare a budget
- Prepare ways to document and record your project to share with others.
- JOIN the revolution at http://ucanr.org/join/
A toolkit of tips, templates, links, and suggested guidelines has been developed to support your projects. From the initial work to identify a compelling community issue to the final celebration of its completion, use this toolkit to help you carry out the important steps necessary to ensure success. http://www.ca4h.org/Support/RofR/Toolkit/