2009 Florida 4-H Volunteer Forum

Registration for this year's Florida 4-H Volunteer Forum is now open. The Forum takes place at 4-H Camp Ocala on the weekend of April 24-26 and costs $85 for the full weekend. This forum is open to adult 4-H volunteers and offers a wonderful opportunity to learn about new programs and new ways to deliver old programs. Just as importantly, 4-H volunteers can network with volunteers from other counties, learn from each other, and make friends in the process.
The volunteer forum is sponsored by the Florida 4-H Volunteer Association. In addition to workshops, there will be the election of association officers and a silent auction. The theme for the weekend will be the Florida 4-H Centennial. Participants are asked to bring scrapbooks and pictures from their county's history.
If you are a 4-H volunteer interested in spending an enjoyable weekend learning with great people in a beautiful natural location, you should download the forms at: http://florida4h.org/events/state_volunteer_forum.shtml
and learn more about this weekend.
Registration forms and payment should be returned to your county 4-H office.

2009 Role Models Today Writing Contest

Here is an opportunity to participate in a writing contest from the University of Florida's College of Journalism! The Role Models Foundation would like to invite high school students to participate in their 2009 Role Models Today Writing Contest. The best entries will receive a $100 cash prize and may be published on http://www.rolemodelstoday.org/. To enter the RMT Writing Contest all students have to do is submit an essay on the theme, “One of the most important issues facing the nation in the news today” by March 16, 2009. For contest rules and for more information, please download the flyer at: http://rolemodels.jou.ufl.edu/rolemodels/writerszone/contest09.pdf

County Events

Now is the time to start preparing your act for Night of the Arts or planning your demonstration/illustrated talk for Demonstration Day. County Events will be here before you know it.

Night of the Arts will be held March 6, 2009 at 7 pm. So polish up your favorite tune or grab a few (no more than 4) of your club mates and put together a skit or practice your favorite dance. Registration forms will be available from the office or on the web. Turn in your registration form by phone, fax, mail, or email by February 16, 2009. Night of the Arts will be held at Northwest Church of Christ, 6355 38th Avenue North, St. Petersburg.

Demonstration Day is March 21, 2009 at 9 am at the Pinellas County Extension Office. Every 4-H’er is expected to present a demonstration as part of their project, so why not take that extra step and present it at Demonstration Day? Contact Jean Rogalsky at 582-2597 or email jrogalsk@pinellascounty.org to make arrangements for help with your demonstration. Deadline for Demonstration Day registrations is March 2, 2009. Again you can mail, fax, email or phone in your registration but mark the deadline on your calendar today.

There is also a Poster and Photo Exhibit Contest. Registration for this competition is included on the Night of the Arts form. Information for the Dairy Poster Contest has not been released.

The links to the two registration forms are below.


Demonstration Day Registration - http://pinellas.ifas.ufl.edu/4-H/pdf/2009Demonstration%20Day%20Entry%20Form.pdf
Night of the Arts Registration- http://pinellas.ifas.ufl.edu/4-H/pdf/2009entry%20form%20night%20of%20the%20arts.pdf

Happy 100th Birthday Florida 4-H

The year 2009 marks the Florida 4-H Centennial. Counties and Districts across the state are planning a number of Centennial events. Here are a sampling of events happening:

• The official start of the celebration starts at the Florida State Fair. Come see the 4-H exhibits and play 4-H putt putt golf at the Ag Hall of Fame building. The Floida State Fair runs from February 5-16.
• District IX Council is hosting a Florida 4-H Centennial Celebration on January 31st from 10:30 A.M. to 2:00 P.M., at Selby Public Library in Sarasota County . This event will have an open house format, featuring interactive booths and displays designed to highlight a variety of 4-H program areas. There will also be hands-on activities, crafts, games, face painting, a marine science touch tank, and more! At this event, attendees can take part in our Centennial Community Service Initiative by making cards to be sent to deployed military personnel. The goal to make at least 100 cards!
• The Pinellas County 4-H Foundation is planning a Centennial Banquet Friday, March 13, 2009. The banquet will take place at Banquet Masters in Pinellas Park. Tickets for adults will be $50.00 and will include dinner, entertainment, and a guest speaker.
• Across the state, 4-H members are planning tree planting activities with the goal of planting 100 trees per county. Local clubs will be working with their families, schools, and municipalities to achieve this goal.

For more information on the Florida 4-H Centennial or for volunteer opportunities, go to http://www.florida4h.org/events/centennial.shtml or call the Pinellas County 4-H Office at (727) 582-2215.

4-H Million Trees Project

What better way to celebrate the Florida 4-H Centennial than to "Make the Best Better"? Florida 4-H members have a unique way to celebrate Florida 4-H's birthday by being part of a national initiative - The 4-H Million Trees Project. This project was started by a Pacifica, California 4-H'er who wanted to do something big to help combat climate change. The goal is to mobilize the approximately 7 million 4-H members in North America to participate by planting 1 million trees. These trees will then play a part in reducing atmospheric CO2.

It is estimated that there are 90,000 4-H clubs and units in the U.S. and Canada. If each club or unit planted twelve trees, this goal would be reached. The good news is that 4-H will be continuing this project for the next few years, until the goal is reached. This is a great idea for a club community service project and one that will last and continue to serve the community.

Here are some points and tips if you are interested in knowing more:

• Clubs interested should register at both the national (4hmilliontrees.org) and Florida ( sfrc.edu/plt/4H_Million_Trees) websites. Building the network is critical.
• The Arbor Day Foundation (arborday.org/4h) is partnering with 4-H, but you may find other partners.
• Joining the Arbor Day Foundation allows you to buy twelve trees for a dollar each annually for four years.
• All trees planted must be native. They provide food and shelter for our native wildlife and thrive in our climate.
• Plant the right tree in the right place. Large trees need large spaces.
• Ask at your church, school, or community park for possible planting areas.
• Planting is just the first step; please plan on follow up care. Newly planted trees need water daily.
• Participating in this project teaches a 4-H member that they can personally change the world.

In 4-H we teach life skills. The 4-H Million Trees Project will contribute to empowering the next generation of leaders who will know they can make a difference individually and as a group.

For more information please check the websites listed above or call Jean Rogalsky at (727) 582-2597 or email jrogalsk@pinellascounty.org.

District IX Holiday Party and Potluck Dinner

Pinellas County 4-H is part of 4-H District IX, along with Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco, Polk, and Sarasota Counties. Each year 4-H members from throughout the district come together for a variety of reasons. District counties may camp together or hold district-wide competitions. Some of these events are hosted by our District Council, a group of teens from our district counties. District Council is best known for their fabulous 4-H District Congress, a day of workshops and activities open to 4-H juniors and intermediates.

A new tradition began last year with the Annual District IX Holiday Party and Potluck Dinner, held at the Pinellas County Extension Office. This year's event is December 12, beginning at 6:00 P.M. Each person attending is required to bring in one toy for admission. As part of our Florida Centennial Initiative, participants will be wrapping these toys at the party. These toys will later be delivered to needy families. The goal is to collect 100 toys to honor 100 years of 4-H in Florida.

Participants of the Holiday Party will take part in exciting activities and meet 4-H members from across the District. One of the activites will be to tour the beautiful holiday lights in the Florida Botanical Gardens. As this is a potluck dinner, each family is asked to bring two dishes to share.

To register your family for this event, please contact Sean Russell, president if District IX Council at sdscience@verizon.net.

4-H Operation Military Kids Essay Contest

4-H Operation Military Kids has teamed up with the American Legion Auxiliary to offer the “Standing on the Shoulders of Giants: How American Veterans Have Shaped the World” essay contest open to all students in 10, 11, and 12th grades. The essay winner can receive an all-expense paid tripe to the Auxiliary’s Americanism Youth Conference March 5-9, 2009 at Valley Forge, PA. The application deadline is December 1, 2008.

Please contact Georgene Bender at gmbender@ufl.edu or Cliff Lewis at sgmlewis@ufl.edu for more information. The Student winner will be notified by January 14, 2009.