4-H Cloverleaf is Now Online Only!

In order to reduce cost and increase sustainability the 4-H Cloverleaf is now online. That means you will no longer receive your copy every other month in your postal box. If you have completed your annual membership or volunteer enrollment and provided us with your email address you will receive it via email. If you are not sure if 4-H has your current email you can email Shelley at ssarabia@pinellascounty.org and provide her with it. We will also continue to post it on the 4-H website and here on the 4-H blog. On the blog you can subscribe to the blog, which will not only deliver your 4-H Cloverleaf to your inbox, but all of the other posts about activities and events that come up. So here is the April 2009 4-H Cloverleaf!
http://pinellas.ifas.ufl.edu/4-H/cloverleaf/April2009.pdf

4-H Centennial Message

Please watch the following video message from Dr. Marilyn Norman, Associate Dean for Florida Extension, 4-H Youth Development, as she shares with you the plans for the 2009 4-H Centennial and the goals for Florida 4-H for the years to come.
http://webdev.ifas.ufl.edu/icsvideo/ComingsGoings/ComingsGoingsFeb09.html

Celebrate 100 Years of 4-H Making Communities Stronger

A century ago in Florida, boys learned about planting corn and girls discovered how to grow tomatoes in 4-H clubs. Today in Pinellas County, thousands of youth and adults grow and work together for positive change through dozens of projects in 4-H Youth Development. And, while growing vegetables still takes place in some 4-H clubs, learning leadership, citizenship and life skills are the true missions of the program facilitated by Pinellas County Extension.

This year marks the 100-year anniversary of 4-H in Florida, and the Pinellas County chapter is hosting a celebration. Volunteers, alumni, youth and their families are welcome to join in the event. The Pinellas County 4-H Foundation Centennial Celebration and Fundraising Dinner is planned for Friday, March 13, at 6:30 p.m. It will be held at Banquet Masters, 8100 Park Blvd. N., in Pinellas Park.

The donation for the celebration is $50 for each adult and $25 for each youth. The celebration includes dinner, guest speakers and dancing entertainment before and after dinner. Reservations are requested by Monday, March 2. Those who cannot attend the celebration but would still like to donate are welcome to send a contribution to the Pinellas County 4-H Foundation, P.O. Box 66595, St. Pete Beach, FL 33736.

All proceeds from the fundraiser support the 4-H Foundation that fosters new and innovative youth programs. When you donate, you support scholarships to camps and other 4-H events. You also fund operating expenses for clubs and programs for schools, after school and families. Through these programs, youth ages 5 through 18 learn by doing, set goals, solve problems, make new friends, give back to the community and build connections with others.

For more information about the Pinellas County 4-H Foundation Centennial Celebration or to purchase tickets, please email erhan.ozey@pc4hfoundation.org or call (727) 641-8344 or view the following link http://pinellas.ifas.ufl.edu/blog_4H/centennial_invitation.pdf

Please pass this information along to friends, family, and colleagues!

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.