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New State Staff Contact Information
--Pat BoyEs
Janet Edwards and Jan Klein have recently relocated to the WSU Spokane campus. Since neither Janet nor Jan has fulltime assignments, email is usually the best way to reach them. However, both have cell phone numbers that you can also use.
Janet's office phone number is (509) 358-7867 and NEW cell phone number is (509) 432-4313.
Jan's office phone number is (509) 358-7937 and cell phone number is (509) 721-1791.
Their mail address is:
WSU Spokane Extension
Academic Center, Suite 425
PO Box 1495
Spokane, WA 99210-1495
FAX 509 358-7869
Please check the online Directory to see that your county contact information is up to date. Send corrections for the directory to Tiffany.
Stevens County's Sensational Saturday
--Jeanette Cornwall
The schedule of activities for Stevens County 's Sensational Saturday on February 3rd, is now available at http://stevens.wsu.edu/FourH/pdfs/ssclasslist07.pdf.
The Mane Event, Equine Education & Trade Fair
The schedule of events for The Mane Event, Equine Education & Trade Fair is now posted at http://www.maneeventexpo.com/event_forms/Clark/MEClark_Schedule.pdf. Keep checking back as the schedule will be updated again closer to the show. For more information call (250) 578-7518.
Portable and Low Ropes Challenge Information Program
--Vicky McCarley
Panhandle Lake 4-H Camp is hosting an information program for those interested in learning more about portable and low ropes challenge.
The workshop will be held on site at the Panhandle Lake on Saturday, February 10, 2007. The program is scheduled to begin at 10:00 am to 1:00 pm, with a tour of the Challenge Course to follow. Additionally, there will be information on 4-H leadership programs, and Q&A.
If you plan to attend, please bring a bag lunch; refreshments and snacks will be provided. RSVP to Tom Barte at tpbarte@hctc.com or by calling (360) 426-9523. Facility tours and other information will also be available. If you need directions, contact Tom.
Chevron/Texaco Community Pride State Award Reminder
--Gayle Ashworth
This is a reminder of the 4-H Chevron/Texaco Community Pride Award. One 4-H Club in each participating county unit will be selected to receive the Best (in-county) 4-H Community Pride Award. Please be sure to review all requests that may have been presented to your county office and forward them to the Washington State 4-H Foundation.
The Best Washington State 4-H Community Pride Award will be presented to the most outstanding Community Pride Program overall. Selection criteria are available on the application form, which can be found at http://4h.wsu.edu/foundation/index.html. This award will be presented during the Know Your Government luncheon on Monday, February 19. Please forward your "Best In-County" applications to us immediately!
Registration Packet for the 2007 State Hippology Contest
--Cheryl Mendenhall, State Hippology Volunteer Coordinator
The 2007 State Hippology Contest registration packet can be found online at http://4-h.wsu.edu/projects/horse.htm.
Gross Trivia - Brought to you by the Pacific Science Center in Support of the 4-H Science Camp-in
--Kevin Wright
Ear wax naturally dries up and forms little balls that drop out when we yawn, chew or swallow.
Plan to attend the 4-H Science Camp-in at the Pacific Science Center in Seattle on March 31-April 1. For more information visit http://4-h.wsu.edu/conferences/campin/index.htm.
Cougar Youth Weekend
--Pat BoyEs
WSU Dairy Club Announcing—Our 10th Annual Cougar Youth Weekend, April 20th – 22nd, 2007 (Friday-Sunday); a weekend for youth 9-18 years of age with an interest in all aspects of the Dairy Industry and/or Fitting and Showing dairy cattle.
Showmanship instruction will be emphasized, with workshops offered for fitting, showing, and handling of dairy heifers. Each individual will be given the opportunity to work with a heifer, have hands-on practice during the workshops, and on the last day, demonstrate what he or she has learned during the showmanship contest. Youth can also enroll in the Dairy Cattle Judging workshop, which will concentrate on visual appraisal and oral reasons.
Instruction courses in nutrition, reproduction, breeding, and udder health of dairy cows will also be offered. This is a wonderful opportunity for youth to expand their dairy knowledge in a comfortable learning environment.
For more information on Cougar Youth Weekend, contact Megan Warner, Dairy Club Secretary at Megse47@hotmail.com, dairyclub@hotmail.com, P.O. Box 481 Pullman, WA 99163 or 425-760-6506 cell phone.
Registration is now OPEN for the National Diversity Conference
--Mary Katherine Y. Deen
Washington State University Extension cordially invites you to: The Change Agents States National Diversity Conference Diversity Leadership: Modeling Systemic Change April 25 – 27, 2007 Seattle, WA. Registration is now OPEN!! http://emmps.wsu.edu/NDC/
Conference Description
The National Diversity Conference is a forum for sharing evidence-based knowledge and successful diversity leadership models. These models impact organizational change in order to meet the challenges of an increasingly diverse global society. The conference is hosted by Washington State University Extension ( http://ext.wsu.edu/ ). Sponsors include the WSU Office of the Vice President for Equity and Diversity WSU Diversity Office, USDA CSREES USDA-CSREES, and Change Agent States for Diversity and Engagement CASD/E.
This conference is designed for leadership of Land Grant Universities, including administrators, faculty and staff from extension, research, and academic programs. Private and public university partners and professional association representatives are also invited to present and attend.
Objectives :
- Showcase diversity leadership research and evidence-based successful practices for addressing program, personnel and workplace environment issues.
- Explore and analyze systemic leadership practices and policies surrounding diversity and their implications for land-grant universities.
- Share leadership models and strategies for effecting systematic organizational change in land-grant institutions/universities and the communities that they serve.
- Present the research findings and implications from the CASD/E project that address the organizational changes needed within the national land-grant institutions to meet the needs of an increasingly diverse society.
2007 Fair Equine Schedule
--Tom Gwin, State 4-H Fair Manager
Visit http://4-h.wsu.edu/statefair/equine.htm for The Equine Schedule for the 2007 WA State 4-H Fair. Please notify your potential exhibitors of the schedule changes.
Call for Papers for the Journal of Youth Development: Bridging Research and Practice
--Pat BoyEs
The Journal of Youth Development: Bridging Research and Practice, is an online resource for youth development researchers, practitioners and policymakers. The multidisciplinary, applied refereed journal is published three times a year by the National Association of Extension 4-H Agents and focuses on the development of school-aged youth through the transition to adulthood (ages 6-22).
The Journal of Youth Development: Bridging Research and Practice is currently accepting submissions of papers for publication consideration in any of the following categories:
Feature Articles—2,000-5,000 word original research articles.
Program Articles—1,500 word articles that highlight unique, successful, or promising youth development programs or initiatives.
Research and Evaluation Strategy Articles—1,000 word articles that describe innovative methodologies and strategies in the collection and analysis of quantitative or qualitative research and evaluation data.
Resource Reviews—300 word critical reviews of resources and tools that would be helpful to youth development professionals.
Manuscripts are accepted at anytime. Please visit the following website to access submission guidelines and the first two issues of the journal: http://www.nae4ha.org/profdev/joyd/index.html. Please contact the editor, Patricia Dawson, with questions at Patricia.dawson@oregonstate.edu.
Innovation Center Monthly Message
--Pat BoyEs
A Time for Reflection and a Time for Learning
I've always liked the thought of New Years resolutions as a form of accountability. I set goals, evaluate my own success and determine whether my efforts have had the desired impact. For organizations, it works similarly. As organizational leaders we owe the groups an honest accounting of our efforts and their impact. We also owe ourselves the opportunity to reflect fully on our successes and limitations and to consider ways in which we can improve our performance.
Reflect and Improve: a Tool Kit for Engaging Youth and Adults as Partners in Program Evaluation can help your organization conduct its own evaluation.
Reflect and Improve allows facilitators to identify and capitalize on the skills of the people around them. Both youth and adults gain new skills while engaging in reflective activities that lead to improvements in their program, project, or activity. Reflect and Improve helps take the mystery out of conducting an evaluation by including practical activities, handouts and explanations on involving youth and adults in planning, implementing, analyzing and sharing the results of evaluation.
The benefits of program evaluation are well known, but what do organizations stand to gain by integrating young people into this process?
Better Evaluation Design: Youth can provide important input on designing evaluation tools. They bring a fresh on-the-ground perspective to the process that enriches the final product
More Useful Results: When you include the ideas and perspectives of young people as well as adults, you wind up with a more comprehensive analysis and more information that you can use to strengthen your organization, interact with stakeholders and improve your community
Sound Youth Development: Youth can directly apply new skills through the process of learning to build community relationships and understanding real-world experiences. Programs can actively involve young people in designing evaluation tools, pilot testing them, collecting data, reviewing evaluation results, and making suggestions for modifying practices.
Youth Leadership for Community Change: Youth can practice real-life community leadership through data collection, reflection, and action.
So, consider starting the New Year off right by involving young people in assessing your program or organization's performance. You will be glad you did.
You can read more about Reflect and Improve by going to the “Tool kits and Resources” section of our website, http://www.theinnovationcenter.org/r_toolkits.asp.
Washington State 4-H Livestock Judging
--Mark Heitstuman
The Washington State 4-H Livestock Judging Team recently competed in the National Western Stock Show judging event held in Denver , CO on January 6, 2007. The National Western Livestock Judging Contest is an annual event that draws state-winning teams from across the United States . The Washington State 4-H team placed 14th out of 22 4-H teams competing in the event; including 3rd place overall as a team in beef placing. Members of the 2007 Judging Team included Caleb Klein of Lincoln County , Katie Hull of Cowlitz County , Melissa Knowlton of Pierce County , and Kalynn Morcom of Snohomish County . Mark Heitstuman, WSU Asotin County Extension, and Katrina Walker, Washington State 4-H Fair Livestock Judging Superintendent, were the team coaches. The team members qualified for the event by placing in the top 4 at the Washington State 4-H Livestock Judging Contest held in Puyallup last September.
While competing in Denver , the team had the opportunity to attend a dinner theatre production of “Phantom”; tour the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame and the Air Force Academy; and visit the National Western Stock Show, one of the largest livestock exhibits in the United States . Counties interested in learning more about livestock judging at Super Saturdays, Leader's Council or other events may contact team coaches Heitstuman or Walker, or any of the 4 team members.
Former 4-Her, Nate Bradshaw, had an accident
--Lana Thomas Cruse, Kittitas County Director
Nate Bradshaw was a State Ambassador and went to all the state events as well as Congress and Conference. He and 5 other Kittitas County youth were tubing at a church camp on White Pass. It was a slick icy run and they hit a tree. Nate hit the tree with his head. He has been in Harbor View with a concussion and has now been transferred to Children's Hospital. He is doing well but has a way to go (perhaps loss of hearing, nerve damage on face, some memory loss, etc). You can check on him at this website www.caringbridge.org/visit/natebradshaw or email him at mbradsn@u.washington.edu.
Just a Reminder!
When you have new Extension staff that will be working in some capacity with 4-H, please let Nancy in the State 4-H Office know. They will be added to mailing lists, added to the 4-H Talk list serve, sent a 4-H Welcome Packet, and be assigned a state 4-H staff person as a point of contact, as appropriate. 4-H News is sent via the 4-H Talk list serve each week. Archived copies of previous weeks “Tuesday 4-H News” are available on the 4-H web site: http://4h.wsu.edu/. Please send submissions by Friday of each week to Tiffany Boswell, State 4-H Office, tiffany_boswell@wsu.edu. Detailed event information and registrations forms can be found on the 4-H web site.