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Forum Information on the Web!
--Kevin Wright
The 4-H Forum registration and workshop information has been posted on the 4-H website at: http://4-h.wsu.edu/conferences/Forum/index.htm. This year's Forum theme is 4-H: An American Tradition. It will be held October 19 - 21, 2007 at The Holiday Inn Express and TRAC in Pasco . This year's Forum will include the following: Friday will be day-long track workshops, followed by the 4-H Summit , District Planning Meetings, and the Volunteer Recognition Banquet/Hall of Fame Induction. Saturday will feature Keynote Speaker Chris Blodgett, 40 workshop sessions, 4-H Alumni Reception, and the 4-H Charity Auction. Sunday will be devoted to the 4-H Council Meeting, with District elections of State Advisory Board and State Fair Board representation and committee meetings to review recommendations and discuss project issues. Nick Jasper, 4-H Alumnus, will be our Capstone Speaker. All in all a packed weekend!
Full time registrants will get three lunches and two dinners. Hard copies of the registration brochure will be sent to county offices. You can download registration information at the 4-H website, http://4h.wsu.edu/conferences/Forum/index.htm. If you would like the Forum registration packet emailed or mailed to you, please contact Kevin Wright at wrightkc@wsu.edu. Be sure to register by September 29th!
Outstanding County Volunteer Awards
--Kevin Wright
Each county may submit an outstanding volunteer to be honored at this year's 4-H Forum. Counties are encouraged to send a poster or display about the volunteer. Please submit the Outstanding County Leader form and electronic picture of the volunteer no later than September 15th. Nomination forms may be downloaded form the Forum website at: http://4h.wsu.edu/conferences/Forum/awards.htm.
Please send completed forms to State 4-H Forum/Outstanding Leader, Washington State University, Johnson Tower 601, P.O. Box 644852, Pullman, WA 99164-4852. If you have any questions contact Joy Faerber at faerber@wsu.edu or 509-335-2994.
4-H Alumni Reception
--Kevin Wright
This year at the State 4-H Forum we will be holding the 2nd Annual 4-H Alumni Reception on Saturday, October 20th from 5:00 - 6:30pm at TRAC in Pasco. The reception program will include remarks from Pat BoyEs, State 4-H Program Director. The reception is free to 4-H Alumni.
This will be the kick-off of the Washington State 4-H Alumni Association. The 4-H Alumni Association will keep former 4-H members and leaders in touch with current 4-H events both locally and at the state level. For a $10 annual membership fee, members of the 4-H Alumni Association will receive a Washington 4-H Alumni pin, 4-H Forever Green, the semi-annual publication of the Washington State 4-H Foundation, and special updates and invitations to 4-H events.
To attend the Alumni Reception please complete the form on the 4-H website at: http://4-h.wsu.edu/conferences/Forum/index.htm.
September Program Management Meeting
--Kevin Wright
The September Program Management Meetings will be held on Tuesday, September 25th at Immanual Lutheran Church in Moses Lake and Thursday, September 27th at WSU Puyallup. Both meetings will start at 9am and end by 3pm. Items on the agenda are:
- Conflict Management (Jana Ferris) Core Competency: Volunteerism
- 4-H Educator's Handbook Scavenger Hunt (Jerry Newman) Core Competency: Organizational Systems
- Program Sharing/Hot Topics (All) Core Competency: Youth Program Development
- Volunteer Training Module 3: Access, Equity and Opportunity (Ann Hennings & Scott Vander Wey) Core Competency: Access, Equity and Opportunity & Volunteerism
- Teen Program Update (Jan Klein) Core Competency: Youth Program Development
- VDAT Report and Update (Jan Hiller and Marilyn Anderson) Core Competency Volunteerism
Be sure to register online by Friday, September 21st at: http://4h.wsu.edu/profdev/descriptions.htm. Please add your Program Sharing information and Hot Topics when you register.
More Details about 4-H/Wild Horse and Burro Service Learning Opportunity
--Susan Kerr
As mentioned in Tuesday News on 8/28/07, we have a new partnership between WSU 4-H and the U.S. Bureau of Land Management's Wild Horse and Burro Program. Senior horse and/or veterinary science project youth can volunteer to help process animals gathered in Oregon during the week of October 8 (specific dates are still unavailable). Volunteers must be exceptionally mature and dependable and only two or three can participate this year. Dr. Susan Kerr will serve as chaperone and project leader. Transportation will be available from Goldendale, WA.
cover letter
code of conduct
parental consent and release form
application
To express interest in the program and for more information, contact Susan Kerr at 509-773-5817 or kerrs@wsu.edu.
NE District Leaders Meeting and Banquet
--Jeanette Cornwall
Stevens County 4-H would like to invite NE District 4-H Leaders and 4-H Staff to the Annual 4-H Leaders Meeting and Banquet on October 6 in Arden (south of Colville ). “Skills to Fall Back On” is the theme and participants will rotate through sessions with experienced leaders teaching tips and tricks on such topics as record books, judging contests, and public presentations. Dinner is included in the $10 registration fee. Visit our website for more information and a registration form http://stevens.wsu.edu/FourH/allldrmeeting.htm.
New Fact Sheets related to 4-H Tax Exempt Status
This message is to make you aware of the link to three new Fact Sheets related to 4-H Tax Exempt Status which are now available, they include:
- Tax Exempt Status for 4-H Clubs and Affiliated 4-H Organizations
- Electronic Filing Requirements for 4-H Groups
- Certification of 4-H Groups under National 4-H Tax Exempt Status
These Fact Sheets and additional materials can all be found at http://www.national4-hheadquarters.gov /. Look for the Tax Exempt link in the banner running along the left-hand side of the screen. Please feel free to print and share as needed.
Tax Exempt Status for 4-H Clubs and Affiliated 4-H Organizations
This Fact Sheet details the benefits of the special tax exempt status granted by the IRS to 4-H, which groups can be included, and steps to take to gain inclusion under the national 4-H GEN (including how to obtain an official letter documenting inclusion as a tax exempt group and a sample form for obtaining the EIN).
Electronic Filing Requirements for 4-H Groups
This Fact Sheet details the new IRS requirements for all small tax exempt groups and organizations. The important item to note is that ALL small tax exempt groups will now be required to electronically file, not just those raising $25,000.00 or more.
Several states have contacted us asking if 4-H clubs can get an exemption from the new electronic filing requirements. Given that the new requirements were created for organizations such as 4-H which have a parent organization and a large number of subsidiaries, we will not be granted an exemption. In the past, it has been impossible for us to document to the IRS an accurate listing of our subsidiaries. This has resulted in legitimate 4-H clubs getting eliminated from our listing, and has allowed groups not authorized as part of 4-H to slip in and register for exempt status without our knowledge.
Certification of 4-H Groups under National 4-H Tax Exempt Status
This Fact Sheet details the new process, required by the IRS, for certifying our subsidiary organizations as legitimate groups. This year, state lists of clubs and organizations will be forwarded in October and your office(s) will have until December to review, make changes, and return your state listing. The returned list will need to include a formal signed letter, indicating that your institution certifies that included groups meet all requirements and are groups in good standing within your program.
Other Tax Related Fact Sheets and Materials:
- Sample SS-4 Form – to assist groups in applying for an EIN.
- Livestock Sales, Auctions and Similar Events
- Fundraising: Private Support for the 4-H Program
- Raffles, Lotteries, Gaming and 4-H
- We are also updating the FAQ's related to Tax Exempt Status and plan to have those posted next week.
Additional related resources and forms can be found on the Washington State 4-H website by clicking on Staff, Resources and Forms, Clubs and Groups or by clicking http://4h.wsu.edu/staff/clubs.htm.
Leading With Impact
--Pat BoyEs
Noted below you will find the link for the latest edition of Extension Today. On page "B" you will find a terrific article about State 4-H Conference--Fast Track to Your Future which was held at the end of June. It was a terrific re-visioning of teen leadership for our state and I strongly encourage you to share it with your Leader's Council and Teen Leadership groups.
On page "A" you find a column from our Associate Vice -President Linda Kirk- Fox about measuring the impacts---the outcomes--- of our work. I have heard from several of you that you are uncomfortable with the term "economic development" and don't see where that fits into the 4-H world of youth development. I think that if you read Linda's column you will be inspired because as she so puts it so well----impact is not always about dollars. We can be VERY proud of the work we do and we can and should document those impacts.
Here is an updated to link to access the August 31, 2007 issued of Extension Today. http://www.wsutoday.wsu.edu/Content/Documents/extension%20today%2008-31-07.pdf.
The work that you are doing is changing the lives of young people every day; we just need to document those changes.
Take the First Step, Register Your Premises
--Dale Moore
The Extension-NAIS (National Animal Identification System) Resource Center is designed specifically for Extension educators. The Extension-NAIS Resource Center houses the latest tools to help you inform local livestock and poultry producers about the National Animal Identification System (NAIS). This series of e-mails is intended to help you utilize the Resource Center more effectively. This October, you can get your questions answered during a conference call with NAIS program leadership and CSREES.
The NAIS PowerPoint presentation with talking points provides a thorough overview of NAIS and is designed for you to customize with State-specific animal identification information.
It is designed to be used in any of these ways:
- As-is or edited to fit your audience, on the NAIS template included
- As content to insert in your existing PowerPoint presentations or other materials (such as State-specific brochures or newsletters)
- As talking points when giving a public speech, speaking to a reporter, writing an editorial, or responding to questions about NAIS
The PowerPoint presentation also includes ideas on how to customize the presentation to best fit your local audience. For example, throughout the presentation, there are tips on where to include State-specific animal identification and NAIS program information. We encourage you to contact your State NAIS Administrator to obtain the latest NAIS program information to add to your presentation. This will help ensure consistency in the information distributed throughout your State.
Extension offices across the country have already begun linking to the Extension-NAIS Resource Center from their local Web sites. Please consider adding this link to your site!
Please stay tuned for two additional e-mails on how to take advantage of the Extension-NAIS Resource Center as well as details for the NAIS Outreach conference call this October.
Let us know how we can better support your NAIS-related outreach by completing our Extension feedback form or emailing us at nais_info@aphis.usda.gov.
National 4-H Week Kit Available
The National 4-H Week Kit is available on the 4-H Brand Network at http://www.4-hbrandnetwork.org/. The link to the National 4-H Week kit is on the 4-H Brand Network homepage. You can register or log-in to access the downloadable materials, which include a brochure, news release, public service announcements, bookmarks, print ads, posters, certificates, placemats, Web banners and other event materials that showcase the 4-H Science, Engineering and Technology Program.
Funding Source, The Surdna Foundation
The goal of the Effective Citizenry program is to support young people to take action with others to address meaningful problems in their schools, neighborhoods and the larger society. The Surdna Foundation funds efforts that help young people (ages 13-29) become effective, problem-solving citizens; improve practices and performance of organizations that help young people move through leadership development and into productive action; and develop networks that can anchor and expand a field of effective citizenry.
Program support follows two primary themes:
- Young People Taking Action
- Strengthening Infrastructure
There are no formal deadlines to apply for funding. The Surdna Foundation accepts applications on an ongoing basis. However, grants are approved three times per year: in February, May and September. We need your request three to four months ahead of time for staff review.
For more information visit: http://www.surdna.org/grants/grants_show.htm?doc_id=326178&cat_id=949.
September Mission of the Month CYFERnet Travel Bug Race
Want to explore the planet vicariously and win a prize along the way? Then don't miss the second-annual CYFERnet Travel Bug Race. This month, youth and adult teams can start touring the globe via their Travel Bug: a metal tag that allows contestants to follow their "hitchhiker" trinket.
Hitchhikers may include everything from silver coins to plush penguins. A feature of Geocaching--the GPS-based adventure game--contestants place their trinket in an official geocache, register online and track their Travel Bug as it moves from cache to cache (i.e. logbook to logbook, place to place) in the real world. The more miles your bug travels, the greater your chances of winning!
Visit http://www.cyfernet.org/4htech/missions.html for complete details.
International Journal of Volunteer Administration (IJOVA)
The Editorial Board and staff of The International Journal of Volunteer Administration (The IJOVA) is pleased to announce the publication of Volume XXIV, Number 5 (July 2007): Volunteer Motivations and Incentives. This issue (and all previous issues published since 2006) may be accessed free-of-charge at www.ijova.org.
National 4-H SET Staff Readiness Survey
Greetings, Colleagues across the 4-H community! The National 4-H SET Staff Readiness Survey has begun. The Youth Literacy in Science, Engineering, and Technology Community of Practice (Youth SET for Life CoP), with funding support from eXtension and National 4-H Council, conducts this survey in order to learn more about Cooperative Extension System field staff interests, attitudes, experiences, and abilities regarding science, engineering, and technology programming for youth.
The survey is voluntary and is intended to be completed by paid staff from agent or program assistant levels to regional and state level specialists and administrators. It should only take 10 to 15 minutes to complete. Individual results will be seen by the first 500 respondents at the very end of the survey.
To open the survey, click on the URL below or paste it into your browser: https://is-nri.com/take/?i=119377&h=u6fTidW3CNmNLKcJbxr1hw.
Also, at the end of the survey respondents will have an option of providing their e-mail address in order to have an opportunity to share programming and impact information related to science, engineering, & technology. Other than this optional input the survey is completely anonymous. There is no data requested, other than name of state, that identifies the responder and the optional input will not be used to specifically identify anyone in relation to the survey itself.
The optional opportunity to provide SET programming and impact information will be provided separate from the SET Staff Readiness Survey itself. If the responder provides an e-mail address for this purpose they will receive additional instructions for submitting SET program and impact data.
The survey will remain open from September 10 thru December 10, 2007.
A final report will be prepared at that time. State results will be available upon request. Any reports prepared will be released only as summaries in which no individual's answers can be identified.
If you have questions or comments about the survey, please contact any one of the following people: John A. (Tony) Cook, Ed.D., Project Leader, eXtension Youth SET for Life Community of Practice by phone at: 334-844-2233 or email at: cookja1@auburn.edu or Suanne Gilbert , Outreach Assistant by phone at 334-844-5596 or email at: frobism@auburn.edu.
Art of Leadership Program
--Barbara Stone
Join your colleagues for the 2008 4-H Art of Leadership program as part of the Current and Emerging Leadership Initiative in 4-H. This professional development opportunity is expressly for
- Individuals newly hired or assigned to a key leadership role in their state or across the 4-H system
- State 4-H Program Leaders with less than 5 years in their current position
The 4-H Art of Leadership program will give you an opportunity to reflect on your role as a leader in one of the largest youth development organizations in the U.S. You will asses your leadership skills and behaviors, and discover your role in 4-H not just today but into the future. This session will give you a rare opportunity: to personally reflect on your leadership and how you, together with other 4-H colleagues, can have an impact on the 4-H youth development system.
This inspiring-and fun-series will give you a fresh perspective and renewed energy for your work and the future of 4-H. Beginning in 2007, previous Art of Leadership participants will be eligible to apply and be selected to lead the program in the future.
You will leave the 4-H Art of Leadership program with:
- A better understanding of your role as a leader based on a 360 degree leadership assessment
- Strategies to refine your leadership skills and increase your capabilities to serve 4-H in the future
- Tools to expand your skills in people-management practices and leading change
- A sense of trust, cohesiveness and teamwork among new colleagues across the 4-H system
Length of Sessions: Session One begins on Tuesday morning and ends at Thursday noon. Session Two begins on Monday morning and ends at Thursday noon.
Location:
February 19-21 Tucson , AZ. Lodge on the Desert: www.lodgeonthedesert.com
September 8-11 Burlington , VT. Inn at Essex : http://www.vtculinaryresort.com/
Costs: Registration for the Art of leadership is $425 per person for each of the two sessions (total of $850). Estimated expenses for personal travel, lodging, pre-and post meeting travel meals, and incidentals per session are $1,200 per session or $2,400 for both sessions (over two fiscal years).
Announcing CYFAR 2008 in San Antonio
--Sharon K.B. Wright
National 4-H Headquarters, Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service (CSREES) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture announces the 2008 CYFAR Conference May 6-9, 2008, in San Antonio, Texas. CYFAR 2008 will feature inspiring keynote speakers, current youth and family research presenters, exciting interactive workshops and computer labs, as well as a Program Showcase demonstrating the most successful CYFAR community programs. Plans are underway for a playground build in San Antonio , along with in-depth pre-conference sessions, on May 6. CYFAR 2008 will be at the Hyatt Regency San Antonio, On the Riverwalk
National 4-H Headquarters invites interested child, youth and family professionals to participate in this high quality conference by submitting proposals for Workshops, Computer Labs, Research Posters, and Program Showcase Exhibits. Applications are due October 31, 2007. The Call for Proposals can be found on the CYFAR 2008 Conference website at: http://www.cyfernet.org/cyfar08/.
Job Opportunity: Oklahoma Tenure Track Urban Position
Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service is seeking applicants for an urban 4-H Specialist.
Job Opportunity: Virginia State 4-H Leader
Virginia Cooperative Extension is seeking candidates for the position of Associate Director, 4-H State Program Leader. A full position description and application can be found at: https://jobs.vt.edu/applicants/jsp/shared/frameset/Frameset.jsp?time=1189548418322, posting 070913. Direct inquiries to search chair, Dr. Karen Gehrt at 540-231-9347 or gehrtk@vt.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.