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Know Your Government County Coordinator Form Due
--Jan Klein
Submit your Know Your Government (KYG) county coordinator form to Jan Klein by November 1, 2007. This form needs to be turned in so that your county and KYG coordinator will receive all email updates.
county coordinator position description and form
Dog Program Committee Meeting
The statewide Dog Program Committee meeting will be Sunday, April 13, 2008 in Ellensburg. Please have your dog project leaders mark their calendars. The location and a reminder will be sent out in the spring.
Washington State University Extension 4-H Inducts Four into Hall of Fame
--Betsy Fradd
Four Washington residents were inducted into the Washington State 4-H Hall of Fame at the 4-H Forum in Pasco on October 20, 2007. They were honored for their leadership, commitment to 4-H youth and volunteers and positive impacts in their communities.
Inducted this year were the following individuals:
Isabelle Moe, Enumclaw, began judging 4-H horse shows in the 1950's. In 1983 she began the Drivers and Riders 4-H Club. She soon noticed there were youth with special needs who were interested in horses and a second club was formed for youth with different abilities, physical challenges, and who were timid around horses. Now in her mid 80's, she continues to work with youth who have special needs and require extra patience.
Marilyn Stout, Camano Island, has been active for 31 years in the 4-H youth and the Snohomish County Motorcycle/ATV program. As leader of the Mudslingers 4-H Club she has guided the development of hundreds of local youth. The group has grown so large that it has split into two clubs. In 2005 she was the recipient of the Snohomish County Clover Award given to outstanding 4-H leaders who have had a positive impact on 4-H.
Cindy and Peter Dykstra, Curtis, started the Curtis Valley Cattle 4-H club in Lewis County in the 1970's as a dairy club. It soon expanded to include beef and sheep projects. As a dairy farmer and 4-H leader, Peter provides a place for dairy cows for members who do not have space at home for a cow. Cindy, a dairy program leader for over 20 years, has served in several leadership positions including president, vice president, and secretary of the 4-H Council.
More than 145 people have been inducted into the State 4-H Hall of Fame since its inception in 2001.
The Washington State 4-H program is a community of young people who are learning leadership, citizenship and life skills. Adult leaders and volunteers are instrumental to the success of the program. Youth can participate in many project areas including the Know Your Government Conference, Science Camp-In, animal science, technology, dramatic arts, photography and environmental stewardship.
Understanding Avian Influenza
CSREES directed a multi-agency effort to develop Understanding Avian Influenza, a lesson plan for high school science students that helps students develop problem-solving and knowledge-processing skills using a real-life application: the spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1) in poultry and wild birds. The lesson plan contains material from all federal agencies, including the departments of Health and Human Services, Labor, and Education. The lesson plan is also available through Ag in the Classroom (AITC).
While H5N1 has not yet mutated into a virus that can easily infect humans, some people outside the United States have gotten sick and died after extensive direct contact with infected poultry. There is no human immunity and no vaccine is available.
Using avian influenza as a model, this science activity will allow students to step into the role of a government or public health official. Students will track the spread of this animal health disease from its first appearance in Hong Kong in 1996 to the latest findings in 2006. They will also learn the differences in avian flu viruses and why the current outbreak, though an animal health problem, has pandemic potential.
Tufts University Professor Rich Lerner on “Good Morning America”
--Laura Phillips Garner, Director of Marketing Communications, National 4-H Council
The teen years don't have to be difficult, Tufts University Professor Rich Lerner told Elizabeth Vargas on “Good Morning America” today as he promoted his new book, “The Good Teen.” Dr. Lerner is director of The 4-H Study of Positive Youth Development, which is the basis of much of the findings in the book.
The stereotype that teens are troubled is just that: a stereotype, Dr. Lerner said. He told Vargas and GMA viewers that parents can take three actions to help their children through the teen years:
- Spend quality time with your children.
- Teach your children life skills.
- Ensure that your children have a leadership role in their families and communities.
When parents focus on these three actions, the 5 Cs of positive youth development—competence, confidence, connection, character and caring—occur, Lerner explained.
The bottom line—parents need to find out what their kids are interested in and take part in their lives. A great way for parents to ensure that their children have that connection with them or other caring adults is to get them involved in their local 4-H Youth Development Program offered across America by the Cooperative Extension System of state land-grant universities. Use findings of The 4-H Study of Positive Youth Development to promote 4-H to parents and other stakeholders in your community. Promotional tools for The 4-H Study of Positive Youth Development are available at: www.4-hbrandnetwork.org.
Idaho Extension 4-H/Youth Development Specialist
Position announcement for an Extension 4-H/Youth Development Specialist at the University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho or Boise, Idaho.
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.