Happy New Year! As many of us create resolutions for the new year, it’s important that our clubs do, too. I think every member—youth and adult—in every club should resolve to create a more welcoming club environment. There are many factors that influence families to get involved and stay involved in a 4-H club. Location and meeting time are important, but they are not everything. What else sets one club apart from the others? BELONGING! So think about how welcoming and inviting Your club is. What is the environment like at your meetings? How do you welcome guests? Are your meetings run smooth and timely? It is EVERY member and leader’s responsibility to make people feel welcome. So, how do you create a welcoming environment in your club? Take a look at what your club is doing now. What are you doing that helps create inclusiveness? Keep it up! What can be done better? Work on improving that. At your next meeting, think about these questions to identify what areas to strengthen: Do youth have real leadership roles in the club? Do you consider new ideas? Do you call all youth and adults by name? Do you know everyone’s name? Do you wear nametags or use name tents at meetings? Do you do introductions at meetings? Do all members understand the decision-making process? (parliamentary procedure) Do you review your club activities annually to make sure they are meeting the desires of the membership majority? Do you use ice breakers and games regularly to mix people up, get to know one other, and have fun? Do you sit by people you don’t know well, or are you always sitting by the same people? Do you have an agenda for business? Do you follow it? Do you keep meetings moving? (Remember the-20-20-20 rule) Does the club stay on topic? Do you have a new family mentor program in your club? Are mentor families following through with their responsibilities? Do you remember what it was like to be a brand-new 4-H member and adjust your discussions to meet the needs of new members? Do you discuss county-wide events like Creative Arts Day, Project Discovery Day, the volleyball tournament, officer training, VIP training, and the fair? Is there time for people to ask questions? These are just a few ideas that might help you create a welcoming environment in your 4-H club. Youth members and Wood County 4-H will benefit when all members feel connected, respected, and welcome! INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Leaders Association Elections .2 Project Discovery Day............... 2 Teen Leadership Group ........... 2 Winter Leadership Camp ......... 3 Educational Experiences.......... 4 Creative Arts Day ...................... 6 Fall Forum................................. 7 Essential Elements .................. 7 Market Animal Sale .................. 8 4-H Tech Changemakers ...... 10 State Contests ....................... 11 Scholarship Opportunities .... 12 Club Happenings ................... 13 Annual Notices ...................... 14 Calendar of Events ................ 15 TO MAKE THE BEST BETTER 4-H Purpose: Engaging youth to reach their fullest potential while advancing the field of youth development. PLEDGE: I pledge my HEAD to clearer thinking, my HEART to greater loyalty, my HANDS to larger service and my HEALTH to better living, for my club, my community, my country and my world. Wood County 4-H YOUTH CONNECTIONS January | February 2020
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Transcript
Happy New Year! As many of us create resolutions for the new year, it’s important
that our clubs do, too. I think every member—youth and adult—in every club should
resolve to create a more welcoming club environment.
There are many factors that influence families to get involved and stay involved in a
4-H club. Location and meeting time are important, but they are not everything.
What else sets one club apart from the others? BELONGING! So think about how
welcoming and inviting Your club is. What is the environment like at your meetings?
How do you welcome guests? Are your meetings run smooth and timely? It is EVERY
member and leader’s responsibility to make people feel welcome.
So, how do you create a welcoming environment in your club? Take a look at what
your club is doing now. What are you doing that helps create inclusiveness? Keep it
up! What can be done better? Work on improving that. At your next meeting, think
about these questions to identify what areas to strengthen:
Do youth have real leadership roles in the club?
Do you consider new ideas?
Do you call all youth and adults by name? Do you know everyone’s name? Do you wear nametags or use name tents at meetings?
Do you do introductions at meetings?
Do all members understand the decision-making process? (parliamentary procedure)
Do you review your club activities annually to make sure they are meeting the desires of the membership majority?
Do you use ice breakers and games regularly to mix people up, get to know one other, and have fun?
Do you sit by people you don’t know well, or are you always sitting by the same people?
Do you have an agenda for business? Do you follow it?
Do you keep meetings moving? (Remember the-20-20-20 rule)
Does the club stay on topic?
Do you have a new family mentor program in your club? Are mentor families following through with their responsibilities?
Do you remember what it was like to be a brand-new 4-H member and adjust your discussions to meet the needs of new members?
Do you discuss county-wide events like Creative Arts Day, Project Discovery Day, the volleyball tournament, officer training, VIP training, and the fair? Is there time for people to ask questions?
These are just a few ideas that might help you create a welcoming environment in
your 4-H club. Youth members and Wood County 4-H will benefit
when all members feel connected, respected, and welcome!
INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Leaders Association Elections . 2
Project Discovery Day............... 2
Teen Leadership Group ........... 2
Winter Leadership Camp ......... 3
Educational Experiences.......... 4
Creative Arts Day ...................... 6
Fall Forum ................................. 7
Essential Elements .................. 7
Market Animal Sale .................. 8
4-H Tech Changemakers ...... 10
State Contests ....................... 11
Scholarship Opportunities .... 12
Club Happenings ................... 13
Annual Notices ...................... 14
Calendar of Events ................ 15
TO MAKE THE BEST BETTER
4-H Purpose: Engaging youth to reach their fullest potential while advancing the f i e l d o f y o u t h development.
PLEDGE: I pledge my HEAD to clearer thinking, my HEART to greater loyalty, my HANDS to larger service and my HEALTH to better living, for my club, my community, my country and my world.
Wood County 4-H YOUTH CONNECTIONS
January | February 2020
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WOOD COUNTY 4-H YOUTH CONNECTIONS JANUARY | FEBRUARY 2020
Mark your calendars now for Project Discovery Day 2020!
It will be held on Saturday, February 8th at Trinity Lutheran Church in Marshfield. Check in will begin at
8:30am with the first class beginning at 9:00am.
Project Discovery Day is a great opportunity for Wood County youth to sample some of the many projects
that are available, and meet adults who may be able to help teach them. The day is dedicated to helping
youth explore new project areas and learn from experienced leaders/older youth.
Registration will be online. Watch your email and the Facebook page for information.
PROJECT DISCOVERY DAY
LEADERS ASSOCIATION ELECTION UPDATE The Wood County 4-H Leaders Association provides leadership, direction, and financial support to our
county’s 4-H programs. The success of this organization is dependent upon volunteers stepping up to
serve. Elections were held in November, and these individuals will be installed at the January Leaders
Association meeting:
President: Andrea Galvan, Snyder
President-Elect: Tammy Grassel, Richfield
Secretary: Jackie Sternweis, Shady Lane
District Representative: Lisa Bauman, Webster
Congratulations and thank you to our new Executive Board members!
Thank you very much, Christine Jensen, for serving as President for the past year. We appreciate your
service.
Are you in grades 7-12 and interested in learning more
about leadership, team-building and having fun?
The Wood County 4-H Teen Leadership Group is a group
of youth in grades 7-12, representing 4-H clubs in Wood
County. We plan county-wide events, such as Bowling,
the Volleyball Tournament and the Kwik Trip Car Wash
Card Sale, and also help out at Project Discovery Day,
Creative Arts Day and other events.
We meet on the 4th Monday of every other month at
6:30pm at different locations.
All 4-H youth in grades 7-12 are invited to join us.
Contact Laura in the Extension Office to be added to the
group!
TEEN LEADERSHIP GROUP
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WOOD COUNTY 4-H YOUTH CONNECTIONS JANUARY | FEBRUARY 2020
TEENS! SIGN UP FOR WINTER LEADERSHIP CAMP
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WOOD COUNTY 4-H YOUTH CONNECTIONS JANUARY | FEBRUARY 2020
Will you be going to summer camp or on a state or national travel opportunity this year? Maybe heading to
Space Camp, American Spirit East, or Leadership Washington Focus? Or joining a state team like Drama
Company, Arts or Communications Team? Well, the Teen Leadership Group would like to help you raise
money for those experiences!
For every Kwik Trip Ultimate Car Wash Card you sell, you’ll receive $15 credit toward your 2020 experience!
Each card includes 5 Ultimate Car Washes and is good at any Kwik Trip car wash. What’s even better? Car
wash cards don’t expire–they just need to be used at least once every two years. WOW!
For more information about the car wash card sale, please contact the office at 715-421-8439.
RAISE MONEY FOR FUN 4-H EXPERIENCES
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WOOD COUNTY 4-H YOUTH CONNECTIONS JANUARY | FEBRUARY 2020
EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE APPLICATIONS There are so many opportunities for youth in grades 6+ to travel and learn through 4-H.
Travel can be expensive. Lucky for us, there are ways to make these travel experiences more affordable. The
Teen Leadership Group provides a great fundraising opportunity for youth traveling through 4-H with the
Kwik Trip Car Wash Card Sales. Leaders Association scholarships may pay up to 50% of the experience fee.
Members are required to register for the experience through 4honline prior to applying for a Leaders
Association scholarship. Applications for Leaders Association scholarships are available online and are due
January 10. Interviews for the scholarships will be held on January 18th in Vesper and January 20th in
Marshfield.
Information on these educational experiences as well as the Leaders Association Scholarship Applications can
be found at: https://wood.extension.wisc.edu/4-h-youth-development/trip-applications/
If you have any questions on the application process or materials please contact Romelle Bymers at
[email protected] or 715-389-2485. If you have questions about the Teen Leadership fundraising
opportunity, contact Laura.
ADULT ADVISORS NEEDED FOR EDUCATIONAL
TRAVEL OPPORTUNITIES 2020 APPLICATIONS ARE OPEN THROUGH FEBRUARY 15, 2020, IN 4HONLINE! APPLY TODAY!
Apply today for an adult advisor position with Wisconsin 4-H! Adult advisors travel to many different cities
across the United States with youth participants to serve as mentors, guides, and support for the youth on
the programs. Adults are responsible for the well-being of all youth participants and must work as a team to
ensure that an experience runs smoothly. You can find out more about being an adult advisor below.
What opportunities exist?
Citizenship Washington Focus in Washington, D.C. (June-July)
National 4-H Congress in Atlanta, Georgia (late November)
Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama (late April)
American Spirit Experience – East (Early June or July)
Wisconsin 4-H & Youth Conference (late June)
International immersion programs in Costa Rica, Japan, Finland, South Korea (4 weeks, summer
2019)
Other Educational Programs that are under development
Who can apply?
Applicants must be at least 21 years old (25 for some experiences) at time of program
Applicants must be a current, certified 4-H volunteer
More details and application information can be found at: https://fyi.extension.wisc.edu/wi4hedopp/adult-