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January 23, 2015   
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Macomb County to Begin 4-H Online Member

and Volunteer Enrollment

During phase I of this year's club enrollment, administrative club leaders were asked to submit forms, including the Club Information Sheet, Club Officer Information Sheet, Civil Rights Compliance Statement, and a copy of the club bylaws, by January 20th to enable staff to get 4-H Online ready for club member and volunteer enrollment. Administrative leaders, if your club has not already submitted the requested forms, please get them in. Your club members and volunteers cannot complete the enrollment process until the 4-H office has received this information.

 

In case you missed our previous communications, these are the forms we requested from administrative leaders in phase I:

 

By January 20, 2015 or as soon as possible:

Administrative leaders have also been asked to turn in the following items by March 6, 2015:

Member enrollments will not be approved until participation fees have been paid. Members may not participate in 4-H shooting sports projects or events unless they have a completed Michigan 4-H Shooting Sports Parental Permission & Acknowledgement of Risk form on file at Macomb County MSU Extension.

 

Members and volunteers should have received instructions for enrolling online this afternoon. Administrative leaders, please make sure this information gets to your new families. Members and volunteers will be able to enroll and sign for the Media/Medical Release, Youth Code of Conduct, and Volunteer Authorization online. If members and volunteers have already submitted a Code of Conduct/Medical Release or Volunteer Authorization form to the 4-H office, they do not have to complete the forms online, however, it is strongly encouraged. 

 

Enrollments are accepted at any time, however, returning members planning to show projects at the 2015 Armada Fair will have until 11:59 p.m. on Friday, March 6th to enter their enrollments. New members planning to show projects at the 2015 Armada Fair will have until 11:59 p.m. on April 1st to enter their enrollments. 

 

Family and volunteer guides are available on the 4-H Online login page. Enrollment help sessions will be open by appointment at Macomb County MSU Extension on Tuesdays and Wednesdays between January 27 and March 4th from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. 

 

 

Macomb County 4-H Winter Weather Policy

If the decision to cancel an event or meeting is made due to winter weather, you will be notified in the following ways:

    1. School is cancelled or closed early in the school district of the event.
    2. Macomb County is in a Winter Storm or Blizzard Warning.

Most importantly, please use your best judgment. Our priority is the safety of our youth and families traveling. If an event is not cancelled, but you are uncomfortable with the road conditions, do not attend.

 

 

Macomb County 4-H now has a Remind Account

What is Remind and why is it safe? Remind is a free service that lets 4-H staff send one-way messages via SMS (basic text messaging), push notifications in the app, or email to those who have signed up. With Remind, all personal information remains completely confidential. 4-H staff will never see your phone number, nor will you ever see theirs. Messages will be sent out from the 4-H office with reminders about upcoming events, event cancellations due to weather, and other important updates.

 

Signing up to receive messages on Remind is a quick and easy process. To receive messages via text, text @macomb4h to 81010. Or visithttps://www.remind.com/join/macomb4h to sign up. You can opt-out of messages at any time by replying, 'unsubscribe @macomb4h'.


 

Staff 
 

Richard Wooten

Interim District 11 Coordinator

 

Kea Norrell-Aitch

Extension Educator


 

Dequindre Bell

4-H Mentor Program Coordinator
 

Mark Cowan

Americorps, 4-H Tech Wizards


 

Elizabeth Duran

4-H Program Coordinator


 

Kathy Jamieson

4-H Extension Educator


 

Lisa Kelley

Program Coordinator, 4-H Tech Wizards


 

Scott Lakin

Extension Educator, 4-H Tech Wizards

 

Marinda Ochs

4-H Program Coordinator
 

Roberta Busquaert

Computer Maintenance Clerk


 

Phone

(586) 469-6431

Email


Web Site

  
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County 4-H News 

Macomb County 4-H Horse Banquet Honors Program Participants

The 2014 Macomb County 4-H Horse Banquet was held in November to honoring the Macomb County 4-H Horse Program's youth participants. Over 160 youth and family members attended this year's banquet celebrating our 2014 season! The program recognizes youth for excellence in their classes (High Point, Reserve High Point, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th place positions), as well as for levels of participation accumulated this season. Recognized at the annual banquet are three awards unique to the horse program: the 2014 Bill Collins Outstanding Horsemanship Award was given to Jared Decker, Ray Community; the 2014 Jane Sylvester Sportsmanship Award was given to Sydney Pallas, Just for Fun; and the 2014 Gymkhana Award was given to Elizabeth Barone, Ray's Riding Rascals. The program congratulates this year's senior members: Sarah Sowinski, A Little Tacky; Jessie Loftis, Alarro Boots 'N Spurs; Rebecca Konopaski, Midnite Riders; and Jamie Maurice, Romeo Rough Riders. The Macomb County 4-H Horse Program has a lot to be proud of as we continue to send contestants to the Equine Educational Expo at MSU in April, as well as to the State 4-H Horse Shows for Minis and Saddle Horses, also held at MSU.

 

Congratulations to all the Horse Project participants!! 

 

  

Pictured above are Kellyn Clink, Outstanding Performer (top left); Audrey Beaudin presents the Gymkhana Award to Sydney Pallas (top right); Justin Decker presents the Bill Collins Outstanding Horsemanship Award to Jared Decker (bottom left); and Elizabeth Barone presents the Jane Sylvester Award to Sydney Pallas (bottom right).

 
Article and photos submitted by Michelle Porter, 4-H Volunteer.


County 4-H Youth Council Makes Blankets for Shelter Animals

Macomb County 4-H Youth Council made no-sew fleece blankets for animals at local animal shelters at their meeting on January 13, 2015. From left to right: Maggie Bohm, Pirates; Karalee Jerse, K-9 & Kompany; Elly Karam-Burk, Ray Community; Willow Hollingsworth, A Little Tacky; and Anthony Gierak, Clinton Valley. 
 

 

 

 
  
  

 

Dog Needs a Good Home

A good, loving home is needed for Blue, a four month old pit bull mix. The dog is laid-back and good with the current owner's children, but one of the children is allergic. Please be aware that this breed needs a lot of exercise. For more information, contact Jill Babcock at jscarter_48197@yahoo.com.
 

 

Youth Livestock Committee to hold open bylaws review Feb. 23

The Armada Fair Youth Livestock Committee will be having open decisions on the current bylaws with the intent to expand and update the current bylaws that are in place. The date for this review is Monday, February 23, 2015 at 7 p.m. at Grange Hall on the Armada Fairgrounds. All 4-H-er's and their families are welcome to attend.

 

 

Steer Tagging is February 1st

Steer Tagging is February 1, 2015 from noon-2 p.m. at the Armada Fairgrounds in Armada. Call the Armada Fair office at 586-784-5488 for more information.

 

 

4-H Horse Program Committee to Meet 4th Mondays

The Macomb County 4-H Horse Program Committee will meet the 4th Monday of each month through June. Meetings are at Camp Rotary and will start at 6:30 p.m.

 

January  26th.

February 23rd.

March 23rd.

April 27th.

May 25th.

June 22nd.

 

 

Environmental and Outdoor Education Workshop

Come explore & discover how to incorporate environmental education (EE) into your lessons and activities with youth. The opportunities & challenges will inspire you to be a difference maker in our changing world. This workshop is a hands-on, experiential format. You will be a participant; not a recipient. However, you will leave with more knowledge & valuable resource materials that will help you teach  youth to help make our world a better place to live! A small meal and beverages are included. 

 

WHO: K-12 teachers, 4-H Volunteers, Youth Leaders                

TIME: 5:30 pm - 9:00 pm

COST: $20.00 (check with the 4-H Youth Council for scholarships)

WHERE: Locations across the state.

The closest location to Macomb County is on March 11th in Oakland County at Tollgate Education Center (Novi).

 

See the flyer for more information, including how to register.

 

 

 

Important Shooting Sports Information

1)   The Shooting Sports Board of Directors has approved regional training! This is good news for many who find it difficult to attend the spring Kettunen Center training. This is not intended to replace the spring training but is a means to accommodate to help programs grow. If you are interested in attending a regional training near or in Macomb County, please contact Marinda Ochs at 586-783-8163 orochsmari@anr.msu.edu. Please designate which discipline(s): archery, rifle, shotgun, muzzleloader, or hunting & wildlife. A minimum of 12 people are required in order for Macomb County to host a regional training.

 

2)   The National Shoot has a new name - 4-H Shooting Sports National Championships.  The deadline to apply for Michigan is February 1st.  Please make note of this and inform your members if there is any interest.  Some financial support is available to help with costs.  The application and information is available on the Michigan 4-H Shooting Sports website.

 

3)   After a lengthy process, the state shoot team results are now posted on the shooting sports tournament website.  You can view them here.

 

4)   Important dates to remember:

February 1st - National Shoot applications due

April 24-25 - Instructor Workshop at Kettunen Center

June 1st - registration begins for state shoot

June 30th - state shoot registration applications due to county

July 15th - last day for counties to enter participants to state shoot

August 15th - State Shooting Tournament at Blue Water

 

For more information, please contact Marinda Ochs at 586-783-8163 or ochsmari@anr.msu.edu.

 

 

 

"Build Your Future" Curriculum Trainings close to home

The "Build Your Future: Choices ...Connections...Careers" curriculum helps teens investigate career interests, identify goals, develop employability skills and explore post-secondary education options and sources of funding. Nine engaging chapters provide a fun structure to help teens learn about their choices, make important connections and plan successful, meaningful careers. Learn how to implement this new National 4-H curriculum focusing on career exploration and workforce preparation written by Michigan State University Extension Educators by attending one of the following opportunities:

  • Meet the Authors- Build Your Future Webinar. This FREE webinar will be held on January 28th at 2:00 ET and will provide an overview of the curriculum. To register, go to: http://portal.on24.com/view/channel/index.html?showId=897406&showCode=national4hcouncil
  • Introduction to Build your Future: This FREE introductory trainings will be on February 2 from 10:30-noon at the Genesee County extension office and provides an overview of the curriculum and a sampling of lessons. For more information and to register go to: http://events.anr.msu.edu/IntroBYF/
  • Build Your Future Curriculum -Train the Trainer: This training will be held on March 18 inOakland County from 4:00-9:00 pm. At the completion of the training, attendees will have what they need to start using the curriculum immediately. The $30 cost includes the full curriculum, a curriculum toolkit ($90 value) and refreshments. For more information and to register go to:http://events.anr.msu.edu/BYFgrant/

 

 Macomb County 4-Hers Participate in the Pillowcase Challenge

 

 

 

Sewers from Alarro and K-9 & Kompany 4-H groups took the pillowcase challenge from the American Patchwork & Quilting.  The challenge is to make pillowcases and donate them to a local charity.  The girls made twenty-five pillowcases that were donated to Kids in Distress.

 

Pictured are Kasie Brohl, Annette Ruczynski and Bethany Ruczynski. Missing are Megan Misch and Brianne Gryspeerd.

  

 

 

 

Article and photo submitted by Sheila Ruczynski, 4-H Volunteer

 

Area Teens Awarded $2,000 MSU Pre-College Scholarships

Malyn Berger, a resident of Ray Township and a member of School Section 4-H Club, and Lauren Campbell, a resident of Macomb Township and a member of K-9 & Kompany 4-H Club, have each been awarded a $2,000 Michigan State University Pre-College Achievement Scholarship. Students in 8th to 10th grades for 2014-15 who attended an MSU summer pre-college program last year were eligible to apply for this award last fall. Both Malyn and Lauren participated in 4-H Exploration Days, one of six pre-college programs offered by MSU Extension 4-H Youth Development.

 

MSU pre-college programs are great for helping youth explore possible career interests. They are great fun, very educational, and help connect young people with university faculty and other resources. MSU pre-college programs also help youth envision their future so they can wisely choose their high school classes and prepare for college.

 

Selection for this scholarship is based on academic ability and potential, demonstration of extra-curricular and community service experience, demonstration of leadership and teamwork skills, ability to overcome obstacles, teacher and program director nominations and strength of student essay. The scholarship is applied toward the student's first year at MSU as a degree-seeking student.

           

The pre-college programs annually offered by MSU Extension 4-H Youth Development are: 4-H Capitol Experience, 4-H Renewable Energy Camp, 4-H Exploration Days, 4-H Great Lakes & Natural Resources Camp, 4-H Animal & Veterinary Science Camp, and the Michigan 4-H Youth Conservation Council. For more information on these 4-H pre-college programs as well as other MSU pre-college programs, please visit Spartan Youth Programs at http://www.spartanyouth.msu.edu. You'll find a multitude of programs that can help youth develop valuable skills, make new friends and taste college life.

 

County 4-H Calendar

January 24

County Awards Celebration

Noon-3 p.m., Macomb County MSU Extension, Clinton Township

 

January 26

Macomb County 4-H Horse Program Committee Meeting

Camp Rotary, Ray Township

 

February 1

State Awards applications due to Macomb County MSU Extension

VerKuilen Building, Clinton Township

  

Mark of Excellence Essays due to Macomb County MSU Extension

VerKuilen Building, Clinton Township

 

Steer Tagging

12-2 p.m., Armada Fairgrounds

 

February 9

Macomb County 4-H Outdoor Education & Recreation Program Committee Meeting

7 p.m., Grange Hall, Armada Fairgrounds, Armada

 

February 12

Macomb County 4-H Youth Council Meeting (Administrative)

VerKuilen Building, Clinton Township

 

February 23

Armada Fair Youth Livestock Committee Meeting

7 p.m., Grange Hall, Armada Fairgrounds, Armada

 

February 23

Macomb County 4-H Horse Program Committee Meeting

Camp Rotary, Ray Township

  

March 23

Macomb County 4-H Horse Program Committee Meeting

Camp Rotary, Ray Township 

 

Statewide 4-H Calendar of Events

4-H Workshops

February 6-7

4-H Horse Judging Workshop & Mini Contest 

MSU Pavilion, East Lansing

 

February 27-28

4-H Veterinary Science Teen & Adult Leaders Workshop 

Kettunen Center, Tustin

 

February 28-March 1

4-H Beef Sheep & Swine Teen & Adult Leaders Workshop

Kettunen Center, Tustin

 

March 13-15

Michigan 4-H Dairy Conference 

Kettunen Center, Tustin

 

April 24-26

Michigan 4-H Shooting Sports Instructor Certification Workshop 

Kettunen Center, Tustin

  

  

 

Other 4-H Events
 

 

 

January 31

Michigan 4-H Rabbit & Cavy Show

MSU Pavilion, East Lansing

 

February 6-7

4-H/MQHA Benefit Clinic and Tack Sale

MSU Pavilion, East Lansing

 

February 13-16

4-H Healthy Living Youth Summit

Washington, DC

 

March 7

Spring Galaxy Meeting: 4-H Horse Program Committee (Contact Taylor Fabus)

Anthony Hall ,MSU, East Lansing

 

March 22-25

4-H Capitol Experience

Lansing

 

March 29

4-H Hairy Horse Benefit Show (Contact Karen Waite)

MSU Pavilion, East Lansing

 

April 11-16

National 4-H Conference

Washington, DC

 

 

For the most up-to-date events listing, go to http://4h.msue.msu.edu/events
Statewide 4-H News