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TENNESSEE 4-H IDEAS IN THIS ISSUE 2008-09 Pete Conrad Spirit of Innovation Awards Launched UPCOMING EVENTS
November 3
November 15
November 28-December 2
November 29
December 6
December 6-7
Tennessee 4-H Home Page: 4h.tennessee.edu Online version of Ideas: 4h.tennessee.edu/ideas08 Ideas index: 4h.tennessee.edu/ideas08/08-index.htm 2008-09 PETE CONRAD SPIRIT OF INNOVATION AWARDS LAUNCHED Daniel Sarver 4-H PROJECT MEDALS ARE AVAILABLE We still have some project award medals available for county recognition programs. We have a supply of medals for horse and clothing and textiles projects. These medals may be used in any manner you feel appropriate for your county program. Suggested uses include county project achievement winners, record books, demonstrations, exhibits, shows, etc. These medals will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. Just send a request by email to ssutton2@tennessee.edu with the number of medals you need. Steve Sutton 4-H SET FEATURED IN WASHINGTON TIMES To read about the 4-H SET program in one of the nation’s leading newspapers go to www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/oct/05/4-h-plows-ahead-with-science-focus/. The American Legion Auxiliary has recently begun promotion of its annual essay contest. This contest, open to high school youth in 10th – 12th grade, focuses on citizenship. The essay should have a maximum of 500 words, typed and should be written on the topic, “Standing on the Shoulders of Giants – How American Veterans have shaped the World." These essays should be sponsored by a local American Legion Auxiliary chapter in your area. If you are familiar with a local chapter, please contact their office and ask them to sponsor your submitted essay(s) (this only involves a signature of support). These essays are due to the local American Legion Auxiliary by December 1, 2008. The application form, to accompany the essay, can be found at www.legion-aux.org/forms/index.aspx. One statewide winner will be selected to represent Tennessee at the Americanism Youth Conference. All registration and lodging costs will be covered. A $200.00 stipend will be provided to the winner to be used toward transportation costs to the conference. One copy of the essay contest brochure is in your county mail packet this week. If you have questions about this opportunity, or are having difficulty locating your local American Legion Auxiliary office, please contact Sue Milliken (American Legion Auxiliary of Tennessee) at alatn@bellsouth.net or 615-226-8648. There is an additional opportunity for military youth to be involved in this project. The guidelines are the same, however the applications/essays are due to Justin Crowe in the state 4-H office by December 1, 2008. These applications do not go through the local American Legion Auxiliary Office. Justin Crowe CHANGE IN SUPER ENROLLMENT STANDARD ACTIVITY LIST At the request of many agents, outdoor meat cookery has been added to the standard list of 4-H activities. If you added outdoor meat cookery to your county activities through the “manage” feature in the SUPER enrollment module, please discontinue assigning the activity to youth through your county activities and start utilizing the standard list of activities. Youth already assigned to outdoor meat cookery through the county activities list will need to be changed and assigned to the activity through the standard list. This will allow the data to appear in your annual 4-H enrollment report for 2009. If you have any questions, please contact me via email at cburgos@utk.edu or by phone at 865-974-2128. Carmen Burgos Whoever said that youth are not interested in the issues in our country that affect them? It was definitely not the 4-H members who participated in the Debate '08 Youth Forum, held in Nashville on Tuesday, October 7, 2008. Eight 4-H members from across the state gathered at Legislative Plaza in Nashville for a state wide youth forum and debate to have their voices heard. Four of these 4-H members took advantage of the opportunity to speak out on issues important to them. These youth spoke to a panel representing parties and current legislators. Luke Willoughby, DeKalb County, spoke on the importance of education. Amber Moore, McNairy County, spoke on the significance of childhood obesity. Corey Napolitano, Williamson County, gave insight on the troop deployment and the war on terrorism. Grant Monroe, a 4-H alumnus from Decatur County, spoke on the importance of youth programs, highlighting his own 4-H experiences and how 4-H Congress inspired him to pursue a career in politics. Other 4-H members who attended the debate were Brianna Tidwell (Dickson County), Jaclyn Torrento, Keith Suttle and Jesse Brewer (all from Robertson County). The youth debate was televised, and can be viewed online at moe.legislature.state.tn.us/HouseAR/House105-2/100708ChildYouthCommission.wmv. In addition to participating in the youth forum, Amber Moore had the opportunity to attend a candidate rally following the debate. There, she met Governor Bredesen and talked with him about her experiences in 4-H. Several of these youth have shared that this has been one of the highlights of their 4-H career so far. For downloadable photos of the event, please visit 4h.tennessee.edu/ideas08/images/governor.jpg and 4h.tennessee.edu/ideas08/images/youthforum.jpg. Justin Crowe eCYBERMISSION is the Army's free virtual science fair for students in grades six through nine. This program encourages students to explore real-world applications of science, math and technology. Additionally, this prigram helps them learn valuable teamwork skills and fosters interest in the fields of science and math (www.ecybermission.com). Students on winning teams can win up to $8,000 each in U.S. EE Savings Bonds. The program is currently very popular in a classroom environment, but they would like to see it expand to an after-school setting. It is a great opportunity for students to learn about science, math and technology in a fun way, while also helping their communities. Go to www.ecybermission.com for more information. Daniel Sarver NOMINATE VOLUNTEERS FOR 2009 SALUTE TO EXCELLENCE AWARD The Salute to Excellence Award (STE) is a national program that aims to acknowledge those volunteers that are the backbone of 4-H programs. The award, sponsored by Monsanto through National 4-H Council, provides awards for volunteers in each region of the nation. Each state can nominate one volunteer in each of two categories. The Volunteer of the Year Award is for individuals who have served as 4-H volunteers for less than 10 years at the county or state level. The Outstanding Lifetime Volunteer Award is for individuals who have served 10 or more years at the county or state level. The applications are reviewed by an independent review panel. Two winners (one from each category) will be chosen from each of the four regions. Later, those eight winners will be reviewed again to choose the two national winners. The regional winners will all be acknowledged at their regional leader forums. Tennessee has outstanding volunteers. This is a wonderful opportunity to recognize them! The application and guidelines and forms can be downloaded from 4h.tennessee.edu/ideas07/attach/STEapplication09.doc. Please read instructions carefully, especially item number "3" of the Selection Criteria. Nominations must be received at the Tennessee State 4-H Office as an email with applications and letters of recommendation as attachments no later than 5:00 p.m. EDT on December 10, 2008. Send your nominations to Carmen Burgos at cburgos@utk.edu. Any questions should be directed to Carmen Burgos at 865-974-2128 or the email listed previously. Carmen Burgos PUBLICIZE YOUR NATIONAL 4-H WEEK EVENTS
You are also encouraged to participate in a couple of surveys by National 4-H Council. One survey is available now and corresponds to 4-H National Youth Science Day (4-H NYSD). At www.4-H.org/4-HNYSD.html you will find a survey that leaders and youth across the country will be able to use to record the results of their experiments. Please encourage your participants to document their experiment experience using this survey. In addition, at the end of this month and after most activities have been completed, National 4-H Council will post an additional survey that will collect:
Daniel Sarver SOUTHERN REGION 4-H VOLUNTEER FORUM A GREAT SUCCESS Louisiana poured their heart and soul into hosting this year’s forum and as the theme implies, “4-H: A Taste for All," there was something for everyone! The forum offered volunteers and Extension staff an opportunity to expand their horizons with informative, interactive workshops, great speakers, entertainment, and definitely a cultural experience! Alabama hosted the workshops and provided a really good variety of workshops. Some of us had a hard time deciding which one to go to! The service project in honor of Ralph Meacham was a huge success. The last total I heard was close to $8,000, and that was not including the auction or the walk-a thon. Some states will continue offering this service project so a final total may not be available until the end of the year. Tennessee was well represented at the Mardi Gras Ball and at the “Krewe of 4-H” Court with Sally Smith from Davidson County as our Queen and Kane Reeves from Madison County as our King. During the opening ceremony, Tina Passman from Henry County was our flag bearer for the Parade of Flags. The following volunteers and agents attended the forum this year:
All workshop handouts that were provided in electronic format will be posted on the Southern Region Volunteer Forum Web site within a few weeks. The state picture and the slide show will also be posted on the website. Go to www.4hsrlf.org/. Carmen G. Burgos STATE LAND JUDGING CONTEST NOVEMBER 3 IN MANCHESTER The state land judging contest will be held in Manchester on Monday, November 3. Registration will be at 7:30 a.m. at the Manchester-Coffee County Conference Center with the contest starting at 8:30 a.m. The awards luncheon is set for 12:00 noon at the conference center. Those teams participating include Carroll County (2), Claiborne County, Grainger County (2), Hardeman County, Jefferson County, Macon County, Tipton County and Wilson County (3). The event is sponsored by the Tennessee Farmers Mutual Insurance Company. THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK The time will come when winter will ask you what you were doing all summer.
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National 4-H Week is this week, and "Keeping it Green" is the theme. As part of this week’s excitement, 4-H National Youth Science Day (4-H NYSD) took place on October 8. Would your county like to share what they did to celebrate and promote 4-H? We want to recognize Tennessee counties who celebrated National 4-H Week. Simply email the State 4-H Office, at 
