Strive to Thrive - December 2023 | |
LAW 2024: Registration OPEN
LEADERSHIP AWARENESS WEEKEND (LAW)
Register on 4-H Online Now!
We are excited to partner with UND School of Law for Leadership Awareness Weekend (LAW) in January!
At LAW, you will learn all about the Judicial System. You will meet attorneys, LAW students, judges, professors, and many others who support the judicial system.
LAW prepares you for civic engagement. This two-day event will offer engaging, hands-on activities that will help you understand:
- The branches of government
- Courtroom etiquette and how the court system works
- Law Enforcement's role
- And More!
LAW is for any youth in grades 7-12 who are interested in civic engagement and the political process. Invite your friends!
WHEN: YOU MUST ATTEND BOTH DAYS!
Sunday, January 14, 2024
1:00 PM -7:00 PM
Monday, January 15, 2024
9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
WHERE:
UND School of Law - 215 Centennial Dr. Grand Forks, ND
REGISTER:
Registration Closes December 31, 2023
Cost: $50.00 (includes event shirt, two meals and snacks)
HOUSING:
Overnight housing is on your own. For your convenience, blocks of hotel rooms have been reserved at the state rate of $96.30. Youth must stay overnight with a responsible adult.
Sleep Inn and Suites at
1350 S 42nd St, Grand Forks
Expressway Suites of Grand Forks at
4040 11th Ave S, Grand Forks
SERVICE: Paper Towel Drive
Our service project this year is to bring as many paper towel rolls to stock the Ronald McDonald House in Fargo. The Ronald McDonald House provides families who have members hospitalized with a room, food, and support. Please help us support this program by bringing 1 or many paper towel rolls.
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New ND 4-H Ambassador Advisors!
I am excited to announce Monica Fitterer, Extension Agent in Kidder County, and MaKayla Fleming, Extension Agent in Grand Forks County have accepted the position as our new joint co-advisors to the ND 4-H Ambassador program. I am very excited to work with these two individuals who have already demonstrated out-of-the-box thinking by finding a creative solution to a hard-to-fill position.
Both MaKayla and Monica are Ambassador alumni and bring a passion and love for the program with them. While they both bring their own set of skills and personalities to the position, they both possess amazing relationship-building skills that will help our Ambassadors Thrive!
I have had the pleasure of working with them as Ambassadors, professionals, and now as team members! Please help me welcome Monica and MaKayla to their new roles!
- Sue Quamme Wehlander
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4-H Program Planning Team Meeting
The 4-H Youth Development Program Planning Team will meet
Wednesday-Thursday, November 29-30, 2023, in Jamestown.
DETAILS
Start: Wednesday, November 29 at 10:00 a.m. (lunch provided)
End: Thursday, November 30 at 12:00 p.m. (lunch on your own)
Location: Stutsman County Extension Office
502 10th Ave. SE
Jamestown, ND 58401
HOW TO REGISTER
- Register through 4-H Online.
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Event is titled in 4-H Online as (4-H Program Planning).
- There is no registration fee.
- In order to register, you will need a personal (family) account.
- Registration deadline is Friday, November 24.
HOTEL INFO
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Fairfield Inn & Suites – 930 25th Street SW OR Holiday Inn Express – 803 20th Street SW Jamestown, ND 58401
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A block of rooms has been reserved at both hotels at the state rate ($96.30)
- Block Names + Phone Numbers + Cut Off Dates
- Fairfield Inn & Suites – NDSU 4-H – (701) 952-6300 – Wednesday, November 22
- Holiday Inn Express – NDSU 4-H – (701) 251-2131 – Monday, November 20
- Thursday morning complimentary hot breakfast in the lobby of both hotels.
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Website – Fairfield Inn & Suites
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Website – Holiday Inn Express
AGENDA
A detailed agenda will be sent closer to the meeting time.
Contact Meagan Hoffman with questions.
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Strengthening the Heartland "How To" Webinars
Strengthening the Heartland hosts webinars as part of a grant funded project focused on life skills development for young adults in North Dakota.
The “How To” webinar series gives youth development professionals the tools they need as they work with today’s youth. Webinars are free and open to the public. Free, continuing education credits are offered for participation. Webinars are recorded and the recordings are made available following the webinar. If you are not able to attend the webinar live but would like to automatically receive the recording, go ahead and register for the event.
To learn more, click here to view all previous Strengthening the Heartland webinar recordings in the “How To” series.
Upcoming Webinar:
January 2024 – Date and Time TBA
Topic: How to Take Care of Ourselves: Ethics and Self-Compassion
Presenter: Dr. Staci Born, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Founder of The Blue Couch, LLC, a private practice and counseling agency in Minnesota
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Achieving the Extension Mission Through Volunteers
Extension Agents, Parent Educators, and Extension Specialists,
The North Central Region Volunteer Specialists group has opened registration for the course, Achieving the Extension Mission Through Volunteers.
This national online cohort-based course is for novice and experienced Extension professionals in all program areas using volunteers to deliver programs. It will be held January 22 - March 12, 2024.
Course participants engage with content designed to increase volunteer leadership and management competencies. This course has impacted colleagues across the country.
Over seven weeks, participants take part in pre-recorded sessions, readings and activities, and participate in three live webinars and three video conference calls.
Extension professionals will develop connections with colleagues from other states as they share ideas, provide feedback on volunteer management concepts, and explore different strategies to meet the needs of volunteers. Review the course flyer and handbook to learn more.
Cost: $250 (North Central Region colleagues – IL, IN, IA, KS, MI, MN, MO, NE, ND OH, SD, WI )– have a reduced registration fee of $100.
Agents: Please contact your District Director if you are interested in participating. State funds are available to cover the $100 fee for agents from each district.
Specialists and Extension Parent Educators: Please register through the link below. The $100 fee should be paid from state operating funds you already have available through your respective REC director or program leader.
This professional development is for Extension professionals in ALL program areas who work with volunteers.
Register now: Space is limited and will close Thursday, Dec. 28. Professionals not from Minnesota need to create a Guest Account to register.
Use the following code, NCRVS, when you checkout after registering to receive the reduced rate.
Register early: The course fills quickly. I look forward to seeing you in the course.
Please contact me if you are have questions,
-Rachelle Vettern
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Different Abilities Webinar Trainings
Join us for the upcoming 2024 webinar trainings! Learn how to support youth with different abilities. Links to each webinar will be found in the NDSU Extension Calendar. The April trainings will take place in Medora during 4-H Spring Training.
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Volunteer Opportunities and Trainings | |
Disability Awareness for 4-H Volunteers
Please share the information below via 4-HOnline, in your newsletters, on social media etc.
Creating a Sense of Belonging: Disability Awareness for 4-H Volunteers
4-H can play an empowering role in the lives of youth with disabilities and their families. As a 4-H volunteer, you can help provide the environment for these youth to be involved, make friends, and build life skills. Join Danielle Hawn, Lake Region Special Education Program Coordinator and Ramsey Co. 4-H Volunteer, to learn how to meet the needs of youth of all abilities within your 4 H activities!
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Chaperones Needed!
We are looking for agents to help chaperone the Extension Youth Conference. We appreciate your past and present support in this venture.
EYC is held this year from June 17 - 20 on the NDSU campus. Agents would arrive in Fargo on Monday around 2:30 and be on the road home no later than 1:30 on Thursday. Here are some great benefits for agents when they chaperone an event like EYC:
- Strengthen relationship-building skills with youth in middle and high school.
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Develop an understanding of how EYC is a hook to keeping older youth in 4-H.
- Be refreshed and rejuvenated after spending a week with youth who are fun leaders (and great colleagues).
- Better understand what EYC is and be able to promote it locally.
- Have a great resource to help youth be excited about 4-H as they age.
- Agents are seen in a different environment and create another chance to become a role model for youth in your county and beyond.
- Teach youth about a skill or interest of yours.
Thank you for your continued support and know that you are always welcome to join us at EYC even if you can’t stay the week! Have a skill or something you would like to teach? Let us know! [email protected]
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VRKC Lessons
Check out the brand new lessons to train your 4-H volunteers!!! The Volunteer Research and Knowledge Competency (VRKC) lessons are designed to give volunteers skills they need to be successful in the 4-H program.
The new lesson plans and handouts for you to use to train 4-H volunteers are finished for Communication, Organization, 4-H Program Management, Positive Youth Development, and Interpersonal Characteristics.
(I highlighted the Communication lessons at 4-H Spring Training 2023. The additional areas are now complete!).
Check out the completed materials at:
https://4h-volunteerism-resources.extension.org/home/volunteer-research-and-knowledge-competency-vrkc/
Use the VRKC resources to provide high- quality training for county 4-H volunteers
· Incorporate lesson plans or activities at a face-to-face 4-H volunteer training or 4-H Leaders’ Council meetings
· Create a short post about a topic essential to volunteers for social media or newsletters
· Use select activities from a lesson plan for a grab-and-go training
· Conduct a needs assessment to help identify the specific VRKC needs of your volunteers
· Explore these resources at future trainings too!
-Rachelle Vettern
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4-H EZ Online Volunteer Modules
NDSU Extension Professionals,
During ND 4-H Volunteer Project Training many 4-H club leaders either mentioned that the 4-H resources were very helpful if they had heard about them, or were looking for volunteer training specifically for 4-H club volunteers/leaders, if they had not heard of these resources.
Please share the “4-H EZ: Recipe for Community Club Success” online training materials with your 4-H volunteers and families again as a reminder. Send the e-mail below to your 4-H teen and adult volunteers through your county 4-H listserv or 4-HOnline.
*For those of you looking to connect virtually with your 4-H volunteers, as suggested below, you can work through these modules together with a group of volunteers via Zoom.
Message to share with 4-H Club Leaders:
Hello 4-H Community Club Volunteers!
Looking for tools, like a 4-H club meeting script, a parent “dig in” form to discover how parents can help in your club, or recreation ideas to make planning for your 4-H club meetings easier? The North Central Region 4-H Volunteer Specialists have created an online training resource for you:
“4-H EZ: Recipe for Community Club Success.”
This training includes 6 videos, handouts, and resources that go with the videos. You can watch the videos and review the handouts and resources designed for your 4-H club use.
We have also included a “4-H EZ Application Guide” that allows you to reflect on the videos and apply the information specifically to your 4-H Community Club.
This online training can be completed by yourself or with a group of teen and adult volunteers.
You can complete the videos all in one setting or divide them up, as needed, for your schedule. The videos and club resources are available at: http://bit.ly/4-HEZ. Click on the heading of each section to go to the video. You’ll first be asked to sign in, then you can click on the video link. At the end of each video, you’ll be asked to reflect on something you have learned and offer suggestions for future training opportunities.
We thank you for your interest in strengthening your 4-H Community Club and hope that 4-H EZ will help you with these efforts!
Sincerely,
Extension Professional (Your name here)
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Century Family and Hall of Fame Award Applications
Application Deadline extended to December 31st, 2023.
Hall of Fame Award - Recognizes those individuals who have made significant contributions to the betterment of 4-H in North Dakota. Remind you of someone you know? Nominate them for this award!
Access the Application Here: https://bit.ly/halloffameapplication
Century Families - Recognizes 4-H families with a long, sustained involvement in the 4-H program. North Dakota 4-H families with a combined 100 or more years of membership and/or volunteer service in 4-H will be recognized. Encourage families to do the math and apply!
Access the Application Here: https://bit.ly/centuryfamilyappliction
Hall of Fame Award Winners and Century Families will be recognized at the 4-H Foundation Recognition Event Spring 2024.
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Newly Revised 2023-2024 4-H Project Guide
The 2023-2024 4-H Project Guide + Project List are ready for you to share with your 4-H families, volunteers, and club leaders!
The guide and the list can be found on the 4-H Google Drive 🡪 Projects.
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NEW! 4-H Club Officer Cards
Check out the NEW 4-H Club Officer Cards on the 4-H Google Drive 🡪 4-H Clubs 🡪 Club Meetings.
You will find a set of 7 cards: President, Secretary, Vice President, Treasurer, Reporter/Historian, Rec Leader, and Club Member. On the back of each card, you will see General Rules of Parliamentary Procedure.
Each county will receive 1 set of the 7 cards. Cards will be printed on indestructible, plastic-like paper and joined together by a ring in the top left-hand corner.
Counties will be able to order more sets if they see the need. Ordering and paying for them will be the same way that business cards and county letterhead are ordered through Ag Communications. An email will be sent when orders can be placed.
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Social Media
Check out our 4-H social media pages! Keep up to date on our latest news and events. Don't forget to drop a like on our posts and tell your 4-H members and families to follow us. Click on the tabs below to visit each page:
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4-H Educational Trunks
The 4-H Educational Trunks publication has been completely revised! It is now ready for you to share with your 4-H families, volunteers, and club leaders! It is organized into the same project areas as the 4-H Project Guide.
This is a great resource to share with your club leaders as they kick off the new 4-H year and plan their educational programming.
You can find this resource on the 4-H Google Drive 🡪 Projects 🡪 Educational Trunks. Information on the trunk reservation process can also be found in the same location.
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Become A Healthy 4-H Club in 2024
Consider having your club be recognized as a healthy club! We also encourage you to involve the teenagers in the club as teen leaders for the younger members in the healthy club activities. We will ask them to complete a short survey and they will receive a special incentive item.
To be recognized as a Healthy North Dakota 4-H Club, clubs should complete at least one nutrition or fitness activity during at least six meetings (or club events) in six or more of these areas: 1) setting, 2) roll call, 3) program, 4) demonstration; 5) recreation, 6) refreshments/snacks, 7) community pride, 8) field trip/tour, 9) family mealtime challenge and 10) healthful snack policy.
Here are some tips for club leaders:
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Access the files (leaders guide, member handout). Visit https://www.ndsu.edu/agriculture/extension/healthy-4-h-club to find the Health 4-H Club information. Be sure to click on “Explore More” for the member and leader guides.
- See the “Healthy North Dakota 4-H Club Idea Guide” for ideas from other clubs.
- Discuss the program with club members. Brainstorm ideas and make plans.
- Consider electing a “Healthy North Dakota 4-H Club committee” to coordinate the club’s activities and keep records. This program provides excellent leadership and activity coordination opportunities for club members, especially older youth.
- Encourage members to demonstrate healthy recipes or adopt a “healthy snack” policy for club meetings.
- Contact county Extension offices for educational materials available for clubs to use. For example, an “Eat Smart. Play Hard.” trunk is available for checkout.
- Track club activities on the recording sheets.
- Develop a display or scrapbook of your club’s activities to show at your county fair. Don’t forget to take pictures of activities throughout the year.
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Submit your recording sheet by August 15 to your county office. Clubs will be recognized in a statewide press release, and participating 4-H members will receive a certificate and incentive item.
Click here to see the Healthy Clubs of 2023
If you have questions, please contact Julie Garden-Robinson by calling
(701) 231- 7187 or e-mailing [email protected].
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