Next Meeting - November 12, 2024
Leaders Association Meetings are held at the Eau Claire County Extension Office the 2nd Tuesday of September, November, January, March, May, and June. 6:00 will be a time to hear policy updates, ask the 4-H Educator questions, and brainstorm club ideas. Meetings will start at 6:30pm. PLEASE make every effort to send a representative to these meetings. Attending is how we make connections and learn from each other to bring the best program we can to the young people in our clubs. It connects your local club program to the wider county program and makes you aware of the wider opportunities in 4-H so that you can promote those to your club members.
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Leaders Association Volunteers Needed
We are still in search of a Volunteers. Please help recruit someone. This will be a topic at the November meeting.
You may or may not know, in addition to club meetings, adults and older youth of Eau Claire County clubs meet every other month as the Eau Claire County 4-H Leaders Association.
The purpose of Leaders is to engage in activities which:
- Support the policies and educational 4-H programs of Eau Claire Count
- Provide opportunities for the leaders and families of Eau Claire County 4-H clubs to unite and coordinate their educational activities and programs
- Provide financial support for advancement of 4-H educational activities and program
- Provide a system for recognition of club and county level achievement.
We are looking to nominate individuals for the member-at-large (2), the vice president, and secretary positions. Please consider nominating someone from your club or putting your name forward. New positions start in September.
Sincerely,
Darren Schlewitz, Jill Welke, and Heather Iverson,
Leaders Association Nominating Committee
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4-H Online Re-Enrollment has Begun!
This is a reminder that 4-H re-enrollment opened September 1. Please re-enroll early in September. If you are a club or project leader, you may lead youth in activities for a September meeting under last year's enrollment. Your 2024-25 enrollment must be APPROVED by your October meetings. This means that your refresher trainings and background check (if needed) must be completed.
As a re-enrolling volunteer, you will need to complete before approval happens:
1. Supporting You Supporting Youth Refresher training (15 minutes)
2. Building Safe Spaces Refresher training (20-25 minutes)
3. Background Check (every 2 years from HireRight)
You can find your required trainings in your 4-H Online profile, under your "Trainings" tab on the left.
For those who prefer to let others deal with technology, I will be holding a "re-enrollment night" where you can complete trainings as a group and get help re-enrolling in 4-H Online on September 23 at 6:30PM. 🙂
We need to make sure that all of the adults leading youth activities are enrolled and trained per 4-H policy. There were several major injuries involving youth this summer and the office of Risk Management is especially worried about training and enrollment completions after these incidents. Prompt completion of your enrollment & training will hopefully help reduce risk managements' concerns and will also help protect you, as a volunteer, from liability claims.
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4-H Volunteer Re-Enrollment Night
Join Rachel and Andy at the Extension Office Monday, September 23 at 6:30PM for re-enrollment help and a group required training option. If you prefer to let others deal with technology, then this is for you. We can help you enroll in 4-H Online and we will also take the two trainings that may be required for your enrollment to be approved for the year.
Light snacks will be provided.
Please call the Extension office at 715-839-4712 if you have anyquestions about re-registration.
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Fill Out Your Club/Group Charters by Nov. 1!
It is time to fill out Charters. The Charter is the club's plan for the year. (It is not the financial report. The Charter and the financial report used to be in the same document and now they are separate.)
The 4-H Charter indicates that a 4-H Club or Group is organized in accordance with the objectives of the Wisconsin 4-H program. The University of Wisconsin-Madison, Division of Extension grants 4-H Charters which formally authorizes a Wisconsin 4-H Club or Group to use the 4-H Name and Emblem for educational purposes in accordance with laws and regulations established by Congress and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
In addition, the 4-H Charter Application provides:
*Documentation of educational activities of the 4-H Club or Group/Committee needed for liability coverage for 4-H volunteers and members
*Program impact evaluation and educational planning
*Documentation of compliance by 4-H Clubs and Groups with EEO, ADA guidelines, and Civil Rights laws.
Use the buttons below tofill out and submit online, otherwise, if you fill out a paper charter, we can submit it for you.
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Please Sign Up to Help with the 4-H
Spaghetti Fundraiser
The 4-H Leaders Association and OYC are partnering to host a spaghetti dinner fundraiser to kick off the 4-H year. National 4-H Week is October 6-12. Celebrate by signing up to help. Use the button below to access the SignUp Genius link. The event will be held at Pleasant Valley Community Center, S10414 Cty HH/I, Eleva, WI 54738.
Funds raised will go to supporting educational experiences scholarships, 4-H camp, awards, and project supplies.
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Help Needed with 4-H Discovery Day!
October 26, 12:30-3:30 PM | Set-up at 12:00; Takedown at 3:30
LE Phillips Memorial Library, Eau Claire
Sign up to lead an activity or share information about a project group or your club. Sign up Sheet There are some suggested project area ideas on the sign up sheet and blank spaces where you can add your own ideas. You can have the same project area covered with a different activity. Target age should be K-5th grade. If you want ideas, please contact Rachel at the 4-H office.
Please note: Adult volunteers, please send me your name and birthday if you plan on coming so that the library can run a background check beforehand. Because they are promoting the activity, we need to follow their policies.
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2024-25 National 4-H Week Lawn or Window Display Contest
Eau Claire County 4-H clubs and families are encouraged to enter the 2024 Lawn or Window Display Contest to promote 4-H during National 4-H Week.
Follow these rules to compete:
1. The display must include the National 4-H “Beyond Ready” theme. Include a 4-H clover according to guidelines and either Eau Claire County 4-H or 4-H club name.
2. All displays must be visible to the general public to see during National 4-H week (October 6-12). Front yards, club meeting sites, or business locations (with permission) are all great sites to place a display. You must remove your yard display promptly the following week - failure to do so could result in a citation from DOT. (Lawn displays should also be on private property and be back from the right of way (30 feet from the road center).
3. Displays will be judged on eye appeal, neatness, conveying state theme message, originality, local interest, and number of people potentially reached by your display (if you share your display on social media). Use #EauClaire4h
4. You must contact the Division of Extension and let us know the location of your display by October 6 at 608-572-3656or rachel.hartbrinson@wisc.edu In addition, tag University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension Eau Claire County on Facebook and email a photo of the display to rachel.hartbrinson@wisc.edu by October 6, 2024 for the purpose of inclusion on the 4-H website.
5. Displays must be up by Sunday, October 6.
Cash prizes for entries will be awarded as follows:
1st place $50.00
2nd place $25.00
3rd place $15.00
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Kick Off National 4-H Week with the
Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser
October 7, 5:30-7:30PM Dine In or Carry Out
$10/person
Pleasant Valley Community Center, S10414 Cty HH/I Eleva, WI 5473
Come eat dinner and help the 4-H Leaders Association and OYC raise money for Educational Experience scholarships, 4-H camp, and program supplies. (If you can help out, scan the QR code or click the SignUp Genius button on the other newsletter article above.) Please spread the word. Share the Facebook event and tell your friends.
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Mark Your Calendars!
Be sure to add these fun events to your calendars now!
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Fall Forum 2024 - November 2-3, 2024
Fall Forum is for 4-H volunteers and members in 7th grade and up where they come together and engage in activities that they can bring back to their club and county program. You will meet new friends and get energized by all of the great connections and fun things to do. Register through 4-H Online before September 30. (The sooner you register, the more choices you will have in your sessions.) Adult volunteers must be approved in 4-H Online in order to register.
The Leaders Association offers $100 scholarships to volunteers and youth who attend. Send your request for a scholarship to Wendy Duerkop (wduerkop74@gmail.com) or Rachel Hart-Brinson (rachel.hartbrinson@wisc.edu.)
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Advanced Space Camp
Wisconsin 4-H is excited to announce details for the 2025 Advanced Space Academy! Advanced Space Academy will take place from February 15-22, 2025, and youth will travel to Huntsville, AL via coach bus and get the opportunity to train like an astronaut, learn team building skills at the Space Camp Challenge Course, participate in SCUBA diving at the underwater astronaut trainer, and learn a ton more about Space and STEM! You can see additional program details on Space Camp’s website.
Registration is open to youth in grades 10-12 for the 24-25 4-H year, and the cost is $2,700/per person. Registration will be open in 4-HOnline from September 4-30, 2024. We hope to see you when we blast off in February!
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Ignite Your Spark
National 4-H Week - October 6-12
The Wisconsin 4-H Leadership Council (WLC) invites your club to join us in a statewide service project for National 4-H Week!
Plan a service project during this week to give back to your community and to celebrate National 4-H Week!
There will be an informational Zoom on Sunday, September 8 at 7:30 PM. Join WLC to talk about service projects, how to report your impact and other national 4-H Week activities!
Register for the Zoom at this link.
Register your club's service project here.
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Eau Claire County Banquet
Be sure to mark you calendars for the Eau Claire County Banquet on Sunday, December 15, at the Pleasant Valley Community Center in Cleghorn. Make plans to attend!
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Barb Medford Memorial Poultry Fund 2025
The Barb Medford Memorial Poultry Fund was established to provide financial support to both new and existing members of the Eau Claire County 4-H Poultry Project. The goal of the fund is to reduce the financial burden of raising poultry to help ensure 4-H members are able to experience all the joy these birds provide.
Click the green button below for the application. Applications are due January 1, 2025!
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Cedar Crest Ice Cream Flavor Creation Contest
Cedar Crest Ice Cream, headquartered in Cedarburg, Wisconsin, and the Wisconsin 4-H Foundation have teamed up again to present the “Cedar Crest Ice Cream 4-H Flavor Creation Contest” for Wisconsin 4-H clubs. All Wisconsin 4-H clubs are eligible to submit their idea for a new ice cream flavor, along with a flavor description and interesting flavor name. Entries are accepted September 1, 2024, through November 15, 2024.
Five finalists are selected by a panel of Cedar Crest Ice Cream flavor experts from all entries received. One flavor is awarded top honors and a $500 gift. The winning flavor makes its debut in parlors in the summer of 2025. All five finalists receive an ice cream party for their 4-H club.
According to Brenda Scheider, Executive Director of the Wisconsin 4-H Foundation, the contest is a great opportunity for 4-H youth to work together to develop and name their flavor. “The most exciting part of the contest is the winning flavor will be available in parlors that scoop Cedar Crest Ice Cream next July.”
The contest has been an annual tradition for over ten years. Recent winning flavors of the annual contest include Haystack, created by the Knellsville 4-H Club of Ozaukee County, and Wisconsin Campfire S’mores, created by the Springbrook 4-H Club of New Richmond. The winning flavor for 2024 was Paul Bunyan, created by the Pesobic Pathfinders 4-H Club of Lincoln County.
More information and the entry form are available at www.cedarcresticecream.com/4H-Flavor-Contest. Entries are due by November 15, 2024.
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