November 2023: Androscoggin-Sagadahoc Counties 4-H Newsletter
Androscoggin-Sagadahoc County 4-H News
Our thoughts continue to be with the cities of Lewiston and Lisbon, and all of our 4-H members, families, and staff impacted by the horrific events on October 25th. If you or someone you know is searching for resources or ways to offer support please visit www.onelewiston.org.
Table of contents:
Dates to Remember
- December 31, 2023: 4-H Re-enrollment and Club Plan of Work is due
- November 8, 2023: First 4-H Volunteer Workshop: Building Strong 4-H Clubs
Preparing for the 2023-24 4-H Year
(Re) Enrollment through ZSuite
If you manage your family’s account via ZSuite, re-enrollment is just a few clicks away:
Login or create an account at 4h.zsuite.org
- Click on the PRIMARY profile and enter your 4-character PIN.
- Click on the name of the youth member you wish to enroll.
- Click on ENROLL MEMBER NOW.
- Review/update the requested member information. When you are done with that, click
NEXT - Here you will read and electronically sign the 4-H participation waiver(s), click NEXT.
- Here is where you will select your club or clubs and desired projects. There may be clubs
and projects listed that carried over from your enrollment during the last program year. - To add clubs, select your county. This defaults to the county submitted when you created
your account. You may need to select another county to find your desired club. - Select your Club from the drop-down menu. Select ADD CLUB.
- To add projects for any of the clubs, select ADD PROJECT for the desired clubs. Select the
desired project from the drop-down menu. Select ADD PROJECT and the selection will be
added to the club. Feel free to add additional clubs or projects. If you make a mistake or
wish to remove a project, select the X and confirm you wish to delete the project. - When done making your selections, click Submit.
Enrollment records need to be active/green status before engaging in 4-H activities and to register for events. Enrollment for current members is due on December 31, 2023. New enrollments are due on April 1, 2024.
Creating a Plan of Work
In order to have a high-quality learning experience and meet your club goals for the year, your club should develop a “Plan of Work.” Spending time at the beginning of the 4-H Year to plan will pay off at the end of the year- especially when you can see the positive outcomes and meet your goals! Youth members and adult project leaders should be involved in developing this Plan, which should then be shared and approved by the Club. Independent Members will also need to develop and submit a Plan. Please send a copy of the Plan to the Androscoggin-Sagadahoc Counties Extension office by December 31, by email or mail. Our address is 24 Main Street, Lisbon Falls, ME 04252.
A digital copy of the Plan of Work form can be found on our website, and hard copies can be picked up at the office.
For questions, please contact Izzy Viselli at isabella.viselli@maine.edu or 207.353.5550.
Club News
Midcoast Mainers
GLEE of Maine
GLEE participated in the Vortex Trunk or Treat for the 4th year in a row. Scout and Summit W. dressed up as Wednesday Addams and a Cowgirl respectively along with Adney and Ruth B. as a retro football player and a private handed our candy to more than 400 youth in their community. Alaina and Ella D. our two newest members joined us to Trunk or Treat and a quick picture.
State News
4-H Volunteer Workshops for the 2023-2024 4-H Year
We invite you to participate in our 4-H Volunteer Connections virtual workshops! Join other 4-H volunteers from the North East region to learn, share and engage with one another on a variety of topics related to 4-H. All workshops are free and offered via Zoom in the evenings from 6:30 – 8:00 pm.
Topics include:
- November 8 – Building Strong 4-H Clubs
- January 10 – Creating LGBTQ+ Inclusive Programs
- February 13 – Be a Positive Communicator
- March 12 – Finding Space for Mental Wellness in Every Program
- April 9 – Animal Science: Strong Relationships and Sportsmanship
Visit our website to register now! Come to one or come to all! We look forward to connecting with YOU!
4-H Tick Project
The 4-H Tick Project is a community science project engaging K-12 youth and educators, made possible through a partnership between 4-H Youth Development, UMaine Cooperative Extension Tick Lab, Maine Forest Tick Survey, and members of the Learning Ecosystems Northeast partnership. The project provides youth an opportunity to explore ticks and tick-borne diseases, which is a connected story of climate, ecosystem change, and public health.
All educators interested in teaching about ticks in Maine are encouraged to participate in the project at no cost to you. This is a great project for 4-H clubs, SPIN clubs, homeschool groups, and more. For more information and to register, visit the 4-H Tick Project webpage.