Aroostook 4-H Newsletter February 2019

Dates to Remember

February 9:  Public Speaking clinic
February 18:  Presidents’ Day – office closed
March 16:  Public Speaking County Tournament
March 27-April 4:  Tractor Supply Paper Clover Event
April 1:  LIvestock Approval Form due for ESE Horse participants
April 1:  4-H enrollment forms due for new members
April 4:  Leader’s meeting
June 1:  Livestock Approval Forms due
June 28-July 3:  Northern Maine Agricultural Fair

 

State Events

February 9:  Winter Tracking Workshop
March 2:  Engineers’ Expo
April 6:  Maine 4-H Public Speaking Tournament
May 31-June 1:  4-H @ UMaine
July 19-21:  Maine 4-H Days

 

Happy Birthday to all 4-H members born in February

Frankie P
Grace K
Michaela G
Paige B
Taysen G

Club News

‘Paca Pals
Our club had an awesome STEM meeting at the Extension Office under the direction of Mari Glatter. We have welcomed some new members and have held our elections for club officers.

Public Speaking

Saturday, February 9 at 10:00 am there will be a Public Speaking clinic in Houlton at the Cooperative Extension office.  This clinic will have demonstrations and new fun ideas for public speaking.  Please sign up with Mari by Wednesday, February 6.  mari.glatter@maine.edu

Public Speaking County Tournament
Saturday, March 16 is the Public Speaking Aroostook County Tournament.  This will be at 10:00 am at the Houlton  Cooperative Extension office.  If you would like to attend the State tournament you must attend and pass at the County level.

State Public Speaking Event
Saturday, April 6, in Orono, is the State Public Speaking Event.  The state event is a day long event with check-in at 10:00am and presentations of awards at 4:00 pm.  Box lunches will be provided, please bring snacks and a water bottle.

TSC Paper Clover Event

This runs from  March 27-April 4.  Please call your local Tractor Supply Company to sign up for a time slot.  Fundraising is allowed at this event.  You must contact the 4-H office to inform us if you are planning to fund-raise so we may give you the proper equipment.  Please also let the 4-H office know if you plan to participate 532-6548.

State 4-H News

February, 2019

 

  1. Save the Date for 2019 Maine 4-H Days
    Maine 4-H Days will take place July 19 – 21 at the Windsor Fairgrounds. If you are interested in helping to plan next year’s event, please contact Jessy Brainerd at brainerd@maine.edu or 207.581.3877.
  2. Maine 4-H Days Planning Committee
    July will be here before you know it, and we are looking for a few good volunteers to join the fantastic current Maine 4-H Days Planning Committee. Joining this committee gives you the chance to help come up with ideas and plans for one of our biggest statewide events!  If you are interested in joining the Maine 4-H Days Planning Committee, or have general questions/comments/recommendations about the event, please email brainerd@maine.edu, or call 207.581.3877.
  3. Come to Orono for the 2019 4H@UMaine May 31 – June 1!
    Planning has started and the wheels are in motion thanks to the efforts of a tremendous team! We are always looking for individuals interested in helping with pre-event planning or attending the event itself! Stay tuned for details. For more information about 4-H@UMaine, contact Greg Kranich at kranich@maine.edu or 207.581.3292.
  4. Citizenship Washington Focus

Citizenship Washington Focus (CWF) Start making plans now to visit our Nation’s Capital during the week of June 29 to July 6, 2019. CWF is a leadership program conducted by the National 4-H Council for high school youth ages 14 to 18. Delegations of 4-Hers from across the country spend six days touring the city and attending leadership skill-building workshops. This summer, the Maine delegation will travel down on Saturday, June 29 and travel home Saturday July 6, 2019. You will stay at the National 4-H Conference Center just outside Washington, DC. Visiting the most popular sites in Washington, DC will be a part of the trip, including spending the 4th of July in our nation’s capital. There is a mandatory orientation for Maine delegates on April 27th, 2019.  For more information visit https://extension.umaine.edu/4h/annual-events/citizenship-washington-focus/.  Contact your county 4-H office for details about how to be a part of this experience if you don’t hear from them very shortly. All county offices have different criteria/dates to apply, so please contact them ASAP.  Websites are currently being updated.  For specific questions, please contact Heidi Palmer, State Activities Coordinator at:  heidi.thuotte@maine.edu.

 

  1. National Trips
    National 4-H Trip Applications Are due March 8th, 2019 (Conference and Congress) National 4-H Trips are excellent opportunities to meet 4-H members from across the nation. Participants learn about many career options, and learn through educational workshops at Congress or become a part of a team making recommendations to National 4-H Council at Conference. To learn more about these trips, visit: https://extension.umaine.edu/4h/national-trips/. Websites are currently being updated. For specific questions, please contact Heidi Palmer, State Activities Coordinator at:  thuotte@maine.edu
  2. 2019 Engineers’ Week Expo
    Every year, near George Washington’s Birthday, engineers across the country celebrate National Engineers Week, as George was a civil engineer who founded our nation. Here in Maine, our custom is to hold a huge “Expo” for all those young engineers (people who explore ingenuity) to visit and get to know us better.  Our next Expo will be in southern Maine at USM in Gorham, with a banquet event the night before in Portland. Those of you who’ve come, already know how intense and fun it can be! We hosted over 3,000 last time it was at USM!Our Expo will be from 9:00-2:00 Saturday, March 2, 2019 in the Field House at USM’s Costello Sports Center.  Snacks will be available, with souvenir tee shirts.  Campus tours will be available.  See http://www.engineeringme.com for general information.  Depending on our sponsors, some busing costs will be available.
  3. Winter Tracking Workshop
    Please join us for a Winter Tracking Workshop hosted by Maine Wildlife Habitat Education Program. February 9, 2019 from 9:30 am – 12:30 pm at Lake St. George Park in Liberty, Maine.  Everyone is welcome to this free event, but pre-registration is required.  More information available at: https://extension.umaine.edu/4h/event/winter-tracking-workshop/
  4. 2019 Maine 4-H Public Speaking Tournament
    The 4-H State Public Speaking Tournament will be held Saturday, April 6, 2019at the University of Maine at Orono. 4-H Youth ages 9 to 18 who have participated in their county 4-H public speaking tournament and received the required score are invited to participate. For youth in counties which do not hold public speaking tournaments, arrangements may be made through their county’s Extension office to present their presentation to their county’s 4-H staff in order to be eligible. More information is available at: https://extension.umaine.edu/4h/event/2019-maine-4-h-state-public-speaking-tournament/
  5. Please provide feedback on Project Records!
    Click the following link to take the survey.     https://umaine.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bP1iUM659wuRVrLYou are invited to participate in a statewide research project being conducted by Kristy Ouellette and Jennifer Lobley, Extension Educators at the University of Maine Cooperative Extension.  4-H volunteers and staff from all over Maine will participate in this study.Purpose of this research project:  We recognize the value of our 4-H volunteers.  As a state we have rolled out new 4-H Project Records. We want to have a better understanding of your beliefs and understandings of the function of these records. What will you be asked to do?  If you decide to participate, you will be asked to complete an on-line survey with questions pertaining to your attitudes and beliefs regarding 4-H project records in Maine.  The survey will take you approximately 20 minutes to complete. Risks: Except for your time and inconvenience, there are no foreseeable risks to you in participating in this study.  Benefits: You will be eligible to enter into a raffle for a $25.00 gift card to Hannaford. Confidentiality:  As a participant you will be anonymous. Investigators or a student will enter data into a computer.  Data will be kept on a secured computer with only the investigators or a student having access. Data will be kept for a period of  5 years.  Voluntary:  Participation is voluntary.  If you choose to take part in this study, you may stop at any time during the study.  You may skip any questions you do not wish to answer.   Participation in the on-line survey implies consent to participate. Contact Information: If you have any questions about this study, please contact Kristy Ouellette at 207.353.5550 or kristy.ouellette@maine.edu If you have any questions about your rights as a research participant, please contact Gayle Jones, Assistant to the University of Maine’s Protection of Human Subjects Review Board, at 581.1498 (or e-mail gayle.jones@maine.edu).