November 2023 4-H Newsletter
4-H Calendar
4-H Club Happenings
State 4-H News
Other UMaine Extension Cumberland County News
November 1: Paul Merrill Applications due to Extension Office
November 11: 4-H at Maine Mariners Hockey, 6:00 PM
November 15: IRS 990 E-Postcards due
November 16: CC 4-H Leaders Meeting, 7:00-9:00 PM, Online & 80 Huston Road, Gorham, ME
November 27: Maker Monday, 4:00-5:00 PM, 4-H Office
November 29: Wacky Wednesday, 3:00-4:00 PM, Windham Public Library
December 3: Winterfest, 1:00-3:30 PM, Great Falls Elementary School
WELCOME to our New 4-H Admin!
Suzan Nelson started working for UMaine Cooperative Extension on October 17 as our new 4-H Admin! She will be providing administrative support for our clubs and events. Feel free to reach out to Suzan at suzan.nelson@maine.edu.
It’s Time to Enroll for the New 4-H Year!
If you manage your family’s account via ZSuite, reenrollment is just a few clicks away:
Login 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 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.
4-H At Maine Mariners Hockey Game
Join the Cumberland County 4-H for a riveting evening of sportsmanship on November 11th at 6 PM at the Maine Mariners’ game. Feel the adrenaline rush as the Mariners take the ice in a thrilling sports spectacle. Take advantage of our special discounted tickets offer through the provided link. This is not only an opportunity to witness a high-octane game but also a chance to support and cheer for your favorite team alongside your community. Tickets are $15 each. Please wear something representing 4-H, so they know who we are!
Here is the link to purchase tickets:
https://fevo-enterprise.com/event/Cumberland4h
The Leaders Association is Holding Elections for 2024-2026 Board Members
The Leaders Association is holding elections at the November meeting and is taking nominations for Association Board Members. There can be nominations for any of the positions from the floor. Anyone who is a certified 4-H volunteer interested in running please contact Pat Stack, pat.stack70@gmail.com
The new slate of Board Members is
- Ralph Clark
- Chris Baldinelli
- Wendy Landry
- Kristen Babcock
The Leaders Association meeting to vote on these Board Members will be held November 16, at Gorham Public Works, 80 Huston Road, Gorham, 7:00 – 9:00 PM. All volunteers are welcome and encouraged to attend!
IRS 990 N E-Postcard Filing Reminder: Due November 15, 2023
All 4-H Clubs must have an Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the Internal Revenue Service. If you have already applied for and received an EIN and had this number for the tax year July 2022 – June 2023 you must file a 990N E-Postcard. Detailed instructions are available online from the IRS and have been updated on the Additional Volunteer Policies B.1. page (under the heading, B.1.9 Tax-Exempt Status of 4-H Organizations) of the state 4-H website. If you need assistance with filing or would like the County 4-H Office to file for you, please email or call Allison, allison.pollock@maine.edu, 207-781-6099.
Maker Monday & Wacky Wednesday
One Monday or Wednesday afternoon each month October – December, we will offer a themed hands-on activity for youth ages 5-11 that may include crafts or science. 5-8 year-olds must have an adult present for assistance and some projects encourage adult assistance for all ages. Current 4-H enrollment is not necessary for participation in the Maker Series program. You can choose to join us for one project or all three. Registration ends one week prior to each class or when full (maximum of 10). The same theme will be provided at both locations for each month.
NOVEMBER- SNOW, DECEMBER- HOLIDAY DECORATIONS
CLOVERBUDS
- Dates: Mondays, November 27, December 18
- Time: 4:00-5:00 PM
- Ages: 5-8 year olds
- Location: UMaine Extension Cumberland Office, 75 Clearwater Dr, Falmouth
- Cost: FREE
- Registration: Click Here to Register
WINDHAM PUBLIC LIBRARY
- Dates: Wednesdays, November 29, December 20
- Time: 3:00-4:00 PM
- Grades: K-6
- Location: Windham Public Library, 217 Windham Center Rd, Windham
- Cost: Free
- Registration: Click Here to Register
Have questions? Contact Allison by email allison.pollock@maine.edu or phone 207.781.6099.
LENE FALL PHENOLOGY PHOTO CONTEST
We are looking for original images that capture essential fall features in your environment.
SUBMISSION CRITERIA:
- One main piece of media – it must be a photo you have taken in panorama or 360 mode, that displays fall phenology: cyclic changes tied to a certain natural phenomenon.
- Text descriptions or information of 3+ things featured in the main piece of media.
- Additional elaboration with 3 – 5 original media (e.g., zoomed-in photos, videos, audio that you have taken) that provides more detail about the fall phenomenon.
JUDGING:
- Submissions will be judged by a panel of researchers and educators.
- Special consideration will be given to images, supporting media, and text descriptions that include climate science-related elements.
Questions? Contact Rachel Wolf (rcwolf@stanford.edu) or Doris Chin (dbchin@stanford.edu) For more information visit the website.
EDUCATORS MUST SUBMIT FOR YOUTH ON THEIR BEHALF.
Prizes will be awarded for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place submissions in each division!
1st place — $100 Amazon Gift Card
2nd place — $50 Amazon Gift Card
3rd place — $10 Amazon Gift Card
Media must be submitted by November 28th, 7pm ET.
Winners will be announced December 8th.
If interested, you may submit your photos to Sarah, sarah.sparks@maine.edu
SAVE THE DATE for WINTERFEST
- Date: Sunday, December 3
- Time: 1:00-3:30 p.m.
- Location: Great Falls Elementary School, Gorham
Winterfest will once again be held at the Great Falls Elementary School in Gorham on Sunday, December 3 at 1:00 pm. We will have new activities planned by the Teen Council. County awards will be given out in the first portion of the afternoon and then there will be open gym time, games, and a potluck of snacks and desserts! Everyone is asked to please bring your favorite snack or dessert to share at Winterfest.
For more information visit the 4-H Winterfest page.
Club Happenings
GNG 4-H Food Pantry Project
The Gray New Gloucester Food Pantry Project raised money to buy three pigs and one lamb from the 4-H auction this fall. In October the group met to sort meat and deliver it to the two food pantries.
Your 4-H Club Happenings could be featured here! Just email allison.pollock@maine.edu by the 28th of each month with information about your club meetings, events, or fundraisers. Pictures are always a plus!
State 4-H News November 2023
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
Click here 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.
Other UMaine Extension Cumberland County News
UMaine Extension Cumberland County offers many different workshops throughout the year. To learn more about our workshop offerings please visit https://extension.umaine.edu/cumberland/upcoming-events/