Cooperative Extension in Franklin County

4-H Re-enrollment Paperwork

The new 4-H year starts October 1. There is a new option available for families for the new 4-H Year. Starting October 1^st , families will have the ability to log into their account and complete their re-enrollment, as well as all required
forms, online. If you were enrolled for the 2021-2022 year, you can simply visit:
https://4h.zsuite.org/ – click “Forgot Password?” and complete the prompts using the email address you receive your 4-H communications to. If you would prefer to continue to complete paper forms, they can be found online at:
https://extension.umaine.edu/4h/volunteers/forms/ or by reaching out to your county office.

We would ask that if 4-H members are planning to re-enroll to please do the following:

• Complete and sign all paperwork
• Get required signatures
• Return paperwork to the Extension Office

If you plan to try out for Eastern States, apply for national trips, apply for scholarships, and or
complete an approval form to show animals at the fair, be sure to get your re-enrollment paperwork to
the Extension Office by the December 31^st deadline. Volunteers as well are asked to fill out the enrollment
form, the Standards of Behavior Form, and Photo Release (if they so choose). Return all paperwork
to the Extension Office ASAP.

Volunteer Background Checks

The Franklin County Extension Homemakers are collecting can tabs to benefit the Ronald McDonald House services.  The Ronald McDonald House allows parents who are far away from home to stay close to their hospitalized child without the expense of hotel and food costs.  The can tab program is important to the Ronald McDonald House because it provides extra revenue that can help make up for donations families cannot make.  To house a family the cost is between $100 and $140 a night.  That is 280 pounds of tabs!  They only ask for $10 a night contribution but no family is turned away.  There are two Ronald McDonald Houses located in Maine, one in Bangor and one in Portland.

Tabs are small in size, but they have a big impact.  Ask your family, friends, relatives, businesses, service clubs, bottle redemption centers, police stations, schools co-workers, church, etc. to save the tabs.  This is an on-going community service that the Homemakers have under taken.

We don’t care what the tabs are collected in; zip lock bags, cardboard boxes, coffee cans, pill bottles, glass jars, or plastic trash bags.  If you would like a container to collect tabs in, they are available at the Extension office.

Donations of any size can be left at the Franklin County Extension Office.

Please help us collect as many tabs as possible for this worthy cause.  Together we can make an impact on the lives of many.

State News

4-H Youth Summit Applications are Now Open!
Applications for the 4-H Youth Summit are now open.  The link is here!
Applications are due by December 18th.
This year there is ONLY ONE LARGE 4-H Summit.  It will combine tracks in Agri-science,
Healthy living, and STEM.  The Maine 4-H Foundation has once again helped us to fund teams of
youth for both Agri-Science and Healthy Living by providing scholarship funds for youth who are
selected.
Ignite by 4-H – the 2023 National 4-H Youth Summit to be held in the Washington, DC area,
March 9-12, 2023.
High school-aged youth are immersed in an agenda focused on agriscience, healthy living, or
STEM. Sessions will be offered within these respective tracks to demonstrate why and how these
topics are important and how young people can become changemakers. Find general conference
information at https://4-h.org/parents/national-youth-summits/.
If you have any questions please contact Tara Marble at tara.marble@maine.edu, 207.778.4650.

Public Speaking In-Person Workshop
The Maine 4-H Communication Science Team invites all enrolled 4-H members to an in-person
workshop on January 21st from 2 pm – 4 pm.  The meeting will be held at the Penobscot County
Extension Office in Bangor.  Participants will learn how to prepare for county/regional public
speaking contests for both Demonstrations and Illustrated Talks.  Please
contact sheila.norman@maine.edu for more information or to register.

2022-2023 Re-Enrollment Process
There is a new option available for families for the new 4-H Year. Starting October 1 st , families will
have the ability to log into their account and complete their re-enrollment, as well as all required
forms, online. If you were enrolled for the 2021-2022 year, you can simply visit:
https://4h.zsuite.org/ – click “Forgot Password?” and complete the prompts using the email
address you receive your 4-H communications to. There is a help menu that offers step-by-step
instructions in the system, as well as live chat for questions. You are also welcome to reach out to
your county staff or to the State Office at 4-H@maine.edu. If you would prefer to continue to
complete paper forms, they can be found online at:
https://extension.umaine.edu/4h/volunteers/forms/ or by reaching out to your county office.

Independent Member Clubs!
This fall county offices are piloting a new club specifically for independent 4-H members. This is a
space for youth to come together and build relationships with their peers. We will share interests,
projects, goals, and plans for the year and then reflect on our learning throughout and at the end
of the year. This is also a great place to start if you are a new or recently enrolled independent
member. We will meet 3 times throughout the year as a group with county staff. This will be a
space for youth to foster friendships with peers and possibly come together to work on projects of
similar interests. We are even hoping to get the group to brainstorm common interests and work
together on a community service project! Somerset and Aroostook counties are both holding
meetings in December.

Register here! Meetings can be attended either in person or virtually and will be open to all ages.
Dates based on county/region.

2022/2023 4-H Volunteer Training Opportunities
As we get ready for the new 4-H year, we are looking forward to offering a variety of learning
experiences (both in person and virtual) for our 4-H volunteers. Sessions are free of charge, but
require registration. Some sessions have limited space. Visit the 4-H Volunteer Calendar of
Training Opportunities to learn more and register!

EFNEP Recipes: Welcome to Winter
December is here and winter has begun! With it, there are plenty of celebrations and festivities as
we say goodbye to another year. Sharing food with family and friends is a big part of this time of
year, and many of us have traditions that include special recipes and treats. While many often
think of special holiday foods, how many of us think of special holiday drinks? Our friends at
Michigan State Extension have shared these great Healthy Hot Drink Recipes, and curling up with
a nice warm drink and a cookie (try our Oatmeal Raisin Cookie, Gingerbread Cookie, and Carrot
Cookie recipes!) is a great way to spend part of a December day. We wish you all the happiness
of the season!
For more delicious recipes, check out our UMaine EFNEP Mainely Dish Video Series. By Debbie
Barnett (EFNEP CEA in Kennebec, Knox, Lincoln, and Waldo counties –
deborah.barnett@maine.edu).
Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) offers FREE nutrition education
classes to income-eligible adults with children, or young adults 19-25 years old, and if you are
eligible for programs such as SNAP, WIC, or Head Start. Find out more online.

Androscoggin/Sagadahoc 4-H Monthly Workshops – Open to All Maine 4-Hers!
Come join the Androscoggin and Sagadahoc counties 4-H program at their monthly workshops –
the Third Friday of every month (unless otherwise noted) from 6:00 – 7:30 pm at the Lisbon
Extension Office at 24 Main Street. Anyone interested can contact Cathy Gray to find out more
information.
Currently Scheduled Topics:
– December 16, 2022 – Game Night
– January 20, 2023 – “Getting the Word Out” Digital Marketing
– February 17, 2023 – Short Film Making
– March 10, 2023 – Spa & Relaxation Science
– April 21, 2023 – Movie Premier Night
– May 19, 2023 – Wool Spinning Workshop