March 2021 4-H Newsletter

4-H 4-U

March 2021

Penobscot/Piscataquis County News

4-H Weekly Update

In an effort to reduce the emails in your inbox, we are starting the 4-H Weekly Update. Instead of sending each email about a new opportunity separately, we will save them to be sent all in one email on Friday as a weekly update! Any updates or opportunities that are time-sensitive will be shared immediately.

Maine 4-H Foundation Post-Secondary Education Scholarships

Important Deadline! These scholarships are available to participants in 4-H programs who are pursuing higher education. There are a number of different scholarships available. Scholarship descriptions, applications, and sample evaluation sheets can be found at https://extension.umaine.edu/4hfoundation/funding/

The deadline for applications is March 1, 2021. Bring the application to your county office. The county will submit them electronically to the Maine 4-H Foundation. Remember that the Foundation application is used for county scholarships in Penobscot and Piscataquis Counties as well, with a separate cover letter for each county. Links to the cover sheets can be found on your county website. Complete your county cover sheet and attach it to a copy of your Maine 4-H Foundation application to be considered for both scholarships.

Tractor Supply Paper Clover Campaign

The next TSC Paper Clover Campaign will be held from April 28 to May 10. It is doubtful that we will be able to go to the stores in person, so please share any fun, creative, interactive ideas for displays that you might have. There is a new TSC store in Holden, so we now have four stores in our area.

Club Reports

Outdoor Adventure SPIN Club – Penobscot County

The Outdoor Adventure SPIN Club had its first meeting on Saturday, February 27 at the Bangor City Forest. Future meeting dates and locations will be announced in the coming weeks. If you are interested in joining, it’s not too late! Check out the program website for more information and to register.

Winter Fun SPIN Club – Piscataquis County

Final plans are coming together. Contact the Piscataquis County office if you are 4-H age 12 or older and would like to be on the list for information about this outdoor winter activity club. The first activity will be cross-country skiing.

Choose Health: Food, Fun, and Fitness SPIN Club at the Brewer Library

The Choose Health: Food, Fun, and Fitness SPIN Club at the Brewer Library had its last session on February 25. Participants met virtually to learn about staying active, nutrition and made a recipe each week. If other groups would like to participate in this activity, contact Sheila Norman (sheila.norman@maine.edu) or Emily Mott (emily.j.mott@maine.edu) or call your county office. Penobscot 942-7396 or Piscataquis 564-3301

New Clubs and/or Leaders This Month

WELCOME!

New leaders Kayla Michaud and Sarah Raymond are leading the Outdoor Adventure SPIN Club in Penobscot County. For more information on their club, visit the program website.

New leader Isleen Halverson will be leading the Piscataquis Winter Fun club. If you are 4-H age 12 or older, contact the Piscataquis County office at 564-3301 for the latest information.

State and National News

Exciting Upcoming Maine 4-H Virtual Teen Science Cafes

Maine 4-H Virtual Teen Science cafes are back for 2021! The sessions will take place on Tuesdays from 4:00 – 4:45 pm. Pre-registration is required, and registration links are online.

· March 2 – Our first session kicks off with John Arimond, whose presentation will focus on wind turbine engineering, UMaine’s wind blade testing, and 3-D Printing Production.

· March 9 – Tom Rounsville joins us to talk about his field research involving bobcat populations.

· March 16 – Our guest is Allison Gardiner, a medical entomologist whose research focuses on the ecology of infectious diseases of humans and wildlife that are transmitted by arthropod vectors, such as mosquitoes or ticks.

· March 23 – Join Sean Birkel of UMaine’s Climate Change Institute, whose research utilizes climate modeling and data visualization to better understand climate variability and future impacts from human activity.

· March 30 – Colt Knight of the University of Maine Cooperative Extension will talk about pigs and cows – From Farm to Table and Beyond.

2021 4-H Public Speaking Tournament

The 2021 4-H Public Speaking Tournament will take place virtually over the weekend of April 17 – 18, 2021. If you are interested in participating in the Maine 4-H Public Speaking Program and need assistance in any way, please contact us to discuss your needs. We are committed to making 4-H programs accessible to all youth, regardless of internet or technology access.

Family, friends, and the general public who wish to support youth can join us for the Awards Ceremony! The Awards Ceremony will be streamed live via Facebook Live, YouTube, and Zoom on Sunday, April 18, 2021, at 4:00 pm. We encourage you to invite anyone you’d like — there is no limit on attendees!

Questions about the Maine 4-H Public Speaking Program? Contact Sheila Norman at sheila.norman@maine.edu or call 207.942.7396.

Penobscot Leaders’ Association

Penobscot County 4-H Leader’s Association Meeting Minutes

February 18, 2021

Attendance: Jen Robertson, Corinna Caron (VP), Sharon Rowley, Brooke Williams, Lucia Brown (Sec.), Sheila Norman (staff), Joyce and Casey Hanson

Call to order at 6:02 PM

Secretary’s Report

Treasurer’s Report

Staff Report

Public Speaking

Scholarships

Club Audits

Re-enrollment Data

Bangor State Fair Update

Secretary’s Report – motion to accept by Corinna, seconded by Sharon – all in favor.

Treasurer’s Report – Sue unable to be present, the only change would be interest accrued

Checking – $3,651.09

CDs and savings

Savings – $23,904.73

CD – $2,504.86

CD – $4,472.67

Staff Reports

Sheila:

She spoke to Mike Dyer and there is no news on the fair. There is a fair meeting on Saturday and he may have more information after that.

In-person meetings to be revisited on Mar. 1.

Scholarship applications due Mar. 1. Foundation applications must be submitted virtually.

Graduation cords have arrived.

The 4-H County page has been updated.

Public speaking workshops have been going on. The last one is coming up soon and they have been well attended.

The Snowman contest has not had many entries but you can enter through the end of February.

Lyme disease poster contest, grades K-8 – entries accepted through April 30th.

We have two new 4-H leaders that have completed VOLT Training. They will be holding a SPIN club for outdoor activities. February 27th will be the first meeting, outside, in person, in the Bangor City Forest. You must sign up to participate. They have a cap on the participant number. Their names are Sara and Kayla.

Public Speaking – If there are members interested in participating, contact Sheila.

Scholarship Applications – none at this time.

Club Audits – Corinna wondered if Wendy verified that PL4-H had been turned in. Sheila will remind those that still need to submit and she’ll follow up with them.

Re-enrollment Data – Re-enrollment is down compared to last year. Some could be caused by getting new enrollments throughout the year, but it is certainly down. Lucia commented that it’s hard to think about taking on and adequately supervising new members in a livestock project under the current circumstances. Jen said it’s hard to keep people engaged through zoom meetings. Everyone agreed that ‘fun’ activities are better received but it can be hard to get regular attendance to zoom meetings. The uncertainty adds another challenging factor.

Bangor State Fair – no update. Hopefully, even if the Fair does not come together this year, alternate events can be planned.

ESE – making some plans. Currently, an event at the end of July is being discussed. Dorms are closed. They are talking about camping and tenting and hotel discounts. It is hard to know if 4-H rules will allow that at that time as well. During the regular fair, they’d like to have a 4-H presence. There is a lot of planning taking place to try to put something together.

If Sheila hears any more about National Trips, she will share.

Agenda for March 18, 2021: