Iowa 4-H Volunteer

Your County could receive $400 for its 4-H Program!

Thanks to generous support from John Deere, a $400 award will be presented to one county from each state with the highest number of individual Biofuel Blast results survey submissions between October 1 and October 30, 2009. The awards can be used toward the implementation and promotion of science, engineering and technology programs in your county. After your clubs complete the experiment, make sure your members go to https://www.4-h.org/NYSD/ to fill out the survey so your county can compete for the award!

In addition, of those who submit their results through the Biofuel Blast experiment survey, five youth names will be randomly selected to receive a 32GB third generation iPod touch. The five youth will also be able to designate a 4-H club, school classroom, or youth organization to receive a Fuel Cell Car Experiment kits. Click here for official drawing rules.

Ask the Expert

Dr. Bruce E. Dale, Professor of Chemical Engineering at Michigan State University, will be taking questions from youth and adults interested in learning more about biofuels. He is a leader of the recently established Department of Energy Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center (GLBRC) who work to develop cellulosic ethanol and other bioenergy sources. University of Wisconsin Extension worked closely with the GLBRC to develop this year’s National Science Experiment – Biofuel Blast!

Click here to learn how you can submit questions for consideration. Answers will be posted before 4-H National Youth Science Day, October 7, 2009.

Don’t Forget, Promote Your Events!

Just a reminder to email us at 4-HNYSD@4-H.org with details about your upcoming 4-H NYSD events. Please include event dates, locations, and contact information to be added to the map of 4-H National Youth Science Day events!

4-H National Youth Science Day is only a week away – pass the word!

Clubs, Events, Resources Clubs, ESET, Projects, Resources

A new SET curriculum has been added to the National 4-H Curriculum Collection! Butterfly WINGS is a great way for your club to serve society as a citizen scientist while learning important skills and having lots of fun. Here are the details on the curriculum.

Butterfly WINGS is now available for sale and will be offered at a special introductory discount of 35% from August 25th – September 30th! To order, visit the 4-H mall.

Butterfly WINGS was developed by the University of Florida and consists of one Youth Guide (product #08392) and one Facilitator’s Guide (product #08393). Each book is priced at $7.95, but will be available during the introductory period for $5.17 each! In addition to the pre-press price, quantity discounts also apply!!

Title: Project Butterfly WINGS
Type of Material: Individual Project Curriculum
Grades: 4th – 8th (Ages 9 -13)
Format: Project Manual
Category: Science, Engineering and Technology
Focus Area: Environmental science, citizen science, butterfly biology, identification, habitats and monitoring.
For more information, visit http://www.4-Hmall.org/curriculum.

Check it out! - Holly Bignall

Resources Clubs, ESET, Resources

Check out these great opportunities for 4-H program funding! If these possibilities look interesting to you or your club members, don’t hesitate to contact the Extension Science, Engineering, and Technology (4heset@iastate.edu) program for more information and suggestions as well as guidance in applying for these grants.

1. 2009 Wells Fargo Environmental Affairs Green Team Iowa Grant Program
   • Grants Available for Local Environmental Team/Volunteer Activities
   • Contributions ranging from $500-$2500, to non-profits focused on the following three categories: Renewable Energy, Green Buildings and Sustainable Agriculture.
   • These categories are not exclusive, but activities in those areas are encouraged.
   • Program aims to fund activities that promote team member engagement and local environmental volunteer efforts.

For an application, please email GreenTeamIowa@wellsfargo.com. Deadline for completed applications is noon August 24. For more information, contact Brad Gerndt, Founder & President, Wells Fargo Environmental Affairs Green Team Iowa, GreenTeamIowa@wellsfargo.com, 515-324-2878, cell: 515-291-4376.

2. JCPenney Afterschool Fund FIRST Robotics Team Mini-Grants
   • 38 mini-grants totaling $92,500 are available.
   • All members of either new or existing teams must be enrolled 4-H members.
   • Team must be located in a JCPenney Geographic District
   • Team must recognize the JCPenney AFterschool Fund on promotional material.
   • Team must compete in at least one sanctioned robotics competition. (For information about FIRST competitions in Iowa, contact the E-SET office (4heset@iastate.edu
   • Application Deadline: August 7, 2009
   • Award Amount Range: $500 - $10,000
   • Project Start/End: Aug. 31, 2009 to May 28, 2010

To review the RFP and apply for funding, please visit the online portal at http://grants.4-h.org/ .   (Note: you will have to register on the website before you can see grant details).

For further information about FRC, FTC, and FLL in Iowa contact the E-SET office 4heset@iastate.edu.

-Holly Bignall,  Iowa 4-H E-SET Program Assistant

Clubs, Opportunities, Resources Clubs, ESET, Resources

If you are looking for a good website that illustrates all kinds of sewing techniques, check out: http://mdg.ext.msstate.edu/sewing/index.html
If you click on hand sewing, it will actually thread a needle and the “next” button illustrates various stitches and when you would use them. (This is in the clothing construction section. There is also a clothing selection section.)

In the clothing selection section, click on: http://msucares.com/pubs/publications/p1303.htm
This publication includes tips on selecting clothes for various body builds, wardrobe planning, choosing colors, characteristics of various fibers, evaluating fit and looking for quality in ready to wear.

This is a wonderful resource and I’ll be returning to it again!

–Sue Bogue, State 4-H Program Specialist

Clubs, Resources Clothing, Projects, Resources, sewing

Are you looking for new and simple sewing ideas for anyone new to the hobby of sewing? If so, check out http://4h.wsu.edu/clothing/quick_projects/list.htm
(Note that there is an underscore between quick and projects.)

The jewelry bag, mug mats and recycled denim jeans all captured my interest. If you are teaching someone to sew or if you are looking for a quick, fun sewing project or idea, I recommend this site for the clear directions and photos of the various steps. It makes me want to spend some time in my own sewing room.

Sue Bogue, State 4-H Program Specialist

4-H Foundation, 4-H Gets Results!, Clubs, Resources Clubs, Projects, sewing

As Executive Director of the Iowa 4-H Foundation, I received a question from a volunteer regarding what is being done to help the local county Extension staff transition to a new Extension structure in Iowa. Here is my response and thought you might be interested in knowing the answer as well.

I read the editorial from the Register and have had the opportunity to attend two of the listening sessions where extension director Jack Payne discussed the budget situation, background, and decisions that were made. I’ve also had the chance to visit with many of our County Extension Education Directors and Area Extension Education Directors — this is a rough time personally for many of them and anything we can do to listen and help and provide personal support is important to do.

Our 4-H Foundation, under the leadership of our president, Dennis Goering, and trustees like Rozanne King and Barb Determan (among others) took the lead to limit the budget cuts dealt to 4-H, and they are continuing with communications efforts to protect the program in the future. The Foundation has pledged to raise an additional $150,000 to support staff; essentially limiting the number of 4-H positions that will be lost as a part of the budget. I realize this is not much, but we’re hopeful we can move aggressively on an endowment fundraising effort to fund that commitment in perpetuity so we can continue with the program support that is needed and maintain the growth of county endowments to help 4-H locally (a million dollar endowment would essentially fund a county’s 4-H program: CYC, program, member fees, etc).

Chuck Morris, our State 4-H Leader, is working with a plan to adjust roles and responsibilities so the 4-H Program can remain strong across Iowa and continue to be a source of pride in every county. That plan — which is essentially an accelerated version of our state plan in support of 4-H club growth (which has been working; not as fast as we would have liked, but it is working) — is currently being fine-tuned with input from a number of 4-H staff and will then need to be approved by ISU HR. He’s doing his best to communicate with all our staff through a weekly Adobe Connect which is archived for them to review if they cannot attend the live-feed. Again, its not enough, but we’re working to do everything we can.

Please keep in touch, and continue being an advocate for 4-H — and encourage your family, friends, business associates and neighbors to do the same!

If you have any similar questions or comments, we would be happy to field them through this website.

–Joe Leisz, Executive Director, Iowa 4-H Foundation

4-H Foundation, Resources 4-H Foundation, Reorganization, Resources

As Iowa State University Extension reorganizes on campus and throughout the state, one thing that won’t change is 4-H Youth Development’s commitment to involving caring adults in the lives of Iowa kids and teens.

To learn more about the ISU Extension Restructuring Plan go to http://www.extension.iastate.edu/restructuring.htm Many of your questions might be answered on this webpage. If not, please feel ask questions and share your comments here.

–Chuck Morris, Director 4-H Youth Development

Resources Reorganization