Iowa 4-H Volunteer

The wedding dress that you no longer need could get a new life as a deconstructed and reconstructed new designer garment. All you have to do is donate it to the Iowa 4-H Foundation for the Stitch This! fashion design competition at the Iowa State Fair Aug. 21-22.

We got the idea for Stitch This! as a way to use the nine wedding dresses that didn’t sell at last year’s 4-H auction. We’d get nine teen teams — one per dress. Then, over the course of two days at the Iowa State Fair, each team would take the dress apart and use their creativity to design and construct a wearable garment from the pieces. Each team would be paired with an Iowa State University Textiles and Clothing student who would provide direction and overall expertise on patternmaking and construction.

Well, we have been overwhelmed by the response. We have applications from 50 individuals for a total of 14 teams. (You can view video applications from some of the teams on the Iowa 4-H YouTube Channel, www.youtube.com/iowa4h.) They’re all hoping to be selected for the competition. If we just had a few more wedding dresses …

So – if you know of a wedding dress that needs a new life, please contact me at shellyg@iastate.edu or (515) 294-1607 by June 15th. Thanks so much!

– Shelly Greving, marketing coordinator for the Iowa 4-H Foundation

4-H Foundation, Events, Opportunities Clothing, sewing, State Fair

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

Did you know that Iowa 4-H volunteers are the key to the success of the 4-H program as well as the lives of many young people?

In a survey conducted last summer Iowa 4-H club volunteers shared how they contributed to 4-H and how they impact youth.

Iowa 4-H volunteers are generous! You contributed a median of $55 for non-reimbursed supplies for your club, plus 72% of you made additional financial contributions to 4-H. Also, 92% of you also volunteer for a variety of other organizations. Amazing!

How do some of these statistics compare with you? Comment on what you think the impact of volunteers are to 4-H’ers.

–Chuck Morris, Director 4-H Youth Development

4-H Gets Results! Clubs, Generosity

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

As the State 4-H Director I want to welcome you to our Iowa 4-H Volunteer blog. The initial goal of this new communication tool will be to help answer questions and concerns dealing with the ISU Extension reorganization and the impacts to the Iowa 4-H program.

We hope you will ask questions of our staff and other volunteers, and also share ideas with each other on a variety of 4-H topics. The 4-H program is delivered through the generosity of volunteers and committed staff with the support of our donors. We are partners in helping young people reach their full potential. Please feel free to share!

–Chuck Morris, Director 4-H Youth Development

Opportunities Leaders, Reorganization