Making Order in 4-H

Tonight marked the second in a series of 5 trainings for our adult 4-H volunteers. The training for the 4-H Volunteer Revolution ACE Master Volunteer training series took place in Moore County and focused on Robert's Rules of Order and Parliamentary Procedure. Volunteers from Chatham, Cumberland, Hoke, Moore, and Robeson Counties took part in this evenings training.
Nelson McCaskill, 4-H Agent in Iredell County, came over to lead the workshop for almost 30 volunteers. Among the topics covered were the background of Parliamentary Procedure, how to make motions, voting, and other basics. The volunteers had a chance to ask questions, clarify various points and have an opportunity to learn about what can be a tough subject.
One of the big lessons of the night is that by using Parliamentary Procedure you are invoking well accepted guidelines to governing a meeting, however that does not mean all decisions or situations are black and white in how it is handled. These are guidelines to having a successful meeting.
After going through the preliminaries it wa
s time for Jeopardy!!! We worked through the categories of "I Love 4-H'" "Calling All Officers," "Can You Do That?," "Hodge Podge," "Motions that Move," "The Chair," "How Can I Improve It," and "Counting on You." The volunteers had a good time calling out categories and showing out their new found knowledge on what can be a tough topic.
All in all the volunteers seems to have a good time and are looking forward to the next training in Robeson County,May 21. If you would like ore information about this program please contact the Robeson County 4-H Staff at (910) 671-3276.

Breaking News!!!

In case you can't hear the excitement around the county let me go ahead and tell you what all the cheeping is about.  The eggs in second and third grade classrooms are hatching this week as part of our 4-H Embryology program.  More than 20 classrooms are equipp
ed with incubators and fun hands on experiments to do with the students in their classrooms as they learn about life cycles.
We also have an incubator at the 4-H office today 8 chicks were hatched and we have high hopes for our other 4 eggs.  There have been lots of questions about the process of hatching chicks and how long it takes.  We posted some of the questions on our Twitter page as well as the Robeson County Extension Facebook page.
We will have a second round of embryology going on in 15 classrooms in the county starting April 15.  Stay tuned for more late breaking news concerning our hatching project.    

What is the Theme of Our Next 4-H County Council and Volunteer Leaders' Association Meeting?

The answer is Game Night.  That's right folks the 4-H County Council officers and Volunteer Leaders' Association Officers met and determined our next meeting will be all about the game.  They are asking that the club reports (which will be given during role call) have some sort of game theme.  It could be any theme like BINGO, Life, Monopoly, etc.  Also the officers have some special entertainment planned for the evening, a game for everyone to enjoy, and in case you were wondering they even have a special prize to award to someone who is there at the end of the evening (if all goes well they may have a prize and a mini-prize to award).
The meeting will be held April 1, 2013 starting at 6:30 pm sharp at the 4-H office.  For those that arrive early the County Council Officers will be conducting a very new and fun icebreaker before the meeting.  It is a guaranteed laugh a polooza.  If you would like more information about this meeting call a member of the 4-H Staff; Penny, Wendy, or Shea Ann at (910) 671-3276.
 

4 Leaf Clovers and St. Patrick's Day

It seems to make perfect sense that at the March meeting of the Dirty Rascals Junior Master Gardener 4-H Club they would be doing and talking green.  Especially with St. Patrick's Day around the corner.  The group started by welcoming new members Tristan and Shepard Page to the club meeting.  After the pledges and the business it was time to kick off the club's annual fundraiser.
  Each year the Junior Master Gardeners join forces with the Robeson County Master Gardener Association to sell herbs at their plant sale.  The herbs are actually started at the Robeson County Cooperative Extension Office in the AeroGarden system.  This year the youth have planted Basil, Cayenne Peppers, Chives, Cilantro, Dill, Jalapeno Peppers, Lavender, Oregano, Rosemary, and Sweet Banana Peppers.  By the time the plant sale occurs at the end of April the seedlings will have been replanted and ready for the garden.

  After getting the seed trays started it was time for Mrs Messy Missy to step in and take us back in the clovers history.  Not necessarily the 4-H clover but the history of St. Patrick's Day which shamrocks (three leaf clovers) and four leaf clovers are associated.  March 17 is actually the anniversary of St. Patrick's death and is also the saints religious feast day.  For more than 1,000 years St. Patrick's Day has been a religious holiday for the Irish.  So who is St Patrick?  Well he is known as the patron saint of Ireland, however most of the stories that are associated with him, such as banishing snakes from the country, are widely exaggerated folklore.  As history portrays him, he was kidnapped from Britain and held hostage by the Irish for about six years.  As he worked an isolated life as a Shepard for this period of time and it is believed he turned to religion   He escaped and returned to Britain where he entered the seminary.  When he was done he returned to Ireland and help convert those not involved in the religion in a variety of ways that won him favor in the eyes of the Irish.
  After learning a little about St. Patrick, and patron saints it was time to get down to it and make it all stick in our heads.  For this Messy Missy brought us a vareity of items so we could make our own St. Patrick's Day bookmarks.  Although we had similar items no two bookmarks were exactly alike.  Each one had a little shimmer or sparkle, and spoke of the person who made them.  Some were simple, others more glamorous.  Either way it was a fun treat to make and take home as we read more about the traditions of the Irish this month.
 If you would like more information about this club please contact the 4-H office at (910) 671-3276.            

Revolution of Responsibility-The Teen Version

  One of the big events our teens look forward to each year is district teen retreat.  This year it was extra special becuase it was our first teen retreat with our new South Central District.  This year's event was held in New Bern which was a new place for all of us to travel to and added to the excitement of this annual event.

 This year we had a delegation of eight representing Robeson County.  County Council officers Dillon McCartney, Alexus Jones, and Megan Hurst attend the event.  Also fellow 4-H Club members Christian Graham, Michiko Hill, T'Asia Shelby, and Gia Williams rounded out the delegation.  Their adult representative was our own 4-H Agent, Shea Ann DeJarnette.  The delegation left on Friday afternoon to arrive just after seven pm.  The retreat was held at a church on the outskirts of town.  The even gave our delegates a chance to meet new 4-H members and reconnect with some from the counties that made the district move with us.
  We joined the other counties in attendance with dinner from Golden Corral.  After dinner it was time to break out into county huddles to work on our skit and chant (or cheer) for the spirit stick.  As the counties did that the District Officer Candidates set up their booths to introduce them selves to the voting population in attendance.  Then it was time to visit with the candidates  ask them questions, check out their information, and see what kind of cool stuff they brought with them.

  After absorbing the information it was time for member choice.  What I mean by that is members could take part in a scavenger hunt downstairs or a dance upstairs.  The district officers D.J.'d the event from their smart phones, iPod,  and computers.  There was line dancing, just dancing, and a lot of hanging out and socializing under the watchful eyes of 4-H Agents, Program Assistants, and Volunteers.  After all the fun we headed to the hotel which was about 15 minutes down the road for our evening pizza snack and then off to our rooms and time for bed.
  The next morning we had breakfast in the lobby.  Dillon even learned how to make his first ever waffle.  After we were full and packed it was time to head back to the church to get back at it.  First we turned in our ballots after voting for district officers.
Then it was time to get down to business.  The business of workshops that is.  We all attended three workshops.  One was on team building and was lead by Erin Morgan the 4-H Agent in Jones County.  We did a variety of activities that made us think about how we communicate with others and tested our leadership abilities while working as part of a team.
  We also attended a workshop on Diversity.  This workshop was taught by Sarah Harrelson.  The 4-H members learned about stereotyping others and the dangers of pigeonholing people in terms of stereotypes 
  Our final workshop was called IMPROVe.  There were three different stations where we had to think creatively and spontaneously to reach the goal.  This type of workshop helps with public speaking abilities and being able to speak extemporaneously   It was a lot of fun too!
  At that point we were famished from playing, er working so hard.  So we broke for lunch from Subway and sat with our new friends and had fun getting to know each other.  When we got done the winners of the election were announced.  Tyler Sharp of Wilson County is our new President, Robert Perry of New Hanover County is Vice President, Lauren Hardin of Duplin County is Secretary/Treasurer, and Abigail Dunn of Lenoir County is Reporter.  They will be inducted into their offices at 4-H Congress which takes place in June.
  We then went head to head, county against county, as we competed for the District Spirit Stick.  We presented our cheer, as well as our skit.  Thank you to our delegates who worked so hard to make that happen.

  As the District officers determined who would win the spirit stick it was up to us to handle the community service project.  We had two project going on at the same time.  Some of us made thank you notes that would be sent to the soldiers   While the rest worked on placemats that are used on the trays at the Veterans hospital to brighten the day of a Veteran.  It gave us a chance to be creative and have fun.

   We want to give a big shout out to the South East District Officers and Advisors who made this such a great event for all of us.  When it was all said and done we got on the van and headed back to Robeson County.  We're bringing back new skills and ideas, and we were a little more exhausted then we were when we left.  All in all we had a great time and we can't wait for Congress.    

Setting Goals is Getting Fuzzy?

  Tonight marked the March meeting for the Doin' It Big 4-H Entrepreneurial Club.  Club leader Rhonda Drye made sure the club members kicked things off with the pledges and then they sat down and had a talk about one of the things the youth need to concentrate on to be Entrepreneurs, setting goals.  They members discussed how getting an education is important for their futures and by setting goals today they can ensure they college path and other things they would like to accomplish in life.  They talked about what they would need to ensure their goals come true, things like discipline, self confidence, a willingness to work to make it happen.  After a lively talk about what they need to set their goals, and naming some of their personal goals the group worked on a community service project.

  The community service project was a cut up.  Found on Pinterest (and now on our Robeson County 4-H Pinterest Page) The youth used refashioned paper towel rolls and yarn to make different size and color pom poms.  By adding felt, pipe cleaner feet, and google eyes, the members made the cutest little chicks, that could only put a smile on your face.  There was a little trial and error with the project, and they even got some hands on help from Jessica Drake the All Around All Stars 4-H Arts and Crafts Club Leader.  In the end they may not have filled their Easter Basket quite yet, but they have a good start and I am sure some more will hatch soon.  When filled they will take the basket to Gibson Cancer center so that they chicks can brighten the day of some of their patients who utilize the facility.
  For more information about the Doin' Big 4-H Entrepreneurial Club please contact the 4-H office at (910) 671-3276.

Getting to the Melting Point

  You could say that the members of the All Around All Stars 4-H Arts and Crafts Club are always crafty.  As a matter of fact when it came down to this month's project they were downright scientific (but shhhhhh! I don't think the members noticed).  Club leaders Jessica Drake and Tanya Underwood dressed this project up with beads, grommets, muffin tins, aluminum pans, and a colorful creativity that has everyone looking for the sun.
  Before they could get to the project they opened their business meeting with the pledges and introductions to two new club members, brother Tristan and Shepard Page.  Both boys are long time Summer Fun participants, and have raised animals as part of our animal science projects.  This is their first time joining a club and the members of the All Around All Stars were happy to welcome them.  After a brief business meeting it was time to get down to business.
  This month the club project is making sun catchers with Pony Beads.  This is a project we first found on Pinterest (and you can find on the Robeson County 4-H Pinterest Page) and worked with the members of the cloverbud day camp to create.  Since then Jessica has refined the project and our club members had a blast with it today.
  To do this each member picked the color bead combination they wanted and randomly placed a single layer of the beads in the bottom of an aluminum pan or muffin tin.  No need to spray the pans with anything becuase when this is done the pieces will pop right out.  After making sure there is a tight bottom layer of beads (too many and it will be lumpy, too few there will be holes) and making the the grommet was near an edge (as the beads melt around it they will hold the grommet in place and you will have a ready made hole to string the ribbon or fishing line through) the pans went into a preheated 400 degree oven for 20 minutes.  Let us warn you, as the beads melt down there is a terrible stench.  It will go away but the plastic does not smell good as it melts so if you can open a window, you might want to.
  So as the beads were melting two science lessons were happening.  The youth learned how temperature can be used to change something from a solid to a liquid state and they learned how it can be used to grow things.  During the process the club visited the Embryology incubator in the lobby.  Mrs. Tanya talked with them about the process of hatching chicks from eggs and the youth got a chance to turn our eggs, just like a mother hen turns her eggs.  When everyone made it back into the kitchen they learned that by taking the now liquid beads out of the oven and applying cold water to the underside of the pans they were able to solidify their melted creations faster, making really awesome and one of a kind creations.
  After everything had cooled, and been taken out of their pans it was time to link it all together.  The group used all kids of ribbon or string to piece their sun catchers together.  They were very proud of their creations and each one took one home at the end of this meeting.  The All Around All Stars meets the first Thursday of each month starting at 5:30 pm.  If you would like more information about this club please contact the 4-H office at (910) 671-3276.