The ayes have it!!!!

State 4-H Congress has added a pre-congress component that will replace the pre-congress offered by the South Region. 

Based on the highly successful model used by the South Region in 2007 delegates will arrive in Austin a few hours earlier than they did in past.  By arriving early they will participate in a workshop designed to prepare them for the experience to come.

What does this mean for District 9?
- no pre congress
- no additional fees for congress
- based on 2007 success we will not be offering transportation to Texas 4-H Congress

Look for more details as they are released from the State 4-H Office.

Take Care,
Kevin

Bang Bang

The date for the District 9 4-H Shooting Sports Match has been set: April 10, 2009.

For those of you on the ball you will note this is also the date of the Multi-District Horse Judging contest. This just proves you shouldn't shoot and ride..... The shooting sports match will be in Rosenberg, while horse judging will be in College Station. Even though this conflict will probably affect very few 4-hers, please make sure youth in each project are aware of the conflict.

Rules and Guidelines for the District 9 Shooting Sports program will be coming soon from DEA Dale Fritz.

Take Care,
Kevin

Risk Management

As youth educators we incur risk everyday. Facing that risk should not be an obstacle to doing our job. We should manage the risk and take the necessary precautions to protect ourselves and the people we serve. To help you with this, the Extension Spirit committee offers an excellent resources including a video that can be downloaded at http://rm.tamu.edu/

Ease your mind, by taking the time to review this common sense risk management module.

The Inspired Leader Slide Cast

Check out this SlideShare Presentation:

The Inspired Leader Slide Cast

View more documents from Matt Church.

Leader College and El Paso youth support

Leader College is this weekend and I hope you are planing to attend, if not teach, at the event. In either case a couple of reminders. Registration begins at 9:00 am and closes at 9:30 am. Everyone that attends (including county and district personnel) must register and pay $15. If you are coming and did not register plan to bring correct change or a check.

By now I'm sure you are aware of the terrible accident that occurred in El Paso involving 5 4-H members. If not, 5 youth were burned badly in an accidental fire at a 4-H food booth fund raiser.

We will be taking a collection at Leader College in support of these families as they work through this tragedy. If your 4-H clubs or county programs are bringing checks, please make them payable to the Texas 4-H Foundation and put "El Paso 4-H youth" in the memo line.

We will facilitate the deposit of the funds after the event. For those of you wishing to contribute individually, I would encourage you to go to the Texas 4-H Foundation Website and make a contribution using "pay pal".

Till next time, Take Care,
Kevin

4-H ers in NEED

There has been a terrible accident involving 4-H ers and a food booth fundraiser in El Paso Tx. 5 children were burned. 3 are in ICU at University Medical Center in Lubbock and 2 are in regular admittance at the El Paso hospital.

Information regarding the particulars of this incident are not clear at this point. What is clear, is that these 4-H families are in need and a call to action is going out state wide! One or more of the injured children are expected to be in the hospital for more than a month. This will undoubtedly cause significant hardship for their families.

As details surface regarding what we can do to assist I will share them through this blog. In the mean time there are a few things we can consider.

Families from ElPasso are displaced and carring for their children in Lubbock. They will be needing lodging and accomidations. Money sent to Lubbock can be spent on what the families need, when they need it.

Money and or gift certificates to restraunts that are in the Lubock area would be of great benifit to these 4-H families.
Please work to inform your 4-H network of this terrible situation.

Please also consider having county contributions ready to present at this weekend's leader coollege.

Our prayers and our contributions are needed.
Kevin

4-H Connect Drop Dead Day

Just a reminder - This Friday, July 31, 2009 is your last opportunity to update enrollment in 4-H Connect for the 2008/2009 4-H year. Monday, August 1, 2009 all 4-H Connect records will be set to inactive!!!!!

This has two very big implications:
1) If you enter the member/group record after Friday, it does not count for the current 4-H year ending.
2) Families will not be able to register for any District or State 4-H Events until their membership is re-activated---Think Leader College.

As always if you have questions or concerns contact me.

Kevin