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Program Newsletter - April 2010

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April 2010 Newsletter

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“4-H is a community of young people across America who are learning
leadership, citizenship and life skills.”

Ede Valiquette, 4H Educator, ph-203-207-3264, Edith.valiquette@uconn.edu,
www.fairfield county4h.org
4-H State office- www.4-H.uconn.edu
1-888-FOUR-H-CT (368-7428) toll free state 4-H number

APRIL 2010
14 State 4-H Citizenship Day, Hartford
24 Fairfield County 4-H Science Day, Bethel- Lego Robotics
28 FC 4-H Volunteer Dinner- Newtown

MAY 2010
1 Awards, Camperships and College Scholarship applications due
1 CT Report Forms due in Bethel Office for state award consideration
8 New England 4-H Dog Camp, 1 day, Vernon
15 Set up for 4-H Benefit Horse Show
16 Spring Benefit Horse Show
17 After Show Pizza Party and Jump Pick Up

JUNE 2010
1 CT 4-H Recognition Forms due to the State 4-H Office for National 4-H Congress (May 1
to county office)
1 Animal verification forms due to county 4-H office for non horse animal projects
4 Fairfield County 4-H Recognition Night
12 Stony Hill Area Festival
20 4-H Benefit Horse Show (Rain Date)
25-27 Teen Connection, Storrs

SAVE THE DATE
June 4 4-H Recognition Night
June 25-27 4-H Teen Connection Conference at UConn
July 10 4-H K9 Festival - Bethel

Condolences to . . . .
Linda Tomas, whose father recently pass away. Linda is a co-leader of the CT Beardsley Zoo Club.

Congratulations to . . . .
Sarah Liska and Claire Fraise who won Best of Show honors at CT Expressive Arts Day.
Ashley Malia, Elli Edwards and Rebecca Puglisi who graduated from the 4-H Red Cross certified
babysitting course.
All who participated in this year’s Cover Contest for the 4-H Spring Benefit Horse Show
Winner-Sarah Liska
Honorable mention - Shannon Spies
Participants - Holly LoCascio

Thank you to . . .
Alison Rogers, Emily Rogers and Dogs Rule members and Jami Wallace, and Happy Hoofers members
Shannon Spies and Rachel Petersen who manned our 4-H booth at the Agway Pet and equine Expo.
Jami Wallace who manned our 4-H booth and taught 4-H creative drama at the Minds in Motion
conference in Newtown.
To everyone who sent cards, phone calls, emails, prayers and good thoughts my way on the recent
passing of my Dad.
Carol Maida for coordinating the Ad Campaign and to all leaders members and parents who
participated.

Welcome to . . . .
Donna Liska, our new 4-H Program Assistant.

COUNTY HAPPENINGS

AWARDS
Award applications have been sent to all leaders. All applications are on the county web page. Awards
are due May 1, 2010 at 5:00 p.m., at the 4-H Office.

VOLUNTEER and TEENS DINNER, April 24, 2010 MY PLACE RESTAURANT, NEWTOWN
On April 24, we will have our volunteer dinner meeting at My Place Restaurant. Compliments of
4-H. Who should attend? Adults and teens that are in leadership positions in their club and
adults and teens who have served on county, state committees and the County Fair Board are
invited to attend.

FAIRFIELD COUNTY 4-H AD CAMPAIGN
Over $5,880 was collected!!! The results are in and attached to this newsletter. Even though it was a
difficult fundraising year, we did raise more than last year. Thank you and congratulations to all who
participated. 4-Hers who submitted their ads late are listed as participating, but are not eligible for
awards.

COUNTY 4-H PROMOTION and FUNDRAISING

This year, there are many changes to our county 4-H promotions and fundraising efforts.
As you know, clubs are expected to participate in county fundraising/4-H promotion events and
activities. During the last several years, we have added many new events, especially 4-H promotion
activities. To prevent overburdening everyone, the Development Committee decided to hire a food vendor for both horse shows and K9 Festival for this year. This should reduce the volunteer needs for
each event. To be a club in good standing, it is expected that each 4-Her volunteer for at least one of
the following fundraising/4-H promotion events and activities.

May
4-H Horse Show - Bethel
May 15 - Set up for 4-H Benefit Horse Show
May 16 - Spring Benefit Horse Show
June 12 - Stony Hill Area Amber Alert Day - Bethel 4-H promotion booth and face painting – already
taken by Newtown Naturalists
July 10 - K9 Festival- Bethel
August 15 - Bethel Garden Fair- 4-H promotion booth and selling bulbs
September
September 11- Set up for 4-H Benefit Horse Show
September 12 - Fall Horse show - Bethel

We will still be holding the bulb sale this summer/fall. We have a new vendor with lots of new
choices.

4-H SCIENCE DAY- new registration deadline
A Lego Robotic workshop will be held on Saturday April 24, 2010, from 1:00pm - 5:00pm at the
Fairfield County Extension Center in Bethel. Working in small groups, 4-Hers will build, program and
then maneuver their robot through an obstacle course. Interested????? Youth must be at least 9 year
old. Non 4-Hers are invited.
Registration is limited; spaces will be filled on a first come first served basis. There is a $5 registration
fee. 4-Hers, their friends and youth enrolled in the 4-H Afterschool are welcomed. Complete and mail
the attached registration form. Information is on our webpage www.fairfieldcounty4h.org

FAIRFIELD COUNTY 4-H K9 FESTIVAL is HAPPENING!!! SAVE the DATE!
July 10th is the date. This Festival offers something for every dog lover. In addition to Match Classes,
Agility and Rally clinics, Canine Good Citizen Testing, Cutest Pet Photo Contest, and Dog Fun
Classes, the committee has added a stuffed animal pet parade for those under 7 years old and a parade
of adoptable pet and those who own rescues. Lots of vendors and demos!! The Festival is open to
4-Hers, their families, and anyone who loves dogs.

4-H AFTERSCHOOL UPDATE
4-H Afterschool is just finishing up a nutrition and fitness unit. At the end of April they will do their
last 6 weeks of creative drama.
15 minutes once a week- walking- for every child in the 4-H Afterschool program - for a total of more
than 5,000 miles!!!!

FAIRFIELD COUNTY 4-H FAIR - FIRST MEETING Coming soon
Teens Rock!!! Want to have a say in the Fair this year? Join the Fair Board. Any teen 13 years and
up is invited. Our first planning meeting will be happening soon. Pizza party included. We will be
electing Fair officers and committee chairs as well as recruiting adult advisors. We anticipate 5
meetings. Contact Ede if you are interested in being on the Board.

Are you already a Fair Board member? Want to run for office?
The by-laws committee (Gwen Hawkes, Alyssa Marini, and Mark Malia) has developed a by-law draft
document. Although this is still a draft, we will be electing officers according to it. Draft by- laws of
the Fairfield County 4-H Fair Board state that:

Article 6 – Officers, Elections, and Duties
Section 1 – Elected officers/committee chairs
The elected officers shall be president, vice-president, secretary, treasurer and chairpersons and
other officers as necessary for the operation of the Fair Board. The duties of these officers,
chairs and others will be assigned by the Executive Committee and Extension Educator.
Section 2 – Elections
Officers and committee chairs shall be elected annually at the spring meeting and shall begin
the term of office immediately. An officer/committee chair must have been a member in good
standing of the Board for at least one year. (exceptions will be made if no eligible Board
members are available) Officers and Committee chairs may serve in the same capacity more
than one year.

Officers/Committee Chairs are nominated the following way:
Prior to the first meeting, the Extension Educator will send to eligible Board members a listing of all
officers and committee chair positions. Members will nominate themselves for any position(s),
Note: more than one position is allowed.
• At the first meeting, the listing with self nominations will be presented. At this point, nominations
will be accepted from the floor.
• After nominations have closed, nominees will give short talks on their qualifications and desires
for positions.
• Voting will be paper.

STATE HAPPENINGS

4-H CONNECTICUT RECORD KEEPING SYSTEM COMMITTEE
This committee has been working very hard to edit and revise the current Activity Records and Project
Records Sheets. For the 4-H Year starting in October 2010, we will have the new Activity record
packet and a new non animal project sheets. The animal related project sheets will be available for
October 1, 2011.

2010 4-H TEEN CONNECTION CONFERENCE
Save the Date!! Brochures coming soon!
Teen Connection will be held at the University, Friday, June 25 to Sunday, June 27. “Passport to
Success” is the theme of the 2010 UConn 4-H Teen Connection Conference. The focus of this
conference is careers. Youth attending Teen Connection will have the opportunity to explore various
career interests on Saturday, and then on Sunday participate in workshops that foster a positive work
ethic. The cumulative activity on Sunday is Reality Check! A simulation where teens finally interpret
all the data on what they have learned. They project themselves into the future as 25 year olds to make
choices and decisions regarding careers, housing, and other lifestyle options. Will they have enough
money for the choices they made? Will they like what they see?
This very exciting conference is fun and provides the chance for teens to build connections: in
themselves, to each other, to other adults, to the world, and to the resources provided by the University.
While living in dorms, youth will experience “campus life” by participating in activities and
workshops throughout the University. This conference offers youth experiences above and beyond
what is available at the county level; enhances the personal growth of participants; and offers the
opportunity to meet teens from across the state. See attached flyer for details.

2010 FAIRFIELD COUNTY 4-H
SPRING BENEFIT HORSE SHOW
AD CAMPAIGN SUMMARY

The total results of our 2010 Ad Campaign:
Funds generated by 4-H members- $ 3,940
Funds generated by the 4-H office $ 1,950
$ 5, 890
4-H Members Goal: $5,000 Raised: $3,940
Highest Overall Seller
Jacob Ford- $425
Honorable mention
Nathan Allen - $410
Extra Effort
Gillian Ostrofsky $285
Sarah Liska $260
Shannon Spies $210
Matilda Brady $210
Highest 7 & 8 year old
Camryn Schilling- $100
100% Clubs
• Helping Hands, Norwalk- Kristi Allen, Nathan Allen
• Newtown Naturalists –Elizabeth LoCascio, Amanda LoCascio, Holly LoCascio
Participating Clubs
• Pineview Horseman, Oxford- Sarah Liska, Erin O’Brien, Gunnar Williams, Courtney Wabno,
Allyson Schneider
• Dogs Rule, Bethel - Mark Malia, Emily Rogers, Elli Edwards
• Force 4 the Future, Bethel – Claire Fraise
• Zoo Club, Bridgeport- Skyler Marini, Cheyenne Ahmad, Alyssa Marini, Jacob Ford, William
Tait, Brian Criscione, Erica Criscione, Leslie Brunker, Brendan Williams, Caitlin Neary
• Happy Hoofers, Bethel –Shannon Spies, Allison Valluzzso, Matilda Brady Amy Pruner, Gillian
Ostrofsky
• Petstanino!-Camryn Schilling, Sydney Webb, Morgan Webb
• Independent members- Gwen Hawkes, Jonathan Malia
COVER CONTEST
Winner- Sarah Liska
Honorable Mention - Shannon Spies
Participants- Holly LoCascio
Funds Generated by the 4-H Office- Goal- $5,000 Raised $1,950
(Levels and types of sponsorship not available for youth solicitation)

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