1999 CA Focus Plans of Action
OPERATION SUITCASE
Teen Leader: Sara Miller
Adult Leader: Deborah Kravitz
Team Members: Andrea Pappas, Brook Jaentch, Jessica Kirby, D'Lee Scarlett, Marci Chaffee, Joel Pena, Aleece Richter, Russell Smithson, Tiffany Sample, Justin, Kravitz, Bree Smithson, Melissa Chacey, Katie Kraus
Del Norte County 4-H Citizenship Project made a presentation to the Social Services Department/Foster Care Program with their proposed plan to donate decorated suitcases to foster care children in their community who are moved numerous times to different foster care homes. An initial donation of $250 got the project started. The group then started advertising for donations of suitcases and spoke of their plan during fund raising functions for their Focus trip. The group reached their goal of decorating and donating 30 suitcases and has decided to make this an ongoing project.
PROJECT R.E.A.D.
Teen Leader: Natasha Ross
Adult Leader: Sharon Ross
Team Members: Josh Bates, Cameron Ross, Michelle Costamagna, Danielle Bates, Sarah Dunicliff, Amy Mendonca, and several other 4-H members
San Joaquin County 4-H members initiated an ongoing literacy project entitled Project R.E.A.D. (Reading Enhances Academic Development), which is funded through National 4-H Council in partnership with the Bridgestone/Firestone Trust Fund. Youth between the ages of 10 to 17 act as literacy mentors to children at the James O. Linn Children's Center and the Transitional Learning Center. Grant funds obtained by the 4-H youth will be used to purchase level-appropriate new books for teen mentors to share with the children.
CITIZENSHIP PROJECT GROUP
Teen Leader: Shared
Adult Leader: Maralyn Renner
Team Members: Cerise McLaren, Ambria Renner-Cox, Luke Sathum
Humboldt County 4-H members wanted to increase awareness of the Citizenship Project and encourage greater participation within their community. Currently, there are very few citizenship opportunities or groups in their community. The 4-H members advertised their intent to hold citizenship meetings in their local 4-H county newsletter, the 4-H GRAM. Their intent was to compile various citizenship activities that clubs could do and they put together a backboard that clubs could take to club meetings or Presentation Day to inform and enlighten clubs and members about the opportunities within the Citizenship project and to encourage more participation in Cal Focus.
INCREASE COUNTYWIDE AWARENESS OF EARTH DAY
Teen Leader: Marc Steele
Adult Leader: Susan Steele
Team Members: Chental Green, Katie Holder, Brendan Klein
The La Habra Hilltoppers 4-H Club of Orange County conducted a citizenship project during the annual Youth Expo at the Orange County Fairgrounds. Club members got youth at the expo involved in decorating grocery bags that were donated by Ralphs Grocery Store, to increase awareness about Earth Day 2000 and the importance of recycling. The club members designed banners that would be displayed at grocery stores, Demo Day and Youth Expo to advertise this project. The primary purpose of this effort was to increase awareness about 4-H within their community.
A CONTRACT FOR LIFE
Teen Leaders: Megan Gruner, Eric Oviatt, Katie Reid
Adult Leader: Lisa Oviatt
Team Members: Annie Daun, Jessica Ellingson, Stacey Rotta, Kristen Schmidt
Plumas County Cal Focus delegates returned to their county and developed their Citizenship Plan of Action entitled "Contract for Life". This plan will benefit youth in Plumas and Sierra Counties. The group conducted various presentations to schools and other youth groups on the dangers of drinking and driving. They distributed 2,500 "Contracts for Life" that they created to all Plumas and Sierra County 4-H Clubs, local schools and to the Friday Night Live clubs. The Friday Night Live Program provides activities and events geared at preventing youth from getting involved with drugs and alcohol. This project proved to be a huge success in their
county.
ROADSIDE TIRE ROUNDUP
Teen Leaders: Garrett Bishop, Troy Hutchinson
Adult Leaders: Alan Huber, Dana Hutchinson
Team Members: Lance Brandenberg, Julie Johnson, Deidre DuBose, Barbara Jones, Bradley Huber, Matt Jones, Kienan Huber, Krystin Matejosky
4-H members and Imperial County California Focus delegates realized the importance of a roadside tire roundup. They decided to use their resources to encourage the Imperial County Board of Supervisors to consider holding an annual roadside tire roundup and get funding from the county for such an event. Imperial County has been experiencing an increasing problem with discarded tires on the roadways. The tires are not only unsightly, but they also serve as convenient homes for unwanted bees and mosquitoes. The team successfully rounded up over 40,000 tires, which is five times more than they projected!!
PROMOTING COMMUNITY SERVICE IN SANTA BARBARA COUNTY
Teen Leader: Kristin Potterton, Krystle Keese
Adult Leader: Gayle Benton
Team Members: Jenny Potterson, Jordan Sideris
Members of the Santa Ynez 4-H Club hope to increase greater participation in community service activities within their community. With the assistance of their local Citizenship project, they organized "Operation Dear Abby", which was a letter writing campaign to servicemen serving their country overseas during the various holidays. Their initial campaign was successful in mailing 68 letters. They also handmade Valentines cards with they delivered to a local Veterans hospital. Additionally, during an annual Small Animal Field Day, other youth were encouraged to help make Valentines cards to be delivered to the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Long Beach. A very successful and impacting Plan of Action.
INCREASE AWARENESS ABOUT CA FOCUS
Teen Leader: Kelby Pedery-Edwards
Adult Leader: Judy Pedery-Edwards
Team Members: Kelly Pedery-Edwards, Chris Zwart
4-H members of San Diego County wanted to increase awareness and participation in the Cal Focus/Citizenship Program. By seeking donations, they gained the funds to purchase materials needed to create a portable display and information booth and created a brief video that was taken to miscellaneous events, i.e., Encinitas Days, Poinsettia Festival, Super Saturday, Presentation Day, 4-H Western Regional Leaders Forum, etc. They gave presentations and conducted workshops at Teen Council, County Council and at various clubs in their county.
RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS
Teen Leader: Stacey Visscher
Adult Leader: Debbie Visscher
Team Members: Corey Weber, Jeanne Felix, Missi Peters, Tiffany Zurilgen
The Washington Focus delegation from Madera County wanted to expand on a practice of kindness that was originated in 1982 by Anne Herbert of Sausalito. The members were further inspired by a local group called "South 65" who are also supporters of doing random acts of kindness in their community. The Plan of Action was to go out into the community and share a video that gives ideas of various things one can do to be kind to someone else. They conducted a contest for the one with the greatest accomplishment of being kind to someone else. This year's winner was a young man that used the profit from selling his market lamb and purchase a part for his mother's car so it would run again.
VOLUNTEER CLEAN UP
Teen Leader: Kimberlee Youman
Adult Leader: Debbie Visscher
Team Members: Kris Felix, Jeanette McGuirk, Alyson Padgett, Erin Zurilgen, Shelly Felix
The California Focus Group from Madera County had a plan to volunteer time to assist someone or some place with grounds clean up services. The group prepared an application to be completed and reviewed to determine an area of the most need. These applications were distributed to senior centers, grocery stores and advertised in local newspapers. They selected the Fresno Flats Museum Oakhurst, California. The museum relies completely on volunteer assistance. The group spent 6 hours cleaning over 2 acres of brush and cleaning up the grounds gardens and flower beds. The group feels it helped to develop their communication skills, working cooperatively to develop a plan, providing a needed service to others and improving their gardening skills.
INCREASE CITIZENSHIP AWARENESS
Teen Leader: Barbara Bailey
Adult Leader: Cathy Shawl
Team Members: Leah Shaul, Kacie Campbell
The objective of this Lake County group was to increase awareness of the benefits and opportunities in the Cal Focus Citizenship Program. The participants took photos of the various experiences to be had during the trip to Sacramento. They then returned to their county and prepared a presentation board to display their photos and they worked together to prepare a presentation to share at various council and club meetings. Their goal was to increase excitement, awareness and hopefully more participation of county youth to attend Cal Focus.
PROMOTE THE HISTORY OF GOVERNMENT AND CITY
Teen Leader: Jennifer Woo
Adult Leaders: Marlene Miyasaki and Gerry Wakida
Teen Members: Jennifer Woo, Stacy Miyasaki, Kelly Fujikawa, Rita Lopez
After Fresno County's 1999 Washington Focus delegates returned from their experience visiting Washington D.C., they decided it was important to promote awareness of our country's history behind both local city and nationwide government. The group prepared booths to display pictures and information they had gained during their trip. The are now in the process of preparing a video explaining the proper parliamentary procedures.
GARDENING/LANDSCAPING THE 4-H OFFICE
Teen Leader: None appointed - the group shared the responsibility
Adult Leader: Phyllis Coleman
Teen Members: Cary Bailey-Findley, Scott Barnes, Alex Courtney, Jacque Courtney, Shirlene Kump
The Orange County Washington Focus delegation decided to volunteer time and resources to clean up the landscaping and garden at the Orange County UCCE 4-H Office. Since this office is located on the Orange County Fairgrounds and is very visible to the public during Fair season, the team wanted to make the grounds appear clean, orderly and well maintained. This effort was funded by holding local fundraisers and they also had the assistance and support through donation of plants from Three Star Nursery and they were provided guidance through the local UCCE Master Gardeners. The team plans to continue maintaining the grounds on a monthly basis.
FIRST AID WORKSHOP
Teen Leaders: Annie Daun, Stacey Rotta, Kristen Schmidt
Adult Leaders: Jane Daun, JoAnne Rotta, Peggy Schmidt
The Plumas County team from the Feather River 4-H Club, prepared their plan of action to educate 4-H members in both Plumas and Sierra counties on basic first aid and safety procedures to increase their knowledge and understanding of how to handle emergency situations. With the assistance of a local registered nurse/first aid instructor, the workshop was held at the Plumas District Hospital and was offered to 4-H clubs and the adult volunteers. During the workshop the team also informed the 4-H youth about the opportunity and experiences in attend CA Focus.
PROVIDE AN OUTREACH PROGRAM FOR THE 4-HCITIZENSHIP PROGRAM
Teen Leaders: Laura Gregory
Adult Leaders: Debbie Headrick
Teen Members: Bobby Castro, Marrhew Evangelo, Laura Gregory, Beck Headrick, Jeff Kwast, Allie Oliveira, Peter Rietkirk
The Kings County team developed a countywide workshop introducing age appropriate members (8th grade and above) to the Citizenship Focus Program. The team felt there was a lack of publicity and knowledge about this older-member opportunity. They led programs in September, October, and November including an advanced citizenship meeting where participants played "The Party Game" to learn more about political parties.