Seneca County Family Newsletter 2 OSU Extension, Seneca County

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and a good start to the New Year! With the New Year comes the beginning of a new 4-H year as well, so be sure to read this winter issue of our newsletter for all of our upcoming event dates and important information.

Be sure to also check out our website: www.seneca.osu.edu and like us on Facebook: Seneca County 4-H Program, for the latest and most up-to-date news and information as well.

Advisor and Volunteer Mandatory Policy 1.50 Trainings

All advisors and volunteers should plan on attending a mandatory Policy 1.50 training this January. This a policy that is required by the University and must be completed by all active and potential volunteers on an annual basis. There are four training sessions available and all trainings will be held in the large conference room at the Extension Office. Remember, this is a mandatory training and a requirement to be a 4-H Volunteer.

· Wednesday, January 10, 2018 from 12-2 p.m.

· Wednesday, January 10, 2018 from 6-8 p.m.

· Tuesday, January 16, 2018 from 6-8 p.m.

· Saturday, January 27, 2018 from 9-11 a.m.

2018 Volunteer Finger Prints

A letter was sent out to around 35 volunteers who were selected to be finger printed for 2018. The University set a deadline for finger print completion of December 31, 2017. If you did not get this done, please get it taken care of ASAP. If it is not completed, you will not be a volunteer for 2018. No exceptions. Reimbursement forms and original receipts can be turned into the Extension Office for full reimbursement from the University.

Secretary Books, Treasurer Books, and Honor Club Forms

Please remember to run in your Secretary and Treasurer Books and Honor Club forms by January 13, 2018. This is a Saturday this year, so please try to have items turned in by Friday, January 12, 2018. Books will be reviewed by

4-H council members and available to be picked up quickly so you have them to start your year.

Club Financial Reports

Annual Financial forms are due by January, 31, 2018. Please check your year end packets for the form or contact the Extension Office for a copy. This is a requirement for every club. You can turn your form in with your Secretary and Treasurer books or you can wait until January 31st.

Year End Packets

Secretary and Treasurer Forms and Honor Club forms are available in your year end packet. There are several packets still here at the office for pick up. You can also call the Extension Office to have forms emailed or mailed to you.

990N E-postcard Filing

The Extension Office will once again be filing your club EIN’s this year. Please do not attempt to file them. If you received a letter about needing to obtain a new number, please make sure to file for a new number and get a copy of the letter with the new EIN on it and a signed Tax Exempt form with the new EIN number.

Also, if you needed to file for a new EIN number please do so ASAP.

Quality Assurance

There will be three county-wide Quality Assurance options for members to attend. All 4-H members that take any livestock projects except horses and dogs are required to attend Quality Assurance. Any member taking livestock for the first time must come to a county-wide Quality Assurance program accompanied by a parent or guardian. There will be a test out option for 4-H members who are 15 as of January 1, 2018 or older. These tests will only be available at the county-wide trainings. The test out procedure will start one hour prior to the start of Quality Assurance program (either 5:00 p.m. or 3:00 p.m.) Quality Assurance must be completed by a county deadline of May 1, 2018 in order to be eligible to exhibit at the Seneca County Fair.

· Wednesday, February 28, 2018 at Mohawk School from 6-8 p.m. Test out option starting at 5 p.m.

· Tuesday, March 27, 2018 at Sentinel Career and Technology Center from 6-8 p.m. Test out option starting at 5 p.m.

· Sunday, April 29, 2018 at New Riegel School from 4-6 p.m. Test out option starting at 3 p.m.

Members may also complete QA training with in their club if their advisor is certified to teach a QA session. Other counties may also offer training sessions but there may be a fee to attend an out of county training session. Please contact the Extension Office with any questions.

Seneca County Family Newsletter 2 OSU Extension, Seneca County

Ohio 4-H Week

Ohio 4-H week is March 4-10, 2018. Have you or your club celebrated 4-H week? This is a great time to represent Seneca County 4-H and spread awareness about this great organization. You could wear your club and county 4-H apparel, paint windows, set up a booth, or work with Tractor Supply Company to set up a table. These are just some ideas in which you can spread the word about 4-H.

If your club or family does something to celebrate 4-H week, you can submit pictures of what you did so we can share them on our Facebook page with the rest of Seneca County!

Ohio 4-H Conference

End Ohio 4-H week by attending the Ohio 4-H Conference at the Greater Columbus Convention Center on Saturday, March 10, 2018. This conference has something for everybody to enjoy and leave with, whether you are a 4-H member, parent, or volunteer. The registration fee is $35.00 and registrations are due by Friday, February 9, 2018. Registrations are now available at https://ohio4h.org/events/ohio-4-h-conference

Seneca County Family Newsletter 2 OSU Extension, Seneca County

Important Information About the Seneca County Family Handbook

The 2018 Family Handbook will only be available on our website this year for all members, families, volunteers, and advisors to access at their convenience. There will not be a hard copy offered to everyone this year. Only volunteers/advisors will each receive one hard copy per advisor. Please feel free to bring it up on our website or print one off. If you not have access to a computer or the internet, please contact us.

Seneca County Family Newsletter 2 OSU Extension, Seneca County

Citizenship Washington Focus and Leadership Washington Focus

Citizenship Washington Focus (CWF) is a 4-H leadership program for high school youth, ages 14-19, from across the country. Citizenship Washington Focus gives 4-H youth the opportunity to explore, develop, and refine the civic engagement skills they need to be outstanding leaders in their home communities and at the national level. Through sightseeing tours in the living classroom of Washington, D.C. and hands-on educational workshops, youth will learn about the history of our nation, the leaders who have shaped it, and how they can apply the leadership and citizenship skills they have learned at CWF when they return home.CWF will be June 24-30, 2018 for Seneca County delegates and the cost is $1,250. For more information, please visit: https://ohio4h.org/families/just-teens/citizenship-washington-focus

Leadership Washington Focus (LWF) is a 4-H leadership program for youth entering grades 7 through 9. The program will take place at the National 4-H Youth Conference Center, just 1 mile from the Washington, D.C. border. Middle school 4-H delegates will:

• Build confidence in their ability to motivate and direct others in meaningful action

• Practice effective communication with others through group discussion and public speaking

• Work with others to create and accomplish goals

• Develop an understanding of their own personal leadership style

• Exchange ideas, practice respect, and form friendships with other 4-H'ers from across the nation.

• Experience hands-on learning using the historical backdrop of Washington, D.C.

LWF will be July 16-20, 2018 and the cost is $825.

For more information, please visit: https://ohio4h.org/events/leadership-washington-focus-lwf

Please call the Extension Office by February 28, 2018 if you plan to attend either one of these national events.

Buckeye Leadership Workshop

Buckeye Leadership Workshop is a learning, sharing “workshop” intended as a balanced program of social, physical, mental, and spiritual activities. Buckeye Leadership Workshop provides a powerful learning environment in which anyone who works with people, professionally or informally, can develop programming for youth or adults. The workshop also benefits those who simply enjoy associating with great people, experiencing new ideas, and learning new skills. Experiential learning through recreation is truly the intent and methodology of Buckeye Leadership Workshop. Buckeye Leadership Workshop is April 4-8, 2018 in Ashley, Ohio. The cost to attend is $350 until March 3rd and $375 after March 3rd. To find more information and register for the event, please visit: http://buckeyeleadership.com/

Jr. Fair News from Nicole

The Jr. Fair and Sr. Fair themes have not been selected yet for the 2018 year. Please check the Jr. Fair and Sr. Fair Facebook pages for the theme selections in the very near future!

Jr. Fair Facebook page: Seneca County Junior Fair

Sr. Fair Facebook page: Seneca County Fair

Jr. Fair office hours will begin on Tuesday, April 10, 2018. Hours will be on Tuesdays in April and May from 4:00-6:00 p.m.

Once again this year, we are looking for award ideas: trophies, sweatshirts, chairs, etc. and for sponsors for the awards. If you have any ideas or interested in sponsoring an award, please contact the Jr. Fair Office.

OSU Extension, Seneca County

3140 S. State Route 100, Suite E

Tiffin, Oh 44883

419-447-9722

CFAES provides research and related educational programs to clientele on a nondiscriminatory basis. For more information: http://go.osu.edu/cfaesdiversity.

Seneca County Family Newsletter 2 OSU Extension, Seneca County