2009 Public Speaking and Presentation Contest

2009 Public Speaking and Presentation Contest
Wednesday, April 15th - Starts at 6:30 PM
Mont. Co. 4-H Center, 1015 Bridge Road (Rt. 113), Creamery, PA 19426

Juniors Age 8 to 13 (as of 1/1/2009)
Seniors Age 14 to 18 (as of 1/1/2009)

Highlights:

• Select your own topic to present
• Public Speaking: Speech should be 3—5 minutes for Juniors, and 4—7 minutes for Seniors
• Presentations, Demonstrations and Illustrated talks should be 10—15 minutes
• Registration Deadline is April 1st (No Fooling!)

Seniors—Refer to State Day’s requirements for ideas if you are interested in using your speech or presentation at State Days this year. Contact the Extension office if you have questions. No live animals can be used during presentations at State Days.
Tables, easel, screen, LCD projector and laptop can be provided if
requested in advance.
Remember you need to have:

1. A good beginning
2. A body of presentation
3. A definite closing

Prizes and ribbons will be awarded for all!
A flyer may be downloaded at:
http://montgomery.extension.psu.edu/4-H/2009SpeechFlyer.pdf

Veterinary Science Course

Teen Veterinary Science Short Course
Five Thursday Evenings: April 2, 9, 16, 23, 30
6:30—8:00 PM at the Animal Medical Center in Trappe

Penn State Cooperative Extension of Montgomery County invites all interested teens to attend the 2009 4-H Teen Veterinary Science course being offered in the Trappe area. The course is open to all youth ages 15-18, who are seriously interested in learning more about veterinary medicine as a career.

The program is geared to teens who are interested in veterinary medicine as a potential career. This program will address how to prepare for a career, look at schooling needs, and help participants experience some of the daily duties of a veterinarian or vet technician. Other topics will include determining animal health (office visits), animal handling and safety, acupuncture, lab radiology, and parasite control. Members may even have an opportunity to view a surgery procedure on one of the nights if possible. We are very pleased to have the staff of the Animal Medical Center in Trappe volunteering to be our instructors.

The course will run five Thursday nights, from April 2nd, up to and including April 30th. Classes will be held from 6:30-8:00 PM at the Animal Medical Center in Trappe which specializes in companion animals and exotics. It is located on Route 113 (25 West Third Avenue) near Ridge Pike.
Pre-registration is required. The fee is $20.00 per person , checks payable to Montgomery Co. Coop. Ext. Send to:
Montgomery Co. Cooperative Extension, ATT: Vet Science Course
1015 Bridge Road, Suite H, Collegeville, PA, 19426
Please note Vet Science Course on your check. Youth do not need to be in 4-H prior to the course but by enrolling in the program they will be listed as a member for the year. Along with the check, also include the application form. We are also looking for one parent who would like to stay and serve as an adult volunteer for the course. Enrollment is limited (18 teens). For more information:
call the 4-H office at 610-489-4315.
An application can be found at:
http://montgomery.extension.psu.edu/4-H/2009VetSci.pdf

Buds 'n' Blooms and Catch & Release Clubs to Begin Meeting

Buds 'n' Blooms: The Buds 'n' Blooms 4-H Plant Science Club will begin its new year on February 26th. This year the club will be continuing with the "Treetops" project. The first meeting will find members starting a variety of seeds, which will then be donated to the Master Gardener Plant Sale.

Buds 'n' Blooms members take a rest during their community service project.

Catch & Release Crew: The Catch & Release Crew will begin its second season on Wednesday March 25th. The club is new to the 4H line of clubs and as you can tell by its name, it is all about fishing. The club meets March thru Sept. with March, April and September meetings held at the 4H Center. The other meetings in between are fishing activities at local fishing holes. This club is for youth 10-15 yrs of age.

Meeting Grease!

Meeting Grease!
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Montgomery County 4-H Center
6:30-7:00 PM Registration and Pizza
7:00-8:30 PM Program

What IS “Meeting Grease?” It’s a fun, informative, and hands-on workshop to help you learn the basics of parliamentary procedure and how to run a meeting efficiently and effectively. This is for you if you are an officer, want to be an officer, are responsible for your club officers, or simply want to be a better club member.

Featuring the talents and humor of Dr. Jim Diamond, this workshop is open to all club officers, potential officers, leaders, and advisors who want to “Make the Best Better” in their 4-H or school clubs. Enrollment is limited. Registrations will be taken on a first-come, first-served basis but please call by April 1st so we can plan accordingly for space, books, and refreshments. You can register as an individual or your club leader can register and enroll all the officers coming from that club. There is no cost this year but we ask each participant to bring a canned good or non-perishable food item for the local food pantry. The 4-H Center is located on Route 113, one mile south of Route 73 near Skippack. This program is brought back by popular demand and “yes” you can attend it again.

Dr. Diamond has presented this seminar throughout the state and at numerous national association meetings. He is the former Dean of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences at Delaware Valley College in Doylestown, PA. He has had extensive international assignments during his tenure at Penn State and was a Vo-Ag teacher in Bucks County.

We welcome everyone but alert you that enrollment is limited so register ASAP to assure a spot (we are in the Beech Room and classroom size is limited). Leaders please call and encourage your officers to attend. Your call will make the difference!
A flyer may be downloaded at:
http://montgomery.extension.psu.edu/4-H/2009MeetingGrease.pdf
Sincerely,
Nancy M. Kadwill
Extension Educator

4-H Toastmaster Course

4-H TOASTMASTERS JUNIOR LEADERSHIP
& PUBLIC SPEAKING COURSE
Monday Nights March 23rd-May 4th, 2009

• Does the thought of speaking in front of others terrify or excite you?
• Would you like to make those “butterflies” fly in formation?
• Would you like to be better at making oral reports at school?
• Do you have a job or college interview coming up soon?
• Then come and join us to help “make the best better” for yourself!

We are pleased to announce that the 2009 4-H Toastmasters Junior Leadership Course will be starting Monday, March 23rd and continuing for seven consecutive Monday nights up to and including May 4th (seven nights this year instead of eight sessions). Classes will be held from 7:00-8:30 PM each night at the Montgomery County 4-H Center located on Route 113, one mile south of Route 73 near Skippack.

The course is open to all youth ages 14-19 (as of the class) so feel free to invite a friend or two. You don't need to have been in 4-H prior to the course but, by enrolling in the program you will be listed as a member for the year. We realize that there will be some scheduling conflicts along the way but you need to attend at least five of the seven class nights to receive your graduation certificate.

For graduation ceremonies, we will probably have a "dessert" night at a local restaurant on the final evening of the course. In the meantime, tell your parents/family to keep May 4th open since they are invited and should be there if possible to see you graduate. There will be a small cost for that evening to cover food and related expenses. Instructors for the course will be from the adult Toastmaster’s International Club.

I hope to see you there. I guarantee you will really learn a lot by participating. You will increase your confidence in speaking in front of people, and know more about running meetings and elections which are great skills for club officers and potential officers. You will also meet new friends and have fun.

There is a charge of $18.00 per person for the course which will go toward the cost of materials and support of 4-H. You need to send a check in advance, payable to "Montgomery County Extension” and earmarked “Toastmasters” to:
Montgomery County 4-H - Toastmasters
1015 Bridge Road, Suite H
Collegeville, PA 19426

Enrollment is limited and fills up quickly so you MUST send your information and check if you are interested in reserving a place. Complete the information listed below. Also indicate if you are first, second or third year in the course. If your plans change once you make the reservation be sure to let us know so we can notify others on the waiting list. We will not hold your place in the course until we receive your check. This may seem early but teens’ schedules fill up quickly and we wanted you to have these dates.
An application may be downloaded at:
http://montgomery.extension.psu.edu/4-H/2009Toastmaster.pdf

Sincerely,
Nancy M. Kadwill
Extension Educator

Horse Club Info

Tack Swap!
Saturday, March 14, 2009 9:00-1:00 Montgomery Co 4H Ctr. 1015 Bridge Road (Rt. 113) Creamery, PA Turn your old tack into BIG BUCK$$.

Find a new home for the great stuff you have collected over the years.
Join the Tail Gaiters 4H Club at the 4H Center for a spring clean-out-the-barn community Tack Swap. Rent a table for just $15 each. The tack swap is a fundraiser for Tail Gaiters. We will be having a club table if you have anything you would like to donate to the club to sell, just let us know, we can pick it up, clean it up. All proceeds will benefit the Tail Gaiters 4H Club. Refreshments will be available, sponsored by Tail Gaiters.
Contact Sally at 215-778-6685 for more information and table reservations. Or send the reservation form to: Sally Hibbert, 4H 1015 Bridge Road, Suite H Collegeville, PA 19426

2008-2009 Horse Bowl/Hippology Practice
Would you like to increase your knowledge about horses? Would you like to get to know kids from other horse clubs? Hippology and Horse Bowl may be for you!!
Open to 4-H horse members ages 8-18. Practices are in the Hickory room at the 4-H Center from 7-8:30pm on the following days: Mon Nov 10 Wed Dec 10 Thurs Jan 22 Tues Feb 17 Wed Mar 4 Come out and have fun learning about horses. You do not have to attend every practice.


Chris Hanebury receives the Betty Ann Davis Award for 4-H Horse Club Mother of the Year 2008 from Central Horse & Pony's George Shenkle at the 2008 Equine Award Banquet held January 24, 2009.

Spring 2009 Babysitting Courses

Babysitting Course at the Wissahickon Library Ambler Branch
209 Race St. Ambler, Pa. 19002
Thursday evenings April 30th – May 28th 6:30pm – 8:00pm
Cost $20 per student, registration a must
Registration brochures available at the library or by calling 610.489.4315

Babysitting Course at the Ludington Library
5 South Bryn Mawr Ave Bryn Mawr, Pa. 19010
Tuesday evenings April 28th – May 26th 7:00pm- 8:30pm
Cost $20 per student, registration a must
Registration brochures available at the library or by calling 610.489.4315

Winter Market Day Campaign Fund Raiser

Our fall Market Day Fundraiser was a success with funds being raised for 4H as a whole and individual clubs. We are ready to give it another trying in hopes that more clubs will be able to participate with a longer turnaround time in this campaign. Brochures are being placed in meeting rooms and if you need additional brochures or order forms, please call Linda Hoade at the 4H office; 610-489-4315.
The time frame is as follow;

1. Orders due to Linda in the 4H Center by Monday March 2, 2009.
2. Pick up at 4H Center is Saturday March 28, 2009.
3. Payment must be included with your order, checks made payable to; 4H Development Fund

Be sure to include club and member’s name on the order form so proper credit can be given.
4H Development Fund will give 50% of profit raised back to clubs based on individual club sales.
Please note; you must pick up your items on the specified date and times as 4H has no place to store items that are not picked up. Items that are not picked up will be donated to “Manna on Main St.” in Lansdale.
Questions? Contact Linda Hoade@ 610-489-4315 or lma13@psu.edu

February News

Clothing and Textile News – County Fashion Revue will take place on Saturday, June 20, 2009 at Dock Village in Lansdale. Regional Fashion Revue will be Tuesday, June 30, 2009 at the Branch Creek Community Church in Harleysville. More details to follow.

Like to Draw?? - We are looking for artwork for the cover of the printed programs for county and regional fashion revue. The theme for 2009 is “4-H Fashion Guide to Style.” All drawings should be done in black ink (no color) on 8.5”x11” paper. Submit as many drawings as you like to Nancy Stevens no later than May 1, 2009. There will be a prize of $25 for the drawing selected.

Financial Records Due - Leaders – don’t forget, your club treasurer’s books, checkbook and ledger need to be audited annually. Please make arrangement to get them to the 4-H office for this review.

Quilt Show - The Homemaker’s Country Quilters will hold their “Showcase of Quilts XII” on Friday, March 20 and Saturday, March 21, 2009 at the 4-H Center. Friday’s hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday’s hours are 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. There is a $5 donation at the door. Many of the proceeds from the show benefit the 4-H Center, so please encourage friends, relatives, and neighbors to come. It is a great show.

Office Space Available - There is presently office space available in the 4-H Center. If you know of an individual, small business, or organization that is looking for an office, please let them know we have space available. They should contact Roberta at 610-489-4315 for more information.

Welcome to the Montco 4-H Blog!

Welcome to the Montgomery County 4-H Blog! We have created this blog to get out information in a more timely manner. We hope that our members will subscribe to this blog to receive updates on upcoming events, 4-H related news, club activities and anything else you may be interested in seeing here.
If your club has an activity, event or just a story to share, please email Norma Young - njy1@psu.edu with anything you would like posted. This includes pictures you may want to share.
Please do not hesitate to contact us with suggestions. This is your blog to use to promote your 4-H club!











Timber Talk Trotters display their awesome
2008 Easter Baskets made for several
homeless shelters in Montgomery County.
These gifts are so appreciated!