Welcome to Oahu 4-H's online newsletter.

December 2006

     It is hard to believe Christmas is almost here and 2007 is right around the corner.  I hope you are all enjoying our 4-H activities and look forward to your participation in our upcoming events.

     I would like to congratulate Ross Shibata from the Clover Kids for doing a fantastic job in planning our recent 4-H camp.  The food was great and everyone enjoyed going to the Ku'u Home Kulaiwi Loi where we cleaned the taro patch, swam in the sacred water, created lovely lauhala bracelets and pounded taro paste.  I especially enjoyed the great ice breaker Ross planned, which definitely helped us to learn everyone’s name.  Great job Ross… you did an excellent job!

     At the recent council meeting held at camp, the county approved several changes to the By-laws.  These changes included changing the 4-H year from July to June to coincide with the new school year and clarifying the responsibilities of the Executive Vice President, Vice President and Historian positions.  The approved changes will be sent to you with the meeting minutes.

     During this month, please plan to attend the Food Show workshop on December 1, where we will be learning about how to display our food show entries as well as new changes to the Food Show forms.  Aunty Linda and the Farrington High School FCCLA chapter are working hard to plan the upcoming Food Show on February 17, 2007.  It’s not too early to start looking for your great finger food, local and Kraft recipes.

     On December 17, 2006, Mari Chung and Hannah Wong are planning a community service project in which 4-Hers will be serving food at the annual Foster Kids Christmas party.  Anyone interested in participating should email or call Mari or Hannah.  This is a great event for you to help kids without parents celebrate during this special time of year.

     Please join me in thanking Aunty Becky and the Clover Kids for volunteering the chair the Communication Fair to be held on April 21, 2007 at Moanalua High School.  This year, the Communications Fair will include both the visual (pictures, video, etc.) and the oral presentations with Top of Show awards.

    I wish you all have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year filled with memorable times with your friends and family.

- Amber Kuitunen

Date: December 17, 2006 (Sunday)
Time: 10 am- 3 pm
Location: Neal Blaisdell Center Exhibition Hall
(Parking at the Blaisdell is $4.00 -- non-refundable)

Volunteers from Oahu 4-H are needed to help at this holiday party.  The Chairs (Mari or Hannah) will be emailing the clubs with information on where to meet and at what time.


                                                                                            Thank you!
                                                                                       Mari and Hannah

     Hors d'oeuvres will suddenly have a new meaning on February 17, 2007 when it becomes the main course!  The annual 4-H Food Show is coming up- with the theme of Kraft, local and finger foods.  It will take place at Pearl City High School.  So get ready to see some creative, original and especially tasty dishes that will make you wonder if that appetizer is really the main course!

Food Show registration forms can be obtained from the Oahu 4-H website:
http://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/4h/Oahu/FoodShow/Forms.htm
and are due on January 5, 2007:


                                                                                 Kathryn Parado

	A flash back from the 20’s can be just the right words to describe what this years fashion show was like.  Swing and jazz music like “In The Mood” by Glenn Miller, “Sing, Sing, Sing” by Glenn Miller, and an assortment of songs from Michael Buble`.

	Held at the University of Hawaii on Sunday, October 29th, 2006, many young talented 4-H’ers had the chance to show off their modeling and sewing skills with custom made, ready made, and embellished garments.  Participants were first pre-judged and asked questions about their garment before getting up on the stage and modeling before the crowd of 4-H leaders, judges, and proud parents and friends.

	We finished off the day with the awards ceremony.  Recognizing each first time participant with a pencil, rewarding each participant with a rose and ribbon (roses donated by Aunty Rose), and lastly presenting the top of show winners with a trophy and rosette.

	In the Junior category, the winner was Staci Kohashi; and in the Senior category, Maile Miki.

	Lastly, thanks to all the committees; Chair club: Pot o` Gold Registration: Na Pilialoha Hospitality: Hoa Aloha Judges: Clover Kids Score/Awards: Just Us Escorts: Ross Shibata, Brent Mukai, Devin Chun, and Brian Araki, and a big “mahalo” to the judges.

To all the Fashion Revue participants, leaders and guests,

First of all, to Ashlie Salas-Selem, her parents and leader, Mrs. Uyehara, my sincerest apologies for my error in calculating her score for the Fashion Revue.  She was supposed to be awarded a blue ribbon rather than a red ribbon.  I'm so sorry.  Congratulations, Ashlie!

Congratulations also to all the participants.  You did a great job and you were all winners!

Thanks to all the hard working committees for a great show, too!

                                                                                     Mahalo,
                                                                                     Aunty Sakaye

	From 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm, the group of people who took advantage of this opportunity sewed and/or assembled at least 100 booties.

	For the complete five hours, these dedicated workers worked hard to complete the task, and it showed.

	This service project opportunity was held at the Urban Garden Center on Sunday, November 5th, 2006.  Thanks to Kristee Ogata for making this event possible, and to all of those who came out and helped.

• A working state 4-H leaders’ organization composed of county 4-H leaders.
• Assist CES as an adult counseling body in considering 4-H club policies, arranging for leader-training meetings, conferences and the exchange of ideas.
• To held develop the social, educational and professional growth and development of 4-H leaders throughout the state.
• To assist and aid in securing public approval and financial support for the 4-H club.
• To acquaint parents and the public with the roles of volunteer adult leaders.
• To work with CES and other organizations in helping to develop a coordinated Extension youth program.

Oahu 4-H Org. will pay for your dues.  Call Maryknoll at 453-6053 by March 2007 and she will register you as a member.
                                                                                         Maryknoll Spotkaeff

     Are you involved with youth?   Would you like to know how to: provide and reinforce positive growth and development experiences for youth?   Improve your skills in communication effectively with young people?   Apply knowledge of youth development to minimize the risk behaviors of youth?   If you answered ‘yes’ to any of the above, then join us for the Moving Ahead Together training.

    February 27 – March 1, 2007
    8:45 am – 4:30 pm each day
    National Guard Training Facility – 96-1210 Waihona St. Pearl City

     The training was designed by USDA and the US Army and is free to anyone affiliated with the Hawaii 4-H Youth Development program and military youth programs.

     Register for the training by sending your name, address, phone# and email address to fullerab@schofield.army.mil  You can call Beth Adric Fuller at 656-0094 or Claire Nakatsuka at 956-7196 for more information.

"If you go to the website, http://www.letssaythanks.com/, you can pick out a thank you card created by young students across the country.  Xerox will print it and it will be sent to a soldier that is currently serving in Iraq.  You can't pick out who gets it, but it will go to some member of the Armed Services.

How AMAZING it would be if we could get everyone we know to send one.  Please pass this on to your family and friends a card.  It is FREE and it only takes a second.  Wouldn't it be wonderful if our soldiers received bunches of these?

Share this information with friends, family and others in your community!

For every ticket purchased through www.fourhcouncil.edu to see Paramount Pictures and Walden Media's production of Charlotte's Web (opening December 15 in theaters across the country) a donation of $1 will be made by Hollywood Movie Money to 4-H to support your state's 4-H program.

Please note: Charlotte's Web tickets will be available for purchase beginning December 8th through www.fourhcouncil.edu, but start spreading the word NOW!

Visit www.fourhcouncil.edu to download a variety of promotional materials or to buy the 4-H t-shirt that Fern wears in the movie!

    Are you a young person?  Do you have an idea that will make EVERY DAY National & Global Youth Service Day?  Do you need the funding and resources to get things going? YSA Youth Venture can help!

The Youth Service America/Youth Venture Program is a unique partnership between Youth Service America and Youth Venture that helps youth engage in community service and develop as young social entrepreneurs.  YSA Youth Venture helps make every day National & Global Youth Service Day(N&GYSD) by providing funding and support to young people (ages 12-20) who want to create new, sustainable, civic-minded organizations, clubs or businesses called Ventures.

Examples include:

• A youth center designed to keep youth out of trouble with music and art programs
• An anti-peer pressure education campaign
• A bike repair shop with a vocational training program
• An assembly program touring inner city schools combining music with an anti-drug/violence performances

Ventures must be youth-led and designed to be a lasting asset to the community.  YSA Youth Venture teams are required to plan a N&GYSD project every year that their Venture is operational.  The YSA Youth Venture Program provides a variety of resources including:  a national network of like-minded young people, media opportunities, technical support, helpful toolkits and workshops as well as seed money funding of up to $1,000 for start-up expenses.  Applications are available at www.youthventure.org/ysa.

Application Submission Deadline:
December 18th, 2006
5:00pm EST
(12:00 pm Hawaii Time).

   Mini Grants Available to Address Childhood Cancer:  Youth Service America is proud to offer A Lion in the House Community Service Grants.  Complementing the highly-acclaimed film by Steven Bognar and Julia Reichert, these grants of $300 are designed for youth (ages 12-25) and youth-serving organizations (schools, youth groups, clubs, etc?) to design service projects addressing pediatric cancer.  Projects should be youth-led and take place as part of National and Global Youth Service Day, April 20-22, 2007.  To learn more, download application materials at www.YSA.org/awards or email MyLion@ysa.org.  To learn more about pediatric cancer, including great service project ideas and resources, go to the online A Lion in the House Youth Community Service Toolkit at www.MyLion.org.  Funding for this grant program has been made possible by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and the Fund for American Studies.

Postmark deadline: February 1, 2007

Finding Inspiration in Literature and Movies (F.I.L.M.) has developed a program around the upcoming animated Warner Bros. picture, "Happy Feet", which will open in theatres nationwide on November 17.  The program includes a youth development activity guide.

To learn more, visit http://www.youthfilmproject.org/film/happyfeet.htm

4-H Clover Corner News
For additional articles on 4-H youth development nationwide, check out the National 4-H Clover Corner News at http://www.4hblogs.org/ccn/

We welcome your story ideas and 4-H job listings.
Please e-mail them to nakatsuk@hawaii.edu

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