Oahu 4-H Newsletter Online

Welcome to Oahu 4-H's online newsletter.

September 2006

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Contents
Contents:



President’s Message
Aloha 4-Hers,

     Welcome back everyone!

     I hope you had a great summer filled with many fun activities.  Now that summer is over, I hope you are ready for an exciting year filled with fun activities in which we can work together and “learn by doing”.  During the upcoming year, I hope members take advantage of some of the wonderful opportunities 4-H provides for you to learn and grow. We have a few chair positions available to any member who is willing to seize the opportunity.  Anyone who is interested should contact Ross Shibata or Kristi Ogata for more information.

     The Executive Board met last month and planned an ambitious calendar filled with many events, which I hope all of you will participate in.  In addition to the Fashion Revue, Food Show and Communications Fair, the Executive Board is planning community service projects, camp and a car wash.   Please come to our next council meeting scheduled for Sunday, September 10, 2006 at 3:30 p.m. at the Urban Garden Center to hear more about our upcoming events.  We will be serving a welcome back snack for your enjoyment. Please note the council meetings will be held on the second Sunday (change from the third Sunday) of every odd month starting with September.  I look forward to seeing you all there!

     I would like to thank the Executive Board, Aunty Rose, Uncle Walter, Aunty Gail, Aunty Edna and my mom for helping us with the Executive Board retreat.  We all had a great time playing games, cooking and planning the upcoming 4-H year.

     I hope to see all of you at our upcoming events as we begin an exciting new year filled with opportunities to learn and grow as individuals and together as a great organization.

Thank you,
Amber Kuitunen


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Calendar of Events

SEPTEMBER
2-4
  Mini Army Youth Leadership Forum-Camp Erdman
10
  Oahu County Council Meeting
 (Pizza Party and Getting Acquainted Activities)
 3:30 pm, at UGC
16
  4 Kids Day promotional events at various sites
21
  Hawaii Military 4-H Kickoff, 10 am, Hickam AFB
29
  Fashion Revue Workshop, 7:00 - 9:00 pm, at UGC, Pot of Gold in charge


OCTOBER
1-7
  National 4-H Week
1
  Children and Youth Day, 10 am - 3 pm, State Capitol
3
  Hawaii OMK meeting, 9 am, at UGC
8
  Executive Board Meeting, 3:30 pm, at UGC
12
  Fashion Revue Registration forms due 4:30 pm at Extension Offices
17
  Military 4-H site coordinators' meeting and report training, 9 pm, at UGC
22
  Kids Fest at the Bishop Museum- Germ City (Clover Kids coordinating)
29
  4-H Fashion Show, 8:00 am - 2:00 pm at the UH Art Auditorium
31
  Enrollment Forms due


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Oahu Events


• Children and Youth Day 2006

    Sunday, October 1, 2006
    State Capitol
    10:00 am to 3:00 pm

    Join us for Hawaii’s premiere children and family festival.  This year’s event includes tours of the State Capitol, Iolani Palace Gallery, Washington Place and the Hawaii State Art Museum; delicious food; great entertainment; and excellent interactive exhibits.

    Oahu 4-H has a booth and I need your help to man this booth.  We will be featuring the 4-H curriculum, showing a video of various programs in the library and making a potpourri.

    You do not have to stay all day.  Just give me a call and reserve a time slot for your group.  We are doing this as a service project, getting 4-H’ers involved, publicizing 4-H and developing the 4-H’er as was suggested at the achievement banquet.

    Bring your chairs, snack/drinks and lunch.  Please call Maryknoll at 453-6053!

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• Executive Board Retreat

     The eager members of the Executive Board had an excellent retreat at Camp Mokule’ia on August 19-20, 2006.  The members discussed and made changes to their responsibilities and the bylaws.  They went over the calendar of events to plan this year’s program and worked on the budget.  They did lots of small group activities and prepared dinner (chili, spaghetti, and hamburger patty goulash) and breakfast for everyone.  They also went crabbing to see who could catch the biggest crab; they came back with four huge crabs.  The group had a campfire and s’mores.  The board really worked hard and everyone had a great time getting to know one another.  Thank you to Aunty Edna, Aunty Gail, Aunty Erlene and Uncle Walter for chaperoning the group.  Aunty Claire spent Saturday after with the group to talk about the military program.

Aloha!

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• 2006-2007 4-H Club Year

    I would like to welcome all of you to the new 4-H Calendar year.  This year I will be serving as your agent advisor to the clubs and Executive Board.  Maryknoll Spotkaeff will be serving as the agent advisor to the State 4-H Leaders Federation and Oahu County Leader’s group.  Claire Nakatsuka will help with the newsletter, updating the information on the web and assisting with the military clubs.  Steve Nagano is still the acting Director for Urban Garden Center and working a portion of his time with the Livestock clubs.

    To start the New Year, the first Council meeting will be on September 10, 2006, 3:30 pm at the Urban Garden Center.  There will be a welcome back pizza party with group activities following the meeting.

    All forms can be downloaded by clicking on the links below.  If you are unable to download the forms please call my office at 622-4185 for hard copies.  All members are required to fill in the first three forms, clubs are required to fill in the 4th form, and leaders are required to fill out the last form, all of which are due on October 31, 2006; so our files can be updated.

    1.  Y-1 (4-H Youth Enrollment - All Members)
    2.  Y-2 (Parental Permission & Medical Information Summary - All Members)
    3.  Y-3 (Media and Informational Release Form - All Members)
    4.  Y-4 (4-H Group Enrollment - Clubs only)
    5.  Form 2 (4-H Volunteer Enrollment - Leaders only)

    Record Books and other forms are also available on the website and easily downloaded.

    Please refer to the Oahu website for the 2006-2007 Calendar of Events for Oahu County.  This year’s Executive Board is very enthusiastic and has a full calendar of events scheduled for the clubs.  We are still looking for someone or a club to chair the Food Show and Communications Fair.  The Executive Board decided to have the Communications Fair like how it was in the past with speeches, demonstrations, photography, exhibits, posters, creative writing, video and power point.

                                                                                                                         Rose Saito

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• I Want To Join 4-H

    An 8 year-old girl wants to join 4-H.  She loves animals, science, art and tennis.  She is a hands-on learner and lives in the Makakilo area.  She attends Liholiho Elementary School.

    An inquisitive and happy 6 year-old girl would like to join 4-H.  She lives on Scholfield Barracks and her mother was a 4-H member.  The mother wants her daughter to learn and enjoy 4-H as much as she did.  Won't you invite her to your club?

    Please call me at 453-6054 if you are willing to accept either youngster in your club and I will put you in touch with these potential new members.

                                                                                                                  Maryknoll Spotkaeff

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• In The Mood

Oahu 4-H Fashion Revue

    The roaring twenties:  the era when women won the right to vote, the automobile and assembly line were made reality by Henry Ford, the notorious Al Capone ran the streets, the great sounds of blues and jazz, Duke Ellington and George Gershwin thrived and the fashion of the flapper girl was in style.   Did you know that the handkerchief hemline came from 1920’s?  Come out and participate in the 4-H Fashion Revue Show 2006!

October 29, 2006
Sunday
9:00am to 2:00pm
At
UH Art Auditorium

Workshop - Sept 29, 2006
Friday
7:00pm to 9:00pm

A hairstylist will be at the workshop demonstrating hairstyles, also practice and learn modeling techniques.  RSVP by Sept 21, 2006 to Susan or Valerie at 626-0038.

Fashion Revue guidelines and registration forms have been sent to club leaders.
They also can be accessed from the Oahu 4-H page at:
http://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/4h/Oahu/FashionRevue/index.html

                                                                                                                  Valerie Inafuku

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• Save These Dates!

Oahu 4-H Council meetings will be held on these dates:

  • September 10 - 3:30 pm
  • November 12 - 3:30 pm
  • January 14 - 3:30 pm
  • March 11 - 3:30 pm
  • May 20 - 3:30 pm (elections meeting)

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• Recycling Project at the State Farm Fair

    The 2006 Oahu Recycling Project was kicked off at State Farm Fair held on July 20-23, 2006 and July 28-30, 2006.  24 recycling containers obtained from the Honolulu City and Country were placed throughout the fair grounds.  During the two weekends, we recycled approximately 10,800 containers and raised $575.  The proceeds will be used to build the public awareness of the importance of recycling and 4-H.

    I would like to extend my thanks to the Farm Bureau and E.K. Fernandez for their support in this project.  The Farm Bureau provided special passes for our volunteers and allowed us to place our containers throughout the fair.  E.K Fernandez was very supportive in working with our volunteers and allowed us to collect all the Pepsi containers used for special admissions on Pepsi Day.

    Mahalo to the volunteers, who graciously dug through the trash cans, sorted, emptied and de-capped the containers, and emptied the recycling containers.  Please join me in acknowledging the following individuals for their great attitudes and hard work:


Claudia Kamiyama – Botniks
Dylan Pilger – Botniks
Eric Pilger – Botniks
Christian Zuckerman – Botniks
Lucas Zuckerman – Botniks

Claire Nakatsuka – Clover Kids, Agent
Erin Nakatsuka – Clover Kids
Evan Hashizume – Clover Kids
Lynn Hashizume – Clover Kids
Sara Hashizume – Clover Kids
Jared Hashimoto – Clover Kids
Becky Kanenaka – Clover Kids
Kent Kanenaka – Clover Kids
Renni Fay Iwasa – Clover Kids

Chaz Calistro – Just Us
Karla Nomura-Calistro – Just Us
Sasha Nomura-Calistro – Just Us
Stacey Calistro – Just Us
Zach Calistro – Just Us
Ross Shibata – Just Us
Sakaye Nomura – Just Us

Rachel Horikawa - Krazy Friends 4-Ever
Gail Yakushiji – Na Pilialoha
Judy Matsuyama – Na Pilialoha
Erlene Matsuyama – Na Pilialoha
Marissa Matsuyama – Na Pilialoha
Mari Chung – Na Pilialoha

Amanda Dietz – Ocean Side Pride
Cara Dietz – Ocean Side Pride
Cheryl Dietz – Ocean Side Pride
Melissa Dietz – Ocean Side Pride
Dinesha Demron – Ocean Side Pride
Marcel Demron – Ocean Side Pride
Michelle Perry – Ocean Side Pride

Edna Wong – Pot of Gold
Hannah Wong – Pot of Gold
Kyrra Lau-Eglinton - Pot of Gold
Linda Lau Ah-Lee - Pot of Gold
Rose Saito – Agent

    I would also like to extend my deepest appreciation to Uncle Walter for his guidance, support and superb efforts throughout this project.  Uncle Walter manned the recycling project at Farm Fair every night, transported the containers to the recycling plants, and shared his wisdom in working with the various other organizations.  Thank you Uncle Walter, you are the best!!!

    Please look for our future recycling projects as we work to build the public awareness of the importance of recycling and 4-H.

                                                                                                                  Amber Kuitunen

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• Military 4-H Kick-Off

We will be celebrating our military partnerships at our annual Military 4-H Kick-Off on:

   Thursday, September 21, 2006
   10:00 am - 12 noon
   Hickam Community Center - McChord St.
   (Ph. 449-3354)

Those interested in attending our asked to RSVP by September 8, 2006 via email:
Military4-H@ctahr.hawaii.edu or call 956-7196.  We hope that you will join us!

                                                                                    Claire Nakatsuka

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• We Want to Hear From You!

    It has been about a little over 6 months since we implemented this on-line newsletter distribution system and it is time for us to evaluate the process.  We’d like some feedback from those that receive our newsletter.  Please take the time to answer a few questions about our Oahu 4-H newsletter.  Your opinion matters to us, click here to take part in our survey!

The first 30 people to respond and provide us their address will receive a little 4-H thank you gift.



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Other Opportunities


• Do Your Good Deed on September 11, 2006

    One Day’s Pay Inc., is working to make September 11 a National Day of Voluntary Service, Charity, and Good Deeds, and encouraging individuals, employers, and groups to perform good deeds during the week of September 11 each year, through My Good Deed.  Each year, on September 11, My Good Deed, through service and volunteering, honors the victims, family members, and survivors of the attacks on America, as well as the rescue and recovery workers and thousands of volunteers who gave so much on and following September 11.  Participate in My Good Deed and volunteer!  Go to MyGoodDeed.org to find out more about how you can participate and post your good deed pledge!

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• Celebrate National Neighborhood Day

    Save the date—Sunday, September 17, 2006—for National Neighborhood Day.

    National Neighborhood Day encourages neighbors to gather together in a block party, a service/improvement project or a simple day of fun.  As neighbors refresh existing relationships and establish new ones, they build connections that inspire collaboration, individual leadership and civic participation throughout the year.

    Many of the materials are available in a version that you can easily save and open in Microsoft Word, customize with your community and contact information and print on color printers.  All files are in .jpeg (graphics), Adobe .PDF and Microsoft Word.  There is a link on the site to help you download the Adobe Reader software.

    Visit www.neighborhoodday.org to find free, user-friendly tools to help you plan, organize and spread the word about your event including ideas for your gathering.  Questions?  Please contact Zoe Hunton or Nan Becker at National Neighborhood Day:  info@neighborhoodday.org or 401-454-3183

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• Family Day – September 25, 2006

    “Family Day – A Day to Eat Dinner with Your Children,” the fourth Monday of September (Sept. 25) each year, is the invention of The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University.  According to CASA research, the more often children eat dinner with their families, the less likely they are to smoke, drink or use drugs.  And they get better grades.

    The Department of Defense Education Activity is attempting to get military families involved in this effort and has partnered with the military sales division of The Coca-Cola Company in offering a chance for a military family to win a trip to New York for a “healthy” dinner prepared by renowned Food Channel chef Sandra Lee.  The contest will be conducted online Sept. 1-30 and can be accessed through a link at the commissary Web site at www.commissaries.com.  Customers will also find contest information at product displays in most U.S. commissaries starting in September.

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• 4-H Brand Network

    Clover Corner News is proud to introduce the 4-H Brand Network – the first community of its kind where 4-H brand advocates (that’s you!) can come together to strengthen the 4-H image.

    What is the 4-H Brand Network?  It is an interactive community where 4-H enthusiasts – members, volunteers, staff and alumni – can join together to increase awareness of 4-H across America.

    Over the next few months, Clover Corner News will become your primary source of information about the 4-H Brand Network including the premiere of the 4-H Brand Network intranet site – an interactive resource and forum where all those involved in 4-H can go to learn, share and apply ideas and resources that will enhance the 4-H brand in your community.  The site will feature tools and interactive resources designed to make promoting 4-H easier than ever before!

    If you are interested in continuing to receive updates about the 4-H Brand Network, visit 4HMediaResources.org to sign up for more information.  If you have any questions, contact Laura Phillips Garner at lgarner@fourhcouncil.edu or 301-961-2973 or Allyson McMahan at amcmahan@fourhcouncil.edu or 301-961-2915.

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• State Farm Good Neighbor Service-Learning Grant

    Youth Service America and the State Farm Companies Foundation are offering the State Farm Good Neighbor Service-Learning Grant for youth across the United States.  These grants of up to $1,000 support youth (ages 5-25), teachers, or school-based service-learning coordinators in implementing service-learning projects for National and Global Youth Service Day, April 20-22, 2007.  To learn more, download an application and grant guidelines at www.YSA.org/awards or email GoodNeighbor@ysa.org.  Projects can address any number of themes including the environment, disaster relief, health, teen issues, education, interfaith dialogue, intergenerational relationships, homelessness, and literacy, amongst others.  Postmark Deadline: Oct. 16, 2006.

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• Web Site Engages Youth, Spurs Community Action

    "YouthNoise, a Web site initially launched in 2001, re-launched last month with the aim of encouraging youth dialogue on important social issues.  The revised site, featuring content created exclusively by young people, lets users submit articles they've written, post to message boards on various topics, and participate in debates.  Site users (who range in age from 16 to 22) discuss issues relating to politics, health, education, and more. Some young people use the site as a forum to share strategies for taking action in their local communities."  It's especially interesting to the YouthLearn team to see this development, as we partnered with YouthNoise to conduct the AT&T Young Leaders Program a few years ago.  URL: http://www.youthnoise.com

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• YouthLearn's How-to on Teaching Digital Photography

    Showing kids how to see with the camera's eye comes more easily with this activity from the YouthLearn collection.  Photography is not just about pointing and pressing a button; it's a decision-making process.  One of the best reasons for working photography into your activities and projects is that it helps kids better understand the media images they're bombarded with every day.  Photography is also just plain fun, and it's a wonderful foundation for community-based projects.  If you introduce photography properly, it helps kids look much more carefully at the world around them.  Check out our curriculum around photo techniques and related lesson plans as well!

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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/

If you have a disability and require special assistance during any of our planned 4-H activities, please call the applicable County Extension 4-H Youth Development Agent two weeks prior to the event.

We welcome your story ideas and 4-H job listings. Please e-mail them to cchang0789@yahoo.com or nakatsuk@hawaii.edu