Kudos
Kudos to everyone who worked or exhibited at the Fair. Our fair was a Blue Ribbon event this year. Not only were the exhibits great, the Sportsmanship was outstanding! At every awards ceremony that I visited, members were cheering for each other and members of other clubs. The atmosphere was relaxed and members were answering questions from the public.

Speaking of which, Horseketeers won the Black and White Rosette given by State Fair Commissioner because the judge overheard the caring way one of their members was explaining to a young child the dangers of putting her fingers in the horse stall. Commissioner, Richard Ames, "I'm proud to say that the Black and White award this year went to the Horseketeers 4-H Horse Club. I was led in this direction, having seen McKenzie Guardado (an intermediate rider) tactfully tell the parents of a toddler that it was not a good idea to let the infant put his hands in a horse stall."

Other Kudos from the State Fair Commissioner:

• "I could not help but be attracted to your dog barn. In my opinion, there is not a better dog venue for county fairs than the one at your fair." Way to go Dog Project!
• "The llama display at your fair was superb. The quality of animals was very good and people were interested what was happening". Good Job Llamas!

Family News

Welcome to baby Gabriel Fernandez! Rhiannon had her baby on July 28th and he is a cutie. They are both doing well. If you have received this newsletter Rhiannon is back to work!

Pam the Guide Dog Puppy

Pam is another addition to our 4-H staff. Pam is an 8 month old Black Labrador retriever who is in training to be a Guide Dog for the Blind. I have Pam traveling with me to help recruit youth members to the Guide Dog Puppy Raising Project. The puppies are placed with a raiser at about 8 week old and stay with their Puppy raiser until they are about between 13 and 18 months old, at which time they return to the Guide Dog Campus for their formal training.

If you run into Pam and me at an activity, please stop and say "HI". Service Dog Etiquette asks that you ask before petting Pam, or any dog in a Harness or wearing a Service Dog Jacket. The harness and jacket represent that the dog is "Working" and shouldn't be distracted. At this point in her life Pam is very easily distracted, so if you ask I will be happy to have you work with us to train her to be calm when approached. Becoming a puppy raiser has many rewards, among them the reward of helping to prepare a Guide Dog for someone who is blind or visually impaired.

To learn more about Guide Dogs for the Blind and Puppy Raising go to http://www.guidedogs.com/NOPICS/puppy.html . To find out about the program in Kitsap County contact Sharon Clegg, the Leader of Navigators 4-H Club, our local Puppy Raising Club (360) 697-6578

Goodbye Elizabeth

Thanks Elizabeth for twelve years of leadership at the Club, County and State Level of 4-H. Elizabeth Dequine and her husband Ed Sampson will be heading to Mexico and Central America in their VW Eurovan taking a sabbatical from her school counselor job. Both of their sons, Adrian and Devon excelled in the 4-H program and Elizabeth jumped in with both feet making it a family affair. She has worked on Camp programs, been assistant Superintendent of the Rabbit and Cavy barn, the cavy project leader for Hare Raisers and worked tirelessly to make the Cavy project a success. Ed has been project leader for the Improv Theatre. They will both be sorely missed. Good Luck on your next adventure, and thanks for always making the best better.

4-H & Hurricane Katrina

At the end of the newsletter is a flyer about how we can help with 4-H programs that were hit by Hurricane Katrina.

My 4-H Story

My name is Chloe Carl and I am 17 years old. This is my eighth year in 4-H and my next to last year to compete in the youth contests. I am enrolled in the cavy, improvisation, art. and foods and nutrition projects. This year was not my most active year of being in 4H, but it was one of the most enjoyable. I have stopped competing with my cavies, but I am now much more involved with the foods and nutrition project. I became interested in the foods and nutrition project after an On the Spot competition that was literally on the spot. I was a last minute replacement for a friend who could not make it. Anyway, that went well, and when the next new member meeting rolled around, I signed up for the foods project. This summer has also been very exciting outside of 4H. I spent a month in Dominica, West Indies, doing a Putney community service project with students from all over the US. It turns out that there is a 4H in Dominica as well, which I certainly didn't expect. We painted the clover and the motto on the side of the school we were working on. I never realized just how widespread 4-H really is. I had no idea it went as far as the Caribbean. The experiences I had while I was in Dominica have changed my life and made me more aware of the world around me. The fact that there were familiar things made it all the more real.

-The above was taken from Chloe's Record Book. Chloe is a senior in Hare Raisers on Bainbridge Island.

COUNTY HAPPENINGS

SPECIAL UPCOMING EVENTS

Check your Calendar and be sure that these upcoming events are included!

ABOUT THOSE EVENTS

Welcome to 4-H
If you know someone who is interested in joining 4-H this is the event to bring them to. We will have representatives and displays from our projects that they can explore, we will explain what 4-H is all about, and give them an opportunity to connect with clubs in their area and explain how adults can become volunteer leaders and start their own groups. Welcome to 4-H will be held at 6:30pm, October 6, at the President's Hall.

If you are a club leader and want to help, please volunteer with your project area to set up a display to represent the PROJECT, not your individual club. With over 60 clubs in the county, it is less confusing for everyone if only projects are represented. If you are a club that is looking for new members, let Cathy know and she will be happy to send members your way!

Council Meeting
At the next council meeting you will be asked to vote on a new constitution and bylaws for the Kitsap 4-H Council. To look at this document please go to the following link: http://kitsap.wsu.edu/4h/pdf_4Hfiles/Council_Bylaws_Constitution.pdf. The purpose of the change is to make the Council the decision making/ policy setting body for 4-H in Kitsap county. It clearly spells out roles and functions of council the Council, it Representatives, Officers, and committees. It also defines the roles of the council, and the paid WSU 4-H Extension Staff, and how they interact. Please look it over and if you have questions call Bruce Bradley, Kathy Cowsert, Wanda Meeker, Brian Coolbaugh, Peggy Blowers, Vicki Avery or Cathy Moen.

Washington State's Leader Forum
This year, the event is taking place in Ocean Shores. The Forum will be held at the Shilo Inn and Suites October 14 - 16, 2005. A few changes have been made to the Forum Schedule: Friday will be daylong track workshops, followed by the 4-H Summit and the Volunteer Recognition Banquet/Hall of Fame Induction. Saturday will feature a Keynote Speaker, 50 workshop sessions, tours and the 4-H Charity Auction. There are several interesting sounding project workshops related to: horses, sewing, foods, and technology from Cathy Soule, and Marion Bond will be leading workshops. There will also be hands on craft activities at each session. Sunday will be devoted to the 4-H Council meeting with District elections of State Advisory Board and State Fair Board representation and committee meetings to review recommendations and discuss project issues. All-in-all a packed weekend! Hard copies of the registration brochure are in the Extension Office. You can download registration information and make
hotel reservations at the 4-H website:

http://4-h.wsu.edu/conferences/Forum/

Recognition

Award Applications
Award applications are due in the Extension Office by October 3rd. From all the great exhibits, I saw at Fair, I expect that many of you will apply for end of the year awards. If you need forms, or more information, please go to the County Website. Youth in Equine Projects should check with your leader about applications for the equine awards. Please go the Award section on the Kitsap County Website and down load the forms that you need: http://kitsap.wsu.edu/4h/awards.htm

Awards Judging
The Awards Judging will be in two parts. First the Record Books will be judged in the morning of October 4, and the rest of the awards will be judged that evening. If your project area is sponsoring an award, or clubs from you project area are submitting Record Books for judging, please be sure that someone from your project is at the judging. Often there are questions that can only be answered by someone familiar with the project.

Recognition Evening
The Recognition Evening will be in the Silverdale Community Center, Friday October 21. It is DESSERT potluck. We will start at 6:30pm with the Awards Program and finish with dessert.

Sewing Project Summit
What do you need to start a project or make a current project more successful? Teens and adults interested in the Clothing and Textile project are invited to attend a Summit meeting on Thursday October 27. If you think you might like to get more involved in this project but aren't sure how to fit a sewing project into your busy life, or where to start, or if you think you aren't qualified to "teach sewing" please come. If you are already in a Clothing and Textile project, we will share ideas to make your current project more successful. It will be and evening to get to know each other, ask questions, share ideas, and learn about resources. I will have the entire 4-H Sewing Curriculum available to look at, and will lead a short hands on about the curriculum-how and why to use it. Karen Oldham and the Clothing and Textile Advisors have offered their services to the 4-H Clothing and Textile projects. This will be a chance to discuss how we can best utilize the; CTA's i.e., in individual clubs, in county wide sewing workshops for leaders, county wide sewing workshops for members, you name it.

If you have questions please call Cathy Moen at 337-7162 or Karen Oldham at 779-7289. Let's get together and brainstorm how to make this an exciting and growing year for the Clothing and Textile Project!

Leader Training
It is time for leaders Training. If you are a new leader, you are required to take leader training within the first year of becoming a leader. If you are taking over an existing club or taking a leadership role in your club, these trainings are for you. We are now requiring all four sessions for everyone. If it has been awhile since you completed training how about a refresher course to brush up your skills?

Two series of leader training are planned for Fall. One series consist of two Saturdays in October and the other series is four Tuesdays in November. Remember, if you are a leader, you have only one year to complete leader's training. This training is required by the State 4-H program for you to be covered by the state liability insurance. Mark your calendar now so you will be able to attend.

Saturday trainings will be October 22 and 29, from 9 am to 3:30 pm. Tuesday evenings will be Nov. 9, 15, 22, and 29 (due to the Thanksgiving Holiday, the group may decide to substitute Dec. 3 for Nov. 22). There will be a 6 pm potluck followed by 6:30 pm-9 pm training.

We know getting home, eating, and getting to trainings can be a challenge. Therefore, we are going to start the evening with a meal. The first night I will provide soup, salad, dessert and
beverages. For the next three I am asking that participants bring foods to share potluck style. I will provide the beverages. For the Saturday sessions please bring a sack lunch and fruit or dessert to share. Coffee and cold beverages will be provided.

You will find the flyer in the newsletter or visit http://kitsap.wsu.edu/4h/pdf_4Hfiles/leader_training_brochure2005.pdf. If you are attending, please fill it out and return it to the Office as soon as possible.

Instead of all the hand outs that are normally given at leaders training, you will be given a CD with all of the forms you will need.

4-H Enrollment
Clubs will soon be finishing off their end of the year paperwork and starting to enroll and reenroll members. Parents, NOW is the time to check your child's project enrollment. Most of the Divisions at the County Fair require the member to be enrolled in the project that they exhibit in. It is much easier to correct enrollment now than at Fair time.

NEW CLUBS

Sewing
New! 4-H Sewing Club (part of Joy Pope's new General Club-the name is to be determined).
Who? 4-H Juniors 3-5 grade (8-10 years) and Intermediates 6-8 grade (11-13)
What? We will be using the Sewing Expressions 4-H Curriculum. We will
start with book 1 Under Construction. The students will learn the basics of
sewing construction and how to make simple clothing or accessory pieces.
When? 1st Thursday of every month1st Meeting October 6 3:30-5:30 or 1:30-3:30 depending on the individuals interested.
Where? Lisa Ryder's House

Archery
The Flaming Arrows club is going to start and is taking new members. Meetings are once a week from October to mid June.

Choices are:
Mondays: 5:30pm or 7:00pm
Tuesdays: 5:30pm or 7:00pm
Wednesdays: 5:30pm or 7:00pm
Thursdays: 5:30pm or 7:00pm

All correspondence is done through e-mail: flamarrow@wavecable.com
Club Leaders/Range Masters: Kim & Sandy.

Maximum of 16 archers each night. Places will fill as e-mails are received. First come, first served with preference given to old members. Please respond no later than September 23rd so we can reserve a place on the shooting line for you.

Please submit a first, second, and third choice when submitting time slot and day preferences. All meetings are at the Kitsap County Fairgrounds in the Archery Barn, which is cold in the winter, but dry if the roof doesn't leak.

All projects will be on a pay as you make them basis. The club has some bows and arrows that you can use. We recommend that you use the club's bows for a while. If you have a bow that you want to use, bring it had have it inspected for safety. Bows over 40 lbs are not permitted. This year's club fees will be $10.00 at the start of the 4-H year for targets and supplies, so your leaders can bring you the best program possible. We will be filling out 4-H club paperwork the first week in October. Bring a parent and $1.00 for insurance (this is on top of the club fee).

(Below is an exerpt from the Texas 4-H archery program "Mentor Challenge")
"So we have arrived at the final challenge, the youngster is enthusiastic about shooting, they have the best equipment money can buy, the parents take them to all the tournaments, and the parents are super supportive of their youngster's efforts. All this will be for naught if the youngster cannot find a mentor. I am careful in the use of the word 'mentor' because it has many connotations. The mentor might be a true coach, or it might be a more experienced archer who has taken the youngster under their wing. Sometimes it can even be a parent that takes the time and energy to learn how to provide additional assistance to their child. But whatever it is, there is no such thing as a self taught youth archer. With the tremendous increase in youth archery, one can see there must therefore be a tremendous increase in the demand for youth archery mentors. For those that have enjoyed archery for such a large part of their lives it is imperative that somehow they find some way to help a youth archer. It might be through a Legacy 1 certification and volunteering. Or you might find that your shooting and shooting enjoyment actually improve when you are coaching a youngster. Whatever you do remember, "A hundred years from now it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in, or the kind of car I drove. But the world may be different because I was important in the life of a child."

Kitsap County Fair
Old Business: The Extension Office has several record books, educational posters and exhibits stored in our office. Everyone with items left here has been contacted. The items will be disposed of if they are not picked up by October 14th . Please don't let that happen to your fair projects. If you have questions about your Fair Premium Checks, contact the fair office 337-5350.
New Business: The dates for the 2006 Fair are August 23rd to 27th and the theme will be "You're the Magic".

GET TRIED BY A JURY OF YOUR PEERS
The Juvenile Department's Youth Court program for 9th - 12th grade students is an opportunity for students to serve as Judge, Prosecution and Defense Advocates, and Jurors in Diversion cases that involve minor offenses committed by their peers. Training will be Wed., Sept. 14th from 5 - 7 p.m. at the Juvenile Dept. Please RSVP at 337-5409 with the student's name so adequate amounts of snacks and training manuals will be available.

From our 4-H Family in Louisiana & Mississippi

Dear Colleagues,

Like all of you, we here at CSREES -especially in the Families, 4-H and Nutrition Unit are deeply grieved by the disaster impacting our colleagues and all citizens in the path of Hurricane Katrina. We -like you are very interested in being supportive and showing our concern for their safety and eventual recovery. And the Land Grant University system,
particularly, the Cooperative Extension system and our EDEN network have abundant resources. HOWEVER, we urge you to listen to the lessons learned in previous disaster experiences, especially after 9/11 and other natural disaster. We encourage you to consider the following:
1. Sending anything but money at this point is not useful. Clothes, toys for children, canned goods, etc. only clog systems that are not ready to distribute these items and have not completed rescue efforts.
2. Trying to communicate (especially via phone) to your colleagues to express concern and interest is not helpful at this time. Their energy needs to go to attending to their own families and offices and fulfilling their community education role.
3. Your great ideas for partnering with groups and offices in the affected areas can be discussed but should not be implemented until local staff have completed assessments and agree in specific communication that such assistance is appropriate.

WHAT YOU CAN DO
1. Encourage people to give blood.
2. Go to the EDEN website at http://www.eden.lsu.edu/ to see information that is pertinent. LOOK FOR GUIDING MESSAGE FROM JOE WYSOCKI.
3. Contribute funds to the numerous Not for Profit organizations organized and poised to do immediate disaster response and mitigation.
4. Consider supportive communication and partnerships for 3 to 6 months in the future.
5. If Extension Systems in the impacted states have regional or national responsibilities that you could assume, we hope you will be responsive to these opportunities should they need you to do so.
6. Be sensitive to the stress level and personal balance of your friends and colleagues. Make certain that well meaning actions do not add stress inadvertently. Thank you for all your concern and caring for your fellow citizens.

From: Susan Holder, State Program Leader 4-H Youth Development in Mississippi

Our first task was to find our staff. We hope by Tuesday we will have accomplished that. In the meantime, there are those of us in North Mississippi that are coordinating several efforts. Your help in getting the word out is appreciated.

Mississippi Operation 4-H Relief is the way 4-H members, volunteers and staff are reaching out to those families and children in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

1. "Letters of Caring and Hope" For those 4-H members from around the country that are searching for ways in which they can support our Mississippi youth. We are asking the 4-H members and volunteers to write letters that are encouraging. The letters will need to be sent to:

Mississippi Operation 4-H Relief--Letters of Caring & Hope, Box
9641, MS State, MS 39762 If they are sent UPS -- %Operation 4-H
Relief, 204 Bost Extension Center, MS State, MS 39762

The letters will be distributed through our 4-H Agents and 4-H youth and adult volunteers to young people affected by the hurricane.

2. Mississippi Operation 4-H Relief Activity Kits: For the families and young people in shelters or in isolated areas without power and services, the days are getting long and the young people are getting restless, we have designed activity boxes. These boxes are full of supplies and have lesson plans and activities for kids and parents. They also include 4-H coloring books and other curricula. When possible 4-H t-shirts are accompanying the boxes. The kits bring out the "heart" in the 4-H emblem; this generosity brings together families in this difficult situation.

3. The MS 4-H Foundation has set up a separate account for hurricane relief. Funds will go to 4-H families and to purchase supplies for the activity boxes. Donations should be sent to MS 4-H Foundation, Box 9601, MS State, MS 39762
I personally appreciate all of the notes and thoughts sent our way. Thank-you for allowing us to channel this energy to those who need it the most.

Yours in 4-H.... Suzi
Dr. Susan Holder
Mississippi 4-H Youth Development
Box 9601
MS STATE, MS 39762
Office: 662-325-3352
FAX: 662-325-8407
email: susanh@ext.msstate.edu