| [Image: 4-H Day at the Capitol Group Picture] |
| [Image: 4-H University Group Picture] |
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4-H DAY AT THE CAPITOL
Seven Jefferson Parish 4-H members and three volunteer leaders visited the Louisiana State Capitol in Baton Rouge in June for “4-H Day at the Capitol,” joining hundreds of 4-H members, 4-H volunteers, and parents for the event.
While at the State Capitol, members of the Jefferson delegation visited with Senators Danny Martiny and John Alario and Representatives Patrick Connick, Robert Billiot, Thomas Willmott, Anthony Ligi, Jr., Ricky Templet, and Speaker of the House Jim Tucker.
4-H Day at the Capitol is an annual event held in early June each year. It is open to 4-H members and their families.
TEENS ATTEND 4-H UNIVERSITY
Sixteen Jefferson Parish 4-H teens participated in the 95th annual 4-H University held in June on the LSU campus in Baton Rouge. Over 1600 4-H members from across Louisiana spent several days in Baton Rouge participating in state level competition or receiving intensive training in selected subject areas, such as Robotics, Forensics, and Dramatic Arts.
Jefferson Parish participants included: Laura Melancon, Daniel Melancon, Shawntell Ronquille, Brittany Landry, Salvador Caillouet, Alex Farizo, and Nicholas Victoriano, Fisher Middle/High School; Kavon Faili, Arrash Faili, and Amber Corder, Word of Life Academy; Keith Luther, Ehret High School; Jonathan Balint, Jessica LeBlanc, and Bryan DeVillier, Home School Students; Fosterikka Franklin, Roosevelt Middle School; and Kevin Keys, John Curtis Christian School.
Jessica LeBlanc was named State Winner in the Career Preparation Contest. Brittany Landry was named to the State 4-H Fashion Board, and Daniel Melancon completed his term as State 4-H Regional Representative.
Accompanying the group were Ann Gauthier and Chantel Williams, 4-H Agents and Ellie Melancon and Neelam Phadtare, Volunteer Leaders.
4-H University is open to 4-H members age 13 years and older. It is conducted in June of each year and includes competitive and noncompetitive educational opportunities.
PARISH 4-H MEMBERS ENJOY CAMP
Thirty-one Jefferson Parish 4-H members joined members from Orleans, St. Bernard, Plaquemines, West Carroll, Morehouse, Tensas, and Lincoln parishes for an exciting week of good times and good friends. The week long camp was held at the Grant Walker Educational Center in Pollock, LA. Campers enjoyed educational tracks along with many recreational activities.
Jefferson Parish East Bank participants included: Cameron Crappel and Collin Richard from Birney Elementary; Joseph Daniels, Kaori Keyser, Jody Martin, and Johan Paz from Audubon Elementary; and Mailbox Members Crachelle Jefferson, Cierra Johnson, Diamond Johnson, and Elijah Yen. West Bank campers were: Dani Bean, Koby Bellanger, Rylie Brown, Hailey Castiglione, Krista Dobronich, Logan Echeverria, Molly Gainey, Alyssa Martin, Carlie Martinez, Malorie Saunier, and Mia Saunier from Kerner Elementary; Kelsey Brooks, Ke’Vonn Faulkner, Talaiah Jones, and Tasha Nguyen from Solis Elementary; Rachel Hicks and Terrinikia Stackhouse from Strehle Elementary; and Mailbox Members Christian Chestnut, Victoria Hardy, Devin Koenig, and Charrel Williams. Members were accompanied by Camp Counselors Daniel Melancon and Brittany Landry from Fisher High School; Kavon Faili from Word of Life Academy; Jeremy Balint and Jessica LeBlanc from the East Bank Teen Leader Club. Ann Gauthier and Chantel Williams, LSU AgCenter Agents from Jefferson Parish along with Volunteer Leader Neelam Phadtare also accompanied the group.
4-H Camp is one of the many educational programs conducted by the LSU AgCenter. It is open to youth in 4th –6th grades.
Note to Teachers: Youth Wetlands Week Information
Youth Wetlands Week registration is now open! The YWW program develops and distributes wetland education curriculum and teaching materials FREE to any 4th—12th grade teacher. The overall goal is to enhance students’ knowledge about the various types of wetlands found throughout the state and how to get involved in wetlands conservation. For more information, contact Ann Gauthier.
LEADERSHIP CLUBS FORMING NOW
The Jefferson Parish 4-H Program is announcing two community-wide clubs with leadership, community service, and fun in mind! Interested youth in grades 6—12 are encouraged to become members of the Jefferson Parish 4-H Teen Leader Club. Eastbank and Westbank clubs meet monthly. September meeting times and locations are as follows:
Thursday, September 10
Eastbank 4-H Office, 6640 Riverside Dr. Suite 200, Metairie
7:00—8:00 PM
Westbank
Location and time TBACall the 4-H office at 838-1170 for more information or to receive meeting notices.
PARISH 4-H MEMBERS RECOGNIZED
Jefferson Parish LOST (Louisiana Outdoor Science and Technology) Camp—participants included: Matthew Victoriano, Fisher Middle School; Brooke Harper and Kylie Spain, East Bank Teen Leader Club; and Kavon Faili (Counselor) West Bank Teen Leader Club.
National 4-H BB Gun Competition— Cody LeBouef, Dylan Camus, Alyssa Martin, Imaige Matherne, Laura Melancon, and Shawntell Ronquille of Kerner Elementary and Fisher Middle School competed in national competition in Kansas in July.
Jefferson Parish 4-H Scholarship Recipients— Adil Yousef and Abdelhadi Mousa, Grace King High, Jonathan Balint, Home School student; and Daniel Melancon, Fisher High were Jefferson Parish 4-H Scholarship recipients.
4-H Camp Counselor Leadership Award Recipients— Jeremy Balint and Jessica LeBlanc, Home School student; Kavon Faili, Word of Life Academy; Brittany Landry and Daniel Melancon, Fisher High School received Camp Counselor Leadership Awards at the August 4-H Foundation Board meeting.
State 4-H Beef Poster Contest— Sarah Vuljoin, Home School student, was named 8th place winner in the State Division 2 Beef Poster Contest.
Jefferson Parish T-Shirt Design Winner—Dani Bean from Fisher Middle School contributed the winning shirt design. See attached file for shirt order form.
SMART BODIES TAKE 10 ! PROGRAM IN 10 JEFFERSON SCHOOLS
Ten Jefferson Parish schools will be participating in the Smart Bodies Take 10! Program in the 2009-2010 school year.
The LSU AgCenter and Blue Cross Blue Shield are conducting the program which is aimed at increasing physical activity and improving nutrition in participating youth. Students will meet the “Organwise Guys” and learn how food choices affect the body. They will participate in “Take 10” activities to increase physical activity during the school day. Each participating school will host the “Body Walk” tour where students will “walk through” the human body.
Participating schools include:
Harahan Elementary
Washington Elementary
Riviere Elementary
Greenlawn Terrace Elementary
Bridgedale Elementary
Live Oak Manor
Rillieux Elementary
Solis Elementary
Marrero Academy
Pittman Elementary
Service Learning
This school year, we will be conducting a parish-wide community service learning project with the theme : “4-H, Green Since 1902” . Throughout the school year, we will have recycling drives, contests, and other educational programs with the “go green” theme.
Why wouldn't anyone want to green? Some of the greatest threats to future resources come from things we throw away everyday. Throwing away items that could be recycled diminishes energy, water and natural resources that could be saved by recycling. The more we throw away, the more space we take up in landfills. When a landfill becomes a “landfull”, taxpayers have to build a new one. The less we throw away, the longer our landfills will last. The amount of taxpayer money we save by extending the longevity of our landfills is an important community benefit.
Our first recycling drive will consist of collecting gently used clothes. We are collecting clothes for both males and females, from infants to adults. We are in special need of adult male clothes. Clothes should be clean with no holes or missing buttons. Clothes should be free of logos. We will collect clothes throughout the months of September and October.
Clubs can promote this as a schoolwide project. The club with the most clothes collected will receive a special prize. Mailbox members can drop their donations off at the 4-H office. Only clothes are being collected at this time. No shoes or other accessories please.
GEAUX TIGERS!
Limited number of tickets to LSU vs. LA Tech football game in Tiger Stadium on Saturday, November 14 are available to 4-H Members and family for $25.00 per seat. Contact Ann Gauthier at 838-1170 for more information.
Attention Club Reporters
All 4-H Club Reporters are encouraged to submit their monthly news articles for publication in the Jefferson Parish 4-H Youth Connection. Share your club activities, ideas, and successes! Give a copy of your report to one of the 4-H Agents or mail it to: 4-H Newsletter, 6640 Riverside Drive, Suite 200, Metairie, LA 70003. Reports can be emailed to Ann Gauthier.
Order your 4-H T-Shirt Today!
T-shirt orders are due October 1, 2009. Shirts are $9 each. Shirt orders and payment must be turned in to your club leader or mailed to the 4-H Office, 6640 Riverside Drive, Suite 200, Metairie, LA 70003. Deadline for ordering shirts is Thursday, October 1. Make checks payable to Jefferson Parish 4-H Clubs. This check must be separate from assessment fees or club dues. NOTE: $25.00 charge on all returned checks! T-shirt order form is available in the attached file.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
September
8 Labor Day (4-H Office closed)
4-H Organizational Meetings
Go Green Clothing Collection
11 Teen Leader meetings
18 Payment must be received in 4-H Office to order LSU vs. LA Techfootball tickets
October
Go Green Clothing Collection
1 4-H T-Shirt orders and payment DUE in 4-H Office
4-H enrollment cards and assessment fees DUE in 4-H Office
Mailbox Member enrollment cards and assessment fees DUE
1-4 Southern Region Leadership Conference, GA
4-10 National 4-H Week
8 Teen Leader meetings
LA 4-H Pizza Day
12 Officer/Leader Training Registration DUE
15 Registration deadline Youth Wetlands Week
17-18 Fall Garden Show
18—24 National Character Counts Week
24 4-H Officer/Leader Training
November
14 LSU vs. LA Tech.