Movie poll wasn't working

Rats! I did have a poll on the blog about favorite types of movies, but it isn't working even after several attempts to fix it, so I had to pull it off. Sorry!

Homework help available through Douglas County Libraries

I have found that the library system in Douglas County is outstanding and that they strive to bring the latest and greatest to their patrons. I am passing on information about a great service I discovered.

Now students in grades 3 - 12 can get one-on-one homework help through an online service seven days a week from 3:00 - 10:00 p.m. Log on to the library system at www.douglascountylibraries.org. Click on the eLearning2Go link and then the HelpNow! button.

Kids can get help with science, math, language arts, and social studies. Spanish-speaking tutors are also available.

You will need a library card to access this service, but you can visit GetaCard.org to get your Douglas County Libraries card instantly.

2008 Colorado State Fair Jr. Livestock Sale Results

Results are in for the state fair livestock sale...

"PUEBLO, Colo. – Each year the preeminent event for Colorado’s 4-H and FFA youth takes place at the Colorado State Fair. The Jr. Livestock Sale is one of the largest events of if its kind in Colorado.

The 2008 Colorado State Fair Jr. Livestock Sale presented by Touchstone Energy Cooperatives drew in $392,800 for Colorado’s 4-H and FFA youth..."

See the rest of the story here: http://www.coloradostatefair.com/index.php?page=jlsresults

4-H Leaders, there's a training just for you

Leaders, this year the annual Leaders Fall Forum Workshop is a much closer drive than in years past: Adams County Fairgrounds.

This fall volunteer training weekend, October 17 - 19 at the Adams County Fairgrounds, will feature over thirty workshops to better prepare 4-H Leaders for their work with 4-H'ers across the state.

Workshops include choices like Shooting Sports Record Books, 4-H Musical Freestyle, Intro to Working Cattle on Horseback, Macrame Heritage Arts, and Getting the Most out of 4-H Contests - just to name a few.

For more information, go to the link below:
http://www.colorado4h.org/msc/slf-booklet.pdf

Get to know the 4-H Staff: Melody Jones

Melody Jones has been with Douglas County 4-H since June 25, 2007. One of the first things Kathe said to her was "This is the worse time of year for a new person to start!" EEK! But she lived to tell about it and has now survived two fairs - although the first one is very hazy.

Melody is a Colorado native, born in Denver and raised in Palisade where she grew up literally amongst peach orchards. One of her first jobs was packing peaches where she had to keep a sharp eye out for the teenage boys who thought it was funny to throw rotten peaches at everybody!

Many of you already know Melody comes from a social work background. She began her career working in Mesa County for two years, and then moved to the metro area in 1991 where she worked for a social services agency until 2006. She worked only with the adolescent population - a fact that befuddled all her friends as they couldn't imagine hanging out with teenagers every day for so many years.

Melody's husband Dub, also a Colorado native, works in the Douglas County Clerk and Recorder's office and has a strong background in IT. They live in Parker with two energetic dogs: Hunter the chocolate lab, and Lacey the tri-color beagle.

Melody is a crafter from way back and can't name only one favorite craft, but she makes jewelry and does scrapbooking, collage, papermaking, decoupage, card making, painting and probably more - she just can't remember. She's excited to report that she recently sold several jewelry items in her sister's retail store in Grand Junction!

Her favorites list:

• color: purple
• food: ice cream
• movie: Saving Private Ryan, Breakfast Club, Big - too many to name
• music: Celtic, classic rock, new age, 80's - ok, so she's an 80's girl!

Surprising fact: She has a large library of books on metaphysical and paranormal subjects -because the world is a weird and wonderful place.

Next week, we'll get to know Mary Baldwin a little bit better.

Window Display Contest for 4-H Clubs

*This contest pending approval by the 4-H Council.

As National 4-H Week draws near (October 5-11), we’d like to get the word out about what 4-H can offer families. Here are the contest details:

• The theme this year is “4-H…More Than You Ever Imagined!”


• Each club completes a window display in a place of business or public contact (retail, rec centers, libraries, restaurants).


• Window displays can be painted or they can be objects/posters/photos/etc placed in a window. Be creative.


• Your display must include both of the following phrases: “4-H…More Than You Ever Imagined!” and “If you are interested in joining 4-H, please call the 4-H office at 720-733-6940 or email 4-H@douglas.co.us.”


• Displays must be available for viewing between October 4th and October 12th.


• Windows in all Douglas County cities and towns are eligible. We would like to see a particular focus on the northern end of the county including Highlands Ranch, Parker, and Lone Tree.
  
• Displays will be judged during National 4-H Week from October 5th through the 11th.

Awards:
First place display: $300
Second place display: $200
Third place display: $100

Note: Only two clubs participated last year! But hey, they earned $300 and $200....could YOUR club have used that money at all??

Questions? Contact Melody at the Extension Office at 720-733-6940.

Last year's entries - keep in mind it's hard to take photos of windows!

4-H babysitter's training opportunity

4-H Babysitter’s Training

Friday, September 5, 2008 from 5:30pm to 8:30pm AND Saturday, September 6, 2008 from 9:00am to 3:00pm

Adams County Fairgrounds, Extension Office Meeting Rooms

WHO MAY ATTEND?
Youth ages 12 to 18

Youth will learn about safety precautions, first aid, child development, emergency procedures, entertaining children and job hunting skills. Participants will be certified babysitter’s at the completion of the 8 hour course.

COST:
This course if FREE of charge

HOW TO REGISTER:
Complete the registration form sent to all 4-H families via email on Thursday, August 21.

QUESTIONS?
Call or e-mail Julia at 303-637-8108 or jhurdelbrink@co.adams.co.us

WHAT TO BRING?
All participants are asked to bring a sack dinner with them on Friday night.

Horseback rides hosted by HRCA - no experience necessary!

HRCA, the Highlands Ranch Community Association, is hosting horseback rides Tuesday through Sunday until September 1st. Rides will resume next May.

Rides start at 11950 Monarch Blvd. and are an hour or hour-and-a-half through the Wildcat Mountain Trail system. Rides are led by wrangles from Bear Creek Stables.

Kids ages 8 and up are welcome, and no experience on a horse is necessary. Rides are $35 for one hour and $50 for an hour and a half. Group rates are available for $29 per person for a group of 10 or more.

To sign up, call 303-791-2500 or visit www.hrcaonline.org.

Click to see the original blurb posted to yourhub.com: http://denver.yourhub.com/HighlandsRanch/Stories/Outdoors/Story~508716.aspx

Get to know the 4-H staff: Kathe Jackson

Most of you have had some sort of contact with that Douglas County 4-H icon Kathe Jackson. Let's face it, she's been the backbone of the 4-H office for 24 years! But how much do you really know about her?

Kathe is a Colorado native born in Salida, but raised in Colorado Springs. Currently, she lives in Franktown with her husband of 40 years, Ernie.

Kathe has two daughters, Kelli and Jodi. Kelli is married and lives on a cattle ranch in Wyoming where she and her husband are raising three kids. Jodi lives in Wheatridge and is a very successful title closer for a company that works with foreclosures.

Prior to working as the 4-H secretary, Kathe was an aerobics instructor for 10 years while being a stay-at-home mom. For six years, Kathe was the organizational leader of the Castle Rock Aggies. Boasting 80 members, the club focused on sheep, hog, and beef projects. Kathe's daughters raised sheep, and she still has pictures behind her desk of their 4-H days.

One of Kathe's biggest hobbies is quilting. She also enjoys gardening, and we're thankful she has a green thumb as she keeps all the plants alive in the office. Her newest interest is photography.

What about the unusual spelling of her name? It has it's roots in third grade where there were so many "Kathy's" that it was the only way people knew which Kathe she was - and the spelling stuck.

Her favorites list:

• color: green
• food: Mexican
• movie: Pretty Woman, and anything suspenseful
• music: jazz, new age - no rap!

Surprising facts: Kathe was an active dirt bike rider, and she never turned down an opportunity to race her GTO!

Watch for more "getting to know the staff" postings.

State fair exhibit and fashion results posted

Please go to this link to see results:

http://www.colorado4h.org/events_opportunities/state_fair/results/2008/08results.shtml

CALF Annual Adult Visitor's Meeting

Announcement from Leah Braton of CALF:

"We hope you are able to join us Wednesday, August 20, 2008@ 6:00 P.M. for our Annual Adult Visitors Meeting. We will have a brief presentation about CALF, a tour of the Lowell Ranch and hors d'oeuvres.

The Lowell Ranch is located 3 miles of Castle Rock on the East Frontage Road. Wilcox Street in Castle Rock becomes the East Frontage Road south of Castle Rock.
The Lowell Ranch is just south of Creekside Bible Church and north of Bell Mountain.

We look forward to seeing you...

If you have any questions, please give me a call."

Leah Braton - 303-688-1026

Wish you had a 4-H clover car magnet? Shop the 4-H mall!

There's a really great website where you can order all kinds of 4-H themed items like lanyards, clothing, medals, lunch totes, hats, duffle bags - even scrapbooking supplies. It's called the 4-H Mall and you can link in here: http://www.4-hmall.org/

You can also sign up to get email notices when they have sales, specials, and new 4-H items.

Oh, and the car magnet can be found here: http://www.4-hmall.org/detail.aspx?ID=19556.

Happy shopping.

4-H and taxes

And now for a serious moment here in 4-H - taxes. The state office has an update for 4-H clubs that I will quote here for you:

There will be no penalties for 4-H clubs earning less than $25,000 who do not file an ePostcard in 2008. Those earning more than $25,000 will continue to be subject to the 990 requirements for filing. The state anticipates having more details from the IRS when they have completed processing the database.

Chartered 4-H clubs and qualified affiliated groups under GEN 2704 should be contacting the State 4-H Office for all tax exempt issues and not National 4-H Headquarters or the IRS. The IRS has requested that any information and direction be provided from the state office to National 4-H Headquarters as the parent organization. National 4-H Headquarters then has the responsibility to provide updates, assistance, and respond to questions from State 4-H offices.

For all issues about status under GEN 2704, whether the group is requesting an EIN (SS-4 form) or inclusion under GEN 2704, or questions related to filing requirements, determination letters, or general status questions, all state and local groups should start with the State 4-H office.

In March 2008, National 4-H Headquarters forwarded to the IRS the listings of all authorized 4 H entities and has been waiting for the IRS to finish updating the list. The IRS has encountered delays in completing the processing of our lists for several reasons including: 1) there are far more entities requesting inclusion as subsidiaries than the IRS anticipated; 2) there continues to be significant errors with Employee Identification Numbers (EIN) listed for thousands of the 4-H entities certified; 3) the IRS is questioning the inclusion of some affiliated organizations which typically are considered independent organizations rather than program groups; and 4) there are questions on both the part of the IRS and National 4-H Headquarters regarding which requirements apply to 4-H, given that 4-H is a unique entity unlike any other organization.

The IRS is working to both clarify the actual tax exempt status for 4-H, and to identify ways to coordinate the lists of 4-H entities more efficiently and effectively in the future.

Due to the delays in processing the 4-H listings for groups requesting inclusion, and the data cleaning that will need to take place to correct the EIN's, National 4-H Headquarters has negotiated with the IRS that there will be no penalties for 4-H subsidiaries earning less than $25,000 who do not electronically file for the remainder of 2008.

Stay tuned for more updates as they become available. All questions need to be directed to the State 4-H office.

Thank you and goodbye summer staff....

As county fair season draws to a close, we realized that tomorrow is the last day our summer staff will be here: Dylan Wilson, the summer secretary, and Noah VanBibber, the intern.

Dylan has been great. She has a ready smile, jumps in when we need her, and doesn't shy away from hard work. It's been a real asset to have someone here who was a 4-H member and is familiar with how it works in Douglas County. This weekend, Dylan heads back up to her sorority at UNC, Delta Zeta, and it's right back into college life. No rest for the weary!

This has been Noah's third year as our intern. He took on much of Alexa's agent-level fair responsibilities regarding livestock and horse and did a fantastic job. It's true that he does not have a master's degree, but it was clear that his numerous years in 4-H and intern time in the office helped prepare him for the difficult role he took on. I think it's safe to say that a brand new intern couldn't have done it. From our hearts, we truly mean it when we say we couldn't have done it without him!

Thank you both.