Dear 4-H Volunteers and Families
Happy New Year! I trust that each of you had a great holiday season. Here at the Extension office the Pend Oreille County Board of Commissioners gave us all a great holiday present! The Master Gardener and 4-H Youth Development Volunteer Coordinator position is now fully funded. This is great news.
As you may recall, the position has been funded at .5 Full time equivalent or less over the last six years. We have worked closely over the years, with the Board to expand the position. It is because of the success and positive impacts of both the 4-H Youth Development Program and the Master Gardener Program that we have been afforded this great opportunity. Again, thank you for your role in our program’s success! Of course, with this opportunity comes greater expectations for continued and expanded success of our volunteer programs. This position with also have the added expectation of seeking, authoring and successfully administrating new grant or program moneys that will offset the County’s investment in the position.
We are in the final changes to the job description and are hoping that the position will be fast-tracked on campus. We are asking the 4-H Leader Council and the Master Gardener Foundation to put forth one volunteer to help with the selection committee and one alternate from each program. Other staff and county representatives will round out the selection committee. As I had told the Master Gardeners, we interview and rank candidates, only then to provide our preferences to administrators at Washington State University. I thank those volunteers for their help and input.
Because this is such of an important position to our county volunteer programs, we will more than likely be asking each candidate to do a short presentation as part of their interview process. As much as is possible and practical, we will invite you to participate in-person or via Zoom.
Look forward to more information and the posting of the position. If you have any questions, concerns or comments, please reach out to me.
Thanks
Mike Jensen
Associate Professor, and County Extension Director, Pend Oreille County
Area Demonstrations Dates Announced
All Pend Oreille County 4-H youth wishing to participate in Area Public Presentations (Demonstrations) during 2020 have three dates from which to choose. Demonstrations, illustrated talks and speeches may be presented on Sunday, February 2 from 4:30-7:30 p.m. or Thursday, August 6 from 5:30-8:30 p.m. at the WSU Extension Office. There will be an additional date scheduled in May; date, time and location will be announced as soon as possible. Youth that wish to take their presentation to State Fair must also give their presentations during the County Fair and will receive an additional 20 points. If you are interested, pick your topic, then download the “Public Presentations Registration form and mail (or scan and e-mail) to Dixie or Lola before the deadline dates. Mailing information is on the registration form. For additional details regarding Public Presentations (Demonstrations) see the Fair Book, Department Q under Exhibits Open to Youth. You may also call or e-mail Lola or Dixie if you have questions about Public Presentations. Lola Rickey, rickeylola@gmail.com, 509 292-2223 (home) or Dixie Chichester, chichester@ifiber.tv, 509 671-0198.
For the registration click here: 2020 Registration
For the Flyer click here: Presentations flyer 2020 (1)
Dance Event
48 North 4-H is hosting a dance on Saturday, February 29, from 6:00 – 10:00 p.m. All Pend Oreille 4-H clubs are invited. See the attached flyer for additional information: dance invite
ATTENTION ALL SEW-ers
The Fashion Revue has been scheduled for mid-July. It’s time to begin your projects. Now would be a good time to pick out your pattern and material. If you need help with sewing, we have several master seamstresses who are willing to help:
Advanced Sewing: Thursdays from 3-5 PM at Pine Ridge Community Church in Newport or by appointment ~ Call Vickie Blanchet @ 509.671.2428 for more information
Beginning Sewing: Beginning Sewing Classes available ~ Call Diane Lukas @ 509.590.7468 for more information
Remember to keep track of your progress in your Record Book!
Leader Council – January 16
Please join us for the next Leader Council meeting scheduled for Thursday, January 16, at the WSU conference room, 227 S Garden Ave., Newport. The meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m.
Financial Management
For the clubs who have submitted their Financials, thank you. Any club with an EIN and bank account, and who have not submitted their financials, they cannot be given approval to do future fundraisers.
Remember, in order to maintain your exempt status with the IRS, you are required to file a form 990 on an annual basis, no later than February 15 of each year. The Extension Office has been filing the 990’s on behalf of the clubs who submit their Annual Summary Statements to us. Therefore, in order to continue this practice, we need to know whether or not your club has had any financial activity for the period October 1, 2018 through September 30, 2019.
Note: The IRS will automatically revoke a club’s tax exempt status for failing to file for 3 years.
Please contact the Extension Office if you have any questions or concerns: 509-447-2401.
An Invitation from River Valley Lifestyle
We would like to introduce you to River Valley Lifestyle, our recently formed nonprofit corporation dedicated to humanities and cultural growth in Pend Oreille County and the Inland Northwest.
River Valley Lifestyle, the Kalispel Tribe of Indians and the Kalispel Casino will be co-sponsoring our second annual music and arts festival, the Qlispé River Festival, on Saturday and Sunday, August 29 and 30, 2020, at the Kalispel Park, just north of Cusick, Washington. There will be entertainment on the stage the evening of Friday, August 28.
We are pleased to invite your group to be a part of our festival, encouraging young entrepreneurs to sell their wares. River Valley Lifestyle would like to invite your members to attend this outdoor, family-friendly event. We will provide a 10’ x10’ space for members under 18 years of age to share.
The fee for each youth selling product at this weekend event will be $10.00. Sales are allowed only for items handmade/handcrafted by the youth participants. An adult 18 years of age or older, must be present at all times, at a youth vendor’s booth.
This will be an opportunity for your group to gain exposure, reach new members, and further your cause. We are a juried show and require a photo of each youth’s product, or a description of that product.
If you have an interest in participating or have any questions please contact us.
Email: pofestival20@gmail.com
Mail: River Valley Lifestyle
3341 Spring Valley Road
Newport, WA 99156
Visit us on Facebook at Qlispé River Festival.
Get Ready for Washington State 4-H Scholarship Application
The Washington State 4-H Scholarship Applications will be available for completion on January 1, 2020. If you are a senior 4-H’er, now is the time to start collecting your supplemental documentation!
More information and instructions for applying can be found here: https://extension.wsu.edu/4h/youth/scholarship-opportunities/