• Oct. 25: State 4-H Office annual retreat, Fort Collins
• Nov. 1: IFYE Representative applications due, State 4-H office
• Nov. 15: Catch-a-Calf applications due to Celina Johnson
• Nov. 25-26: University holidays, offices closed

• 4-H Manual list (Word document)
• American Beekeeping Essay information

4-H Handbook Update - 4-H User Fees

The following information about 4-H User Fees is posted in Section 4 of the 4-H Youth Development Handbook at 4hweb.ext.colostate.edu/handbook/index.shtml. - Jan Carroll

4-H User Fees

After clarifying with the Office of Equal Opportunity on campus, it is clear that CSUCE must establish policies that DO NOT HAVE ADVERSE IMPACT on specific protected groups. In setting 4-H fees, be aware of the following:

1. 4-H must provide an option for individuals who are unable to pay to be able to fully participate in 4-H. That means some kind of a scholarship program or fee waiver policy must be in place.

 
2. 4-H MAY NOT limit what projects an individual may enroll in based on ability to pay. For example, 4-H MAY NOT say that an individual whose fee is waived may NOT enroll in a large animal project. This type of policy has the potential to have an adverse impact on specific protected groups and IS NOT ALLOWED.

Q (field faculty) & A (Judy Barth):

1. QUESTION: Can we limit the number of projects to our basic fee? Our kids can do one- to three-projects for $20; additional projects are $5 each. I think three projects is a full load and members would be able to fully participate in 4-H with that many projects. Does this work? I'm assuming this policy must be written. Do we need to publish it somewhere? (Verla Noakes)

   ANSWER: Yes, you can limit the number of projects where literature is provided to a specific number and then charge extra for more projects. However, YOU MUST BE CONSISTENT with this. So you could not implement a 'low cost' scheme where folks could pay less but ONLY take three projects. And, yes it should be written (so that it is applied consistently and everyone knows what the policy is) and, yes, it should be published (see next question).

2. QUESTION: When we get our fee waiver policy in place do we need to post it in the 4-H newsletter or can we just have it available on file? (Glenda Wentworth)

   ANSWER: You need to make it generally available to all your constituents and potential constituents. So, newsletters would be good, but you also need it on your enrollment material.

3. QUESTION: Shouldn't this policy apply to all Extension programs, not just 4-H? Can you (CSUCE) develop standard wording that we can all use in our program promotion materials, for example "No individuals will be denied access to Extension programs based on their inability to pay program fees. For more information about requesting a fee waiver contact your local Extension Office."? (Sheila Gains)

   ANSWER: The answer to your question is yes, but my message is specifically to 4-H folks, because that is where the questions have come from, repeatedly. Your wording is terrific. Thanks for offering some great wording that may be helpful to all of us!

4. A COMMENT FROM KATE LANGWORTHY: I would like to point out that having an option for scholarship or fee waiver is important, but so is making sure that people are aware of that fact. People may assume that there are no scholarships for programs unless there is a small notice to that fact. This could also be adverse to their participation. Seeing a policy in place on materials that are handed out can help people determine if they wish to bring up such a sensitive subject.

4-H Manuals

Attached is a list of manuals that will be sent in Friday Mail on Oct. 22. Please note that there are two corrected records included in this mailing. Thank you. - Gail McKee

4-H Award Pins Available

If you would like 4-H award pins for swine, horse or clothing/textiles, there are still quite a few left. We will send these out via Friday mail on a first-come, first-serve basis. Please e-mail Tiana Baenziger at btiana@coop.ext.colostate.edu if you would like any of these pins. Thank you. - Katy Kohnen

The National Western Scholarship Trust

The National Western Scholarship Trust awards 60 scholarships a year. The grants range from $1,500 to $4,500, and are presented to students who study agriculture and medicine in rural areas at colleges in Colorado and Wyoming. Except for medical and graduate studies, all applicants must have participated in the National Western Stock Show in January through exhibiting, judging, volunteering, Westernaires, a sanctioned FFA or 4-H project, or competed in an event for which preparation and training are required. Applications are mailed directly to each school and deadlines vary, but are sometime around Feb. 1. The schools include:

• Colorado State University
• Lamar Community College
• Northeastern Junior College
• University of Colorado Medical School
• University of Northern Colorado
• Casper College, WY
• Laramie County Community College, WY
• University of Wyoming

- Katy Kohnen

American Beekeeping Federation 4-H Essay Contest

The American Beekeeping Federation has announced its 2004 4-H Essay Contest. Attached to this week's Update is the official announcement and contest rules. This year's topic is "Use of Honey Bees and Honey in Symbolism." 4-H'ers must submit their essays to the State 4-H office by Jan. 21, 2005 for consideration as the state essay winner. Only one essay from Colorado may be submitted for the national contest. Please contact me if you have questions. - Ellen Butler

CYFAR Update

The Annual CSREES Children, Youth and Families at Risk Conference - CYFAR 2005 will be held in Boston, MA, May 25-27, 2005 at the beautiful Seaport Hotel and Seaport World Trade Center on Boston Harbor.

Annually, the CYFAR Conference is viewed as a premiere event, as more and more Extension professionals work with new audiences in urban, suburban, and rural settings, address risk issues for children, youth and families, and bring technology into communities where there are limited resources and growing needs.

Participants express appreciation for the broad cultural diversity that characterizes the CYFAR conferences, and are equally enthusiastic about the conference's excellence as a professional development experience.

The deadline for proposal submissions is Nov. 15. Submit your proposal online at: fycs.ifas.ufl.edu/CYFAR/CYFARform.html. For continuing information about CYFAR 2005, see: www.csrees.usda.gov/nea/family/cyfar/announcement.html.- Jan Carroll