Volunteer Extension Cord (VEC) is a way to advise you about Texas 4-H Volunteer Development. This newsletter is e-mailed to County Extension Agents, Texas 4-H Faculty, District Extension Administrators, and Regional Program Directors. In addition, 4-H volunteers who are active in VLAT or their District Adult Leaders Association (and we have your e-mail address) will receive VEC. To add an e-mail address to our list, send a message to texasvolunteer@tamu.edu and type subscribe followed by your name, county, district and e-mail address.
We are always looking for news items, county and regional highlights, recognition of volunteers and other information related to volunteer development. Please send information to the following e-mail texasvolunteer@tamu.edu
In This Edition:
Volunteering Produces Health Benefits: A Review of Recent Research
Speak Out Through "Volunteer Voice"
VLAT Update
Southern Region Volunteer Forum
Texas 4-H Centennial Update
Texas 4-H to Release New 4-H Website to Celebrate the Centennial of 4-H
2007-2008 Texas 4-H Clover Returns to Print With a New Look and a New Format
Club Ed 2007-2008
New York 4-H Resource Directory
Texas 4-H Conference Center NEWS!
Texas 4-H Friends & Alumni Association Update
Texas 4-H Heat It Up! Cook-off
2008 Beekeeping Essay Contest
Information on the 2007-2008 Texas 4-H Photography Contest is Now Available
Fun Facts About 2007-2008 Share-the-Fun Contest
Angela McCorkle Assumes Family Resource Management Extension Assistant Position
Consumer Decision Making 2008 Update
Volunteering Produces Health Benefits
Over the past two decades, a growing body of research indicates that volunteering provides not just social benefits, but individual health benefits as well. This research has established a strong relationship between volunteering and health: those who volunteer have lower mortality rates, greater functional ability, and lower rates of depression later in life than those who do not volunteer. A more comprehensive review of this research can be found in the full report, "The Health Benefits of Volunteering: A Review of Recent Research", which can be downloaded at www.nationalservice.org.
Older volunteers are most likely to receive greater health benefits from volunteering. These benefits include improved physical and mental health and greater life satisfaction. Volunteers must meet a "volunteering threshold" to receive significant health benefits. That is to say, volunteers must be engaged in a certain amount of volunteering in order to derive health benefits from the volunteer activities. The definition of considerable volunteering has been variously defined by these studies as 1) volunteering with two or more organizations; 2) 100 hours or more of volunteer activities per year; and 3) at least 40 hours of volunteering per year.
Volunteering leads to greater life satisfaction and lower rates of depression. Evidence indicates that volunteering has a positive effect on social psychological factors, such as a personal sense of purpose and accomplishment, and enhances a person's social networks to buffer stress and reduce disease risk.
Volunteering and physical well-being are part of a positive reinforcing cycle. Evidence suggests the possibility that the best way to prevent poor health in the future, which could be a barrier to volunteering, is to volunteer. A number of studies demonstrate that those individuals who volunteer at an earlier point experience greater functional ability and better health outcomes later in life.
Individuals who volunteer live longer. Several longitudinal studies have found that those individuals who volunteer during the first wave of the survey have lower mortality rates at the second wave of the survey, even when taking into account such factors as physical health, age, socioeconomic status and gender. Studies of the relationship between volunteering and health demonstrate that there is a significant relationship between volunteering and good health: when older adults volunteer, they not only help their community but also experience better health in later years, whether in terms of greater longevity, higher functional ability, or lower rates of depression.
Speak Out Through “Volunteer Voice”
Volunteer Voice was set up in the Spring of 2007 in order to give volunteers the opportunity to provide feedback relating to the 4-H program and let their voice be heard! A slight change has been made, in order to encourage participation. Volunteers no longer have to be an approved author to post a comment. Therefore, ANYONE can post a comment.
Go to: http://texas4hvolunteervoice.blogspot.com and click on “post a comment.” You will be prompted to create an account, but it only requires an e-mail address, password, and accepting the terms and conditions.
The question for this month is simple... “How can the Texas 4-H Program better support YOU as a volunteer (i.e. training, resources, communication, etc.)?
Check it out, and let us hear you!
VLAT Update
The Volunteer Leaders’ Association of Texas would like to thank everyone for supporting the association by purchasing merchandise at Texas 4-H Roundup and the Texas 4-H Horse Show. Every purchase enables the association to fund volunteer training opportunities and scholarships through the Texas 4-H Foundation.
VLAT is also currently working on some Centennial merchandise to be sold over the next year, along with the availability of all sale items for purchase online. Check out their website at http://texas4hvolunteers.org for more details!
The Volunteer Leaders’ Association of Texas will also be hosting their winter meeting and volunteer training Friday thru Sunday, January 4-6, 2008, at the Texas 4-H Conference Center in Brownwood. The business meeting and training will actually be held on Saturday, January 5th from 9:00 am to 8:00 pm. Additional details will be coming soon!
Southern Region Volunteer Forum: “Simply the Best!”
October 4-7, 2007
Rock Eagle 4-H Center
Eatonton, Georgia
Mission and Purpose: The mission of the Southern Region 4-H Volunteer Forum is to increase the capacity of volunteer and salaried staff to contribute to the achievement of the mission of 4-H Youth Development and the Cooperative Extension system. The primary purpose of the SRVF is to educate and prepare participants to share the information that they learned and practice the skills that they have developed, through participating in the forum, at home in their own 4-H programs and activities. Participants benefit from the experiential learning activities that require them to discuss, use, and apply what they learn. The ultimate application is for individuals and teams to teach others.
Registration: Registration is coordinated by each state 4-H office. The fee for state delegates is $210 (excluding transportation). This fee includes all meals and lodging on-site. Registration is due to the Texas 4-H & Youth Development Department by August 24th. A registration form is attached or is available on the Texas 4-H website at: http://tx4-h.tamu.edu/volunteer/vlat/training.htm
Lodging: Participants will reside in heated (and air-conditioned) cottages. Towels, linens and blankets are furnished. Dress is casual except for the closing banquet, which is dressy (“Sunday best”). Comfortable shoes are a must! October weather is mild. Midday temperatures range from the mid-50’s to 70’s while the evening temperatures cool into the 50’s and 60’s.
Scholarships: The Volunteer Leaders’ Association of Texas (VLAT) also offers scholarships for Texas 4-H volunteers to attend the Southern Region 4-H Volunteer Forum, covering the registration fee of $210. Scholarship applications are also attached and available at: http://tx4-h.tamu.edu/volunteer/vlat/training.htm
Texas 4-H Centennial Update
4-H youth, families, volunteers, donors and Texas AgriLife Extension Service staff will join together on September 1st as our centennial celebration begins!
4-H members and their families have made many worthwhile contributions to citizens of Texas and this nation, not the least of which is “Operation Military Kids” which support youth from our current military families.
Throughout our 100 years of existence in Texas, the 4-H program has reached boys and girls with educational and developmental programs which have contributed significantly to the quality of life for these young people, their families, and their communities.
4-H is an ever-renewing movement that takes pride in its contribution to American society over the last century. It is not easy for a youngster to develop a realistic sense of his or her own individuality, and develop an awareness of his or her social roles and responsibilities. Youth who participate in 4-H will develop a capacity to function as generalists, no matter how they later choose to specialize. A pattern of success built upon hard work permits young people to cope with unforeseen challenges and to survive as versatile and capable individuals in an unpredictable world.
So for our “Heritage” - Texas 4-H began with the founding of the Jack County Boy’s Corn Club in 1908 in response to the dads not being willing to use the latest research techniques on growing corn. (“If you can’t teach an old dog new tricks...teach the ‘pups’!”)
We send “hearts and hugs” to all of the adult and teen volunteer leaders who have and will continue to give their time and energy to make Texas 4-H a truly great organization!! Please check out the Centennial website ( http://texas4hcentennial.tamu.edu) for updates and see how you can be part of this “Texas sized celebration”!
September 29:
State Fair of Texas - Dallas
Youth Day - 10:00 am Cotton Bowl
“Walk 100 Miles for 100 Years”-Noon
4-H Walk Across Texas campaign kick-off
October 9: 4:30 - 8:30 pm
Jack County State-wide celebration
So, what’s on the “Horizon” for the future of Texas 4-H? Think about this—Have you tried to program a DVR - TIVO - MP3 - iPod - iPhone or even your cell phone lately?? Feeling like an “old dog”? (Hint...ask your 6-7 year old ( “pup”) to do it for you!!!) Texas 4-H .....MAKE IT YOURS!!
Texas 4-H to Release New 4-H Website to Celebrate the Centennial of 4-H
On September 1st, the Texas 4-H and Youth Development Program is scheduled to release the new 4-H website. The new website will be easier to navigate and focus on the five main areas of the program: youth, adults, agents, alumni, and giving. By selecting one of these areas, a person can travel virtually anywhere on the total website. The address will stay the same at: http://texas4-h.tamu.edu, and will be accessible by multiple browsers.
2007-2008 Texas 4-H Clover Returns to Print With a New Look and a New Format
Many people were used to the Texas 4-H Clover being printed and released in a book form, until 2006 when it was web-based. Well, in 2007, the Texas 4-H Clover is back in book form and can be downloaded in pdf format from the publications page.
The Texas 4-H Clover will be organized in a new format that the 4-H program hopes is more user-friendly. The look is that of an encyclopedia, where all projects, opportunities, contests, events, etc., are arranged alphabetically. It is the goal of the Texas 4-H Program to make it more user-friendly for new 4-H members and families in locating or researching opportunities. The new format also includes names of publications, contact names and information, and career exploration opportunities for each of the opportunities/projects. Look forward to seeing the new 2007-2008 Texas 4-H Clover by September 1st!
Club Ed 2007-2008
It is with great pleasure that the Texas 4-H Faculty announce the completion of the Club Ed Resources for 2007-2008! The files have all been added to the Texas 4-H website at http://texas4-h.tamu.edu/clubed
How can the Club Ed Resources help clubs and County 4-H Councils?
• It provides suggested information to help with planning all aspects of the monthly club meetings.
• Provides checklists for Club Managers to help them understand the cycle of the 4-H year. The Club Managers Checklist also includes ideas for celebrating the Texas 4-H Centennial during the year! Be sure to check out this new feature!
• A new feature this year is officer installation ceremonies that clubs/counties can choose from to install their new officers. These are found by clicking on the link to September and they are the first things listed.
New York 4-H Resource Directory
New York State 4-H Resource Directory has a great website, so check it out! This website is a great place to go and find curriculum and other support pieces for 4-H projects. The website is http://www.cerp.cornell.edu/4h/
Texas 4-H Conference Center NEWS!
Thank you to everyone for supporting YOUR Texas 4-H Conference Center this summer. During the months of June, July and August the Center served over 1,900 youth and adults in camping and educational activities! It was, indeed, a busy summer.
We could not have possibly done it without the Extension Agents and Adult Volunteers who served as Adult Chaperones for the various camping activities and, of course, the awesome Texas 4-H Conference Center Summer Staff. The staff this year included 22 college students who were led by Summer Supervisors Jim Bob Steen and Laci Blanek Chapman. Applications for 2008 are currently being taken; please encourage young adults to apply. The application is posted on our web site.
Now, on to 2007-08 the Centennial Celebration of Texas 4-H! We will be “Making It Yours” all year long. Below is a list of upcoming activities, all which have more information posted on the website, http://texas4h-ctr.tamu.edu/
October 22-26, 2007: OctoberFest – Send mom or dad to camp!
This week-long activity gives those persons 50 and older a chance to fellowship and share a state-wide network of persons with similar interests. Participants engage in arts and crafts workshops, nutrition and fitness education and other educational programs of interest. 4-H members and Adult Volunteers are invited to share their unique talents and skills to lead workshops for these very dear friends of the Texas 4-H Conference Center. We are always looking for workshop instructors, come share your 4-H story with them. Or, as it says above “send mom or dad to camp”, what a great birthday or anniversary gift.
November 9-11, 2007: Junior Leadership Retreat – “Camp Character – Military Style”
This exciting weekend retreat is the epitome of 4-H leadership principles. The youth of the Texas 4-H Council plan, organize and facilitate the weekend focused on leadership development for youth ages 9-14. For all those young people who “are not old enough” for state level activities – this one is for you! Council members will conduct workshops on teamwork & group facilitation, leadership skills, service activities and decision making. The theme “Camp Character – Military Style” and associated activities pays tributes to their service and commitment of the military on our state and country.
November 16-18, 2007: Fall Leadership Retreat – “Do It for the Dance” (formerly named Ambassador/Recreation Team Training”)
This weekend focused on leadership and servant leadership allows 4-H members ages 14-19 to enhance their leadership skills while at the same time “leave their mark” on the Texas 4-H Conference Center. Participants will engage in workshops on public speaking and communication, marketing the 4-H program, service learning and group dynamics. Participants will also have a hand in renovating the conference area of nine dormitories. As we emabark on the next 100 years of 4-H, our goal is to give the 4-H Conference Center a face-lift and involve our youth members in the effort. We’ll celebrate the first 100 years of 4-H and “Make It Yours” for the next 100!
January 4-6, 2008: Texas 4-H Teen Retreat – “Expanding the Local 4-H Experience”
A weekend retreat for youth ages 14-19 focused on project enhancement at the local and county level. Youth participants engage in workshops that they can then return to their home county or local club and teach. Junior Master Gardener, Health Rocks, along with new curricula in Food and Nutrition, and Healthy Lifestyles Education will round out the workshops.
February 7-9, 2008: Longhorn Recreation Lab
Club managers and adult volunteers are encouraged to participate in LRL, three days of workshops and hands-on activities to enhance your recreation program. Whether it be monthly 4-H club meetings, day camps or weekend retreats, LRL has something for all. Professionals and volunteers from Extension, Parks & Recreation Departments and school educators gather together to share ideas to improve programs and projects they have to offer.
March 9-12, 2008: Challenge Course Facilitation Training
A 40-hour course conducted by Adventure Experiences, Inc. Volunteers and Extension professionals desiring to learn the skills to facilitate groups on a Challenge Course are encouraged to register.
May 19-30, 2008: Summer Staff Training
June 30 - July 3, 2008: County Camp I – Teen Extreme Camp
This County Camp will be open only to youth ages 14-19. Participants will experience Outdoor Education and evening events like no other county camp! Activities scheduled include kayaking, sailing, teambuilding and personal challenges on the High and Low elements of the Challenge Course, Outdoor Cooking, and evening extreme games. And, of course, nightly dances. There will probably even be a marathon dance! Check out this new county camp designed just for the “older set”.
July 7-9, 2008: County Camp II / July 9-11, 2008: County Camp III / July 15-18, 2008: County Camp IV
County Camp II, III and IV are our traditional summer camp designed for youth of all ages (at least 9, but not older than 18) to participate. Counties will reserve a set of dates and advertise in their local communities for that particular camp. Final registration will be conducted via 4-H Connect once counties have collected the names of potential participants. Activities for County Camp will feature nine educational workshops including archery, canoeing, riflery, environmental education, swimming, arts & crafts and other topics to be determined. Yes, there will be dances!
July 20-23, 2008: Prime Time I (youth ages 12-13)
Similar in program content to County Camps II, III and IV, Prime Time is age specific. Prime Time I is for youth ages 12-13. Traditional camping activities such as archery, canoeing, riflery, environmental education, swimming, arts & crafts and other topics to be determined. Yes, there will be dances!
July 23-26, 2008: Prime Time II (youth ages 9-11)
Age specific camp for youth ages 9-11. Traditional camping activities such as archery, canoeing, riflery, environmental education, swimming, arts & crafts and other topics to be determined. Yes, there will be dances!
July 28-August 1, 2008: SpecTra (youth ages 14-19)
Week-long program for teen youth to explore career opportunities and to enhance 4-H project work. Youth, upon registration, select from one of seven specific subject areas to participate in, gaining approximately 20 hours of instruction through hands-on workshops, field trips and service activities. Evening theme parties provide a festive and fun atmosphere while the finale, The Gala, prepares 4-H members for evening social events beyond the High School prom. Youth may also elect to apply to serve on the Media Corp, recording the week’s activities in video and audio formats.
Summer camping programs at the Texas 4-H Conference Center have an open enrollment policy. Youth are not required to already be members of a local 4-H program, except for the SpecTra program. Use the 4-H Conference Center programs as a recruiting tool! Registrations for all activities are conducted on 4-H Connect.
Texas 4-H Friends & Alumni Update
The Texas 4-H Friends and Alumni Association and Texas 4-H Foundation would like to announce the release of the “Texas 4-H Program Support” Grant Programs. Both organizations have concentrated these past few years to enhance the area of support to local 4-H programs. It is a pleasure to announce funding has been secured to the point we are able to now fund such projects at a level greater than in the past. Applications are open for any Texas 4-H Program from a county to regional level. The current maximum requested amount is $500.
Annual deadlines have been set for January 1, May 1, and September 1 for application submission. The applications will be reviewed by the Texas 4-H Friends and Alumni Association Committee, and recommendations for funding will then be forwarded to the Texas 4-h Foundation’s Grant Making Committee for final approval. These deadlines will correspond with the Texas 4-H Foundation Trustee meetings held three times each year.
To date, both organizations have funded a combined 20 applications, for a total of $10,000. The Texas 4-H Friends and Alumni Association and Texas 4-H Foundation will be accepting applications for the next round of funding through September 1st. Applications can be accessed online at www.Texas4hFriends.org or www.Texas4hFoundation.org. Please feel free to submit an application to both groups, as each has separate funding allocated for the Texas 4-H Grant Program.
Funding the for the grant programs have been made possible through membership fees, various fund-raisers sponsored by the Friends and Alumni Association, individual donations, and alliances such as the La Quinta discount program. This year, the Friends and Alumni Association was donated a one-of-a-kind saddle, commemorating the 100-year anniversary of 4-H in Texas. The Texas 4-H Centennial Saddle was made by a former 4-H member, Don Gonzales, who is now the owner of DG Saddlery in Bryan, Texas. More information regarding the saddle fund-raising efforts can be found online at www.texas4hfriends.org. Here you can download a form for purchasing your tickets. The saddle will be given away at the statewide Centennial Celebration in Jack County on October 9th. All tickets must be purchased by Friday, October 5th, so that they are included in the drawing.
If you would like to become a donor to the Texas 4-H Grant Program through the Friends and Alumni Association or the Foundation, please contact either office. Also, any questions regarding applying for grant opportunities can be addressed to texas4hfriends@ag.tamu.edu or 979-845-5972.
Texas 4-H Heat It Up! Cook-off
The Texas Department of Agriculture, Go Texan and Texas 4-H and Youth Development Program is pleased to coordinate a youth chef competition at the 2007 State Fair of Texas.
The 4-H Food Challenge, similar to the popular television show “Iron Chef,” brings fun, learning, application of knowledge and skills and group competition together at one event. Youth must make a dish with only the ingredients provided, no instructions. At the end of the event, the participants must be able to communicate to the judges: steps in preparing the dish, key nutrients and their functions, relation of ingredients in the dish to MyPyramid, cost, and food safety concerns taken into consideration.
When: Saturday, October 20, 2007
Where: State Fair of Texas inside the Texas Department of Agriculture’s Food and Fiber Pavilion.
Entry Requirements:
• Only four (4) teams will be selected to compete in the competition. The team can consist of up to FOUR 4-H members (ages 9 thru 13 as of August 31, 2007).
• To enter, teams must submit a VIDEO, along with a high-resolution (300 dpi) photo of the team. The video can be submitted on VHS or DVD; mini-VHS/video tapes that need adapters are NOT accepted. The video should be five (5) minutes or less, introduce team members, and explain why the team should be one of ONLY FOUR across the state of Texas to compete in this challenge.
• The team video and photograph must be postmarked by August 24, 2007. Entries should be mailed to Courtney Dodd - Extension Program Specialist at 7607 Eastmark Drive, Suite 101 in College Station, Texas 77840.
• Team videos will be judged on presentation skills, creativity and why members want to participate in the food challenge.
• A team entry form must be completed and submitted by the deadline of August 24th.
• Each team may also have a coach, which can be a 4-H project leader, parent or county Extension agent. Team coaches will not be allowed to assist with food preparation during the contest; however, they may assist in cleaning up.
• Prizes: The first place team will receive $2,000 worth of Kitchen Craft pots and pans. Additional prizes will be awarded to 2nd, 3rd, and 4th place teams.
Complete information and entry forms are available from each county Extension office.
2008 Beekeeping Essay Contest
For the 2008 essay contest, the essay topic is: “The Results of Honey Bee Pollination in My Community.”
The results of honey bee pollination are many and varied. Essayists are encouraged to become familiar with these pollination activities and, then, survey their communities to see what examples they can find. Some of these will be obvioue, i.e., apples on sale at the supermarket. Others may be less obvious, i.e., milk from cows that are fed alfalfa hay with honey bees used to pollinate the original seed from which the alfalfa is grown.
Essayists should not overlook the benefit to farmers who are able to produce more or higher value crops as a result of pollination nor the benefits to the local population from the varied diet to which honey bee pollination contributes.
The contest is open to active 4-H club members only. 4-H’ers who have previously placed first, second, or third at the national level are not eligible; other state winners are eligible to re-enter.
The deadline for entries to be in (not post marked) the Texas 4-H and Youth Development Office is January 31, 2008. Send to: 4-H Beekeeping Essay Contest Texas 4-H and Youth Development Program at 7607 Eastmark Drive, Suite 101 in College Station, TX 77840. More information is available at: http://texas4-h.tamu.edu/beekeeping/index.htm
Information on the 2007-2008 Texas 4-H Photography Contest is Now Available
The Texas 4-H and Youth Development Photography contest will be displayed during the 2008 Texas 4-H Roundup and is open to all senior age 4-H members that have passed their 14th but not their 19th birthday before August 31, 2007. Participants must have been born during the period beginning September 1, 1988, and ending August 31, 1993.
All photographs must have been taken by 4-H members between the dates of January 1, 2007 and the time of entry. Photos may be submitted only one time and in only one division and class to the state photography contest.
A fee of $7.00 per picture must accompany each entry. Please make check payable to TEXAS 4-H FOUNDATION – PHOTOGRAPHY CONTEST for all entries.
ENTRIES and PAYMENT must arrive in the Texas 4-H and Youth Development Office, postmarked no later than April 15, 2008.
The 2007-2008 theme will be “Flags”. 4-H members are allowed to take photos of any county, U.S., state flag, and/or the 4-H Flag. Single or multiple flags are allowed in the photo. The photo can be of flags naturally flying, or can be arranged and placed. Photo cannot be of a controversial flag or display any flag in a distasteful manner.
Fun Facts about 2007-2008 Share-the-Fun Contest
There have been declines in the Share-the-Fun participation in some categories and in an effort to keep this contest relevant and provide categories that youth are interested in, several changes have been made for the 2007-08 Share-the-Fun Contest.
Summary of Changes: The contest will now offer five (5) contest categories: poetry/prose, vocal, musical/band, choreographed routine, and Celebrate 4-H.
The first and second place entries from each category at district will qualify for State 4-H Roundup. In the past, only the first place entry from each category at district could advance to state. This change means that there could be a maximum of 24 entries in each of the five categories at Texas 4-H Roundup 2007-08.
The first and second place entries in each category from district who qualify for state may come from the same county. This rule is consistent with other State Roundup contests (except Food Show and Fashion Show). This means counties may enter as many entries in the District Contest as they wish.
Below is the schedule for the Share-the-Fun Contest broken out over 2 days:
Wednesday June 11, 2008
7:00-8:00 a.m. Vocal, Poetry/Prose, and Choreographed Routines will unload props
8:00 a.m. Orientation for Vocal, Poetry/Prose, and Choreographed Routines in Rudder Theater
9:00 a.m. Judging begins in Rudder Theater for Choreographed Routines followed by Vocal. Judging begins in the Rudder Forum Room for Poetry/Prose.
2:00 p.m. Musical/Band and Celebrate 4-H will unload props
4:00 p.m. Orientation for Musical/Band and Celebrate 4-H in the Rudder Forum Room
Thursday, June 12, 2008
8:00 a.m. Judging begins in Rudder Theater for Celebrate 4-H. Judging begins in Rudder Forum Room for Musical/Band
3:00 p.m. Awards Program in Rudder Theater for all categories
8:00 p.m. All first place categories will perform at the General Assembly
4-H members may only compete in ONE Share-the-Fun Category each year even though the contest will be broken out over two days. An accompanist has been more clearly defined. With the addition of band entries to the musical category, bands should be self-sufficient and will not be permitted to utilize an accompanist.
A complete set of rules and category descriptions can be obtained from your county Extension office.
Angela McCorkle Assumes Family Resource Management Extension Assistant Position
Angela McCorkle joined the Family Development Resource Management Unit as an Extension Assistant on August 8th. She has her B.S. in vocational home economics from the University of Nebraska and is pursuing her masters at Texas A&M.
In her new position, she will provide support for Family Development and Resource Management adult and youth programs with a major focus on resource management. Her responsibilities will include working with the Clothing Advisory Board and supporting the Clothing Project and the delivery of the National Endowment for Financial Education (NEFE) program in schools.
In addition, she will work with specialists to develop, or modify, and manage agent and volunteer leader training on FRM focused 4-H project guides, using online delivery whenever possible. She will assist with other resource management programs such as Money Smart and development of the resource management website.
For the past eight years, Angela McCorkle has been an FCS teach in Bryan ISD. Before that, she worked with FDRM as an Extension Assistant, managing the Strengthening Our Capacity to Care Program which involved first-time juvenile offenders in 4-H projects. She has also been a county FCS Extension agent in Kansas.
Consumer Decision Making 2008 Update
New study guides for the 2008 Consumer Decision Making Contest have been developed and are currently being edited before formatting and posting to the website. Please check the website from time to time for changes or additional links or postings during the year!
The target date for posting to the website is August 31, 2007. Materials will be posted to http://consumerdecisionmaking.tamu.edu
The new study guides will include:
Analog to Digital: The Switch Is On
Buying a Used Car
Compact Fluorescent Bulbs (CFLs)
Credit Cards
Roth IRAs for Working Kids
Sun-Blocking Clothes
Previous Study Guides that will continue to be used include:
Emergency Radios
Gift Cards
Gold Jewelry
Pedometers
Printing Digital Photos (updated)
Texas A&M System -