Cascade County 4-H Leaders Council Regular Meeting Minutes January 16, 2018 Extension Office classroom Call to Order The meeting was called to order by President Keri Leggett at 6:12 p.m. Leaders and members in attendance include: Keri Leggett (Great Divide), Mike Matury (Running Free), Desiree Roth (Ulm Pishkun), Janet Smith (Running Free), Jerrica Seilstad (Agent), April McLean (Shooting Sports Club, chartering), Laura Connell (Creative Clovers), Fran Gossack (MT Sunsets), Zach and Dianna Crocker (Busy Beavers), and Kathy Dunn (Highwood Hustlers). We did not have a quorum at this time. We proceeded with the meeting conducting nonbusiness items until a Teen Challenge member, Jared Matury (Running Free) and an Ambassador, Abi Leggett (Great Divide) were free to join us. Pledges Treasurer, Laura Connell led us in the pledges. Secretary s Report Secretary April McLean read the minutes from the November 14, 2017 meeting. With no corrections or additions, the meeting minutes were approved as read. Correspondence Secretary April McLean read correspondence from the Montana 4-H Foundation regarding the $50.00 Montana Silversmith gift certificate we received for sending in our leader dues on time. The gift certificate will remain in the Leaders council envelope until use. Treasurer s Report Treasurer Laura Connell read the treasurer s report for the Leaders Council checking account as of January 16, 2018. The balance is $28,984.91. Committee Reports Ambassador Team Ambassador Team Leader Keri Leggett reported upcoming events for the ambassadors include: the Ag Banquet, KMON Contest assistance, Communications Contest, and Rec Lab. The Community Service letters went out to the leaders in December. The food delivery date is set for April 10, 2018 at the Extension Office. Agent Report Baby Blankets 4-H Agent Jerrica Seilstad reported April 27 & 28, 2018 will be the date set for the Baby Blanket service project. The Baby Blanket service project is an opportunity for members and leaders to cut, sew, and package baby blankets to be donated to the Cascade County Women Infant and Children (WIC) program. Jerrica proposed we scale back on the goal from previous years as volunteer numbers have dwindled. After discussion, Jerrica proposed we use $1100.00 of the approved $1500.00 Baby Blanket budget to purchase fabric for no more than 150 blankets. The remaining balance will be used for machine
maintenance and supplies. The county project date coincides with the National 4-H Day of Service. Jerrica will enroll this service project online as part of the national initiative. Junior Leader Camp (JLC) Cascade County 4-H will be hosting JLC April 13 & 14, 2018. The theme is Oh the Places You Will Go. Members whose 4-H age is between 11-13 will be the target for this event. Cascade will be responsible for the facility and logistics. The next planning meeting conference call will be January 31, 2018. Communications Committee 4-H Agent Jerrica Seilstad reported that 55 members signed up for the Communications Contest to be held January 29 th and February 1 st. The top three categories are Cowboy Poetry, Prepared Speech, and Video. The committee is looking for judges. The Cascade County 4-H Ambassadors will serve as monitors. Foods Committee Committee Chair Fran Gossack reported the Funtastic Foods Workshop is set for the February 3, 2018 Project Day from 9:00 a.m. to Noon. Sign up will have 12 spots available. The theme will be Meat Sauces Can Be What?. The workshop will be geared toward beginner cooks. They will also be working on quick breads, multiple ways. Four volunteers are needed. Fran passed around a sign up for anyone interested. Jerrica will help get the word out. The Stirrups Contest is set for April 30. This will be a qualifying contest to attend Montana 4-H Congress for those eligible contestants. The next Foods Committee meetings are set for January 23, February 6, and March 6. Sewing & Textile Committee Committee Chair Fran Gossack reported there were two members at the December Project Day where they worked on a microwave rice bag. January Project day they had two members working on a Microwave bowl. The next Sewing classes will be during the March 10 and April 7 Project days. Ideas for future sewing project day topics are potholders, totes, and simple skirts. The Cascade County 4-H Fashion Revue and Quilt Show is set for May 29, 2018. All sewing project 4-H members are encouraged to attend. 4-H Agent Jerrica Seilstad reported the Montana 4-H Leaders Council has put out a new Level One Sewing book. Project books were ordered for all members currently enrolled in Sewing Level One. This will not replace the project book given at the beginning of the 4-H year, but will be used a s supplemental educational resource. Record Book Review Committee Committee member Fran Gossack reported the committee met January 8 th to discuss awards and achievement ideas. Ideas up for discussion are awards of merit, above & beyond, new member categories, and a few more. The January Project day training had a good showing with a mix of members and leaders learning proper record bookkeeping from Committee Chair Jen Dover. Jen or another committee member is available to come to clubs to train upon request. Keri asked if Jerrica would make the training PowerPoint available on the website. Jerrica agreed. The committee is looking for any and all feedback regarding the current record book process (what is working and what could be improved upon). Please contact Jen Dover, Committee Chair.
State Fair Committee 4-H Agent Jerrica Seilstad reported the Premium book changes were the topic for discussion at the December 19, 2018 meeting. Jerrica will be working closely with the Montana ExpoPark in this endeavor. Schedule changes, standardizing the premiums, new contests (Cake decorating, Quick draw), new expos (Robotics exchange), and possibly an Open Mic stage opportunity to draw Fair goers to the Exhibit Hall are all ideas being discussed. The next meeting is scheduled for January 22, 2018 at 5:30 p.m. Horse Leaders Committee Vice President Desiree Roth reported a Horse games and Skillathon is set for March 10, 2018. Planning is underway. The Horse Leaders Committee will be holding more structured rides versus open rides this year. Clinics and a Horse camp at the Montana ExpoPark is also being planned. The planning committee s next meeting is set for January 30, 2018. Livestock Leaders Committee member Desiree Roth reported the upcoming February project day will be focused on market livestock animal education. Including the mandatory Livestock Quality Assurance (LQA) training for members and a parent. March project day will be Livestock fitting and nutrition. Shooting Sports Leaders Committee President April McLean reported 10 Cascade County Leaders attended the State 4-H Certified Shooting Sports Instructor training in Fairfield on January 5 & 6, 2018. Three were recertifying and 7 were new instructors. This brings our number of certified instructors in archery, pistol, and rifle to 15. Air Pistol, Archery, and.22 Rifle instruction are all currently happening now through March. Member registration numbers this year are Archery (52), Air Rifle (7),.22 Rifle (14), and Air Pistol (11) for a total of 84. This is up from 71 this same time last year. The committee is working on finalizing the by-laws, drafting a rule book to be distributed by September 1, 2018 (just in time for the next 4-H year), and planning a 4-H Archery 3-D Shoot. Old Business Budget Proposals President Keri Leggett reported the Executive Committee met prior to the regular meeting to look over the budget proposals submitted to the Leaders Council. Keri handed out the proposed budget (please see attached). Discussion: Janet Smith asked for the newest line item of $5000.00 for the Shooting Sports Leaders Committee to be clarified. Keri stated Shooting Sports Leaders is a stand-alone committee like Livestock Leaders and Horse Leaders and will be self-sufficient in the future. However, with this being their first year, there may be start up costs that the committee may not be able to cover. The $5000.00 was requested to help cover any start up and maintenance costs not covered by the committee. It was recommended that larger start-up costs could be brought before the Cascade 4-H Foundation for assistance as well. The committee is currently and will continue to search for sponsors, grants, and fundraising opportunities. Camp costs do not break even. It was proposed to increase camp fees to $60.00 (up from $50.00) for members, $20.00 (up from $12.50) for Junior Directors, and chaperones would remain free. This
increase will help us get closer to breaking even. Camp registration fees will be voted upon at the March meeting. Kathy Dunn asked about scholarships being available for youth unable to afford camp. Scholarships are available through the Foundation to cover part or all of the member registration fee. Seeing no further discussion, President Keri Leggett asked for a motion to approve the budget. Fran Gossack made a motion to approve the budget with the stipulation that the Shooting Sports Leaders Committee line item be used only to supplement funds not raised by their committee. Desiree Roth seconded. Motion passed Seeing no other old business, President Keri Leggett moved to New Business. New Business Robotics Kits: 4-H Agent Jerrica Seilstad reported three more robotics events are planned, ending with a big challenge. Currently there are nine Cascade County 4-H members in the Robotics workshops with five coming from Judith Basin County. Currently we have two kits and two donated laptops to use. MSU offers free McAfee virus software for agents. Jerrica will download and install. Jerrica would like to purchase another kit (approximately $400), two expansion kits, and to build a portable Sumo-Bot ring and Maze. Erik Seilstad has volunteered to build it, not charging for his labor. Fran Gossack offered lumber she has that may work. After discussion, President Keri Leggett recommended Jerrica research the cost of the expansion kits, Sumo-Bot ring, and maze and bring figures to the next meeting. Jerrica reported we have outdated kits and laptops from previous robotic versions. Cascade County 4-H does not use them and they are just collecting dust. Jerrica asked the Council if she could research ways to sell them locally first, then globally to clear up space and put the funds back in to Leaders Council. At the end of discussion Fran Gossack moved to allow Jerrica to pursue the sale of the outdated robotics kits. Laura Connell seconded. Motion passed. Dog Show: 4-H Agent Jerrica Seilstad reported a conversation she had with Lisa Jassen, Cascade County 4-H Horse Leaders Committee President. Lisa had suggested a possible future Horse Show/Dog Show combination event. Jerrica will follow up with Elaine Wood, Dog Obedience Project Leader, to see if this is something they would want to propose. Membership: President Keri Leggett reported the Leaders Council Executive Committee met prior to this regular meeting to review the member At Large applications submitted. Two families turned in applications to remain members At Large. Both applications were approved 4-H Agent Jerrica Seilstad reported there are approximately 20 members on the pending or incomplete list in the 4honline enrollment report. Jerrica asked for suggestions on how to best proceed with cleaning up this report. After discussion Fran Gossack made a motion to have Jerrica send letters to the affected families asking these members to either A) complete the enrollment process or B) notify the office to have their profile deleted. Families would have two weeks from the date of the letter to respond. Laura Connell seconded the motion. Motion passed. Seeing no new business, Keri moved on to For the Good of the Order. For the Good of the Order April McLean shared they had nine members from five families attend their first Shooting Sports Club (chartering) meeting in January.
Jerrica Seilstad shared there was one member that applied for the Citizenship Washington Focus trip and two members that applied for the Leadership Washington Focus trip. Desiree Roth shared in December Ulm Pishkun s 4-H club did a bake sale and caroling. Mike Matury shared they had fun at the Archery Tag held at the Salvation Army. Janet Smith shared that all but one Running Free member signed up to compete at the Communications contest. The one remaining member is brand new and will be attending to watch and learn for next year. Janet Smith made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Laura Connell seconded. Keri Leggett adjourned the meeting at 7:57 p.m. APPROVED President Date Secretary Date