Nominations now being accepted for 2014 UFA 4-H Alumni Volunteer Service Award

UFA 4-H Alumni Service Award

Building the future capacity of volunteers in rural Alberta

Deadline: January 30, 2015

UFA & 4-H Alberta to recognize one outstanding volunteer who is building futures in rural Alberta.

UFA and 4-H Alberta will recognize one 4-H alumni volunteer for their outstanding 2014 contributions to their communities.

The UFA 4-H Alumni Volunteer Service Award will recognize a recipient who has demonstrated leadership

through volunteerism. This recipient must have made noteworthy contributions to the development and advancement of their local community by getting involved in 4-H and other community activities. 

In order to be recognized, the 4-H Alumni recipient must:

• be newly nominated in 2014 (nominees that have not won in the past may re-apply yearly);
• be between the age of 20 and 35;
• have pursued post-secondary education;
• have returned and remain committed to their rural roots;
• and enhanced their community as a 4-H volunteer for at least two years.  

The recipient of the UFA 4-H Alumni Service Award will also be presented with a $2,000 UFA gift certificate in recognition of their contributions.

For more information and an application form, please contact:

Carmen Stone, Manager, Corporate Partnerships, 4-H Foundation of Alberta, (c) 403.869.3528, (e) cstone@4hab.com

Applications can be submitted, no later than January 30, 2015, via: 

Email: reeves@4hab.com

Fax: 780.682.3784

Mail: 4-H Foundation of Alberta, R.R. 1, Westerose, Alberta T0C 2V0

Drayton Valley Winter Clothing Drive Raises $5,000

Penn West and 4-H Clubs in the Drayton Valley 4-H District joined together to collect winter clothing and raise donations for the Wild Rose School Division's Hope and Dignity project!

 

The first year of the winter clothing drive proved to be an amazing success.  One gentleman donated over $1,000 worth of brand new kids' snowsuits! The Wild Rose School Division received $5,000 in support for the Hope and Dignity project!

 

Saturday, November 29th, 2014 there was a great event finale at the Big West Country FM radio station, where the general public could donate items to help "Stuff the Boss's Office".  Over 150 winter coats were donated this day alone, aside from the drop off locations and winter coat drive activities!

 

Penn West sorted the items donated the following Monday and will be delivering all of the items to the following participating schools:

• Aurora Elementary School
• Drayton Christian School
• Drayton Valley Community Outreach School
• Eldorado Elementary School
• Evergreen Elementary School
• Frank Maddock High School
• H.W. Pick-Up Junior High School

Congratulations to the Big West Cruizers 4-H Club, Blazin Bridles 4-H Club and Western Multi-Talented 4-H Club for a job well done!

 

Individuals still wanting to make a monetary donation, as opposed to a clothing item, can write a cheque to "Wild Rose School Division" with "Hope and Dignity Project" in the memo.  Cheques can be mailed to: Wild Rose School Division, Attention: Darlene Ferris, Director of Wellness, 4912 - 43 Street, Rocky Mountain House, Alberta, T4T 1P4

Why 4-H is Great Concert raises $25,000 for Drumheller 4-H District

The fifth annual “Why 4-H is Great” concert took place this year at the Badlands Community Facility in Drumheller, Alberta. The eagerly anticipated event came to town on November 21, 2014, and exceeded all expectations becoming among one of the most successful “Why 4-H is Great” concerts to date.

The “Why 4-H is Great” contest is the result of a collaboration between Canadian Country music star Gord Bamford, ATB Financial, and 4-H Alberta. For the past five years, 4-H Alberta Districts have been invited to submit an audio visual entry highlighting “why 4-H is great” in their community. The winning District has the honor of hosting the Gord Bamford “Why 4-H is Great” community concert, with all ticket proceeds benefitting the local 4-H District and the 4-H Alberta Legacy Fund. This year’s outstanding top audio visual entry was submitted by the Drumheller 4-H District.

Approximately 175 4-H members, leaders, and their families volunteered their time to help make this event a success, working tirelessly to promote the concert and sell tickets, plan and organize, and perfect every detail of the event. “The Drumheller 4-H District experienced amazing community support from ATB Financial, Gord Bamford, and all concert goers who attended the event!” says Janice Hoover, Drumheller 4-H District. “We would like to thank and recognize the local media - Q91, Drum FM, Drumheller Mail & the Hanna Herald for providing great coverage of our event, both before and after the concert took place. Thank you to The Brick for providing The Best Seat in House couches for the concert “Couch Raffle”. Speaking on behalf of the Drumheller 4-H District, we couldn’t be more pleased with the results of this event and the support we have received!”

Prior to the taking the stage, Gord Bamford held a Q & A mentoring session with Drumheller 4-H members. This gave young 4-Hers the opportunity to interact with Gord one on one and to gain some insightful advice and inspirational thoughts. “It's always one of my favourite shows of the year. To be able to give back to an organization that has been an important part of my up bringing is a true honour,” says Gord Bamford. “Many of the life skills I use in life have been learned through 4-H and I am a proud alumni member and very thankful for this opportunity to be involved in the mentoring of our youth today.”

In addition to the top-notch show by 4-H Alberta Alumnus Gord Bamford, concert-goers also were able to enjoy some outstanding amateur home-grown 4-H talent who brought the crowd to their feet. The musical group The Cats and the Fiddles was selected as the winner of the 2014 “Why 4-H is Great” community concert musicians contest, with the prize being the honor of opening for Gord Bamford at the Drumheller concert. 

Bamford made a spectacular entrance when he took the stage donning a 4-H Alberta jersey. The 2014 Canadian Country Music Awards Male Artist of the Year had the audience tapping their toes and singing along to many of his country favourites, as well as some new material and a few Christmas tunes to keep things festive. By all accounts, was an evening full of great music and community spirit.

Over the past five years the partnership between ATB Financial, Gord Bamford, and 4-H Alberta has raised over $108,000 for 4-H districts in Alberta. “The “Why 4-H is Great” contest and concert would not be possible without our dedicated partners, ATB Financial and Gord Bamford. We would like to thank both for their commitment to providing this unique fundraising opportunity to our local 4-H Districts,” says Carmen Stone, Manager, Corporate Partnerships, 4-H Foundation of Alberta. “Thank you also to Drumheller 4-H District for reminding us all “Why 4-H is Great”. The countless hours and unwavering commitment to hosting such an outstanding event has made 4-H Alberta proud.”

“ATB Financial is proud to work with Gord Bamford and 4-H Alberta, and seeing the evolution of the “Why 4-H is Great” partnership is truly outstanding,” says Gary Friesen, the Managing Director of Business and Agriculture for Southern Alberta at ATB Financial. “Five years ago I saw Gord perform in Fort MacLeod in front of an audience of about 350, last Friday he played to another packed house in Drumheller exceeding 1,000 fans. The attendance at this event really showcases the work ethic and volunteerism apparent in Alberta’s 4-H clubs, and the popularity of Gord’s music.”

A total of 1,049 were sold for the 2014 “Why 4-H is Great” concert, with 15% of the proceeds contributed to the 4-H Alberta Legacy Fund, and the remainder benefitting the Drumheller 4-H District. This year, through concert ticket sales and addition fundraising for the event, a grand total of over $28,000 was raised by clubs in the Drumheller 4-H District. The funds will be shared among the four 4-H Clubs and the District. The money will be used to support 4-H programming such as workshops, clinics, and camps as well as putting some aside for an exchange program.

 

Advancing Women Life Skills for Leadership- Women in the Ag Conference

Advancing Women Conference WEST: April 6 & 7, 2015, Hyatt Regency, Calgary, Alberta

Advancing Women Conference EAST: October 5 & 6, 2015, Westin Harbour Castle, Toronto, Ontario

For more information about the conference we invite you to visit: www.advancingwomenconference.ca 

The 2015 conferences are expected to be sold out with 1000 or more women attending!

Women make a significant contribution to Canadian agriculture and other male dominated industries, but it requires special skills to be a leader in an industry. Agriculture and many other industries are rich with successful women. We want to connect those successful women with others.

The opportunities for women in agriculture and many other male dominated industries have never been better! To help women capitalize on these opportunities, Iris Meck Communications Inc. (IMCI) has created a conference where women can sharpen their skills and share their inspirational gifts.

Their goal is to bring together over 300 participants and 10+ powerful speakers to discuss, share and collaborate on women's opportunities in the following five areas:

• Leadership development - Effective leadership is a choice to be made by you. Leaders become great because of their ability to be effective, inspiring and dynamic with personal strengths and people skills.
• Finances – All about effective money management tactics, from investing to budgeting, for building and using wealth for greater success.
• Career – How to create successful building blocks for your career through goal-setting, networking and leadership skill development.
• Community – Tapping into the potential of collaborative and supportive relationships with mentors, coaches, partners and family members, and how to make them part of your success in business.
• Communication – How to express your ideas to different audiences and different generations for optimal impact with communication skills that help you lead, inspire and motivate others.

Peavey Mart's Winners of the 2014 Heaviest Veggie Contest!

Elmer and Ona Hansen Memorial Scholarship

  

Provincial Leaders' Conference Gift Specials!

4-H Alberta's Gift and Award Catalog

Contact the 4-H Foundation of Alberta today to discuss your gifts and awards needs for the 2014 - 2015 club year.  Phone: 1.877.682.2153.