4-H Needs Your Help!

My in-box | 13 NOV 20003 | tiamat

[tiamat]

FReepers,

I found this in my "in-box". I ask Michigan Freepers to take a moment to write, call, fax, e-mail, whatever it takes.

4-H is a family oriented, CONSERVATIVE group that deserves our support.

My daughter is mildly autistic and 4-H has done her a world of good! Having to talk to judges, work as a team, complete projects and work with a large, cranky animal has ALL done her a world of good ! She has blossemed! And this is REAL confidence she has grown, not some "self-esteem" crap.

Sorry for the crummy formatting.

I am SO upset just now at what the Canadian is trying to pull.

Here is the letter:

Dear 4-H volunteers and families,

 

MSU Extension faces elimination and needs your help!  Governor Jennifer Granholm is asking for citizen input on budget cuts she is considering.  She is presenting a list of 19 cuts that include the total elimination of MSU Extension and the Michigan Agricultural Experiment Stations.

 

MSU Extension is a three-way partnership between federal, state and local governments.  The $28.6 million from state money is joined with approximately $10 million in federal funds, $18 million in county funds, and more that $21 million in grants.  This meansMichigan’s $28.6 million dollar contribution to Extension leverages an additional $50 million dollars.  It is an arrangement that supports our program here in Washtenaw County.  Without the state’s investment, the partnership supporting MSU Extension would collapse and end.  This means that in 2004, there would be no more 4-H, Agriculture, or family programs. 

 

Here inWashtenaw County, 4-H impacts over 3600 youth in educational, character building, after-school programs.  Over 300 Washtenaw County adult volunteers donate their time to mentor youth.  Statewide, over 276,000 youth are involved in 4-H.  It is the largest out-of-school time program in the state. 

 

If you feel strongly about the cuts that Governor Granholm is considering, you have the opportunity as a constituent to make your voice heard.  Contacts need to be made as soon as possible, as the governor plans to announce her cuts by mid-December.

 

To contact the Governor: You can contact her by mail at: Governor Jennifer M. Granhom,P.O. Box 30013, Lansing, MI  48909 or by telephone at (517) 373-3400 or by FAX at (517) 335-6863. 
You can also use her email program Share Your Opinion , but you will not receive a response. 
To do this, visit http://www.michigan.gov/gov .  Click on Contact the Governor and then scroll down to Share Your Opinion or use this web link:  http://www.michigan.gov/gov/0,1607,7-168-21995-65331--,00.html .

 

If losing MSU Extension and all of its programs is a concern, you should also contact your state senator and representative.  If you are unsure who represents you, you can find out at the Michigan Senate and Michigan House of Representatives websites.  Washtenaw County Senators are

 

Senator Liz Brater (district 18)         and                   Senator Beverly Hammerstrom (district 17)

(517) 373-2406                                                      (517)373-3543

SenLBrater@senate.michigan.gov      
                      SenBHammerstrom@senate.michigan.gov

 

Our Washtenaw area Representatives are:

 

You can find out more about the proposed budget cuts at our Washtenaw County MSU Extension website, http://www.ewashtenaw.org/government/departments/extension/ex_index.html . 

You will also be receiving a letter in the mail from our MSU Extension office in a few days.

 

There is also an online poll sponsored by Channel 4 inDetroit that citizens can use to express their opinion.  This website is http://www.clickondetroit.com/station/2626557/detail.html  

 

If you have further questions please do not hesitate to contact me or any of the MSU Extension staff.

 

Sincerely,

Glenda Kilpatrick

Extension 4-H Youth Agent

[tiamat]

Thanks in advance for any support, bumps, etc.

Tia

[Dan from Michigan]

Senator Liz Brater (district 18)

My condolonces. They don't get worse than that.

I know my rep is a 4H backer. Joe went through the program himself.

[stainlessbanner]

4H bump

[Eva]

Good luck! I know how valuable the 4-H program can be, my friend's daughter was a FFA officer for a year following graduation from high school. She recieved college credit for her effort and lots of scholarship money from 4H/FFA related activities. The young lady is now looking forward to a career in Agriculture education.

[tiamat]

I actually think Stabenow is worse, but I had the "pleasure " of meeting her personally.

Was in for my morning onut and coffee at the local baket and she was in there with a bunch of Soccer Moms. i worked at the school at the time, so one of the Mommies dragged me foreward to meet her.

I made few points as I asked Stabenow why her Boss ( Clinton) had no self-control...... ( I put it rather crassly and then asked why she worked for someone like that)

I fired off a few more questions and left her dithering.

I was not a Freeper then, but it felt good to light her up, and the fact that the old farmers in the joint got a laugh made it better!

Tia

[Libertarianize the GOP]

ping

[tiamat]

Thanks!

i just cannot say enough good about 4-H!

Tia

[tiamat]

LOL!

Great minds think alike!

I was going to ping our Farm Friend!

Tia

[tiamat]

SIGH

FREIND -"friend".

Tia

[farmfriend]

Related article: 4-H fears being put out to pasture

4-H is not a CONSERVATIVE organization any more than it's parent organization is. 4-H and FFA were started by the Grange. Founded in 1867, the Grange is the oldest general farm and public policy organization in the United States.

The California State Grange has a Youth Fair Progam that is rapidly making a name for itself and, in some places, has replace the failing 4-H program.

Other states may contact the California State Grange for information on getting a Youth Fair Program started in your state.

[tiamat]

Well, okay, I was saying conservative in that it tends to have intact families, and supports actual family bonding.

I DID see one kid's project all about the Republican party this last summer. Nice to see you!

Tia

[farmfriend]

Here is an example of the fine youth such a program supports.

Willie The Goat Raises Money For A Good Cause

[tiamat]

That is a good article!

thanks for sharing it!

Tia

[farmfriend]

I only objected to the label because it is the one area where Grange members are very adamant, we are politically active but staunchly non-partisan.

[farmfriend]

Indexing.

[tiamat]

No biggie! :-)

And it still counts as a BUMP!

LOL!

So how are things "Home on the Grange"?

Tia

[colorado tanker]

I went through 4-H. It's a great program for kids.

I'm not surprised an urban liberal Democrat would want to gut programs for flyover country. Now if you proposed inner city kids taking a brown bag lunch instead of feeding at the public trough . . .

[tiamat]

What was your animal?

And no kidding about the brown bag......

Tia

[farmfriend]

Currently National Grange Convention is going on in Vermont. California State Grange just had their convention in October where we elected a whole new slate of officers. Membership is growing again. Our new programs are starting to draw people back into the Grange.

Article relating to Grange legislative activities can be found on the Grange bump list.

[Nathaniel Fischer]

At least she's cutting something off the budget; now, if she could just find enough other programs unworthy of taxpayer funding maybe tax increases would be unnecessary. I don't have much confidence, though, since Democrats won't touch some of the programs that should be the first to go.

[colorado tanker]

LOL! Actually, I was a townie and my big project was photography. I won several blue ribbons at state fairs over the years. 4-H'rs, urban and rural, are good people.

[tiamat]

Are you running a Grange ping list?

Would you please put me on it?

Thanks in advance!

Tia

[tiamat]

It's WHAT she is cutting I have a problem with.

The State of Michigan loses so much to graft and corruption....Don't get me started on the City of Detroit!

Tia

[Nathaniel Fischer]

It's still not the job of taxpayers to fund unnecessary 'conservative' programs any more than it is to fun 'liberal' programs. They should all be cut. There's no reason 4-H clubs can't rely on dues and private donations.

[tiamat]

We are lucky that our 4-H leaders let my daughter borrow a llama. Otherwise we would be doing rabbits for sure! LOL!

One of our kids is experimenting with photography!
There is a LOT a "townie" can do in 4-h! And it doesn't all have to be animals !

Glad to meet you! <p. Tia

[tiamat]

Well, you are entitled to your opinion, but I think some things SHOULD be supported, especially when actual skills are being taught, and kids are learning responsibility, a work ethic and leadership.

this isn't feel-good, PC crap.

Tia

[Leeann]

We got basically the same letter here in Minnesota. Our 4-H programs are really diminishing and it looks like a matter of time before they are just gone. We tried to keep them, but they aren't going to be funded.

[farmfriend]

No I don't have a Grange list. I do have the rights, farms, environment list. It is high volume. Do you want to be on that? I also keep the Gods, Graves, and Glyphs list dealing with archeology for blam.

[tiamat]

Sorry to hear that.

Well it will shoot them in the foot if they do, just like it will here. Things that truly benefit the next generation, benefit the nation.

Tia

[tiamat]

Hmmm.....I'm on about six "high volumn" lists and can't keep up with what I've got! ;-)

Thanks for offering, but I had best decline!

Tia

[Search4Truth]

BUMP

[cyn]

4-H best wishes bump. The slogans mean so much more to me as an adult: "Learn by doing."; "Make the best better." ; "head, heart, hands, health" and the 4-H pledge.

[GaConfed]

I grew up in 4-H here in Georgia, and I loved every minute of it. I can't think of a finer organization for young people in this country. So sad to see it dying out in Michigan. I met many great 4-H friends from Mich. at 4-H citizenship shortcourse in Washington way back when.

Funds are being cut here in Georgia also. It is being offset by higher fees for summer camp and donations from business. 4-H is a rather wealthy organization in Georgia to begin with. We have the largest 4-H facility in the country here at Rock Eagle camp in Eatonton, Georgia. It is truly a beautiful place. If any Freeper should ever travel through the area it would be well worth your while to stop by and visit.

[tiamat]

I am glad you still hav 4-H. I spent a chunk of time yesterday on the phone and e-mail harrasing these various politicians.

Don't know if it will do any good.

I have heard of Eagle Rock Camp and have heard that it is lovely!

Tia

[tiamat]

Thanks!

[tiamat]

I agree, and think it is wonderful. Thanks for the good thoughts!

Tia

[j_tull]

4-H best wishes bump

My 5 year old daughter is horse crazy. She has been riding for a year, and was in her first show a month ago. Over the summer, we attended several 4H county fairs and we always visit the 4H barns at the regular fairs. You NEVER see the kids in those barns with tattoed obscenities, or piercings numbered in the hundreds. They are always polite and respectful. When my friends try to bust my hump about letting my daughter pursue the "world's most expensive" hobby, I simply reply that it'll be a small price to pay to insure that she grows up in a positive environment.

I'm not the least bit surprised that the communists now running my old home state are going after these programs.

[garandgal]

I, too grew up with 4-H. I was a county officer, state delegate, and a leader for a short time. I loved it!

That being said, I wanted you to be aware of a couple of things so that you can check out your state programs. They have become extremely liberal on certain issues at the national level. I see more and more "global warming", and other leftist claptrap. Also, our state organization has become rather hostile to the Boy Scouts...I'm sure you can guess why. They refuse to share facilities, etc.

It seems as though, on the local level, it has largely remained the same great organization as it's always been; but it appears as though the administrative levels have been "infested" with the usual suspects.

[Iowa Granny]

They have become extremely liberal on certain issues at the national level.

Some of the programs offered each summer at the State 4-H Council have gone the way of the lefties. About 5 years ago they presented a seminar to high school kids on "It's okay to be Gay". The seminar was not well attended and they haven't repeated it in recent years.

4-H is under financial stress in Iowa, too. The entire U.S.D.A. Extension budget is being wacked due to budget woes at the state level. The less money appropriated from the state level, the less the Federal matches.

Extension is much more than 4-H.

There are the Crop and Weed Specialist, commodity marketing specialists and the Livestock Specialist who are available to counsel farmers and acreage owners.

There are the Home Specialists,, one of the interesting services they provide in this area is the testing of pressure cookers for safety.

[garandgal]

Extension does offer great services; they deserve funding far more than many of the other pet projects of our Governor. I graduated from the Family and Consumer Sciences college at ISU, so am familiar with many of their offerings.

Like I said earlier, 4-H offered me invaluable experience and education. I haven't donated to them recently and I've told them precisely why. How on earth did the leftists take over this organization too?

[Old Professer]

4-H, March of Dimes and the John Birch Society have all outlived their simple recognition.

Begging has succumbed to Parkinson's basic law.

[tiamat]

Wow.

Our 4-H isn't like that.

As a matter0of -fact, there seems to be some knee-jerk to the right because Washtenaw County has Ann Arbor.

There IS some conservation stuff, but it is not pushed hard.

I am not a fan of paving the planet anyway, and i do think we need to be careful with our natural resources. Tia

[MasonGal]

4-H Bump -

I was in 4-H for about 8 years in Warren County, OH - back in the late 60's --early 70's. I was a Camp Counselor, Officer, State Delegate - and - believe it or not - Warren County 4-H Queen - '74!! :))

I gained so much valuable knowledge and experience through 4-H.

[tiamat]

You did a bunch! congratulations!

People who say 4-H is obsolete or doesn't deserve funding have no clue about what actually benefits society.
Or they are just plain cheap.
And they probably think the goceries show up in the store because of "Food Fairies".

Tia

[MasonGal]

"...food fairies.." -

That reminds me about the story of my brother's former girlfriend from years and years ago. She was over at our house for a nice Sunday meal. My mom was peeling the potatoes for mashed potatoes, and my brother's girlfriend said, "I didn't know that's what you did when you mash potatoes--I always thought they came in a box."

Go figure - LOL

[tiamat]

That's good! LOL!

Tia

[farmfriend]

I dug this one up and then noticed who posted it in the first place.