Good Morning Everyone!
Today is going to be a 4-H day! For some of you who don't know what 4-H means, let me explain! 4-H is a youth organization which was developed to teach youth between 12 to 21 years of age agriculture and homemaking skills in rural areas. It started in Canada in the early 1900's, and as some old timers have stated it was known by a different name such as the Boys and Girls Club. Now it is not just a program for rural kids, but has also penetrated urban settings. The age limit has lowered as well, and in Ontario, the program accepts members as young as 10 years old.
My involvement with the 4-H program started when I turned 12 years old. It was great to hang out with my friends, and do some really cool stuff. Thanks to my mom, she lead the 4-H projects, not only for me, but my siblings, and a few of the local kids too! She did the homemaking clubs, which now is referred to as Lifestyle clubs. These clubs were directed more at the girls, but when the boys joined they had just as much fun! We learned about cooking, baking, and sewing. Now the lifestyle clubs include career development, sports, public speaking, dancing, photography, and you name it, it might be a project. More are being developed each year! There are also the staple clubs directed at agriculture: beef, dairy, goat, sheep, horse, rabbit, and farm safety. The program also generates opportunities for kids to travel, and gain new experiences.
When I was 15 years old, I participated in the 4-H Exchange program. It was where kids from Ontario got to go and live one week in a different province in Canada, and then that 4-H member came back for a week to live with you and your family. My exchange was from Swift Current, Saskatchewan. We were the same age, had many similar interests, and became fast friends. It was a great two weeks of my life, and that experience and friendship remains a special memory for me. I can easily say at that time, that was the farthest away from home I had ever been!!! Without the 4-H program, I would never have had that experience. So 4-H remained part of my life until I went off to college, and then it faded into the background as I started my life, so to speak.
It wasn't until I was settled into a job that 4-H came back into my life. A co-worker was talking about how his daughter was doing a 4-H project. I said, "I was a 4-H member!" The next day, I found the volunteer application on my desk ~ they were looking for help! That was 13 years ago now! :)
I started by helping a local retired teacher run her 4-H club. It was a year-round lifestyle club. She ran project after project, and made up a few locally approved projects too. She had incredible drive to bring these projects to the kids! On average, I think she had 20-25 kids every meeting! No wonder she needed some help! LOL! The number of kids' lives she touched in our local area was incredible, and I know that these kids got to learn a lot of new skills to carry them forward in their own lives! She not only taught them the skills, but she also taught them manners, etiquette, how to respect each other, and how to run a meeting. There were rules to follow if you wanted to be part of this 4-H club! And every local kid did! Many an upstanding citizen was created out of the 4-H Hillbilly club!
She asked me to come to the Association 4-H meeting. This is where leaders from the local clubs got together to discuss 4-H business. This was the level between the local clubs and the provincial 4-H body. Having a strong office administration background, I was drawn to this kind of meeting. Needless to say, my skills got put to work very quickly! I left that meeting as the new 4-H Association Secretary.
Various jobs have followed, and I remain the 4-H Association administrator to this day. An administrator does whatever is needed to keep the 4-H program working at the local level. I have been the volunteer screening coordinator, secretary, treasurer, webmaster, newsletter editor, awards coordinator, region representative, club resource contact, and database coordinator. Most of these jobs are interconnected, so it's like having one big job! I still enjoy the administration tasks, and they aren't happening every day, but can kick into action any day or night!
I save up the various tasks, then I have a 4-H day, such as today! This is when I might be doing any of the following. Update the treasurer books, and get them brought up to speed. Make sure correspondence is getting out to the local volunteers. Explain the procedures to new volunteers who want to get a club running, and direct interested people on how to become a volunteer with the 4-H program. Get the registration forms out to the club volunteers to start their clubs, make sure project club manuals are copied, and ready for the start of the club. Make sure the 4-H kids are registered in the provincial database for their project awards! Request the awards to be sent in time for achievement day ~ and when they aren't ~ make them up myself so that there won't be disappointed kids!!! Have a conference call with 4-H Ontario on new procedures and process changes, and implement these changes to the local level. Set up meetings, and call volunteers with meeting reminders the night before so to get a good turn out.
It is a thankless job, but the pay cheque comes from knowing I have made a difference in someone's life ~ in particularly a 4-H member! I am not on the front lines as our club volunteers are! They deserve the credit for giving these kids the 4-H experience!!! I am the support behind the scenes, and I have enjoyed being a supportive structure to the 4-H program in Temiskaming.
However, if there is anyone in my local area interested in taking over any of these tasks, we can beginning training right away. Just email me! :) Check out our website: http://www.temiskaming4-h.ca/
Yours in 4-H spirit,
S
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Thursday, August 18, 2011
A Friend In Need
Just got home from my friend's place! She called several hours ago, upset, crying, and all she could say is "I think I'm going to be sick!" She's a single lady, living on her own, so I rushed right over to find out what was really going on. As soon as I arrived, I started grilling her to get the full story. Did you have anything to eat? What did you eat? What are your symptoms? Have you taken any medication? Do you need to go to the hospital? Once I established that she didn't need the doctor just yet, we started to drill down into her symptoms. Stomach issues, migraine headache, eye pressure, stress, and the works! It was time for me, her friend, to jump into action!
She's been dealing with a lot lately. Just found out her dad has cancer, and the whole family has been adjusting to the news! However, he is fighting hard to win, and there are good days and bad days. The bad days are hard on the whole family. My friend is very close to her Dad! This has been devastating news, and I think she just gets overwhelmed and can't stop to relax.
The mind is a funny thing! It controls the whole body, and stress will work up on a person, and not let them get into the relaxed state of mind. She had been dealing with these bouts on and off since Sunday. So we medicated for the headache, and I got her some water to hydrate her. I got her to lay down and try to rest. She was able to talk out some of her concerns, just having someone there to listen and give a different perspective on the situation makes a big difference. So, we hung out and she started to feel better. When I took my leave, she was feeling much better than the state I found her when I arrived. She even laughed a few times.
I think it's important to be a good friend when a friend is need. I definitely don't have the answers to medical or psychology questions, but I care enough to be there. If I can help out in some way, I am willing to give that much and more if needed. Thankfully, my husband put the leftover food from supper away for me. My scrapbooking project was left on the table (the same table that finally got a corner cleaned off). The computer and printer was left on in my mad rush to get over to my friend's place. None of that mattered on the way over - only making sure my friend was ok. Gladly, she is doing better now!
Count our blessings, large and small. When we are alone, it's nice to have someone to reach out to help in our time of need. Whether it be a quick phone call, or a visit to check on a friend in need - it is those life relationships in which we find our rewards. At least, that's the way it for me.
S
She's been dealing with a lot lately. Just found out her dad has cancer, and the whole family has been adjusting to the news! However, he is fighting hard to win, and there are good days and bad days. The bad days are hard on the whole family. My friend is very close to her Dad! This has been devastating news, and I think she just gets overwhelmed and can't stop to relax.
The mind is a funny thing! It controls the whole body, and stress will work up on a person, and not let them get into the relaxed state of mind. She had been dealing with these bouts on and off since Sunday. So we medicated for the headache, and I got her some water to hydrate her. I got her to lay down and try to rest. She was able to talk out some of her concerns, just having someone there to listen and give a different perspective on the situation makes a big difference. So, we hung out and she started to feel better. When I took my leave, she was feeling much better than the state I found her when I arrived. She even laughed a few times.
I think it's important to be a good friend when a friend is need. I definitely don't have the answers to medical or psychology questions, but I care enough to be there. If I can help out in some way, I am willing to give that much and more if needed. Thankfully, my husband put the leftover food from supper away for me. My scrapbooking project was left on the table (the same table that finally got a corner cleaned off). The computer and printer was left on in my mad rush to get over to my friend's place. None of that mattered on the way over - only making sure my friend was ok. Gladly, she is doing better now!
Count our blessings, large and small. When we are alone, it's nice to have someone to reach out to help in our time of need. Whether it be a quick phone call, or a visit to check on a friend in need - it is those life relationships in which we find our rewards. At least, that's the way it for me.
S
Monday, August 15, 2011
Restlessness or Just too much Sugar!
Good Morning Everyone! As I drag myself out of bed, and wonder what happened last night. You would almost think I was on a drunk, but that wasn't the case! I woke up about 1:30 a.m. and couldn't get back to sleep until 4 a.m. ~ I bounced around the bed, just trying to find a comfortable spot to induce sleep, but NO GO! I finally decided to do some reading, and I finished the book I had on the go. I wondered what caused this bout of restlessness?
Probably too much excitement from the day! I had been invited to a potluck lunch at my Aunt's place, in honour of my cousin coming home from California for a visit. It's like 3,000 miles from her place so she doesn't come home often. Thankfully for the internet, we can keep in touch on a regular basis! It was also a great opportunity to see other family members who I haven't actually been in touch with for a while. I love these kinds of days, asking questions, and finding out where everyone is and what they are doing. We reminisce about our family history: stories of the old times about ourselves, our parents, our grandparents, and great-grandparents. I love genealogy, and I like to hear the stories again. Sometimes you actually get to hear a new story or two, but it's a way to reaffirm our family connection to each other through our unique history. What do they say? You don't choose your family, isn't that so!!
I am very lucky to be part of a family who has remained close during our youth, and now even into our adult lives. We are close with our parents, and we try to keep in each other's lives on a consistent basis. Internet has made this easier for sure! It's an effort sometimes because there is a lot going on, but who better to share the ups and downs of our lives with!
I realize some families don't operate like this. He said, she said, and they said, and everyone goes to their corners to sulk over what was said. I would rather call them out, and have it out big time! Get it out and get it over with! So the under current of the existing family feud between my Aunt and my cousin's brother continues... at least, he came to see his sister! I'm sure he had to endure the relatives whispering in a corner, and the silent undertone of the unsaid comments floating through the air. The buttinski Aunt (sister to his mother) making her way over to let her views be known, and set him straight. I'm sure this little talk solved that feud once and for all! LOL! I've had some of these conversations with her, and sometimes you just don't need a lecture from someone that righteous! I think it probably takes a little more than this to solve the family relationship conflicts. Sometimes it takes being the bigger person and saying your sorry or empathize with the person, even when you don't feel this way, just to open the door to communication. I think this rift can be fixed, but it's up to those involved to make the first move, and start talking openly and honestly. But despite all this, everyone seemed to enjoy themselves, and have a good time!
Now, getting back to the potluck lunch! Everyone brings something! I chose to bring my new recipe, Green Bean, Tomato, and Chickpea Salad, which is healthy as well as something different. I was also asked to bring a dessert, and that got the creative juices flowing. I ended up with making a trifle, something I never tried before. I got out the punch bowl, and started layering cake, fruit, pudding, whip cream. It was a massive hit! The problem with lunches like this is, you always eat way too much! One plate full or two of the main course, and there was lots of choose from! Of course, one plate full or two of dessert. My plate was full with trifle, blueberry cheese cake, some banana bread loaded with butter! MMM... this is my favourite part of the lunch!
However, I think the sugar rush got me last night! More likely, it was the digestion process finally getting to sort through all the goodies I managed to inhale while chatting it up with family. Sometimes we also have to digest the emotional food for thought from the interactions of the day as well, and even though it doesn't feel stressful at the time, it will come back on you later to reprocess and sort through. You can count on having some of these nights from time to time. Hopefully, they don't come too often ~ otherwise, you might need to rely on heavier measures to get back to sleep. My preferred methods usually start with:
Normally, I just let my mind wander, and usually by morning light, I have figured it all out, and doze into acceptance that everything is in its place for the time being! If I am able to pick out any insights from my night's insomnia, they always look a little different in the daylight then from the thick of night. Many a decision came to me through a bout of insomnia! This is the time your inner voice can actually talk to you, and you should heed what it tells you. Sometimes it's just your digestion telling you a different story that you just ate too much, and once it passes, you can get back to sleep!
S
Probably too much excitement from the day! I had been invited to a potluck lunch at my Aunt's place, in honour of my cousin coming home from California for a visit. It's like 3,000 miles from her place so she doesn't come home often. Thankfully for the internet, we can keep in touch on a regular basis! It was also a great opportunity to see other family members who I haven't actually been in touch with for a while. I love these kinds of days, asking questions, and finding out where everyone is and what they are doing. We reminisce about our family history: stories of the old times about ourselves, our parents, our grandparents, and great-grandparents. I love genealogy, and I like to hear the stories again. Sometimes you actually get to hear a new story or two, but it's a way to reaffirm our family connection to each other through our unique history. What do they say? You don't choose your family, isn't that so!!
I am very lucky to be part of a family who has remained close during our youth, and now even into our adult lives. We are close with our parents, and we try to keep in each other's lives on a consistent basis. Internet has made this easier for sure! It's an effort sometimes because there is a lot going on, but who better to share the ups and downs of our lives with!
I realize some families don't operate like this. He said, she said, and they said, and everyone goes to their corners to sulk over what was said. I would rather call them out, and have it out big time! Get it out and get it over with! So the under current of the existing family feud between my Aunt and my cousin's brother continues... at least, he came to see his sister! I'm sure he had to endure the relatives whispering in a corner, and the silent undertone of the unsaid comments floating through the air. The buttinski Aunt (sister to his mother) making her way over to let her views be known, and set him straight. I'm sure this little talk solved that feud once and for all! LOL! I've had some of these conversations with her, and sometimes you just don't need a lecture from someone that righteous! I think it probably takes a little more than this to solve the family relationship conflicts. Sometimes it takes being the bigger person and saying your sorry or empathize with the person, even when you don't feel this way, just to open the door to communication. I think this rift can be fixed, but it's up to those involved to make the first move, and start talking openly and honestly. But despite all this, everyone seemed to enjoy themselves, and have a good time!
Now, getting back to the potluck lunch! Everyone brings something! I chose to bring my new recipe, Green Bean, Tomato, and Chickpea Salad, which is healthy as well as something different. I was also asked to bring a dessert, and that got the creative juices flowing. I ended up with making a trifle, something I never tried before. I got out the punch bowl, and started layering cake, fruit, pudding, whip cream. It was a massive hit! The problem with lunches like this is, you always eat way too much! One plate full or two of the main course, and there was lots of choose from! Of course, one plate full or two of dessert. My plate was full with trifle, blueberry cheese cake, some banana bread loaded with butter! MMM... this is my favourite part of the lunch!
However, I think the sugar rush got me last night! More likely, it was the digestion process finally getting to sort through all the goodies I managed to inhale while chatting it up with family. Sometimes we also have to digest the emotional food for thought from the interactions of the day as well, and even though it doesn't feel stressful at the time, it will come back on you later to reprocess and sort through. You can count on having some of these nights from time to time. Hopefully, they don't come too often ~ otherwise, you might need to rely on heavier measures to get back to sleep. My preferred methods usually start with:
- Toss and turn, move the pillows around until I find a comfortable spot.
- Let my mind wander, sorting through the darkness to find a solution to what is keeping me up. If this doesn't work:
- Get up and wander around the house, stopping for bathroom break and a drink.
- Turn on the light. This usually leads to picking up my book, and read a little until I get tired enough to sleep. Or listen to music on my mp3 player, and rock out for a while.
- Watch TV for a while is usually my last resort.
Normally, I just let my mind wander, and usually by morning light, I have figured it all out, and doze into acceptance that everything is in its place for the time being! If I am able to pick out any insights from my night's insomnia, they always look a little different in the daylight then from the thick of night. Many a decision came to me through a bout of insomnia! This is the time your inner voice can actually talk to you, and you should heed what it tells you. Sometimes it's just your digestion telling you a different story that you just ate too much, and once it passes, you can get back to sleep!
S
Thursday, August 11, 2011
The Kitchen Table...
Hello Everyone!
Today... I found myself thinking about the kitchen table. How did this come about??? Well, I was quickly eating my breakfast to head out for an appointment. I took my usual place sitting in front of the TV, glupping down my cereal. It's habit now that in my house we don't use the kitchen table except to pile junk on.
In the mix of preparing for my day ahead, and thinking about what my next blog post might be about. This is when it came to me in a flood of many warm memories about the family table I grew up around. I was raised on a farm in rural north-eastern Ontario. We used the kitchen table for everything!! It was a focus point for many of our family activities, such as cooking, baking, sewing, visiting, and eating. It was also used for bookwork and homework, and many more activities. It became an area where work or play would occur daily. It is where we developed our relationships with each other, and as a group. Who would have thought that a kitchen table would be responsible for keeping family unity!
Family unity isn't what it used to be, break-down in the family relationships just seem to happen these days. The nuclear family has changed, and evolved into more single-parent families. Maybe that is because there isn't enough time around the kitchen table anymore, just talking, laughing, and making memories.
So if you take anything from this post, I hope it will be - Put family first... maybe it's time to clean off the table so it will be ready for the next meal, the next project, and the next conversation!!!
Cheers,
S
Today... I found myself thinking about the kitchen table. How did this come about??? Well, I was quickly eating my breakfast to head out for an appointment. I took my usual place sitting in front of the TV, glupping down my cereal. It's habit now that in my house we don't use the kitchen table except to pile junk on.
In the mix of preparing for my day ahead, and thinking about what my next blog post might be about. This is when it came to me in a flood of many warm memories about the family table I grew up around. I was raised on a farm in rural north-eastern Ontario. We used the kitchen table for everything!! It was a focus point for many of our family activities, such as cooking, baking, sewing, visiting, and eating. It was also used for bookwork and homework, and many more activities. It became an area where work or play would occur daily. It is where we developed our relationships with each other, and as a group. Who would have thought that a kitchen table would be responsible for keeping family unity!
Family unity isn't what it used to be, break-down in the family relationships just seem to happen these days. The nuclear family has changed, and evolved into more single-parent families. Maybe that is because there isn't enough time around the kitchen table anymore, just talking, laughing, and making memories.
So if you take anything from this post, I hope it will be - Put family first... maybe it's time to clean off the table so it will be ready for the next meal, the next project, and the next conversation!!!
Cheers,
S
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
New Blog
Hi Everyone, Good Morning!!!!
I have officially set up my first blog! I was waiting to figure out what my blogging voice was going to be. What thoughts and purpose I had to share with the world at large. Why not just experiment with a personal blog, and see where I go from here.
So here born is Ssunshine67's Chronicles Of My Mind... it will be a collection of my memories, thoughts & opinions I cannot keep contained to myself (hopefully, we won't have to change the blog's name to "the bitching corner"), and funny stories that make me laugh out loud (LOL).
I am excited to join the blogging world!!! It will be a learning experience, for sure. After reading resource material on blogging, and seeing what others have done with their blogs, it is my turn to get in there and give it a try!! So be warned... anything is possible from here on in. :) I am looking forward to taking this journey with you!!
Have a great day!
S
I have officially set up my first blog! I was waiting to figure out what my blogging voice was going to be. What thoughts and purpose I had to share with the world at large. Why not just experiment with a personal blog, and see where I go from here.
So here born is Ssunshine67's Chronicles Of My Mind... it will be a collection of my memories, thoughts & opinions I cannot keep contained to myself (hopefully, we won't have to change the blog's name to "the bitching corner"), and funny stories that make me laugh out loud (LOL).
I am excited to join the blogging world!!! It will be a learning experience, for sure. After reading resource material on blogging, and seeing what others have done with their blogs, it is my turn to get in there and give it a try!! So be warned... anything is possible from here on in. :) I am looking forward to taking this journey with you!!
Have a great day!
S
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)