Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Teen Leaders Needed for Operaton Military Kids

Do you enjoy working with kids ages 5-15? Are you interested in team building or communication? Are you are willing to help kids with parents who are serving their country away from home? Then you are exactly what we need.

Operation Military Kids is currently training 100’s of youth ages 10-17 around the state of Texas. The state of Texas will be sending over 2500 soldiers over seas in the next two years. These soldiers are national guard soldiers who are leaving their civilian jobs and families.

A series of training and events are currently being scheduled for both the soldiers, spouses/families and their children. At these Yellow Ribbon Events, the spouses learn about how to deal with the stress of a family member who is gone away. The children develop a group of friends who also have parents who have gone to serve.

Operation Military Kids have been asked to help these children learn to make new friends and to communicate their questions or concerns.

Central Texas 4-H Robotics Club currently has two fathers who are in Iraq. One of the club members had been trained by Operation Military Kids – before his father was sent to Iraq. We are hosting a training for other youth around Central Texas “We don’t live on military bases and it could be your neighbor.”

Please join us Thursday, June 25th from 9:00 – 4:00 p.m. We will provide lunch and all materials necessary for you to feel comfortable when you join others to support these families. If you or your child is interested – just email your childs name and address to kate@learning-links.org and we will send you a confirmation letter and directions to the training site.

If you have questions about the program or how to volunteer – contact the State Operation Military Kids office at omktx@ag.tamu.edu or you can call me – Kate Young (wife to deployed soldier, mother to four 4-H club members) kate@learning-links.org or 512-347-9658.

Texas 4-H State Roundup

Congratulations to State 4-H Round up Participants

Meredith Vasquez - 1st Place Companion Animals Educational Presentation
Horse Judging
Mathew Evnas – 4th Place Hosing and Home Environment Educational Presentation
Brandon Masi – Share the Fun - Musical
Lauren Schneider – Share the Fun –Choreographed Routine
Kayla Swilling – Share the Fun – Choreographed Routine
Codi Spence – Livestock Judging
Ryan McAfee – Livestock Judging
Keaton Harlow – Rifle Contest

Scholarship Recipients
The following four individuals brought home $25, 000 in scholarship money
William McAfee
Autumn Pearson
Hannah Riemer
Jeremy Stremler