OSU Extension Closing Wednesday, March at 4:30

Governor DeWine recently issued a state of emergency and implemented a variety of strategies to reduce the spread of the disease. In order to do our part in reducing risk to our employees or clientele, we have implemented a teleworking plan. OSU Extension offices will be closed to the public until further notice. While our offices will be physically closed, we are committed to continuing to conduct our work as fully as possible.  In recent years, we’ve invested in the technology needed to facilitate effective teleworking.  We will utilize all our teleworking capabilities to continue serving our clientele and communities.  You should continue to feel free to call, email, etc. with any OSU Extension staff member as you normally would.

OSU Extension is deeply committed to the health and well-being of its staff and doing our part to help slow the spread of the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19).

The closing will take effect Wednesday, March 18 at 4:30 pm. If you have questions, please feel free to contact our office at 740-376-7431. All voicemails will be directed to the appropriate staff.

Project Books – for anyone interested in picking up 4-H Project Books on Wednesday, March 18 please email your order to us or call ahead with your order. We will confirm the amount due and have curbside pickup. Please call when you arrive for curbside delivery.

Bruce Zimmer – zimmer.2@osu.edu

Kathryn Hartline – hartline.24@osu.edu

Hello 4-H Families:

March 13, 2020 – 4-H Update

Just a reminder that 4-H Clubs must postpone/cancel all face-to-face meetings between now and April 20. Based on OSU and Governor DeWine guidelines, these non-essential activities must be postponed/ cancelled/ or held virtually.

Due to the extenuating circumstances, as a county we are going to extend the enrollment deadline until Friday, May 1. We realize that you will not be having meetings before the deadline, but please make efforts to contact returning members by phone to have them fill out enrollment forms if they haven’t already done so.

4-H Enrollment Forms are available at the OSU Extension Office and online at https://washington.osu.edu/program-areas/4-h-youth-development/washington-county-4-h-forms

Completed forms may be turned in to the OSU Extension Office on an individual basis. Advisors will be notified of forms needing their signature.

Scheduled changes for the next 4 weeks:

March 14             Ohio 4-H Conference, Columbus Convention Center – CANCELLED

March 15             Bull’s Eye Shooting Sports – Spring session begins – POSTPONED (TO BE RE-EVALUATED)

March 17             QA #1 at Waterford High School Gymnasium, 7-9 PM POSTPONED – TO BE RESCHEDULED

March 25-29      Buckeye Leadership Workshop – CANCELLED

March 26             Endowment Committee Meeting – CANCELLED

March 30             Candy Bar Money Due to Ext. Office – FAMILIES MAY DROP OFF (CLEARLY LABEL ENVELOPS)

March 31             Officers Training/Advisors Sessions – CANCELLED

April 2                  Wash. Co. Jr. Fair Board Mtg., Extension Office, 6:30 PM – CANCELLED

April 4                   Endowment Dinner & Auction, Wash. Co. Jr. Fair Bldg. – CANCELLED

April 5                  Counselor Training, Phillips School, 2-5 PM – POSTPONED – LOOK FOR ONLINE TRAINING

April 6                   QA #2 Frontier High School Cafeteria, 7-9pm – POSTPONED – TO BE RESCHEDULED

April 15                4-H ENROLLMENTS DUE TO OSU EXTENSION OFFICE – EXTENDED TILL FRIDAY, MAY 1

April 15                 Mkt Chicken, Turkey & Duck ordered & paid for by this date. – MUST BE ORDERED BY APRIL 15

April 15                 Wendy’s Night at Muskingum Drive – 4-H Horse Committee – – CANCELLED

April 18                Camp Clean Up, Hervida 4-H Camp – POSTPONED – TO BE RESCHEDULED

April 20                 QA #3 Warren High School Cafeteria, 7-9 PM – POSTPONED – TO BE RESCHEDULED

Bruce Zimmer

4-H Educator

zimmer.2@osu.edu

Door prize winners from the 4-H Open House. Unclaimed stuffed animals can be picked up at the Extension Office, 202 Davis Ave, Marietta

• Lilah Stout – Cloverbud Camp Scholarship – certificate will be mailed
• Adilynn Greenup – Beginner Camp Scholarship – certificate will be mailed
• Samuel Rehl – Junior Camp Scholarship – certificate will be mailed
• Kaitlyn Schaad – Senior Camp Scholarship – certificate will be mailed
• Bijou Burgardt – 4-H Basketball – already picked up
• Flora Burgardt – 4-H Basketball – already picked up
• Stuffed cat – Ashton Parker – needs picked up
• Stuffed horse Josephine Myers – needs picked up
• Stuffed dog – Josi Waterman – needs picked up
• Stuffed rabbit – Megan Beaver – needs picked up
• Stuffed cow – Kaleb Parson – already picked up
• Stuffed goat – Katelyn Forshey – already picket up

March 12, 2020

Dear 4-H Families, Volunteers and Supporters:

As you may be aware, The Ohio State University has announced the suspension of face-to-face instruction and the move to virtual instruction effective immediately through March 31. Events deemed nonessential are postponed between now and April 20, 2020.There will be evaluation whether they should continue in person beyond this time. Our primary concern is for the health and safety of all our people. Virtual meetings are encouraged.

We have been instructed that we are to cancel all face to face meetings county-wide that are non-essential until April 20th.Based on these guidelines, it is recommended that Washington County 4-H Clubs postpone/cancel all face-to-face meetings between now and April 20. Any meetings scheduled after that can go on as planned. However, evolving situations may require us to extend this deadline. We know that there are numerous clubs that were scheduled to have meetings this weekend and in the coming weeks to work on completing enrollments for the April 15th deadline. Due to the extenuating circumstances, as a county we are going to extend the enrollment deadline until Friday, May 1. We realize that you will not be having meetings before the deadline, but please make efforts to contact returning members by phone to have them fill out enrollment forms if they haven’t already done so.

**If your enrollment forms are already completed, you can turn them in to the Extension office at any time. If you are contacted by new members, you can instruct them to stop by the Extension office and fill out enrollment forms here if that is easier for you. Virtual meetings could be held via Facebook Live, Zoom, Skype if your families have that capability.

In addition to all 4-H club meetings, the following list of 4-H events qualify as non-essential between now and April 20. Based on these guidelines, these non-essential activities must be postponed/ cancelled/ or held virtually. Examples include (this list is not exhaustive and subject to change at any notice):

4-H committees, including advisory, saddle horse, endowment, etc.

Club kick-offs, open houses, etc. (*Note: Tonight’s scheduled 4-H Open House will continue as planned as we are unable to notify everyone who may be planning to attend. If you have concerns or are not feeling well, please choose not to attend.)

• Community service projects
• Educational clinics
• Events put on by advisory or county committees or clubs, including fundraisers
• Fundraisers
• Social events (egg hunts, square dances)
• Teen leader groups

One of the best ways to prevent the spread of viral illnesses is to minimize the circumstances in which individuals might interact and transmit the diseases. The safety of our community is our top priority. We realize that our COVID-19 policy guidelines will cause disruption, but the risk of not acting outweighs the inconvenience of these temporary measures. We will share updates as more information becomes available.

4-H event cancellation and postponement dates will be shared in a separate message on Friday, March 13. Stay tuned for this listing.

The Extension Office is currently open and all personnel are actively working. The safety of our community is our top priority. We realize that our COVID-19 policy guidelines will cause disruption, but the risk of not acting outweighs the inconvenience of these temporary measures. We will stay in touch through mail, email, the Remind app, website, and Facebook with any updates. Please contact us at 740-376-7431 with any questions or concerns. Thank you for your patience as we work through this unexpected situation.

Bruce Zimmer

zimmer.2@osu.edu

4-H Extension Educator

Ohio 4-H Week was celebrated with Brady & Alex Barth, and Jason Schultheisz visiting the Washington County Commissioners. The 4-H’ers are members of the Backyard Gang 4-H Club and they spoke about their 4-H project work and involvement in the program. Thank you County Commissioners for your continued support of OSU Extension and the local 4-H Program!!