Just last Thursday we wrapped up the 4-H year at State 4-H Congress, and now we have the first Newton 4-H meeting of the year on Monday!

This month, many new Cloverleaf 4-H’ers will learn all about 4-H and demonstrations during in-school and after-school meetings.

If you would like to learn more about 4-H along with your child, talk to the teacher about visitor policies so you can attend the meeting. We always love 4-H visitors!

If your child will turn nine during 2014 but does not have a 4-H meeting at school, you are welcome to attend the home school and friends meeting each month at our office. E-mail me for details at tkimble@uga.edu.

Middle and high school youths from public, private and home school kick off the year on Monday, August 11 with County 4-H Council.

One major change is the location — this club will now meet at Oxford City Hall, at the corner of Highway 81 and West Clark Street.

Meetings are from 6 to 7:15 p.m. on the second Monday of each month. September will be in a different location for a special event, so e-mail for details if you can’t make the August meeting.

With the move to city council meeting space, we are also excited to add lessons in parliamentary procedure this year.

All 4-H’ers will receive portfolio and project information at this meeting, as well.

With the start of the school year, that also means the final push of the year for pop tabs once again. In September, we will collect the aluminum tabs at club meetings, but you may also bring in your donations to the office at any time.

Oxford City Hall also has a collection jar in its lobby thanks to 4-H member Jane O’Toole.

If you know a 4-H member, be sure to turn your tabs in through the child’s club so they may receive club points.

Tabs are collected statewide and recycled in bulk to benefit local Ronald McDonald Houses.

In case you’re not familiar, Ronald McDonald Houses are located near hospitals where children most often receive care, to provide a friendlier and less expensive alternative to hotels for their families.

As I remind 4-H’ers each year, you never plan on needing a Ronald McDonald House, so this is a great opportunity to support a friend in need before you even know they need it.

Our other September service project is to collect peanut butter and jelly for the community food pantry.

We also accept any non-perishable food items for the pantry, but will select a special food need each month to help vary our donations.

Please be sure all donations are within expiration dates.

Looking ahead to October, we will once again collect new and used children’s books.

As I look across the room at the growing mountain of books I’ve already bought my own unborn child, it’s hard for me to imagine a home without books.

But each December, our 4-H’ers get the honor of delivering books into the hands of over a thousand young children during the Christmas parade — some who may not have any other books at home.

We’re also busy filling the calendar with plans for 4-H National Youth Science Day (anyone like shooting off rockets!?), the Covington Christmas Parade, Fall Forum, Junior Conference, District Project Achievement and more, so be sure to get connected now so you don’t miss a single event.

Also, be sure to add monthly 4-H Movie Nights to your calendar this year for a great chance to support our Relay for Life team while getting a few kid-free hours.

We kick off on Friday, September 12, at the extension office from 6-9 p.m. A donation of $5 per person covers the movie and 5 snack tickets.

Pre-register by calling 770-784-2010 for a bonus snack ticket and save $1 when you bring a friend.

You may also join our Relay for Life team for a donation of $10 to the American Cancer Society at one of these movie nights. We’re proud to offer youth the opportunity to help fight cancer on a youth-led Relay team each year.

Parents are also welcome, of course!

See you at the next meeting!

Terri Kimble Fullerton is a Newton County 4-H Agent through UGA Cooperative Extension. She can be reached at tkimble@uga.edu.