NEWS for North Dakotans
Agriculture Communication, North Dakota State University
7 Morrill Hall, Fargo, ND 58105-5665
January 13, 2000
The North Dakota 4-H Foundation, the Alice Ann Jones Memorial Fund and the JC Penney Company are collaborating financially to send a larger state delegation of adults and youth to the 2000 North Central Region Volunteer Forum to be held at Fargo's Ramada Plaza Suites and Conference Center Thursday through Sunday, Oct. 19-22.
For its part, the North Dakota 4-H Foundation is contributing $7,000, which will be divided among the 10 Multicounty Program Units (MPUs) comprising the county field operations of the North Dakota State University Extension Service, a forum sponsor.
"To receive the funding, each MPU will need to send a minimum of five volunteers to the forum, including one teen," says Arleen Bunt, development director of the North Dakota 4-H Foundation. "An individual volunteer may receive up to $150."
Adults and youth from nearly half of North Dakota's 53 counties are involved in planning the 2000 North Central Region Volunteer Forum, which should draw adult and youth volunteers from 12 states and the Canadian provinces of Manitoba and Saskatchewan. The other states to be represented at this event are Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin.
The theme for the 2000 North Central Region Volunteer Forum is Catch an Attitude! Those who attend the forum will be able to choose from more than 60 workshops designed to improve their volunteer skills in working with youth. Among other activities, attendees can listen to motivational speakers and participate in community tours.
Beyond the workshops and activities, forum attendees will have the opportunity to exchange ideas with other volunteers and then take new ideas back to their communities to share with other local volunteers, says Marilyn Lesmeister, volunteer development specialist with the NDSU Extension Service.
"Applications for funding to offset the cost of attending the forum must carry a postmark of Friday, Aug. 18, or earlier," Bunt says.
Those interested in attending the 2000 North Central Region Volunteer Forum can contact a local office of the NDSU Extension Service. The cost for a full registration package is $190, which includes all sessions and meals. Partial registrations are also available. Registration materials will be available in March 2000. Lodging will be at Fargo's Ramada Plaza Suites and Conference Center, with rates of $80 to $95 per night based on occupancy.
Additional details about the 2000 North Central Region Volunteer Forum are available via the Internet at http://www.ext.nodak.edu/4h/NCR-2000/home.html.
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Source: Arleen Bunt (701) 231-8569
Editor: Dean Hulse (701) 231-6136