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Hello all in the Middlesex County 4-H Community, I hope this message finds you well in these changing and challenging times. With the #MXNHitsNOTFair activities behind us, we need to share some critical information with you with regard to the fall. First - Thanks to everyone who did their record books and sent in your judging sheets. We will be sending out danish ribbons in the next week or two. Id like to also thank Erika Hodja for her excellent work as our 4-H intern this summer. Look for emails to come out soon requesting nominations for open Fair Officer positions. A list and full explanation of the process going forward will go out and a nomination committee will be formed. Please watch for re-enrollment emails to come out in September. We will be switching to a different online system so a training opportunity will likely follow as well. Details will be shared just as soon as they are available. The new system includes online record keeping with means members can do their record books on their phones or tablets if they have one. 4-H meeting are allowed to be held at this time, but the governors guidelines must be adhered to with regard to social spacing, masks and not more than 25 people inside (if you space allows for that). Club leaders should communicate with their members what the fall schedule looks like. Leaders who want to "pause" their in face meetings should be letting their members know and cc'ing me in that communication. Leaders who are having face to face meeting must accept members absences if they are uncomfortable or at risk or have others at risk in their households. Leaders if you have questions please don't hesitate to ask. The Extension Center (and all Extension Centers) will be closed to the public until at least January 1. No meeting, programs or other learning opportunities can happen there. I will continue to work remotely. 4-H Volunteers who need something form the office can contact me to meet you there to give it to you, make it for you - whatever fits the need. I will continue to try to keep you up-to-date if that situation changes. Remote working is a challenge - as anytime the power even blinks in Haddam, I have to travel to the office to reset my computer - so it will work from home. Just one more little thing to work through i guess. Advisory - we will have a fall meeting to attempt to set dates for spring "live and in person" programming. Fingers crossed - we will be able to do things. Lets all hope this fall goes well so that we can continue all our good work for our community. Our UConn 4-H Team will be hosting a leaders virtual activity and a youth virtual activity each month. Please be on the look out for those opportunities - likely the emails will come from the state 4-H office. I strongly suggest you take part, it will give you something fun or educational to focus on, and it will give your members an activity that can safely be done from home. Some of the fall activities, postponed from the spring are being cancelled. please go to the state 4-H website for the most up-to-date information. I can be available by appointment to connect with leaders to help plan their year - please just shoot me an email and we can set something up. BY FAR - email is the best way to reach me. I am not in the office very often so leaving a voice message could go unheard for quite a while. Please take time to find positive and uplifting activities for your bodies and minds. This has been difficult on everyone and we - as a community - can support each other while not being in the same location. If anyone needs any help just contact me. Continued health and wellness, Emily