Meeting was held in the Commissioners� Room in the Courthouse at 7:30 pm. Present were Sharon Ritten, Hank Weber, Deb Evenson, Sheree Foertsch, Julie Wahler, Karen Weber, Matt Danuser, Gale Link, Joan Beyer, Colleen Svingen, Carrie Stark, 4-H Youth Development Specialist, and Rachelle Vettern, Leadership and Volunteer Development Specialist, from the State 4-H Office in Fargo.

Matt Danuser called the meeting to order. Pledges were cited. Secretary�s report was read and approved. Thank you notes were read. Thank yous will be put in the Green Gazette. Treasurer�s report was given and approved.

OLD BUSINESS
Matt gave a 4-H Building update - New doors are installed. New letters are being made by members of Northern Lights Club. Trees and shrubs were cut out by Dale and Matt. East side of building was cleaned out by Comstock�they donated their time. Should send a thank you to them and give them a bidder basket from Achievement Days. Clean up date was set for Saturday, August 16, 9:00 am. Dale and Matt will make sure all supplies are there.

Revised lease for 4-H building was reviewed. Refer to rents as donations - "suggested donation" for keeping vehicles in barn.

Ag Trip - Dan Spellerberg was running into brick walls. Have to start this winter for next year. Cindy Spellerberg is working on this also.

Achievement Days - August 8, 9, 2003
Judging will be held in the Convent gymnasium - 12:30 - 4:00 pm. Nuns are talking about having an ice cream social at that time outside. Matt went through schedule for Friday and Saturday. Deb passed around a sign-up sheet for clubs to work. 75 year anniversary of Academy is also being celebrated in Hankinson. Concessions were discussed. It was decided to sell drinks at Friday static exhibits and Spellerburgers at barn on Saturday. Chair person for concessions is still needed.

It was decided we should have card tables for some judging areas. Also needed are places to hang pictures. Maybe we could use dividers from courthouse? Maybe the academy has something for us.

Committee recommendation - The Achievement Day Committee recommends to the 4-H Council to limit the Achievement Day total premium dollars to $250 per 4-H�er. This is not to limit ribbons/grands/reserves an individual may receive. Recommendation was opened for discussion. Many pros and cons were discussed. Joan made a motion to accept the recommendation. Motion died for lack of a second.

Maybe the radio station could come to Hankinson to record PSA�s during the day on Friday. Deb will contact the radio station.

Hankinson will do sidewalk days during Achievement Days. Matt will get ahold of Nate Falk to get some details regarding advertising, etc.

NEW BUSINESS
Richland/Wilkin 4-H Activity Day is being held Thursday, July 24. Deb announced that teachers were still needed.

Fun Day - should it be held in Wyndmere or Hankinson? We will check into whether Wyndmere would allow us to be in the school.

There was no agency review this year for United Way. 2002 allocations will extend through June, 2004. We will receive $1400 in February, 2004. Agency reviews will be held in June, 2004.

Family Fun and Fitness - maybe it should be held in January. Co-chairs are Joan Beyer and Gale Link.

Recreation Handbooks handed out, one per club.

Technology Trunks are available from State. Any club can use the Power Up computers at the zoo. Contact Kathy Diekman at zoo.

Lessons and More CD - available to use from the office.

Member Messages - reminder to get pictures and stories to Deb publication. 4-H Bulletin Board - reminder to put up what your club has been doing.

Teri, our new secretary, will be updating the Child Protection Policy. Teri is also making a 4-H info video for new members to get acquainted with the extension office and with different areas of 4-H. Added to the video will be actual footage from 4-H events and some projects from Achievement Days.

Rotation of council meetings to surrounding towns was discussed. It was decided to have the meetings in Wahpeton at the courthouse.

Rachelle Vettern mentioned the North Dakota Southwest 4-H Volunteer Forum in Dickinson, on Saturday, September 13, 2003-- "Going the Extra Mile for 4-H". She encouraged volunteers, parents and kids to attend. Matt mentioned that the 4-H Council could help with paying mileage for those attending. Rachelle also mentioned the 2003 NCR Volunteer Forum which will be held November 13-16, 2003, in Peoria, IL. There will be a van going from Fargo, and she would love to see leaders and volunteers from Richland County attending. In two years the Volunteer Forum will be held in Rapid City, SD.

Rachelle and Carrie fielded questions from the council. It was suggested that national 4-H trips available to youth should be promoted more by the State Office. If anyone has questions or concerns in the future, we were encouraged to call either Rachelle or Carrie at the State Office.

Motion was made to adjourn the meeting, seconded and passed.

Respectfully submitted,

Deb Evenson
Stand-in Secretary