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Show 4-H'ers Help Spread Word On Wise Electric Use Youths enrolled in the 4-H electric program participate in many different activities: (1) Educating other 4-H'ers youth and community groups on what they can do to ease the energy crisis. (2) Making useful gadgets and equipment and learning to use electricity wisely. (3) Career opportunities opportun-ities for 4-H'ers in the electric industry are encouraged. In addition, working with 4-H'ers in the program are the various electric power suppliers sup-pliers and associations. (4) This 4-H girl is using what she learned in the program to help ease the energy crisis, by efficient use of household appliances. The possibility of energy supply problems is of concern to 4-H'ers, consumers and electric utilities alike, says Don Johnson, program associate asso-ciate with the National 4-H Service Committee, Chicago. In some areas of the country, electric power suppliers sup-pliers have had difficulty in meeting all the requirements placed upon them particularly particular-ly during periods of peak demand, Mr. Johnson notes. Unusually heavy use of electricity elec-tricity at peak periods can overload a system and make voltage reductions of power curtailments necessary, he warns. The National 4-H Service Committee spokesman emphasizes the need for people peo-ple to educate themselves and their communities to using energy wisely and efficiently. And to help do that, he points out, some 130,000 4-H participants in the national 4-H electric program are being encouraged to spearhead spear-head the educational movement move-ment locally. Providing backup support i is the Cooperative Extension Service which conducts the 4-H program, Westinghouse Electric- Corporation, program pro-gram donor, electric power suppliers and associations. Early efforts are expected to deal with avoiding waste in using electric power - turning turn-ing off unused lights and appliances, improving home insulation and using equipment equip-ment at off-peak times or only when necessary, Johnson John-son said. 4-H leaders and members also are being given additional suggestions through a feature story in the April issue of National 4-H News and a series of 4-H Electric Newsletters News-letters provided in cooperation coopera-tion with Westinghouse. And as an incentive for 4-H groups to participate in this and other phases of the 4-H electric elec-tric program the corporation provides an attractive plaque to a county in each state. Johnson also notes that individual incentives also are available to 4-H members in the electric program. Four medal awards are offered in each county, a trip to National Nation-al 4-H Congress in Chicago, Nov. 25-29, for the state winner, win-ner, and scholarships of $700 each to six national winners announced at that time. Westinghouse West-inghouse Electric Corporation provides the awards. While the national 4-H . electric program emphasizes wise use of electric power in 1973, there are many reasons for 4-H members to participate, partici-pate, the program associate noted. Young people learn to make useful equipment and gadgets, to make their work easier, to use electricity efficiently and learn of career opportunities. He pointed out that three of last year's scholarship schol-arship winners are preparing for careers in electrical engineering engi-neering and the other three have chosen closely allied fields. For young people who want to get involved, to help avoid an energy crisis and to learn more about electricity, Johnson suggests they contact con-tact their county extension office. |