Making Clubs Better4-H Leader Training 2004

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Why “Making 4-H Clubs Better” Now?

• MN has the highest number of parents working outside the home– MN ranks as one of the highest for number of youth in self

care

• How kids spend their free time is a more powerful predictor of risk behavior than race, income or family structure

• Juvenile crime & victimization peak from 2-8 pm• Existing out of school programs meet <25% of

demand4-H Clubs can fill an immediate and urgent gap in services!

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•Internet Savvy•Instant Messaging•Future Facing•Thinking about Work/Life Balance--Now

•Relationship with parents very positive•97% college freshmen say key to happiness is close family relationships•Infatuated with brands

•Video games, favorite pastime, Web the medium of choice•Have considerable financial responsibility—spends ~$275 Billion/yr•Highly independent--autonomous

•Sons & Daughters of Baby Boomers•5-20 years old (56 million in US, 1.1 million in MN)•Fastest growing demographic group in US under 65•1 in 3 is not Caucasian•1 in 4 lives in a single parent household•3 in 4 have working moms

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Research Reveals…

Youth involved in 4-H Clubs are less likely to:• Spend 6+ hours watching/playing TV or video

games• Have stolen things• Have damaged property• Smoked cigarettes• Consumed alcohol• Have ridden in a car where the driver was drinking

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MN 4-H Goal

• Double the number of youth reached through 4-H Clubs by the year 2007– From 26,000 to 52,000

By:• Making Clubs better

– More appealing to a broader audience

– More accessible – More consistent in quality

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• Support 4 Club Structures or “Types”– 4-H Community Clubs– 4-H Afterschool Clubs– 4-H Project Clubs– 4-H Site Based Clubs

• Work Toward Consistent Quality and Delivery– Reduce variation/improve quality of club experience

• Invest in Training of Staff and Volunteers

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Parents/guardians serve as volunteer leaders

Meet evenings and/or weekends

Members explore variety of projects/activities

Often referred to as the “Traditional” club structure

4-H Community Clubs

• Typically forms when a group of families who often know each other, and/or live in the same proximity, come together to form a 4-H Club in their community.

4-H Community Club

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Leaders are typically volunteers but may be paid staff

Youth drawn to join because of specific area of interest

Generally meet evenings/ weekends

Building and progression of project area skills is major focus of club meetings and

activities

4-H Project Clubs

• Project Clubs are formed around, and focused on, a particular 4H Project Area, (i.e. horse club, aerospace club, computer club, clowning club, shooting sports club)

4-H Project Club

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4-H Afterschool Clubs

• A 4-H Club experience offered in the after school hours. Clubs typically meet weekly or monthly throughout the school year.

Typically Led by paid staff

Often in partnership with school/community sponsored after school

program

Often meet in school building immediately following school

parent involvement more limited

Can be cross-age but often focused on particular age group

4-H Afterschool Club

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4-H Site Based Clubs

• A 4-H Club experience designed to reach youth in communities where they live (i.e. public housing site, mobile home park, neighborhood community center or other host location).

Facilitated by paid staffBarriers to membership reduced

(i.e. transportation, financial, parent involvement)

Program often very diverse, reflecting culture, flavor and needs

of the community in which it’s members live

Typically meets weekly throughout the year at same place/location

Site Based 4-H Club

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Much In Common

Community Clubs

Project Clubs

After School Clubs

Site Based Clubs

Club structures are flexible sharing many similarities:•Community Clubs can meet after school •Afterschool Clubs can focus on a project area•A Site Based Club can meet in the after school hours•Parents/guardians can organize and lead 4-H Afterschool Clubs

The “Key Elements” of Quality Youth Development are central to the experience in

all 4 club structures

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“What Club Is It”

?

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NEW!!!

4-H Club Starter Box

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Club Management Guide• Designed for Club Leaders & available on line.• Addresses mission & guiding principles of 4-H• Information on forming & leading 4-H Clubs• Policies and procedures on use of the emblem,

volunteer screening, financial management• Helps for planning the club program, conducting

meetings and service projects to enhance learning• Includes a 30 page Toolkit and more!!!

NEW!!!

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Club Charter/Charter Renewal Process

• A written agreement signifying a club’s use of the 4-H name and emblem and insuring they are providing a positive youth development experience for their youth

• Every MN 4-H Club will apply annually

NEW!!!

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New Club Quality Assessment Tool

• Making Clubs Better Survey• Used by club leaders and Extension Staff to

gauge how a club is doing in their effort to provide the optimal environment for members to learn and develop

• Completed and submitted annually as part of each clubs Charter Renewal process

NEW!!!

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MN 4-H Commitment to Volunteer Training & Support

• Volunteer Training Statewide Fall 2004 – Minimum of one adult volunteer trained in

every MN 4-H club by 1/1/2005– Additional training opportunities will follow

NEW!!!

That’s Why YOU are here today

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Keys to Quality Youth Development

•Youth Feel Physically and Emotionally Safe

•Youth Experience Belonging and Ownership

•Youth Develop Self-Worth Through Meaningful Contribution

•Youth Discover Self

•Youth Develop Quality Relationships with Peers and Adults

•Youth Discuss Conflicting Values and Form Their Own

•Youth Feel the Pride and Accountability Comes with Mastery

•Youth Expand Their Capacity to Enjoy Life and Know that Success is Possible

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Making Clubs Better Survey

• Refer to Toolkit 3• Due with Club Charter/Renewal Application November

1st

• Designed to gauge the extent to which Clubs are putting the keys to positive youth development into practice

• To be completed by Club youth and adult leadership teamsNote: Survey can also be used midway through the 4-H Club year to measure your progress

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MN 4-H Club EssentialsEvery 4-H Club in MN Must Agree To:

• Develop and submit annual 4-H club plan/calendar that clearly states a minimum of one club goal determined by the membership

• Provide every member opportunity for public demonstration of learning

• Meet 6 times within a year• Have a minimum of 3 families and 8 members• Connect at least one service learning project per year• Ensure that all 4-H volunteers are screened• Maintain and adult-to-youth ratio of one to ten• Encourage and support family involvement• Provide opportunities for members to reflect on their learning• Abide by the Equal Opportunity Statement of the University of

Minnesota

Club Charter/Re-Chartering Process

NEW!!!

Who Owns the 4-H Clover?

The 4-H Club Name and Emblem are held in trust by the Secretary of

Agriculture of the USDA

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How Can the Clover Be Used?

• For educational and character building purposes of the 4-H program

• Only be used as authorized by Staff• 4-H Regional Educator is responsible for the wise

stewardship of the 4-H Clover

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Who Needs A Charter?

• All 4-H Clubs

• The State 4-H Leader and the 4-H REE are authorized to grant the use of the 4-H Club Name and Emblem to local 4-H clubs and groups

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What Does It Mean To Be Chartered?

• The club has the privilege of identifying itself as a 4-H Club by using the 4-H Club Name and Emblem

• The club agrees to provide a positive youth development environment that upholds the dignity and educational purposes of the 4-H Program

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What Does It Mean To Be Chartered (cont.)

• The club will be a voting member of the Council/Federation

• Screened volunteers of the club are covered by the University of Minnesota Liability insurance

• The club will have the right to raise and collect funds in the name of 4-H

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Process For Becoming Chartered

• Forms will be given to club leaders• Leaders meet with club to make sure everyone

understands why they are chartering• Completed forms turned into the Extension Office

by November 1• The club leader receives notification of Charter

approval• The club is then authorized to use the 4-H Name

and Emblem

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Charter Application Checklist

Items due to Regional Office by November 1st with the Clubs Charter/Charter Renewal Application:

Completed Annual 4-H Group Financial Report (found in the Treasurer’s handbook)

Completed Summary of Year (found in Secretary’s handbook)

Completed Making Clubs Better Survey

The Club Meeting and Program Planning

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Keys to Success•Planning a yearly calendar

•When, where and how often to meet

•How formal or informal

•Budget

•Club Goals

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How Should Club Meetings Look?

• Remember 4-H is more than a business meeting!

• Include – activities for early arrivals– a program or educational activity – recreation /refreshments.

• Do you need all parts at every meeting?

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The 4-H Club Meeting

• Call to Order• Pledges • Songs• Roll call, introductions of

guests• Reading of the minutes• Treasurer’s report• Committee reports• Unfinished business• New business• Announcements• Adjournment

Pre Meeting Business

Education Social

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Tools

• Club Calendar

• 4-H Club Meeting Outline

• 6 Sample club meetings

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Weather Report

• How are you feeling?

• Clear?

• Foggy?

• A storm is brewing?

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MN 4-H Volunteers

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Minnesota 4-H Believes• Volunteers are critical to fulfilling our mission and are

non-paid staff• Volunteers bring richness in experience and skill that

contribute to positive youth development• Volunteers are stakeholders in 4-H• Volunteers deserve clear position descriptions• Volunteers need to be recruited into positions that match

their skills and the mission of 4-H• Volunteers need to know who their supervisor is and how

to communicate with him/her• Volunteers deserve quality training for accomplishing

their roles

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Minnesota 4-H Believes

• Volunteers are not to be exploited• Volunteers are to be held accountable for their

commitments and held to the highest principles of positive youth development

• Volunteer’s time is to be respected and valued• Volunteers deserve appropriate recognition for

their contribution• The voluntary agreement between volunteers and

the University of Minnesota Extension Service may be severed by either party at any time

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Responsibilities of 4-H Volunteers

• Complete volunteer screening process• Represent their county and University of Minnesota

Extension Service programs with dignity and pride by being positive role models for youth

• Conduct themselves in a courteous, respectful manner and exhibit good sportsmanship

• Adhere to and enforce the rules, policies, and guidelines established by county and Extension youth programs

• Refrain from the use of physical or verbal abuse• Refrain from inappropriate or unwanted touching of youth

or adults

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Responsibilities of 4-H Volunteers

• Refrain from destructive, offensive or sexually inappropriate behavior

• Refrain from the possession or use of alcoholic beverages or illegal drugs

• Avoid smoking and using tobacco products at 4-H events when youth are present

• Respect the property of others, including clothing, personal items, equipment, and facilities

• Operate machinery, vehicles and other equipment in a responsible manner

• Accept responsibility to promote and support the University of Minnesota Extension Service to develop an effective 4-H youth development program

MN 4-H Volunteer Enrollment Form (1998)

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What’s Your Role ?