Leadership of the 4-H program is much like that of an athletic team. The county agent is the head coach and provides overall coordination and direction of the varied and diverse county 4-H program. Volunteer leaders are the other coaches. They make possible the first and most important 4-H experiences for 4-H members. These adult volunteers carry out a variety of roles at the club and county level including: organizational leader, project leader and activity leader.
The first string of our 4-H team is our junior leaders - the most under-used resource of our 4-H program. And don't forget the support team, our booster club - 4-H parents and home helpers.
Review this section to understand the wide variety roles that are necessary for a successful 4-H program.
Responsibility:
To organize and direct the overall county 4-H youth program, focusing on issues affecting youth and family.
Possible Duties:
1. Identify and analyze critical issues affecting youth and the family.
2. Develop and administer educational approaches to help youth and the family address and resolve the critical issues.
3. Recruit, train and support 4-H leaders to lead 4-H clubs, special-interest groups and school-enrichment groups.
4. Organize 4-H units throughout the county so that all interested youth may be involved in 4-H educational programs.
5. Recruit, train and support adult and teen volunteer leaders that give leadership to 4-H units, projects and activities.
6. Obtain educational resources, materials and funds to conduct the 4-H program.
Time Commitment: Paid to work 37-1/2 hours per week. Volunteers until the ask is completed.
Responsible To: County Extension Director, Delaware Cooperative Extension
Responsibility:
To organize and coordinate the functions of a 4-H club. (It is important that a commitment is made for at least one year.)
Possible Duties:
1. To enroll former and new 4-H members, using forms provided by the Extension office.
2. To serve as a liaison between the county Extension office and the community 4-H program.
3. Keep informed; read newsletters; attend Leaders' Association meetings, attend any leader training.
4. To recruit project leaders and community resource people to help with club programs.
5. Keep club leaders, parents and members informed of countywide activities, programs and events offered.
6. Assist members in setting their goals and selecting projects and activities to reach those goals.
7. Assist club officers in planning worthwhile club meetings by helping them with their agenda and parliamentary procedure.
8. Offer advice for the completion of the members project record.
9. Fill out necessary reports on time and return to Extension Office.
10. Provide support and encouragement to project and activity leaders.
Time Commitment: Ten to twelve hours per month.
Responsible To: County 4-H Agent
Responsibility:
To guide 4-H members with learning experiences in a specific project. To work cooperatively with the club organizational leader, other leaders, parents and members for a harmonious club experience.
Possible Duties:
1. Provide help to members and their parents in selecting project areas of interest, that are challenging but within reach of the individual.
2. Plan meaningful project training experiences using a variety of learning modes (meetings, tours, demonstrations, group discussions, audio-visual presentation) that meet the needs and interests of your project group.
3. Teach specific subject matter in an area of special-interest (for example: plant science - how to transplant seedlings, or bicycle - how to change a tire).
4. Help secure project materials and share your knowledge of a project with members through meetings, tours, individual help and teaching.
5. Update your skills in a project area by reading, attending offered workshops, and consultation with Extension personnel and other 4-H leaders.
6. Use junior leaders proficient in the project area to help with younger members.
7. Assist members in completing projects for related contests, activities, fair exhibits, and the project record book.
8. Help members identify additional learning experiences and resources to expand the learning opportunities.
9. Relate project experiences to every day life and to career-related opportunities for member.
10. Be sensitive to the individual differences of 4-H members such as differences in interests, abilities, personal needs and family support.
11. Participate in county 4-H Leaders Association activities.
Time Commitment: Varies with individual leader.
Responsible To: Organizational Leader
Responsibility:
To coordinate a designated activity of the 4-H club (example: Family Night, tours, community service, club exhibits, recreational events, Demonstration Night, public speaking).
Possible Duties:
1. Involve members and/or parents in planning the activity.
2. Appoint and guide committee members and assign tasks.
3. Provide leadership in planning any training meetings that are related to the activity.
4. Communicate and work with organizational leader. Attend regular Leaders Association meeting.
5. Recruit volunteers to assist with activity, locate and secure necessary resources.
6. Make necessary arrangements for meeting place, program materials, equipment and transportation.
7. Train additional volunteers (perhaps parents) to be an assistant activity leader.
8. Keep informed by reading the 4-H newsletter and attend any leadership training offered.
Time Commitment: Varies with the club and specific activity.
Responsible To: Organizational Leader
The first string on our 4-H team are our junior leaders. They are the most under-used resource of our 4-H clubs. Anyone 13 years of age or older may be a junior leader. There are many jobs junior leaders can do better than adult leaders because they are closer to the age of the members and can usually relate to the younger 4-H'ers on their own level.
Junior leaders need to be given responsibility and then trusted to get the job done. Junior leaders are really leaders in training. Anyone in training can be expected to make a few mistakes. Most of us learn more from our failures than our successes. Don't be afraid to let a junior leader make a mistake as that's part of the training process too.
Junior leaders often make excellent project and activity leaders. At first, the organizational leader needs to work closely with the junior leader serving in this role to make sure that he/she has a good understanding of what's expected, knows how to work effectively with people and appreciates the consequences if they fail to do what they agreed to.
The most important thing to keep in mind when working with junior leaders is that these members are really young adults and are very capable of performing a wide variety of tasks. Make sure they are challenged and always have something worthwhile to do. Don't make the common mistake of assigning junior leaders only housekeeping-type duties. If the job doesn't seem important to them they'll quickly lose interest and have a lower sense of their self-worth.
Responsibility:
To assist organizational, project and activity leaders in guiding the 4-H club or by leading a club or project group on their own. Junior leaders may also give leadership to county 4-H events.
Possible Duties:
1. Assist with enrollment, re-enrollment and selection of 4-H projects by 4-H members.
2. Assist in planning club 4-H projects and activities.
3. Assist project and activity leaders in conducting 4-H projects and activities.
4. Lead 4-H project or activity groups.
5. Communicate with 4-H members, other junior leaders and all adult leaders within the local 4-H club.
6. Keep informed by reading the 4-H newsletter and participating in training as offered.
7. Participate in Junior Council, Teen Weekend and State 4-H Teen Conference.
8. Assist in planning and conducting county and state 4-H events.
Time Commitment: Varies with interests of junior leaders.
Responsible To: 4-H organizational, project or activity leader, depending upon their specific role.
Parent cooperation in 4-H is vital. 4-H agents and volunteer leaders may get a child interested in becoming a 4-H'er, but it takes the goodwill and help of parents to keep them interested and encouraged. If a member is to take an active part in the local club and county activities, the parents have to be there. The attitudes of the child and how much he or she accomplishes will depend, in part, on the attitude and involvement of the parents.
Parental support for the 4-H leader:
4-H parents can save the leader time and work.
4-H parents may have skills to teach what the leader doesn't have.
Parental support for the 4-H member:
4-H parents give support, confidence, assurance and a feeling of security that might not otherwise be present.
4-H parents can teach their 4-H member to accept success and defeat. In return, the parents:
- will be linked in a sharing experience when they work together with their 4-H member on a project.
- will feel they are contributing to their community and the development of young people.
- will find a development of a strong family unit by working together.
- will gain new friends and become acquainted with other families with similar interests.
- will develop a positive relationship with their children.
It's really easier than you think to get people to help you with whatever you're doing if you follow these two simple rules:
1. Make a sincere, positive request face to face. If you can't meet face to face, then call. Writing does not usually cause the hoped-for results. It's too easy to ignore a letter, but more difficult to say no on the phone and very difficult to refuse a legitimate request in person. Don't count on your members carrying an important message home. If they remember to tell their parents at all, it probably won't be the message you asked them to deliver. Be positive and don't be afraid to let guilt work for you. State your request so that it would almost seem un-American to be refused. Don't be afraid to suggest a sense of obligation. Just matter of factly say, "I expect the parents of the club members to help and this is what I need for you to do ..." Don't be sarcastic or overly aggressive, but do be firm and straight forward.
2. Be specific as to what you want done, what's involved, how long it might take, etc. Be careful not to just ask someone to help. The word "help" is too vague for most people to commit themselves. But, if you ask, "I want you to be responsible for the parent's night dinner on February 25. You'll need to reserve the room, plan the meal, tell the members what to bring, arrange for a program and make sure everything is cleaned up afterward." Offer to work with them and be willing to literally take them by the hand if this is the first time they've done what you're asking. If it's a job they have the ability and time to do and if you've given them enough advanced notice, more times than not you'll be successful. Be sure to praise them for a job well done as this will make it easier for you to get their help the next time.
Congratulations! You have just been invited to be a living, breathing support system - a 4-H home helper!
You may be a mother or a father, an older brother or sister, a grandparent, an aunt or uncle or even a neighbor. The 4-H member has asked for your help because:
It is more fun to do things together than alone.
The 4-H member would like to spend some time with you.
You have some skills and understanding that the young person would like to share.
Please say "yes, I'd be happy to help you."
This will give you the opportunity to:
spend time with the 4-H'er on a one-to-one relationship
enjoy learning together in your own space. Your home, yard, garage, or barn can become a learning center, a laboratory for discovery.
use day-to-day activities as occasions for learning. The young person is asking for a friendly apprenticeship. Things you do each day can become natural learning experiences.
When you say yes to being a 4-H home helper it will be because you want the 4-H member to learn and have fun.
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Talk with the member, share ideas, become better friends.
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Help the member to identify project-related interests.
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Help the member plan for project-related activities; write these in the Member-Helper-Project Leader Agreement.
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Work together, side by side, at project activities.
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Encourage the member to do it. Step back. Watch! Provide support! Let the member do it alone if possible!!! Refrain from working on any article which is for competition.
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Be present; provide abundant encouragement.
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Help with problem solving. Why is the plan not working? Are there other ways to do it?
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Recognize all accomplishments. Let the member know when it is a good job!
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Encourage the member to broaden interests in the project area.
The home helper seeks to maintain a good relationship, to provide an environment of support, and to encourage responsibility appropriate to the age of the member.
YES, I'D BE GLAD TO HELP SHEET
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parent's name address phone
____________________________________
child's name address phone
Please check the areas with which you are willing to help your child and his/her 4-H club. Keep a copy as a reference.
1. I will make every effort to know and understand the 4-H program, so that my child will complete a project.
2. I will see that my child has transportation to and from the meeting when necessary.
3. I will attend the parents' night, club tours, local club achievement programs and/or other special events that have been planned by the club members.
4. I will set the example to help my child learn to be a good sport and to appreciate the success of others.
5. I have been a 4-H leader or member. (Underline proper word/s.)
6. I will be a chaperon for a trip.
7. I will be a leader for one project area (foods, arts and crafts, dogs, clothing, etc.).
8. I will take care of the children of 4-H leaders or helpers during the time of meeting.
9. I will help the 4-H club with its money-earning or special activities.
10. I will help the club leader with duties such as telephoning.
11. I will furnish transportation for occasional tours, picnics, or county events.
12. I will help plan tours for the club.
13. I will help with simple refreshments when needed.
14. I will share the following hobbies or skills with the group -
________________________________________________________________
15. For an occasional meeting, I will lend:
kitchen ___ living room ___ backyard ___ basement ___.
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