What does being a 4-H member entail?
In order to get anything out of 4-H, you – the member – has to DO. To complete the 4-H year, each member must complete at least one (or more) project, participate in a community service project, an agricultural awareness project and a communications project.
- Projects
Members learn lots from 4-H project work and can choose what's right for them. 4-H offers more than 50 exciting and challenging projects – photography, canine, livestock, crafts, computers, cooking, outdoor exploration - just to name a few - or members can create (even lead!) their very own 4-H project. At 4-H, members can still learn about agriculture and raise a calf but there's no shortage of other interesting choices.
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Community Service Project
Our pledge states "for better living in our club, our community and our country". Typically, clubs will take on several projects that have benefit on their communities and themselves. Think food drives, fundraisers for the hospitals, visiting seniors, painting your community hall, sending cards to Canadian troops. . . the possibilities are endless, as the needs of the community are high. Members are only required to do one community service project, but should try and participate in as many as they can. They aren’t only helping someone else when they do.
4-H’s roots are embedded in agriculture. It was first started as a means of training parents in planting techniques; when parents would not change their methods, someone said, well, we’ll teach the kids who will take these skills home. The organization has grown a lot itself from there, and it now recognizes that kids can be trained in much more than just farming techniques. However, recognizing our roots and our rural base, 4-H feels strongly about educating on the rural nature of P.E.I. Projects span from visiting a local farm or greenhouse, to attending a seminar on local foods, to taking what members have learned on their own and sharing it with others.
All members must do a speech or demonstration each year. 4-H Alumni always cite the public speaking experience they gained in 4-H as one of the most valuable skills they gained while they were a member, and teachers always say that they can pick out the 4-Her in the classroom. Time requirements range by age.
Do all 4-H members live on farms?
In short – NO! While the 4-H roots are in rural P.E.I., projects have grown to reflect a diversity of lifestyle and offer everything from photography to beef to camping projects.
Do 4-H clubs start in fall and run until spring/summer?
A 4-H club can start and stop whenever it likes. It can run year round or be active for only a few months of the year. While fall to spring is the traditional time frame for many 4-H clubs, it is not mandatory. With busy schedules and fun outdoor projects, maybe a summer club is an idea that would work in your community. Some clubs get their project work done in the summer when school is out and do their club programs during the fall and winter. The choice is yours.
Do 4-H project meetings have to occur weekly?
4-H project meetings should be scheduled to meet the needs of the volunteers and the members. Regular monthly meetings are encouraged as a time management technique. How much time and how much you wish to learn in a project is very flexible and can be designed to fit a busy 4-H member's schedule. Calculating how much time you will require to complete a project and blocking time for accomplishing those goals through the 4-H year provides an opportunity for development of valuable time management skills.
Do all 4-H clubs have to do fundraising?
The P.E.I. 4-H Council has one provincial fundraiser that takes place every October. Members sell ADL Cheese ($12), Island Gold Honey, P.E.I. Preserves gift sets, Maple Syrup (when available) and usually one other island project (all sold for $10). Member’s make 10% for their club with each order and the rest goes to the provincial office to use for programming. The standard expectation is for each member to sell 5 orders, however there are great prizes for top district and island sales.
Different levels of 4-H councils ask for contributions to offset their programming costs. For example, P.E.I. 4-H Council has a mandatory fee per member of $11 a year. This fee helps to provide liability and accident insurance, youth protection program, member and leader travel and conference programs, 4-H Banner, website, scholarships, etc.
The club determines how much money they require to operate and how those monies are raised. Some clubs choose to fundraise; others set membership fees to offset the costs; and still others choose a pay-as-you-go philosophy. Club programming and council contributions are the two main needs for funds.
Does every club need a club executive?
The 4-H program encourages the teaching of meeting management to the 4-H members. Electing an executive of 4-H members and running your business through an executive is a proven method of teaching meeting management and getting the business of the club done. However, your club may have a different method they would like to try - that includes participatory decision making and/or group consensus building. A club is not obligated to have the same slate of executive officers. Typical examples of officers are president, vice-president, secretary, treasurer, club news reporter, but could also include a scrapbooker, a historian, a phoning committee. . . Your executive should be set and administered in a fashion that best suits the needs of your club.
If there is not a 4-H project manual can I do that project?
The choices are limitless for 4-H projects. If a 4-H project manual is not available on your chosen topic, take "Self Determined". This project is designed to help an individual or group of 4-H members create a project on their topic choice. 4-H members have created projects on astronomy, memory boxes, duck and goose calling, ATV, autobody, home decor, videography . . . The choices are limitless! AND if you decide to make up a project, you could take on the Junior Leadership project and teach what you learnt to younger members. Now THAT’S learning to do by doing!
Can members can get a school credit for their 4-H participation?
Not really – yet. It’s one of the things 4-H staff is looking into. However, senior members can volunteer at various district and provincial events and earn hours to go towards the P.E.I. Community Service Bursary program, earning them $6 an hour for up to 100 hours of service for use at college or university.
Can senior 4-H members can shadow a 4-H leader to gain leadership skills?
Senior 4-H members can work as assistants to 4-H project and head leaders in the traditional “Junior Leader” role. Senior 4-H members can expand their leadership skills by: - being a head leader - teaching, planning and/or coordinating a program/project - serving as a volunteer in a community or school organization - serving as a mentor - being an ambassador on a certain topic. The choice is endless and members are not restricted to leadership roles in 4-H.
The “Challenge” project offers this opportunity and so much more too. Groups of members can get together and plan an event or project or activity for their club, their district or something completely unrelated! Past examples included, having a community benefit dance, a 100 mile dinner, writing a project or preparing a rally for local producers.
How many members do you need to make a new club?
The recommendation is that you need at least five members from two families to start a 4-H club. If you only have one family, that makes the program a family activity. We request that you have a minimum of two families so that it can be a community-based activity and you must have at least one leader.
How often do clubs meet?
Most clubs have a general meeting once a month, but there is no rule on how often. Your club can determine what works best for you. How many meetings do you need to get the business done? If you can do it in 4 meetings rather than 8 – that is how many meetings you should be having. Having your club assess how many meetings are right for them, teaches a valuable management tool.
Project meetings are decided by the leader, and the members in the project. It is our experience on PEI, that members are so busy at the beginning of the 4-H year, with both 4-H stuff and other extra-curricular activities, that projects don't start meeting until March / April. It is at the discresion of the members and leaders.
What is achievement day?
Achievement day is your day to celebrate your year’s accomplishments and members, their families and others are highly encouraged to attend. However, sometimes circumstances arise that makes it extremely difficult or impossible for a member to be in attendance. If this should happen, contact your district office staff and your head leader to see what kind of compromise can be worked out. These decisions are made on an individual club basis. However, it is the 4-H member’s responsibility to have their project completed for display by achievement day, and to bring the matter up prior to achievement.