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Extension Professionals…
Your input is needed for the future of Kansas 4-H!
How Do We Grow 4-H?
How Do We Grow 4-H? -- An Update
With the focus on the future, and recognizing that in the corporate
world a "business that is not growing is dying", over 100 extension
and 4-H Foundation staff members engaged in lively discussion groups
on April 23rd in Great Bend. Note-takers captured 39 pages of comments
and suggestions from 18 discussion groups, which were posted on the
4-H website for nearly 3 months. As the facilitator for the day-long
open space meeting, Dr. Daryl Buchholz, Associate Director, K-State
Research & Extension, charged all those present with the
responsibility of taking their passion and putting action into "Grow
4-H!" -- more specifically, "Grow 4-H" has to happen at the local
level.
In a presentation to the Kansas 4-H Foundation Board of Trustees on
April 24th, the discussion groups were summarized into four major
topics:
• Enhancing Club Based Participation
• Retaining the 4-H'er
• Reaching Out To a Broader Youth Audience
• Training for the Agent and Volunteer
The Board of Trustees are very interested in and supportive of well
designed efforts at both the local level and the state level to "Grow
4-H".
We believe that it will take all of us, working in partnership with
others at all levels of the organization, to put action into those
passions. In addition to these comments gathered on April 23rd, the
voices of youth and volunteers have and will be gathered in several
different venues including Campference, KYLF and the State Volunteer
Forum. At the State 4-H Program Rally (December 11-12), further
discussions will take place with the goal of designing the framework
for action plans.
During the coming months, the State 4-H Action Teams, State 4-H
Advisory, State 4-H Livestock Advisory and other task forces will
review the comments and suggestions as they design and implement
state-level programs, events and curriculum. During the past months,
further discussions have taken place involving extension staff (local
and state) regarding:
1. Programming with faith-based organizations.
2. A school enrichment data base.
3. Enhanced resources for project leaders.
4. New member and new family support and retention.
5. Marketing efforts.
6. "Strengthening Clubs I & II" training for agents and key
volunteers.
In the midst of our busy summer schedules, it will be easy to put
aside and perhaps forget about the momentum that was created on April
23rd. Yet, I challenge each and all to not forget nor put aside your
thoughts, your energies and your passions for growing the Kansas 4-H
Program. As you kick off the new 4-H year, consider engaging your 4-H
PDC in a lively discussion on "How Do We Grow Our 4-H Program?"!
Invite your Extension Board Members to share their vision, dreams and
goals in growing their 4-H program! And, don't forget about engaging
your 4-H Council to address this topic!
After all, we all have responsibility to reach as many young people
with a quality 4-H program as possible. That's what's expected of us
by our constituents, legislators, donors and young people and their
parents in our communities. And, that's what's expected of extension
professionals by extension professionals.
Pat McNally, Ed.D.
Assistant Director, 4-H Youth Development
State Leader, Department Head and Professor, 4-H Youth Development
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