Iowa 4-H Club Chartering

Why is Club Charter Documentation important? The Iowa 4-H program is charged with maintaining the fidelity of the 4-H program as administered by Iowa State University and USDA-NIFA, including: Meeting of federal definitions and expectations Meeting club delivery mode requirements Alignment with youth development principles Alignment with program priorities and policies The Iowa 4-H program uses the chartering process to ensure the fidelity of our clubs and learning communities to the policies and purposes of the National and State 4-H program Why is Club Charter Documentation important?

Complete the club charter process (one-page form) ONCE for all existing and new clubs: Complete the club charter process (one-page form) Includes: Club name, plan for youth leadership, confirmation that membership requirements are met, confirmation that volunteer requirements are met for at least one volunteer. Annual documents must also be uploaded and in place. (existing clubs must complete by fall 2019, or be closed) Annually Upload Club calendar of events Financial summary if they raise and/or spend funds Civil rights compliance form 4-H 3 Annually confirm Leaders are up to date in their annual training Leaders are up to date in their screening Optional

Iowa 4-H Clubs will be assigned one of three statuses: Active – Have passed initial review of volunteer and document compliance. Subject to review again on a 3-year cycle, or as recommended by county staff or Youth Program Specialist. Provisional – Have not passed their most recent review. Will not appear on online Club map, and will be included on an annual list of provisional Clubs to the Youth Program Specialist. Provisional Clubs can enroll members. Provisional Clubs can be restored to Active status at any time upon successfully completing review by county staff and YPS. Closed – Clubs closed for any reason by county or state 4-H Staff. Can not enroll members. Existing members of a Closed Club will need to enroll in a different Club. Closed Clubs can be returned to Provisional or Active Status as recommended by county and YPS.

State Review Timeline: Annually uploaded documents will be reviewed by State 4-H Office in January on a program-year basis: Every 3 years if the Club is “Active” Every 1 year if it is “Provisional” Volunteer training and screening requirements will continue to be reviewed each July.

Club Chartering Update: Rollout 2017-18 Program Year: You may begin the club charter process with your county’s clubs, but it’s not required. You may begin uploading the annual documents, but it’s not required. Clubs with records of their start-dates can request a back-dated Charter Certificate. 2018-19 Program Year: All other clubs will be required to complete the charter process. 2019-20 Program Year: Clubs that have not applied for a charter by Fall 2019 will be closed.

Process Policy Club Chartering: Questions? Phil Heckman 515-294-9785 pheckman@iastate.edu Policy Mitch Hoyer 515-294-1531 mhoyer@iastate.edu