UM College Park UM Eastern Shore 1 Part V The 4-H Club University of Maryland Extension programs are open to all citizens without regard to race, color, gender, disability, religion, age, sexual orientation, marital or parental status, or national origin.

UM College Park UM Eastern Shore 4-H Age The age of a 4-Her on January 1 st of the current year. Clovers: ages Juniors: ages 8 – 10 Intermediates: ages 11 – 13 Seniors: ages

UM College Park UM Eastern Shore What is a 4-H Club A 4-H Club is an organized group of at least five youth from three different families who meet regularly with adult volunteers or staff for a long- term, progressive series of educational experiences. 3

UM College Park UM Eastern Shore Types of 4-H Clubs Community Clubs Project Clubs Clover Clubs Special Interest or Short Term School Enrichment Independent Study 4

UM College Park UM Eastern Shore 4-H Membership Standards Open to all youth without regard to: Race Color Gender Religion National Origin Age Disability Sexual Orientation Parental or Marital Status 5

UM College Park UM Eastern Shore 4-H Membership Standards Enroll by June 30th (4-H Year 1/1 – 12/31) Membership in multiple clubs is permitted Expectation of 4-H members Regularly attend club meetings/activities Complete at least one project Complete project book Give an oral presentation at a club meeting Exhibit at local, county or state fair 6

UM College Park UM Eastern Shore Minimum of 5 members ages 8-18 Members should be from three different families Elected Officers UME Volunteers Six or more club meetings annually Annual club educational plan Written by-laws developed by members Have a Club Charter 7 Standards for 4-H Clubs

UM College Park UM Eastern Shore 8 Clover Club Standards For children ages 5 to 7 years as of Jan. 1 st Usually a small number of members engaged in “hands on” activities Should have two appointed UME volunteers Volunteer to member ratio of 6 to 1 Clovers do not participate in competitive events Planned program using the Clover Curriculum

UM College Park UM Eastern Shore Naming a 4-H Club or Event Names must be Specific Names should not imply Exclusivity Names should not be Overtly Religious Names should not be Offensive Names should foster the Character-Building Purpose of 4-H Names should be Sustainable over Time Names should comply with Copyright Regulations

UM College Park UM Eastern Shore Summary of Maryland 4-H Club Charter Guidelines Have a minimum of five members between the ages of eight and 18 from at least three families. (Members should be at least eight years old as of January 1 and not have passed their 18th birthday on January 1.) Membership meets the Affirmative Action guidelines for new 4-H clubs according to the University of Maryland Extension Plan for Compliance and other anti-discrimination laws and guidelines. 10

UM College Park UM Eastern Shore Summary of Maryland 4-H Club Charter Guidelines Have at least six or more regularly scheduled club meetings per year. Have a written planned educational program that provides a variety of learning experiences. Have a set of BY-LAWS developed by the club and a Federal EIN tax number.

UM College Park UM Eastern Shore 4-H Behavioral Expectations Provides opportunities for character building Based on Six Pillars of Character Counts!  Trustworthiness Respect Responsibility Fairness Caring Citizenship 12

UM College Park UM Eastern Shore Behavioral Policy and Procedures Member and parent annually reads policy and both sign agreement Prohibited possession of items Prohibited actions Procedures Written notification Right to be heard prior to sanctions Review Board option 13

UM College Park UM Eastern Shore Annual Club Plan Everyone helps in planning Responsibilities are shared Balanced and interesting programs Provides direction Improves quality of meetings

UM College Park UM Eastern Shore Financial Issues Good Financial Records: Are an open, public record Fulfill University auditing requirements Enable accountability for everyone Bank Account, EIN & Two Signatures Good Record Keeping Club Treasurer’s Record Book

UM College Park UM Eastern Shore Fund Raising Educational activity Raise $$ for a specific purpose Match the fundraiser to amount needed Safety First! Rule of Thumb

UM College Park UM Eastern Shore Awards and Recognition Everyone likes recognition Club awards County awards State awards

UM College Park UM Eastern Shore Risk Management Safety First! Benefit vs. Risk Transportation Insurance Camp and Overnight policies Health and Release Forms Privacy Statement

UM College Park UM Eastern Shore Projects and Record Keeping Experiential Learning Obtaining useful skills In groups or individually Record books & resumes The Clover Award Program

UM College Park UM Eastern Shore Use of 4-H Name and Emblem The “official” emblem is a green four-leaf clover with a white H on each leaf. The 4-H name and emblem are “owned” by USDA. Check with 4-H Educators before designing club signs, clothing, etc. 20

UM College Park UM Eastern Shore 4-H Events and Contests Cooperative and Competitive County/City, Region, State & National Family Friendly Workshops, Field Trips & Camps Newsletters &

UM College Park UM Eastern Shore 22 Questions? This presentation was originally created Dr. Lisa Dennis, 4-H Youth and Adult Leadership Specialist, and revised by Amy Rhodes, Sharon Pahlman, and David Gordon 2010.