1. Introduction to the NEW Illinois 4-H Recognition Program
The member standards of excellence and the club standards of excellence are no more. Members will stop filling those out and club leaders, you do not need to turn in the club paper.
Spring 2017

2. ENGAGE: Recognition and inclusion of all members and clubs into the 4-H community
EXPERIENCE: Recognition of members and clubs who are involved in a diverse spectrum of 4-H experiences (club, county, multi-county, state, national, & international levels)
EXCEL: Recognition of member excellence and club achievements (includes state-level awards and mastery events at all levels)
Three levels of 4-H involvement–
We want our members to feel ENGAGED in the 4-H program. From starting a new club or joining a current one, we want our members and clubs to feel that sense of belonging and engagement in the 4-H program.
EXPERIENCE - We want to be able to recognize our members and clubs who have chosen to become involved in that diverse spectrum of 4-H experiences that we have to offer on a variety of levels – club, county, unit, multi-county, state, national and international.
Members and clubs that EXCEL in various aspects of the 4-H program should also be recognized for their achievement.

3. ENGAGE INDIVIDUAL CLUB Locally defined – t-shirt, folder, etc.
Social Media Shout Out / Newsletter Spotlight / Event Welcomes
Club Charter
Flag Set
Social Media Shout Out / Newsletter Spotlight / Event Welcomes
To foster the sense of belonging – or ENGAGE our new members and clubs – most of this level needs to take place on the local county/unit level.
For members:
Providing members with some type of visible and locally defined 4-H membership item – a 4-H t-shirt or 4-H folder.
2) We on the local level provide “shout outs” recognizing members – via local Facebook pages, county/unit newsletters, new member welcoming events or packets, recognition at local achievement programs.
New Clubs need to be recognizing for their formation as well – providing a club charter and 4-H desktop flag set. And again we use local social media methods to hail the start of a new club – Facebook, newsletters, newspapers, recognition events, recognizing new leaders at trainings, etc.

4. EXPERIENCE INDIVIDUAL CLUB Bronze Clover Silver Clover Gold Clover
Diamond Clover
Emerald Clover
Online Club Story Report
Social Media Shout Outs
Monthly drawing for clubs that submit story
The second level – the EXPERIENCE level – will focus on the different type of experiences that our members and clubs take part in. For our members, there will be five different opportunities for recognition as a BRONZE, SILVER, GOLD, DIAMOND OR EMERALD Clover members.
4-H Clubs will also be able to be recognized for the experiences that they provide with their members. An online club story report is available for club leaders and officers to report on their various activities from month to month. We do shout-outs on social media to highlight what your different 4-H clubs are doing. Clubs can complete the form as many times as they want throughout the year – and you are encouraged to do so. On the state level, they are having a monthly drawing for the clubs that have submitted stories that month and the winners will receive a special recognition. You can go to the bottom of the Illinois 4-H website and click “Share Your 4-H Story” to submit your story.

5. EXPERIENCE: INDIVIDUAL
Four Dimensions of Experience
Participation
Community Service
Leadership
Project Learning
In the Experience realm of the new Illinois 4-H Recognition model, we will be recognizing 4-H members for involvement in four different dimensions of the 4-H experience:
Participation – which will include such things as attendance at club meetings, county activities, and activities beyond the county level like state livestock judging contest, State Fair, or Illini Summer Academies
Second dimension is Community Service – members who actively participate in group service activities with their club or a county group, plan a group service activity, participate in an individual service activity that focuses on specific skills or knowledge from a 4-H project.
3) Leadership is our third area in the Experience realm – These Experiences will range from General leadership such as attending a leadership training to each one of the six Leadership Competencies – Advising, Advocating, Planning, Promoting, Mentoring and Teaching. Each of the leadership competencies has several difference experiences noted under that specific heading. Youth – depending upon how they wish to experience the Leadership dimension – can have items in several of the different leadership areas, or some may focus on just one or two of the competencies.
4) Our final dimension for Experience is Project Learning. This will offer – by far – the largest number of experiences that a member may have within the 4-H program. Included are items like making a 4-H presentation about a project to my club to participating in a 4-H competition or exhibit experience, making a 4-H presentation about a project beyond the county program, and participating in an career exploration activity related to one of the 4-H’ers project areas.
By encouraging our 4-H members to explore experiences beyond their club, we offer them a world of different opportunities to learn and explore…and that will increase the member’s ability to be able to be recognized for expanding upon their experiences in the 4-H program.

6. EXPERIENCE: INDIVIDUAL
Recognition Levels & Requirements
Bronze Clover - 1 experience in each dimension
Silver Clover - 2 experiences in each dimension, at least 2 at county level or beyond
Gold Clover - 4 experiences in each dimension, at least 2 beyond the county level
Examples….. From Experience sheet

7. EXPERIENCE: INDIVIDUAL
Recognition Levels & Requirements
Diamond Clover - 6 or more experiences in one dimension, at least four beyond the county level
Emerald Clover - 8 or more experiences in one dimension, at least four beyond the county level, plus at least 2 at the state or national level*
*Emerald Clover will not be available for recognition in the Participation dimension.
NOTE re: Emerald Clover and Participation – Feel that the Emerald Clover recognition is high enough that we want our members at that level to do more than just Participate – need to step forward in other dimensions of Leadership, Service, or Mastery.

8. EXPERIENCE: INDIVIDUAL
Process
Bronze, Silver and Gold -
Reviewed and approved by club leader & local office (Fillable PDF)
Diamond and Emerald -
Reviewed and approved at state level (Fillable PDF)
* Levels may be repeated but each activity/event can only be used once within a level or in a single dimension
Example for the *Levels may be repeated…. comment
Club meeting on March 16, 2016 can only be used once, but “new” club meetings can be used multiple years.
Rational – some kids may only Participate in club meetings and a county and state event each year… we don’t want to disregard those things, but they cannot use the exact same club meetings (from a specific date) over multiple years

9. EXPERIENCE: INDIVIDUAL
Recognition
Level
What
Where
Bronze
*4-H Prize
County
Silver
Gold
Diamond
*TBA
State Awards Banquet; Online
Emerald
We’re not exactly sure what the prizes are that are coming from the state. But they will be announced in e-news.

10. EXCEL INDIVIDUAL CLUB Application State Awards Banquet By Application
* Different recognition options
State Awards Banquet
By Application
Award Areas
Community Service
Project Learning
Leadership
$75 Club Award (must have treasury)
Different Recognition Options for State Awards – at this time include Trip to National 4-H Congress, Scholarship, or Scholarship funds to another national event that the member meets the requirements for
State Award Banquet – This November will include the State 4-H Award Winners, 4-H LCP Winners, State 4-H Key Award Winners and the Diamond and Emerald winners from the Experience level.
Club Awards –
As with the members and as we have in the past, club members and leaders will need to apply for this recognition
3 award areas – Community Service, Project Learning, Leadership
# per category still to be determined; may be pro-rated according to # of applications in each category; Maximum number of awards still TBD

11. 2016-17 4-H Year Deadlines AWARD DEADLINE EXPERIENCE
Bronze, Silver and Gold Applications
September 8, 2017
Diamond and Emerald Applications
December 2017
Club Success Stories
Ongoing / Monthly drawing to recognize
EXCEL
Individual State Award Applications
Club Award Applications
September 8, 2017 is the date for record book turn-in for Champaign County.

12. County Awards Program
We have redone the county award application to look like the state award application. The idea is youth ages 8-14yo are able to fill out these awards and youth ages 15 and up are able to fill out the Illinois 4-H Award Application. Let’s take a minute to look through the criteria and application.