4-H Clubs Serving Their Communities

4-H Clubs Serving Their Communities Central District Judges & Leaders Clinic Saturday, March 6th, 2004 Presented by Steve McKinley

Generating Community Service Project Ideas • Find a partner. • Share with each other a service project that your 4-H Club has completed. • Write down the major points of the project as your partner shares with you. • Ask your partner to sign your paper (include Name & County). • Trade partners and repeat steps 1-4.

Other Examples • Bartholomew County • Haunted House • Dubois County • Habitat for Humanity garage/tool storage shed • Tippecanoe County • Canned food drive • White County • Birthday Bags for clients of food pantry

Why Should 4-H Members Participate in Community Service Projects? • Learn about needs that are present in your community • Make contacts with key people in your community • Take action to make your community better • Gain self-satisfaction from making a difference in your community

White County Jr. Leader Quotes • “Serving others can be great fun and very helpful to others in need.” • “I have found out serving others is very rewarding.” • “I’ve learned that self-satisfaction, not a physical thank you, is the reward for serving others.”

White County Jr. Leader Quotes • “Every year when we do the birthday bags, I get a feeling of appreciation for what I have and it makes me feel good that I have been able to make someone else’s life a little brighter. Serving others to me is not only giving a ‘gift’ but also receiving because of the feeling you get from giving.”

Put Your Ideas Into Action! • Now that we have ideas for service projects for your 4-H Clubs, we need to take steps to be sure that your project will be successful. • Include all members of your club… • When you decide upon a project to complete; • When you plan your project; and • When you conduct the project

Community Service Project Checklist • What community needs have been identified? • Which project do the 4-H Club members wish to pursue? • Which 4-H members will serve on the planning committee? • Who are the key people in the community to contact for this project?

Community Service Project Checklist • Who will make these contacts? • When will the service project be conducted? • Where will the service project be conducted?

Community Service Project Checklist • What supplies are needed? • From where will these supplies be purchased/donated? • Who is responsible for acquiring these supplies? • What is the timeline for completion of this project?

Community Service Project Checklist • What publicity needs to be done for this project? • Letter to 4-H Club Members and Parents • Newspaper • Radio/TV • How will you evaluate your project? • What other details need to be addressed?

It’s Your Turn! • Form groups of 4-5 people. • Identify a project for your 4-H Club to consider from the list we developed earlier. • Complete the checklist for this project. • Share your plans with the members of your 4-H Club. • Report your results.

Good Luck with your Community Service Projects! Thank you for your participation!

4-H Clubs Serving Their Communities