Wednesday, December 19, 2007

Collegiate 4-H Facilitators provide leadership for key components of the National 4-H Conference. Facilitators lead delegates through team building activities, "citizenship excursions" as well as round table discussions —which leads to the recommendations that youth provide to the Secretary of Agriculture and others to strengthen the 4-H Youth Development Program.

NATIONAL LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITY – 2008 National 4-H Conference

The National 4-H Headquarters is pleased to announce an opportunity for Collegiate 4-H Members to serve as Collegiate Facilitators at the 2008 National 4-H Conference in Chevy Chase, Maryland. The conference will be held from Saturday, March 29 – Thursday, April 3, 2008. Collegiate Facilitators will be required to arrive Thursday, March 27 ^th and depart on April 3^rd.

This year's conference promises to be an exciting event for all involved, as more than 400 delegates from across the country come together to explore the theme "Green A.I.D. - Acquire, Inform, Deliver". The theme reflects the question, "As society becomes more environmentally conscious, how can the 4-H Youth Development Program "A.I.D." in enhancing socially significant and relevant programming to increase the environmental awareness of our clubs, our communities, our country, and our world."

Collegiate Facilitators play a key role throughout the conference as they lead delegates in a variety of team building activities, round table discussions, and lead "citizenship excursions" through D.C. Facilitators will undergo training in facilitation techniques as well as develop skills in leading groups on field trips, through icebreakers and team building exercises.

Facilitators are expected to participate in all activities during the Conference and will depart on April 3. All travel expenses will be reimbursed. Meals and lodging are provided as part of the conference.

For more information, contact Eddy Mentzer at ementzer@csrees.usda.gov .

Application Form Available at http://4hconf.4-h.org/collegiate4hfacilitators.aspx

Wednesday, April 11, 2007

Contributed by April Mendenhall, 2007 National 4-H Conference Collegiate Facilitator, Arizona 4-H alumni and Colorado State University Collegiate 4-H President
This year members of Collegiate 4-H clubs from across the country participated as facilitators at the National 4-H Conference. The conference was held at the National 4-H Youth Conference Center in Chevy Chase, Maryland. These members acted as leaders of discussions and helped to teach 15 to 18 year old high school students about the many aspects of the 4-H program and citizenship.

Collegiate 4-H members led round table discussions with the delegates, encouraging them to think about issues facing their generation and what it really means to be a citizen of the world, not just of their country or their community. They also discussed changes to the 4-H program as a whole, and taught them new ideas to take back to their own communities and clubs.

These facilitators also led their groups through Citizenship Excursions—structured activities, discussion and reflection about citizenship while visiting a mix of monuments, memorials and museums in the Nation’s Capitol. Sites included the Holocaust museum to discuss why it is important not to remain silent, Arlington cemetery to reflect on the cost of being free, the Lincoln memorial to consider Lincoln’s dedication to freedom for all men, and many more. The delegates were questioned about the impact these monuments had on them, and why they are important to learn about, the impact their meaning has on the world. The facilitators encouraged their groups to think of themselves as citizens of the world, and how to make the world a better place, not just their home country. "We all must work together to make a difference!"

Collegiate 4-H is proud to have its members participate in this event and others like it. We continue to support 4-H and its programs through out college careers and into the future. To learn more about Collegiate 4-H and to find or start a club near you, visit the National Collegiate 4-H Organization website.

Collegiate Facilitators include:
Reana Bye, NV
Mercy Eklund, SC
Amy Frerichs, SD
Katie Geske, ND
Timothy Hornsby, OH
Laura Johnson, NY
Dawn Jason, LA
Scott Jones, NM
Wendee Killmon, DE
Paul Lacey, CA
KaLonna Maull, DE
April Mendenhall, CO
Jeffrey Morgan, ID
Lauren Mouton, LA
Shane Potter, NE
Danielle Smarsh, DE
Grace Tucker, KS
Gillette Vaira, MT
Ashley Viste, WI
Benjamin Wenner, MI