How to Join 4-H

What do you like to do?  4-H has many opportunities for you to meet friends, have fun and learn new things in areas of your interest.  4-H has clubs, projects and lots of special events.  So many choices!

Section links for this page:
Step by Step Procedure
A Snapshot of a 4-H Club
4-H Tips
What makes a good 4-H member?

A Snapshot of a 4-H Club
A 4-H Community Club may include any or all of these elements: a business meeting, a program, activities, recreation and refreshments.  Clubs elect officers and often develop committees.  An integral part of 4-H Clubs are projects.

Clubs with a single project focus such as a rocketry club or a digital media club may vary slightly from the traditional 4-H Community Clubs.

• Club Business Meetings
  Each club holds a monthly business meeting in which the members discuss business.  Club meetings may sound boring, but it is here that you meet people in your club and decide important issues about recreation, fundraising, and service activities. 

During club meetings parliamentary procedure is observed.  Parliamentary procedure includes the rules that allow a business meeting to have order and run smoothly.  As you become older, these meetings allow you to broaden your leadership skills by becoming an officer.

• Project Meetings
  4-H offers around 180 projects ranging from aerospace to clothing and foods to leadership.  Whatever project you choose, you are sure to have fun learning with people interested in the same things as you!  Check out the Projects or the Clover for project choices.

• Club Officers
  Club officers are members that are learning more about leadership roles.  Officers are usually elected in September and serve for one year.  Clubs may have some or all of the following officers.

The president runs the meetings, keeps order, and informs the club of upcoming events.

The vice president runs the meetings in the absence of the president and is in charge of the program portion of the meeting.

The secretary keeps a record of all members and keeps minutes of each meeting.

The treasurer keeps financial records for the club and reports on the financial records at each meeting.

The recreation leader leads the club in songs and games during the recreation portion of the meetings.

The photographer takes pictures of 4-H club activities for use by club members, reporter and historian.

The reporter writes newspaper articles on what the club is doing and writes a summary for the extension office newsletter.

The historian collects pictures, newspaper clippings, and other mementos and puts together a scrapbook of club events.

• Committees
  Club sponsored committees allow members to have a helping hand in decisions relating to the committee that they choose.  Committees may address club goals for the year, fundraising, recreation, and community service.

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4-H Tips
To help you and your 4-H family ease into the first year of membership, we offer some 4-H tips.  Hopefully, it will help to make your year less confusing and more enjoyable!

• Participation is the key in 4-H.  The more that you do, the more you will get out of it and the more friends you will be able to make.  There are so many different activities - something for everyone!

• Not one person can do everything.  Work as a team to get paperwork in, meet deadlines, and do projects.

• 4-H is a family affair; you will get the most our of it if your entire family is involved.  Parents, be involved and supportive of your kid's activities.

• Take plenty of photos.  Not only will these become nice mementos to remember 4-H, but you will use them when filling out end of the year paperwork.

• 4-H business meetings follow an agenda and parliamentary procedure using Robert’s Rules of Order.  This allows meetings to run smoothly and most of the time without any problems.

• During the first year of membership, a member can sign up for a maximum of three project groups.

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What makes a good 4-H member?
The following traits are important in a 4-H member.  4-Hers will learn more about these traits while growing through the program.

• Be well prepared--  Know that success takes work as well as practice.

• Like people-- Be understanding and friendly.

• Be a hard worker-- Do your best and work towards your goals.

• Be poised--  Don’t let irritations bother you.

• Be responsible--  Live up to your word and duties.

• Be cooperative--  Know how to work with others and enjoy working with them.

• Be proud--  Always be proud of what you do.

• Be courteous--  Use the words “please” and “thank you.”

• Set goals--  Make your goals high, but be sure to reach them.

• Do your best--  Always do your absolute best.

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