STUTSMAN COUNTY. Make the Best Better

Transcription

1 Make the Best Better STUTSMAN COUNTY 4-H Handbook The 4-H Pledge I pledge My head to clearer thinking, My heart to greater loyalty, My hands to larger service, And my health to better living, For my club, my community My country, and my world. Revised November 2016

2 Office Hours 8:00 AM 4:30 PM Monday - Friday (excluding legal holidays) Office Staff Robin Barnes, 4-H Program Coordinator Alicia Harstad, Extension Agent Christina Rittenbach, Extension Agent Shirley Gohner, Administrative Assistant Luella Morehouse, EFNEP/FNP Program Assistant NDSU EXTENSION SERVICE Stutsman County th Ave SE Jamestown, ND P: (701) F: (701) E: NDSU.Stutsman.Extension@ndsu.edu NDSU does not discriminate in its programs and activities on the basis of age, color, gender expression/identity, genetic information, marital status, national origin, participation in lawful off-campus activity, physical or mental disability, pregnancy, public assistance status, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, spousal relationship to current employee, or veteran status, as applicable. Direct inquiries to Vice Provost for Title IX/ADA Coordinator, Old Main 201, NDSU Main Campus, , ndsu.eoaa@ndsu.edu. 2

3 The 4-H Mission 4-H Youth Development education creates supportive learning environments for youth and adults to reach their fullest potential as capable, competent, and caring citizens. What is 4-H? 4-H is a fun, learn-by-doing educational program for young people. The mission of 4-H is to help youth become self-directed, productive, contributing members of their communities. The 4-H club structure is an effective way to achieve this mission. The quality of the 4-H experience for youth depends on the relationship built between 4-H members and their volunteer leaders. Through 4-H, youth will gain: A greater knowledge and appreciation of self Increased self-esteem Public and interpersonal communication skills Positive interaction with adults and other youth Responsibility for self Commitment and contribution to the group and community A life-long desire to learn An ability to use knowledge for betterment of self and community An ability to relate to a constantly changing world Strengthened family interactions Career exploration Leadership skills Decision-making skills

4 4-H Program Guidelines Each 4-H year begins on September 1 and ends on August 31 throughout North Dakota. New members and clubs may enroll until April 1. Returning members are asked to re-enroll by November 1. Enrollment may be completed by logging into your account at 4hOnline.com. The NDSU Extension Service and Stutsman County 4-H do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, gender, veteran s status, sexual orientation or ability. Any youth between 5 and 18 years in 4-H age may join a Stutsman County 4-H club. Adult volunteers must complete and pass the youth protection guidelines before becoming a volunteer. 4-HOnline All new and returning 4-H members and leaders MUST enroll at the beginning of each 4-H year at Click on the North Dakota link and follow the instructions from there. Returning members and leaders need to use the same login credentials they have used in previous years. DO NOT create a new account for you or your family. If you have forgotten which address you signed up with, or your password, contact the Extension office. New members will need to create an account by following the instructions on the website. This website is necessary for enrollment, but can also be used for entering into project areas and registering for events. The website works best using Mozilla Firefox web browser. If you run into any problems, contact the Extension office for assistance. What is 4-H Age? In 4-H, youth will use their 4-H age rather than their actual age, unless otherwise specified. 4-H age refers to how old the 4-H member is on September 1 of the current 4-H year. For example, if Johnny turns 12 on September 30, he will be considered 11 in 4-H since that is how old he was when the 4-H year started on September 1. 4-H age is used to place youth into the appropriate age group for competitions, events, and other activities that occur throughout the 4-H year. There are special circumstances, such as in shooting sports, where the actual age is used instead of the 4-H age. Any exceptions will be specified. The 4-H program is typically divided into three age divisions: Cloverbud, Preteen and Teen. A 4-H member who is 5-7 years old on September 1 will participate in the Cloverbud division. A member who is 8-12 will be in the Preteen division, and a member who is will be in the Teen division. Age requirements are flexible for special circumstances involving youth who have learning disabilities or other special needs. 4

5 Cloverbud Program This is a non-competitive program within 4-H designed for youth ages 5-7. The purpose of this program is to foster the development of life skills essential to the cognitive, social, emotional, and physical growth of these youth. North Dakota 4-H Cloverbud members become competent, caring and productive citizens, who explore interests and demonstrate positive attitudes for learning. Through the Cloverbud project, 4-H adult volunteers and parents use a variety of hands-on activities in fun and safe environments. These experiences foster life skills development and encourage positive attitudes about learning among youth. The North Dakota 4-H Cloverbud materials contain a variety of volunteer resources to help adult volunteers and parents to accomplish this. You can download Cloverbud resources and lessons from the North Dakota 4-H website at Cloverbuds are not eligible to participate in state contests and will receive participation ribbons only for county events. Stutsman County 4-H Member Requirements Each 4-H member is expected to actively participate in club meetings and events. In order to ensure active participation, the following guidelines and requirements are in place: Each member must annually enroll on 4hOnline, thereby agreeing to abide by the Behavioral Expectations. Member must attend five club meetings or four club meetings and participate in one state or county contest/event to be eligible to receive premium money for 4-H exhibits at the Stutsman County Fair. Each member is encouraged to complete and exhibit at least one 4-H project at the Stutsman County Fair. Each member must meet any specific requirements their club may have. Each member MUST abide by the 4-H Participation Expectations (this can be found at

6 Stutsman County 4-H Club Requirements To help clarify requirements for a club to meet the philosophy of the 4-H program, the following guidelines and requirements have been outlined for Stutsman County 4-H clubs: Member and leader re-enrollment must be completed via 4hOnline by November 1 each year. New members, leaders, and/or clubs that join after the November 1 dead- line must have enrollment completed by April 1. Conduct/organize a minimum of eight meetings per 4-H year. Use parliamentary procedure during business meetings. Leaders, members, and parents are encouraged to participate at the Stutsman County Fair and other county organized events/contests, standing committee membership, and attendance at Leader Council/Committee meetings. Submit the club s Treasurer s book to the Extension office prior to September 1 of each 4-H year. Complete club s responsibility for county event rotations, such as fair setup and planning the awards banquet. 4-H Club Meetings What are they for? 4-H club meetings should give everyone that chance to think, act, plan, and do things together. After all, it s not much fun to work on 4-H projects alone or to plan or hold an event all by yourself! You need other club members thinking and acting together to get things done. Here are some tips for effective club meetings: Meetings should provide an opportunity for members, leaders, and parents to be actively involved. Meetings should be pre-planned to include a balance of business, education and recreation. Each member should have an opportunity to be involved. Meetings should stimulate interest in individual and group projects. Some meetings should include community service opportunities. Meet the needs of members and their families and provide for parent involvement 6

7 4-H Club Meetings How do they work? Almost all 4-H club meetings should include a business meeting where members are learning and using parliamentary procedure. There should also be an educational component, demonstrations/talks by members and/or recreation planned for each meeting. Here is an example of a possible meeting outline: Call to order by club president Recite the pledge of allegiance and 4-H pledge Roll call by club secretary Introduction of visitors by president Minutes of previous meeting read and approved by secretary Reading of correspondence, if any Treasurer s report Reports of officers and leaders Committee reports Old business New business Announcements announce place, date and program topic for next meeting Adjournment of business meeting Education hands on learning Talk and/or demonstration Project discussion Recreation Games, singing, etc. Leaders and Volunteers Volunteers are people who care enough about others to want to assist with developing and carrying out programs designed to meet the needs of local citizens, groups and communities. All 4-H leaders and volunteers are unpaid representatives of NDSU who provide their time, talent, spirit and resources to help make the 4-H program function. Anyone who wishes to be a 4-H leader or volunteer must enroll on 4hOnline. There are three different types of leaders that you can enroll as on 4hOnline: 4-H Club Organizational Leader provides overall leadership to local club, coordinates efforts of club officers and other group leaders. 4-H Project Leader teaches subject matter to youth. 4-H Leader (or activity leader) coordinates and provides leadership for local events. 4-H Volunteer offers support to 4-H members and leaders at meetings and county events. For more volunteer information, visit

8 Leader/Volunteer Trainings A training for leaders and volunteers will be held biannually by the Stutsman County Extension staff. The Center for 4-H Youth Development at NDSU also provides annual volunteer trainings throughout the state. These trainings help leaders develop a better understanding of the program and give them the opportunity to share ideas and skills. Information and ideas of how the 4-H program can be strengthened are included in these trainings. Training may also be provided in certain projects, especially in new or updated project materials. It is encouraged that each volunteer attend one of these trainings each year. Youth Protection Policy The Youth Protection Policy represents a code of ethics which all volunteers and members 18 or older are expected to observe. The primary purpose of this policy is to ensure the safety and well-being of all youth participants, their families, volunteers and paid staff. Every new volunteer will need to participate in a process that fulfills the requirements of this policy. In North Dakota, volunteers with the NDSU Extension Service are considered unpaid staff when they are functioning in an official capacity on behalf of the NDSU Extension Service. A prospective volunteer s/member s acceptance as an NDSU Extension Service volunteer or 4-H member is contingent on: Clearance through the North Dakota Child Abuse Information Index Clearance through the North Dakota Office of Attorney General Convicted Sex Offenders and Offenders Against Children Public List And satisfactory results from the reference and review process Every six years, volunteers will repeat the screening process to reaffirm their dedication to keeping youth safe. This includes re-reading and signing the Adult Behavior Expectation Form and the Volunteer Information Form authorizing the release of information to the North Dakota Child Abuse Information Index. Stutsman County 4-H Council The 4-H Council is the governing body of the Stutsman County 4-H program, and underneath it are standing committees and ad hoc committees. The council is composed of all currently enrolled organizational and project leaders, one at-large member (who is an adult associated with youth, not necessarily a 4-H leader) and up to four county youth representatives that are 13 years old by September 1 of the current 4-H year. The 4-H Council operates under the Stutsman County 4-H Council Constitution and Bylaws, which can be found in the back of this handbook or online at 8

9 Stutsman County 4-H Committees The 4-H Council has a variety of committees that parents, leaders, and/or youth can be involved in. There are two types of committees: standing committees and ad-hoc committees. Standing committees are those committees that are needed and utilized on a yearly basis Executive, Horse, Livestock, and Youth Skill Development. Ad-hoc committees are formed to serve a particular purpose that does not relate to one of the standing committees. The purpose of committee level work is to carry out the Stutsman County 4-H Council purpose and bring forth recommendations for Council approval. Interested individuals can sign up for a committee by contacting the Extension office or an Executive Committee member prior to November 1. More information on each of the committees and the responsibilities of the committees can be found in the Bylaws at the back of this handbook or at Council Meeting Schedule The 4-H Council will have a minimum of four regularly scheduled meetings per 4-H year.: 2nd Tuesday in September to elect officers, sign up for committees, vote for year end awards, etc. 2nd Tuesday in December for a leaders training, budget approval, planning, etc. 2nd Tuesday in March to begin planning for the Stutsman County Fair 2nd Tuesday in June for a leaders training and to continue fair preparations.

10 4-H Projects There are many different types of projects that members can enroll in each year. It is recommended that members decide at the beginning of the 4-H year which projects they would like to enroll in, and list those projects on 4hOnline during enrollment. A 4- H Project is made up of three types of activities: 1. Hands-on Activities: making, producing, selling, practicing, observing, testing, interviewing, etc. 2. Organized Activities: demonstrations, speeches, workshops, camps, county judging, project activities, exhibits, etc. 3. Leadership/Citizenship Activities: conducting, planning, teaching, assisting, informing, organizing, etc. Every year, each club will receive a ND 4-H Project Guide that lists the many projects available to enroll in, as well as 4-H materials that are available in those projects to purchase. This project guide is also available online at member_information/ There are also project sheets available online for most of the project areas. Project sheets are great resources to help members learn about their project area and plan their events and exhibits for the year. Most project areas give youth the opportunity to work on a project to bring to the Stutsman County Fair. It is encouraged that the youth enroll in these project areas at the beginning of the year and continue to learn in the area throughout the year, rather than choosing a project to complete at the end of the 4-H year simply for the fair. 4-H members may also apply for awards in the project areas that they have enrolled in. Educational Trunks NDSU has numerous educational trunks available for clubs to use. These trunks are great resources for supporting the educational component of the 4-H youth development experience. They include hands-on lessons, directions, and most of the necessary materials to conduct a lesson on topics related to many project areas in 4-H. They can be a great addition to a club meeting. To reserve one of these trunks, contact the Extension office. To view a list of the trunks available for check-out, visit 10

11 Awards & Grants There are a number of grants, scholarships and awards that Stutsman County 4-H members can apply for each year. Below are descriptions for those available from Stutsman County. The application forms and information can be found on the Stutsman County Extension website at stutsmancountyextension. Scholarships are also available from the North Dakota 4-H Foundation. More information on these scholarships can be found at Awards Cloverbud Certificate Each first year Cloverbud is awarded a certificate at the annual Recognition Banquet. Second and third year Cloverbuds must fill out a simple application to receive this certificate. Club Secretary Award This award goes to the nominated club secretary whose book shows the most effective and proper work in the role as secretary for the club. Club Treasurer Award This award goes to the nominated club treasurer whose book shows the most effective and proper work in the role as treasurer for the club. Herd Builder Award This award, sponsored by Lien Family Farms, is awarded to a 4-H member, age 14 and up, who not only shows his/her animals, but is working on building a herd of his/her own, whether it be beef, dairy, sheep and/or swine. I Dare You Award This award is to be presented to someone who has achieved their highest potential and has influenced others through a life of leadership & service. Nomination forms for a high school junior or senior, or college freshman in 4-H are to be submitted by a leader, with their leadership and service information detailed. Joseph Gengler Award This award is given in memory of Joseph Gengler by his family. It honors an outstanding member who has demonstrated great leadership and sportsmanship throughout the year, in 4-H and out, one who has demonstrated the hard work and determination of being truly involved in 4-H. Key Club Award The Key Club is for those 4-Hers who are at least 16 years old as of Sept 1 of the current year and have been a 4-H member at least one year. Leadership responsibilities, project accomplishments, personal development, sharing of 4-H knowledge and citizenship participation will be the criteria for selecting the recipients. Outstanding Project Award This award is based on a specific project area with two parts a quiz and an interview. The contest will be conducted at the county fair and awarded at the annual Recognition Banquet. Project Medal Awards This award recognizes your achievement in a specific project area. Winners of the medal awards must have shown outstanding work and improvement in their project areas. Medal awards may be applied for each year. Super Leadership Awards This award is considered the high point of 4-Hers in their age group. Given to the 4-Her who has exemplified what 4-H is about, whose skills, leadership, personality and compassion have been demonstrated in 4-H. Grants Event Reimbursement Grant For a 4-Her or club who has attended or sponsored an activity for 4-H. Application does not guarantee receipt. If funds are available, applications will be reviewed and considered. Noel J.E. Howell Memorial Fund The Howell Fund is used for trips to out-of-state events, and is a reimbursement for a trip taken. Deadline to apply is September 1.

12 4-H Schedule of Events Dates for events and deadlines listed below are subject to change. Please watch your s for correspondence from the Extension office regarding dates and deadlines. September Start of 4-H year, enrollment/re-enrollment begins (Sept 1) Applications due for: Cloverbud Certificate, Event Reimbursement, I Dare You Award, Key Club Award Howell Grant, Project Medal Awards, & Super Leadership Awards (Sept 1) Club Secretary and Treasurer books due at office (Sept 1) 4-H Council Meeting (second Tuesday) Club Secretary and Club Treasurer Award applications due to Extension office (Sept 1) October Executive Committee meeting (second Tuesday) 4-H Recognition/Awards Banquet National 4-H Week National Youth Science Day Ambassador Applications Due to the Extension office (October 5) November Member/leader re-enrollment recommended deadline (Nov 1) National 4-H Congress December 4-H Council Meeting (second Tuesday) Youth Activity Day January National 4-H Contests at Western National Roundup Stock Show (Denver) February Livestock judging and Hippology contests 12

13 March ND Winter Show 4-H Council Meeting (second Tuesday) 4-H Foundation Scholarships due (Mar 1) National 4-H Conference April New member/leader enrollment recommended deadline (April 1) Stutsman County Communication Arts/Project Expo contests May Ambassador applications due to the Extension office (May 5) District Communication Arts contest (May/June) Stutsman County Consumer Choices/Clothing Revue contests June Fair registrations due (around June 1) 4-H Council Meeting (second Tuesday) Extension Youth Conference Stutsman County Fair (June/July) 4-H Camps begin Citizenship Washington Focus July Stutsman County Fair (June/July) ND State Fair 4-H Camps continue August National 4-H Congress and Conference applications due (Aug 1) Executive Committee meeting (second Tuesday) End of 4-H year (Aug 31)

14 ARTICLE I Name The name of this organization shall be the Stutsman County 4-H Council. Purpose and Scope By-Laws of the Stutsman County 4-H Council ARTICLE II The purpose and scope of the Stutsman County 4-H Council is to: Cooperate with NDSU Extension Service and the county extension staff in planning, promoting, developing, implementing, and evaluating a 4-H youth development program to meet the needs and interests of the youth in the Stutsman county Elect up to four (4) Stutsman County 4-H members (13 years of age as of the current 4-H year), the Council s At-Large Member, and officers Approve, reject, amend or refer back to the committees for further research and discussion from standing committee or ad-hoc committee meetings Provide members with information concerning county, area and state 4-H programs helpful to them in their work with youth Provide members an opportunity to learn about the complete aspect of the 4-H program Determine adult volunteer training needs ARTICLE III Membership Section I. Council Composition All currently enrolled Organizational and Project Leaders, one At-Large member (an adult associated with youth, not necessarily a 4-H leader) and up to four county youth representatives that are 13 years old by September 1 of the current 4-H year. Section II. Council Term of Membership The term of membership for the Organizational and Project Leaders shall be ongoing. The At-Large and Youth members shall serve a one year term. Section III. Council At-Large and Youth Members Nominations and Elections The At-Large member will be nominated using the Stutsman County 4-H Council At-Large Nomination form. Nominations for the At-Large member may also be made from the floor. The youth will apply using the Stutsman County 4-H Council Youth Application form. Elections will be held at the Council s first meeting of the new 4-H year. Section IV. Council Voting Privileges Each Stutsman County 4H club attending shall have the opportunity to cast 2 votes. In the event of a tie the At- Large Council Member shall vote to maintain status quo. 14

15 ARTICLE IV Meetings Section I. Council Meeting Schedule The Stutsman County 4-H Council will have a minimum of four regularly scheduled meetings per 4-H year to complete the following objectives: First Meeting 2 nd Tuesday in Sept: Second Meeting 2 nd Tuesday in Dec: Third Meeting 2 nd Tuesday in March: Fourth Meeting 2 nd Tuesday in June: Election of Officers, Election of At-Large and youth Members, Nominate the ND State Fair Representative from Stutsman County, Vote on Year End, Award winners, committee signup, general planning for the upcoming 4-H year Leader Training, Inspiration sharing and set goals for the upcom ing year, approve the budget, review internal audit report Planning for the Stutsman County Fair Leader Training, Fair preparation Section II. Executive Committee Meeting Schedule The Stutsman County 4-H Executive Committee will have a minimum of two regularly scheduled meetings per 4-H year to complete the following objectives: First Meeting 2 nd Tuesday in August: Second Meeting 2 nd Tuesday in Oct: Plan and prepare for the Council s first meeting Budget Meeting, conduct internal audit of funds from previous year, plan and prepare for the Council s second meeting Section III. Conduct of meetings All meetings of the Council and its committees shall be open, and conducted in accordance with Robert s Rules of Order, latest edition except where in conflict with these by-laws. Notification of meetings shall be through to Organizational leaders and committee members preferably two weeks in advance, and accompanied by a proposed agenda that includes any items up for a vote, as well as posted on the NDSU Stutsman County 4-H website. Section IV. Quorum Members present at any regular or specially called meeting of the Council and its committees will constitute a quorum, given notification of the meeting was completed as outlined in Article IV Section 3. ARTICLE V Officers Section I. Officers The officers of the Stutsman County 4-H Council shall be President, Vice- President, Secretary, and Treasurer. Newly elected officers will begin to serve immediately following the meeting they were elected at. No position shall remain vacant. Temporary appointment to fill a vacant chair shall be made by the elected President. Youth council members are not eligible to be elected as officers. Section II. Nominations and Elections The officers shall be nominated using the Stutsman County 4-H Council Officer Nomination form. Elections will be held at the Council s first meeting of the new 4-H year. Nominations may also be made from the floor. Newly elected officers will start immediately following the meeting they were elected at.

16 Section III. Term of Office Officers shall be elected for a two year term. The President and Secretary will be elected on even years while the Vice President and Treasurer are to be elected on odd years. Section IV. Duties of the Officers President: To preside at meetings of the 4-H Council and Executive Committee To act as official spokesperson for the Stutsman County 4-H Council and to represent them at 4-H funtions To see that the constitution and by-laws of the Council are followed To appoint members of committees when necessary To sign all documents requiring the president s signature To serve on the Executive committee Perform all other duties incidental to the office of president Vice President: The Vice-President shall perform the duties of the president in the absence or incapacity of the president. Should the office of the President become vacant, the Vice-President will fill that position until the election of a new President. Should the Vice-President become the new President, the Executive Committee will appoint a new Vice-President to fill the vacant chair To assist the president in any way, as needed To serve on the Executive committee Secretary: To keep the minutes of all meetings of the 4-H Council and Executive Committee in good order, including records of the main points of discussion, motions, and outcomes of votes To keep a record of attendance at all 4-H Council and Executive Committee meetings To submit minutes to the Extension office within two weeks of the meeting To oversee and review all committee meeting minutes to ensure they have been sent to the Extension office and posted on their website To serve on the Executive committee Treasurer: To assist the Extension office with keeping an accurate record of all money received and spent To expend money over $ only when authorized by vote of the Council or Executive Committee, with the exception of reimbursement type payments where the initial cost was approved To report internal audit comments/report at the first Council meeting of the new 4-H year To serve on the Executive committee ARTICLE VI Committees Section I. Standing Committees Standing committees are those committees that are needed and utilized on a yearly basis and shall be Executive, Horse, Livestock, and Youth Skill Development. 16

17 Section II. Ad-Hoc Committees The members of any Ad-hoc committees shall serve in accordance with the charge to that committee. Section III. Committee Authority The final authority for all matters considered by committees is the Stutsman County 4-H Council. Committees shall report to the Council concerning their activities, conclusions, and recommendations. Section IV. Committee Membership Stutsman County 4-H Committee membership is open to 4-H Leaders, 4-H members that are 13 years old by September 1 of the current 4-H year, and 4-H Parents, or any other interested adult approved by the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee will be comprised of the four Council Officers, the Council s At-Large Member and the Stutsman County Extension office s 4-H Program Assistant as an Ex-Officio non-voting member. Section V. Committee Sign up deadline Interested individuals will sign up for a committee by contacting the extension office or an executive committee member prior to November 1. Section VI. Committee Officers Each committee (except for the Executive committee) shall elect a Chairperson and Secretary. Newly elected officers will start immediately following the meeting they were elected at. Section VII. Committee Meetings Committees shall meet as often as deemed necessary to complete their tasks, and when asked by the Executive Committee or Extension staff to complete a specific task. Committees will be responsible for submitting their meeting minutes to the Extension office following each meeting. Section VIII. Committee Finances/Fundraising All financial planning is to be presented to the Executive committee for overall program funding planning, and inclusion in the annual budget. Requesting sponsorships or donations for any Stutsman County 4-H committee, program, capital asset or event must be approved by the Executive Committee. Section IX. Committee Purpose and Responsibilities The purpose of committee level work is to carry out the Stutsman County 4-H Council purpose and scope, bring forth recommendations for Council approval. Specific purpose and responsibilities are as follows: Executive -Review, formulate, recommend and guide the Council to carry out its purpose and scope by: Performing essential activities that require immediate action between Council meetings Proposing the agenda for all Council meetings Completing a budget proposal for the Council s meeting Oversee the flow of funds by managing committee sponsorship and donation requests, ensuring the success of all Stutsman County 4-H project areas Monitor the Council s capital investments in the ND 4-H Foundation Complete an internal audit of the Stutsman County 4-H fund account and report any discrepancies from the Stutsman County 4-H Fund Accounting Processes document with recommendations for corrections at December Leader s council meeting. Treasurer and Extension staff will not actively participate. Any action taken by the Executive Committee will be reported at the next Leader Council meeting for ratification.

18 B. Horse - Schedule, plan, promote, implement competitive horse events in the county, and encourage the horse project curriculum by: Implementing basic rules of competition and the state horse program at the county level, which can include special contests. Selecting judges for the competitive horse events at the county fair or special contests. Planning for and overseeing the care and welfare of all horses at county competitions. Educating, Updating, enforcing protocol in the event that issues arise that compromise the safety and health of the general public, exhibitors, and/or horses. C. Livestock - Schedule, plan, promote, implement competitive livestock events in the county, and encourage livestock project curriculum by: Implementing basic rules of competition and the state livestock program at the county level, which can include special contests. Selecting judges for the competitive livestock events at the county fair or special contests. Promoting the market premium sale. Planning for and overseeing the care and welfare of all exhibit animals. Educating, Updating, enforcing protocol in the event that issues arise that compromise the safety and health of the general public, exhibitors, and/or livestock. Youth Skill Development - Schedule, plan, promote and implement youth skill development events in the county, such as Youth Activity Day, Communication Arts, Consumer Choices, and other static competitions/events by: Implementing the basic rules of competition for any of the aforementioned events. Selecting judges for any events that require them. Updating, enforcing and educating protocol in the event that issues arise that compromise the safety and health of the general public, youth members, and/or volunteers. ARTICLE VII Club, Leaders, 4-H Member and Independent 4-H Member Guidelines Section I. General Guidelines The 4-H year begins September 1 and ends August 31 for all organizational and management purposes 4-H Age for all Stutsman County 4-H members shall mirror the ND state rules except for local contests/ events where participation numbers create a situation where a Pre-Teen and Teen division fits best Dress Code for all Stutsman County 4-H members shall mirror the ND state rules Section II. Club Guidelines Conduct/Organize a minimum of 8 meetings per 4-H year Use parliamentary procedure during business meetings Encourage participation of leaders, parents and members at the Stutsman County Fair and other County organized events/contests, standing committee membership, and attendance at Leader Council/Committee meetings Submit the club s Treasurer book to the Extension office prior to September 1 of each 4-H year Complete clubs responsibility for county event rotation purposes (Fair setup, Recognition Event) Club funds are to be deposited in the Stutsman County 4H General Fund upon disbandment 18

19 Section III. Leader Guidelines Organizational leaders: Serve as the extension office s first line of communication to all club members Advise club officers Ensure that the club and its membership play an active and visible role in the community Ensure that all member and volunteer enrollments, program registrations, media releases, permission slips, medical releases, and participation reports are submitted to the extension office when required and by dates requested Ensure that information about meetings, events, activities and other opportunities and program or policy updates are communicated to members, project leaders, and parents in a timely manner Attend Leader Council Meetings Attend Leader Training Events Encourage participation of project leaders, parents and members at the Stutsman County Fair and other County organized events/contests, standing committee membership, and attendance at Leader Council/Committee meetings Promote 4-H Complete the Re-Enrollment process each 4-H year prior to November 1 Project leaders: Support the Organizational leader in their responsibilities Attend Leader Council Meetings Attend Leader Training Events Encourage participation of parents and members at the Stutsman County Fair and other County organized events/contests, standing committee membership, and attendance at Leader Council/ Committee meetings Promote 4-H Complete the Re-Enrollment process each 4-H year prior to November 1 Section IV. 4-H Club Members Complete the Re-Enrollment process each 4-H year prior to November 1 Promote 4-H Exhibit/Participate in the Stutsman County Fair and other County organized events/contests Apply for year-end awards Appreciate and thank local 4-H supporters To be eligible to receive premium money from an exhibit at the Stutsman County 4-H Fair, you must attend five club meetings or four club meetings and participate in one state or county contest/event as approved by the Organizational leader by June 1

20 Section V: Independent Family s/members Complete the Re-Enrollment process and submit the Stutsman County 4-H Independent Membership Guidelines and Agreement Form to the extension office prior to November 1 Complete one or more community service projects during the 4-H year Abide by all county, state and national 4-H policies Contribute to the county 4-H program by: Actively participating in county fund-raising efforts Staying informed and up-to-date on opportunities, guidelines and requirements; reading and responding to correspondence; and volunteering to lead or assist with 4-H committees, events and activities Promote 4-H Exhibit/Participate in the Stutsman County Fair and other County organized events/contests Apply for year-end awards Appreciate and thank local 4-H supporters To be eligible to receive premium money from an exhibit at the Stutsman County 4-H Fair, you must meet with your mentor five or more times throughout the 4-H year to discuss and show project work and progress in project manuals and report these meetings using the Stutsman County 4-H Independent Report form to the Extension office by June 1 ARTICLE VIII Amendments Amendments may be made at any annual, regular or special meeting by a two-thirds vote of those members present and voting provided the proposed amendment was submitted in writing to the membership at least ten (10) days prior to the date of the meeting. ARTICLE IX Authority to Incur Expenditures or Liabilities No officer, committee member, or other representative shall authorize or make any expenditure or commit the Stutsman County 4-H Council to any liability whatsoever, unless such expenditure or liability shall have been previously approved by the Council or executive committee. ARTICLE X Conflict Resolution/Grievance Procedure The Stutsman County 4-H Council s Conflict Resolution/Grievance procedure is to address decisions or actions that can be reversed or changed. ARTICLE XI Dissolution Upon dissolution of the Stutsman County 4-H Council any assets remaining shall be conveyed to the North Dakota 4-H Foundation. 20