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Impact Report

For plan Youth Leadership Development (Valencia County)
Date November 1, 2011, 6:25 pm
For Objective Short-term Show short-term objectives
Impact Report In Valencia County there are many opportunities for youth to develop and display their leadership skills. The 4-H youth in Valencia County are very active in their club and county leadership roles and have done an outstanding job over the past year representing the county. Leadership Development is a key component of Youth Development in Valencia County’s successful 4-H program. 4-H members have many opportunities to develop skills in communication, teamwork, and decision-making by assuming responsibilities within their clubs, county council, and state leadership teams. In order to develop leadership skills, the Agent offers many opportunities to the youth in Valencia County. Officer Trainings, County Council Meetings, Project Meetings and State Leadership Activities are presented to youth to foster the expansion of their leadership skills. County Officers: Council Officer Training: County Council Officers participated in an Officer Training and Team Building workshop presented by the 4-H Agent. All eight of the Council Officers attending this training learned about their roles, responsibilities and expectations as Council Officers. Half of the Council Officers were serving in a County Leadership role for the first time. The Agent presented information on running a proper business meeting, and what the meetings should include. This training was used as an introduction into the office they will be serving and as a planning session for the Officer workshops they presented at the County-wide Club Officer Training. Team building activities were used to construct trust and friendships between the team members. These activities were done with just the Officer team and then similar activities were conducted with the Officers and Diplomats together as the Valencia County Leadership Team. The Officers new to the County Leadership Team expressed that the information provided helped them better understand their expected duties and how a proper meeting should run. Over the past year, the Agent has observed an improvement in the professionalism and organization of Club Officer Training: County Council Officers presented a Club Officer training to county 4-H’ers who serve (or would like to serve) as Officers in their club. The Agent promotes and coordinates registration for this event, as well as presents information on requirement of Club Officers. Each Council Officer prepared and presented a workshop on the office they serve. Each Officer did their Officer specific workshop to everyone present so everyone had the chance to learn about the offices available to 4-H’ers. Club members present gained the knowledge necessary to conduct their club meetings. Seventeen youth representing 8 of the 10 clubs in the county were representing at the training. A pre-survey of members present stated that they were somewhat prepared for the Club Office they were serving. Post-survey results indicated that 4-H’ers felt they were very prepared for the Club Office they were serving. County 4-H Council: County Council Officers organized and conducted six Council Meetings over the past year. These meetings are used to develop and organize county club contribution to community service projects, fundraisers, and social events. The 4-H Agent acts as an advisor to the County Council. The Agent assists the county Council Officers in preparing meeting agendas and business to be conducted as well as minutes from the meetings and treasurers reports. By working hand in hand with the youth, the youth gain leadership and business skills they will use later in life. County Diplomats: County Diplomat Training: County Diplomats participated in a Leadership Team Training and Team Building workshop with the County Council Officers presented by the 4-H Agent and Home Economist. The six County Diplomats attended this training where they participated in team building activities as a group and with the officers. These activities were used to facilitate friendships and reliance among team members. While at this training, Diplomats learned more about their roles, responsibilities and expectations while serving the county. They were all reacquainted with the material in the Welcome to NM 4-H project and helped plan the monthly workshops. They also worked on the development of their team community service project. This was the third time the Diplomats in this county had gone through any formal training. The two 4-H’ers new to the County Diplomat team expressed their increase in knowledge of the 4-H program and their gratitude for this leadership opportunity. New Mexico 4-H: The County Diplomats helped 4-H staff administer the monthly Welcome to NM 4-H workshops. The Diplomats helped teach new 4-H’ers about the 4-H program while working through the New Mexico 4-H workbook. The youth who participated in these workshops expressed their enjoyment of being able to work with and learn from experienced 4-H youth. The Diplomats enjoyed working with the new 4-H’ers and expressed how much teaching others about 4-H enhanced their leadership skills as well as their knowledge of the overall program. State Camps and Workshops: Senior Leadership Retreat: The State 4-H Diplomats host Senior Leadership Retreat for all Senior 4-H’ers in New Mexico. The Agent is responsible for promoting this event as well as coordinating youth and adult registration and chaperones for the event. This retreat provides 4-H’ers with hands-on workshops and activities designed to increase life skills related to teamwork, character building, community service, goal setting, leadership and self-discipline. Four Senior 4-H’ers from Valencia County participated in this year’s retreat. 4-H’ers who attended this event expressed their increased awareness of their own personal leadership skills as well as the importance of working with others. State Leadership: Again this year, one Valencia County 4-H’er ran for and was elected as a State 4-H Diplomat at Senior Leadership Retreat. When preparing her interview presentation, she expressed her excitement for the opportunity to participate on the State 4-H Leadership team. The Agent has witnessed a change in the leadership style of this 4-H’er and an increase in the willingness to lead and speak publicly to groups. The Agent struggled with this particular 4-H’er in the past with meeting deadlines and showing up on time. The Agent has seen a major change in this 4-H’ers responsibility to her program and her team. The Agent is currently working with two other 4-H’ers who are running for State 4-H Diplomat positions in January 2012. One Valencia County 4-H’er ran for State 4-H Vice President at State 4-H Conference. This 4-H’er had already served a year on the State 4-H Diplomat team and wanted to increase his leadership experience by participating on the State 4-H Officer Team. The Agent helped the 4-H’er prepare his Officer Application and campaign materials. The Agent has worked with this 4-H’er for three years on leadership and public speaking and has witnessed a positive change in his attitude toward defeat. The 4-H’er took his defect for the office of Vice President gracefully, and was then elected to the Office of Treasurer.