Oklahoma is one of 26 states selected to
participate in the second phase of a national research project
involving 4-H volunteers. The purpose of this study is to
determine and identify what skills or competencies 4-H
volunteers will need in order to effectively work with youth in
the next decade.
The direct outcome of this research
project will be the development of the Volunteer Research &
Knowledge base (VRK) Model. The VRK Model will parallel the PRK
Model and will seek to identify the skills and competencies in
which 4-H volunteers will need to develop in order to
effectively work with youth in the 21st century. Once this
information has been gathered and the statistics have been
quantified, we will be able to develop programs and curriculum
which can be used to orient, educate and develop 4-H leaders.
The target audience of this study is adult 4-H volunteers who
have direct, one-on-one, sustained contact with youth.
County offices selected as part of a
stratified random sample will be contacted to provide an
electronic listing of adult 4-H volunteers who have direct,
one-on-one contact with youth, e.g., volunteers who lead
community, organizational, project or school clubs, camping
volunteers, advisors of junior leaders or Teen Council, etc.
The study is not interested in surveying individuals whose only
volunteer role is serving on the council (and therefore has
little direct contact with youth.) It is interested in a
diverse sample with different leadership roles, different age
and tenure groups, both male and female, and as ethnically
diverse as possible. From these lists a random sample of
volunteers will be pulled and a questionnaire will be mailed.
County Educators with 50 percent or more
4-H responsibility will also be included in this study. In the
next two weeks each of you will receive instructions on where
to access and complete the questionnaire. Agent/Educators in
the study must meet the following criteria:
- Worked one year or longer as a 4-H Youth
Development professional.
- At least a 50 percent 4-H appointment.
- NOT serving as a Program Assistants
Your participation in this study is
important! Your input will provide direction for 4-H volunteer
programs. This input will be used to orient and educate 4-H
volunteers in the most effective ways to teach, work and
communicate with youth. Your responses will provide us the
information necessary to build more effective volunteer
programs which will make a positive difference in the lives of
youth across America.
Ken Culp, III, Ph.D., University of
Kentucky CES
Charles
Cox, Oklahoma State University
CES
Karla
Knoepfli, Oklahoma State
University CES
State Congress
Plans are underway for State Congress.
This year’s Congress will begin at 3 pm Wednesday, July
21, and continue through noon, Friday, July 23, 2004, at the
Holiday Inn OKC Airport, 2101 South Meridian, Oklahoma City. We
will be visiting the State Capitol and other areas of interest
in our capital city.
Attached are guidelines for participation. Each county may
nominate five delegates, with one of those five being a
delegate from a past Congress. The delegation should represent
the 4-H enrollment of the county with respect to minority
involvement. Delegates must be 14 years old by January 1 of the
year in which they participate, and must not have graduated
from high school. If space is available, more than one
returning delegate will be permitted to attend.
The registration fee to attend is $130 and
is due to the state 4-H office, along with the transmittal
form and other required
forms, by June 18, 2004.
4-H Publications Corner
No. 85—Show Me Character Idea Manual
($8-lmt.) enhances the Character Education Project.
Nos. 107 & 108—Animal Science
Character Lessons & Posters ($27.50) and Animal Science
Posters in color ($19) provide good information about ethics,
training, and showing animals.
No. 14—Parents are on 4-H Team
Brochure (green & white) offers ideas to parents of 4-Hers
for volunteering with the 4-H program. Also, No. 79—The
World Together . . . Be a 4-H Volunteer Leader (Montana 4-H)
has information about the 4-H program.
No. 7—Okla. 4-H Program/Meeting
Folders (.25 ea.) can be used for county and district
in-services trainings.
No. 158—Dairy Goat’s Member
Manual (no charge) is a very good basic informative manual.
Also, Langston Coop. Ext. 4-H has fact sheets on dairy goats
and bucks.
Nos. 624-627—MN 4-H Coop Ext System
Health Sets and Units 1, 2, plus Leaders Guide, can be ordered
by calling (405) 744-8887.
Bicycle Project, (helmet and skateboarding
safety) is available through State of Oklahoma County Health
Depts. and 4-H website/links.
No. 715—Forestry Judging Manual ($1
ea.) provides all the scorecards that are used in county and
OSU Forestry contests. There is a limited shelf supply
available and they are available on 4-H website/literature online.
Nos. 408 & 411—Building
Birdhouses Fact Sheet and Building a Fishing Rod Holder are two
good woodworking projects for 4-Hers this spring. A limited
supply is available to order at no charge by calling
405-744-8887; these two fact sheets will also be on
“Pods” and “News Extra” after shelf
supply is deleted.
