2008 Fall Training Marketing Resources

List of Marketing Resources found in this document

  • CountyNewsletter Article
  • Pre-Training Volunteer Invitation
  • Simple Invitation
  • Volunteer Letter Invitation
  • Pre-Training External News Release
  • Post-Training Press Release (participant photographs encouraged)

CountyNewsletter Article

2008 Fall Leader Training

What is a vibrant 4-H Club? Vibrant 4-H clubs are made up of a group of characteristics known as "best practices.” Iowa 4-H volunteers will explore these best practices this fall as a part of the statewide 4-H Organizational and Project Volunteer Leader Training. The fall volunteer training will be held on (date)______, from (time)______at (location)______.

The 'vibrant' ingredients can be found in any dynamic 4-H group.

The training is based on research (Astroth, 1997) that explores the impact of the following characteristics:

  • Vibrant 4-H clubs may change how they do things, but not what they do, providing a "fun" learning environment with powerful educational impact (FUN).
  • Vibrant 4-H club members work hard and play hard while building friendships (FRIENDS).
  • Vibrant 4-H clubs empower young people by allowing their voice to be heard (VOICE).
  • Vibrant 4-H clubs value and practice service to others giving youth a 'choice' in the direction of their learning and activities (CHOICE).

Be a part of this statewide 4-H Volunteer Training that is designed to support organizational and project leader's abilities to strengthen club Vibrancy: Best Practices in 4-H Clubs.

The best part of participating in face-to-face leader training is interaction and sharing between leaders. If you are not able to attend the training, contact the extension office to learn more about on-line training participation.

Participants can register by contacting the ______County Extension Office on or before (date).

Pre-Training Volunteer Invitations

  1. Simple Invitation

Dear______,

We are excited to invite you to 2008 Fall Leader Training. It will be held:

Date ______Time______

Location______

Leaders from across the state will be meeting in their respective counties to explore the characteristics of Vibrant 4-H Clubs and how to strengthen clubs by using Best Practices.

Join us for a fun and exciting evening of learning presented by CYC ______, CEED______and YFS ______. Participants can register by contacting the ______County Extension Office on or before (date).

2.Volunteer Letter Invitation (CountyLetterhead)

Dear ___ (CountyName) 4-H Organizational and Project Leaders:

We’re excited to invite you to the 2008 Fall Leader Training: Vibrant 4-H Clubs: Best Practices on ______(date) _____ (time) at ______(location.) Leaders from across the state will be meeting in their respective counties to explore the characteristics of Vibrant 4-H Clubs (Astroth, 1997) and how to strengthen clubs by using Best Practices. Here’s a preview of what we’ll explore at this training.

Building Vibrant 4-H Clubs

  • Vibrant 4-H clubs may change how they do things, but not what they do, providing a "fun" learning environment with powerful educational impact (FUN).
  • Vibrant 4-H club members work hard and play hard while building friendships (FRIENDS).
  • Vibrant 4-H clubs empower young people by allowing their voice to be heard (VOICE).
  • Vibrant 4-H clubs value and practice service to others giving youth a 'choice' in the direction of their learning and activities (CHOICE).

Synergy is created when all these elements are present and work together. We can see the vibrancy or synergy in the way groups approach tasks and activities and through the quality of accomplishments.

How vibrant is your 4-H Club?

Join us for an evening to explore the characteristics of Vibrant 4-H Clubs. YFS ______, CYC ______, CEED______will provide opportunities for volunteers to share and apply critical components related to building a vibrant club. Participants can register by contacting the ______County Extension Office on or before (date).

Yours in 4-H,

(CountyStaff)

Pre-Training External News Release

External News PRE-Release:

For Immediate Release ______.2008Contact: ______

4-H Volunteer Leaders to explore Vibrant 4-H Clubs

Fall /2008

It’s youth-led, has a welcoming climate, and is constantly refocusing on how best to do things. What can this be? It’s a vibrant 4-H club experience!

4-H volunteer leaders will explore strategies that make Vibrant 4-H clubs on ____(date)____, __ (time)___, at the ______(meeting place)____. This experience is part of the ISU Extension 4-H Youth Development training for certified volunteers in ______County. The deadline for volunteers to register for this training is ______(date)_____.

ISU Extension 4-H volunteers are the backbone of our community’s youth-serving organization. Effective volunteers provide the experiences and positive relationships that enable 4-H youth to gain the skills and competencies they need to be successful now and in the future.

The statewide training goal is to prepare volunteers who work with young people in non-formal educational settings to be more effective in promoting positive youth development through the 4-H club experience. Volunteers will consider what a vibrant club looks like, how pre-meeting activities promote members’ sense of belonging, and how to help clubs plan by using best practices.

The training is based on research that explores the impact of vibrant youth groups if ten essential characteristics are in place. According to the 1997 research of Kirk Astroth:

  • Vibrant 4-H clubs may change how they do things, but not what they do, providing a "fun" learning environment with powerful educational impact (FUN).
  • Vibrant 4-H club members work hard and play hard while building friendships (FRIENDS).
  • Vibrant 4-H clubs empower young people by allowing their voice to be heard (VOICE).
  • Vibrant 4-H clubs value and practice service to others giving youth a 'choice' in the direction of their learning and activities (CHOICE).

(optional statement) Participants can register by contacting the ______County Extension Office on or before (date).

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Post -Training External News Release

For Immediate Release ______/2008Contact: ______

Local 4-H Volunteer Leaders complete statewide Vibrant 4-H Clubs training

Fall / 2008

ISU Extension 4-H ______(county) certified volunteers explored the characteristics of a vibrant 4-H club experience as a part of a statewide training process that’s linking research with best practices for youth programs.

Some _____ (Number) 4-H Volunteer Leaders representing _____ (Number) 4-H Members explored research-based strategies that characterize vibrant 4-H clubs on ______(date), 2008 . This statewide initiative is part of the ongoing ISU Extension 4-H Youth Development training for certified volunteers. 4-H organizational and project volunteers completing the training include: (List names and communities of attendees)

The local 4-H volunteers are a part of a statewide training initiative preparing over 1,500 volunteers who work with young people in nonformal educational settings to effectively promote positive youth development through the 4-H Club experience. Volunteers will utilize research supporting components of vibrant 4-H groups in designing educational experiences like pre-meeting activities that promote members’ sense of belonging and helping club officers and families plan by using a variety of best practices.

The training is based on research that explores the impact of vibrant youth groups of which ten essential characteristics are in place. According to the 1997 research by Kirk Astroth:

  • Vibrant 4-H clubs may change how they do things, but not what they do, providing a "fun" learning environment with powerful educational impact (FUN).
  • Vibrant 4-H club members work hard and play hard while building friendships (FRIENDS).
  • Vibrant 4-H clubs empower young people by allowing their voice to be heard (VOICE).
  • Vibrant 4-H clubs value and practice service to others giving youth a 'choice' in the direction of their learning and activities (CHOICE).

ISU Extension 4-H Volunteers are the backbone of our community’s youth-serving organization. Effective volunteers provide the experiences and positive relationships that enable 4-H youth to gain the skills and competencies they need to be successful now and in the future.

To find out more about the ISU Extension ______(name) County 4-H program contact: (list contact people and information here)

External News POST-Release

Picture caption suggestions:

Item #1-

Some ___ (number) local 4-H organizational and project volunteers learned research supporting best practices of a Vibrant 4-H Club in designing educational experiences like pre-meeting activities that promote members’ feeling of belonging. Completing the training were ____(list of names)______. To learn more about 4-H clubs contact your county extension office at ____(phone number/web address)____.

Item #2-

ISU Extension ___ (county) 4-H volunteers are a part of a statewide training initiative preparing over 1,500 volunteers who work with young people in non-formal educational settings to be more effective in promoting positive youth development through the 4-H Club experience. Completing the training were ____(list of names)______. To learn more about 4-H clubs contact your county extension office at ____(phone number/web address)____.

Authors:

Iowa 4-H Youth Development Staff –Vanette Grover, Dori Goble, Jeff Macomber, Marisue Hartung and Jacki Luckstead.

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