Here’s to a New Year!

Dear Youth Professionals:

Happy New Year to all of you! We have a wonderful year ahead of us. You are part of a growing profession that sees the need to engage youth beyond the school and neighborhood. Youth programs need to a youth-adult partnership. Positive, caring role models are needed as professionals.

As our association grows, there is also a need for us to become positive youth development advocates. I love the quote…”It takes a village to raise a child.” If you have an opportunity to work in a developing country, you will see this in all villages. Respect for the elderly and the young. With all the development and commercialism, many areas have lost touch with the village. Youth development in Extension has long been “grass-roots” and this art of ‘belonging’ has served our millions of alumni positively as they grew and developed. We continuing owe each generation an opportunity to feel they belong and have value. It is what makes our profession great – perhaps, not wealthy, but noble and satisfying. We do make differences in many youth and adults lives. Our work is never done…so here’s to a great new year of learning and sharing together!

Respectfully,

          Georgene M. Bender,

FAE4-HA, President

 

• So how are we Promoting and Supporting our Profession                         in  2014?
  Increase communication with members
• • Quarterly newsletters
  • Monthly executive or board meetings with minutes posted
  • Consistent update to website http://epaf.ifas.ufl.edu/fae4ha
• Provide professional improvement opportunities to members
  • Send two members to represent FAE4-HA at Joint Council of Extension Professionals (NAE4-HA supports one position and FAE4-HA the other)
  • Send two members to represent FAE4-HA at Public Issues and Leadership Development (Dean’s office to support financially)
  • Support in-service Extension programs
  • Filing as a 501 c3 organization which will enable our association to seek funds in support this goal
• Increase interest in Youth Development as a career
  • Promote career at University of Florida Career Days
  • Provide information on careers on association website
• Provide a venue for exchange of ideas, methods and techniques
  • Utilize All-Faculty District Meetings to share
  • When possible host a part of a day for agents to share via online or at a location
• Improve understanding of extension agent’s commitment to 5% youth programs
  • Provide educational material and support of ideas
  • Recognize exceptional agents that go beyond their 5% to work with youth

Our members through committees and districts directors are the foundation of our goal. We support each other! Thank you for your membership!

We’re Back!

It has been  too long since I last wrote in this blog. I have just returned from a Positive Youth Development Training with Iraqi youth educators. No matter what country, people want the best for their children and Iraq is no exception. I think we all can learn from sharing our successes and opportunities – so I hope my friends in youth work in other countries will join usefor this professional blog for youth development staff.

Georgene Bender

Ending 2011 Evaluate – Analyze and Plan for 2012

The end of the year is time to review what your accomplishments have been and plan for 2012. In Extension we have the “Report of Accomplishment”, “Workload Data” and “Plan of Work”. There are three powerpoints that will give you some assistance in preparing your reports.

Workload Report_2011_combinedwithPDEC

Report of Accomplishments

Plan of Work_2012

Due date is December 9th on the ROA/POW and December 31st on the Workload Report.  If you have questions, don’t hesitate to contact your RSA. Good Luck!

Fun Summers Ahead: Good Times

By: Georgene Bender, Regional Specialized Youth Agent

It is summer already! It’s almost over – what a busy year in youth work. Providing life skill learning and opportunities is challenging in our economic strap communities. I am sure many of you spent some of your time justifying your positions over and over again.

 When summer comes, it’s ‘life on hold’ – as we gear up for camps – both day and residential, special trips and state events from Horse Shows to Legislative Week.

Summers are a strong emotional memory for most adults. I am sure you can think of some great experiences that happened during the summer time in your life time. Visiting relatives, attending camp, excelling at a skill, exploring a new area….it’s what makes our childhood memorible. I spent the 4th of July weekend with old childhood friends sharing and laughing over our summers in the past. Being with childhood friends was a trip back in time. I was amazed how much of our childhood we remembered in detail. We talked about the highs and lows – but mostly about the ‘good times.’

I know you will spend long hours this summer  with groups of youth whether it is 4-H, Scouts or at camp or with youth activities. Think back to your childhood – the memories of food, skills accomplished, parades, and special youth mentors that your respected and admired. You are some of those special mentors for today’s youth…you may never know how much you influenced a life. Frame your work as the creator of ‘great childhood memories’….and, you also enjoy the summer!

Being an Advocate for Youth

by: Georgene Bender

I spend my day helping other youth development professionals understand their roles in designing  programs that will make a difference in the youth they serve.  I discovered a very interesting website I thought I’d share. It is a site that hosts petitions. There are hundreds of petitions from environmental, social, religion and causes. The site is  www.change.org.

The site got me to think about how as youth professionals, we might focus  to be advocates for youth development. Who is the voice in the community for youth? I watch the county land use hearings, and government meetings on local TV. I notice there is rarely an advocacy or discussion on how the ruling will affect the youth. New housing developments  have less space for youth to gather or play, and playgrounds are rarely in the plan. There is no “green space” for kids..they either stayed in the house or played in the street. Where are the advocates for how these community development decisions will affect the youth?

Perhaps as youth professionals, we might use our experience to make sure the voice of youth needs are heard in our communities at land use hearings, transporation hearings and many other events.  Decisions appear to be made without regard to youth needs – all the adults seem to be protecting their own investments. Youth professionals build life skills in youth; advocacy will be a needed skill in the next decade as resources will remain scarce and competitive.

There are youth programs such as Scouts and 4-H that develop youth citizenship skills in youth to be their own voice on issues. But we need more! Using social media such as this petition site, is a way to grow advocacy. The use of the web, makes connecting with others who share your view easier to identify. Organizations making the decision want to know “Who do you represent? What is your credibility?” One teen speaking representing themselves is not enough for influence. This website provides education articles on “How to Design Petitions” and be an advocate as well as highlights the victories (impacts).  From the voice of one can come a larger voice that will echo youth needs in our community. How can you make an impact to help the youth voice be heard?

Quarterly Newsletter

Summer 2011 Newsletter for Youth Professionals

Spring 2011 Newsletter for Youth Professionals

 

Youth Involved Have Revolutionary Impact on their Communities

By: Georgene Bender, RSA

A Tufts University study on 4-H Positive Youth Development indicates that young people in 4-H are three (3) times more likely to contribute to their communities than youth not participating in 4-H.

Read more about the research at http://www.4-h.org/about/news-press-room/article/default.aspx?id=4619

Youth Professionals Gather to Share & Learn

The Youth Development Institute will offer workshop sessions within several different program areas including professional and volunteer development as well as curriculum and programming development. Specific information for each available session is available at http://florida4H.org

Where?  Hilton Conference Center – University of Florida – Gainesville

When? January 25 – 28, 2011

Over 100 professionals and volunteers will gather for this second annual professional development event. Limited space still available.

Social Media and Fundraising

By: Georgene Bender, RSA

You heard it HERE….there is a great new way for non-profits to fundraise and it doesn’t take lots of work and it’s FUN– filled with prizes and points! You know, like “Farmville” and those other addictive games on Facebook!  It’s called CROWRISE.

Here’s how Crowdrise describes their product: Crowdrise is about raising money for charity and having the most fun in the world while doing it. Crowdrise is way more fun than anything else aside from being all nervous about trying to kiss a girl for the first time and her not saying something like ‘you’ve got to be kidding me.’

The Crowdrise community was named a “Top 25 Best Global Philanthropist” by Barron’s. We’re trying to keep Crowdrise a secret so please don’t tell anyone but know that, as soon as you Sign Up (which is free and takes all of 8 seconds), you’ll be a part of something really special.

The Crowdrise site is a unique blend of crowdsourcing, social networking, incentives and other nice stuff. If you don’t understand anything on the site, please check out the How It Works Page or How it Works Video or just ask any fifteen year old.

Using the web, and social media site is the new wave of connecting with people and their pocketbooks. Making a game of it appeals to the younger generation under 40 who are computer savvy and grew up playing video games. What a great combination! And, perhaps those over 40 might enjoy the gaming part of it as well 🙂 .

In searching for existing charity accounts, here is what I found:

Accounts started in July 2010 for Boys & Girls Clubs (4,609); Boy Scouts (2,214),and Girl Scouts (1,394). 4-H Foundations joined after the TODAY SHOW broadcast from Michigan, Arizona and Florida. To date, 4-H is listed in 4,020 accounts.

One of the founders of this charity site is movie star, Ed Norton ( Saving Private Ryan). He was recently on the TODAY SHOW promoting this site.  It’s worth a look to explore new ways to secure funds for your special projects. Give it a try and report back on your experience. You’ll earn a prize for your post! The url is www.crowdrise.com 

Quarterly Newsletter for Youth Professionals in 4-H

Regional Specialized 4-H Agents Newsletter November 2010

Florida’s Regional Specialized 4-H Agents  collaborated on a newsletter for staff that will provide valuable educational articles for the 4-H staff position. This quarter’s articles include topics such as distance learning, affirmative action, providing science education through 4-H Science, and professionalism in the workplace.

Our blog will provide an opportunity for readers to comment and share concerns with regional staff as it relates to our role as youth developers. Readers are encouraged to subscribe to the blog. Once a member, you will receive email updates when new content is posted.

Just “click” on the blue title and you will have access to the newsletter.