Club Management
What is a 4-H Club?
Great 4-H coaches empower their players to lead the team rather than dictate how to play the game.
4-H clubs are a team of young people led by a club advisor(s) (coaches) engaged in positive youth development experiences. Your coaching challenge is to develop and manage a well-rounded 4-H club team. To accomplish this, your club management playbook will need to include goal-setting, community service, public speaking, leadership and decision making, fundraising, teambuilding, social and recreational activities and a variety of hands-on learning experiences. Successful 4-H clubs empower their members to help shape the 4-H club programs.
How Do You Get Started?
Starting a new 4-H Club, taking over the management of an existing club or even joining the leadership of a current 4-H team means accepting the 4-H club advisor challenge…Making a Positive Difference in Young People’s Lives. You are not alone in meeting this challenge, 4-H Extension Educators and resources like the Ohio 4-H Club Advisor Handbook will assist you in acquiring the tools to successful club management.
How Can You Develop and Manage Your 4-H Club for Success?
- Determine your club’s structure including type and scope of project(s), membership size and learning experiences, and number and location of meetings.
- Create, with your members, a 4-H Club Constitution and By-Laws to govern your club for the positive benefit of all.
- Promote, recruit, enroll and re-enroll membership to start and/or expand your 4-H club.
- Elect officers, appoint committees and train the leadership to assist your club in planning and conducting the club’s yearly program.
- Establish a club treasury and develop fundraising activities based on the members’ needs and interests.
- Develop a yearly club plan (playbook) with your officers and club leaders and communicate to club membership.
- Conduct meetings that members want to attend by including a balance of business, education and social activity.
- Report club membership and activities to 4-H families, Extension Office and the local community.
- Evaluate your club’s success using the Eight Key Elements of Positive Youth Development and the standards of excellence established for 4-H Clubs.
