Volunteers' Ideas in Practice

February/March 2001

GREETINGS FROM THE PRESIDENT

Time has come and time has gone, we had a very busy 2000 4-H year in Mississippi. I would like to thank all of you for everything that everybody done to help with the Southern region 4-H Volunteer Leader Forum. It turned out great! I want to see Texas do as well or top Mississippi at the 2001 forum.

Our Annual State Volunteer Forum will be here before you know it. So be sure to get your registrations in by February 1. You don't want to miss all the fun that is being planned.

Also, remember to fill out your nomination forms and get them in for new officers for next year. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for what each of you do for Mississippi 4-H Volunteer Leaders Association (MVLA). Thanks for taking time to work with our children. They are our future. I hope that all of you have a prosperous new year.

Raymond Radcliff
President, MVLA

ANNUAL 4-H VOLUNTEER CONFERENCE

The Mississippi Annual 4-H Volunteer Leaders Conference will be held February 23-25, 2001, at Wesley Pines Conference, Retreat, and Camping Center, Gallman, MS. The Annual Conference will begin with registration at 3:00 p.m. on Friday and conclude on Sunday by 10:00 a.m. This year's Conference provides an excellent opportunity for 4-H Volunteers, Extension faculty, and friends of 4-H to participate in outstanding workshops, great fellowship, and fun! Our theme this year is "BUILDING BLOCKS TO SUCCESS" and we hope that you and your volunteer leaders plan to share in this event. Our goal is that every county have a volunteer represented at this year's Annual Conference.

We will be inviting all past officers of the Mississippi 4-H Volunteer Leaders Association and recipients of the Outstanding Volunteer Leaders award to attend this year's conference. We need you to help us locate these individuals. Refer to the attached lists for volunteers from your county.

Encourage all delegates to bring item(s) for the live auction and silent auction that represent at least a $10.00 value. The live auction will be held after the Annual Banquet on Saturday night in the Durr Wise Retreat Center. This fund raiser promises to be one of many enjoyable moments experienced during the conference.

The registration fee for full-time delegates is $75.00 and includes all activities, meals, banquet, annual membership, and lodging. See the attached registration form for additional details concerning registration for the conference. Meals and lodging will be in the Durr Wise Retreat Center. Lodging is limited and will be reserved on a first-come first-served basis. Registration fees must be in the State 4-H Office before rooms can be reserved.

Please return the registration form and all required fees to the State 4-H Office no later than February 1, 2001, c/o Harvey Gordon, Box 9641, Mississippi State, MS 39762. Make checks payable to MVLA. Registration forms are available at your county Extension office.

-Harvey Gordon
Extension Specialist 4-H Youth Development

A CALL TO ALL PAST OFFICERS OF THE MVLA

All past officers of the Mississippi 4-H Volunteer Leaders' Association (MVLA) are being asked to contact Harvey Gordon, 4-H Volunteer Specialist, to make sure that he has your current address. Also let him know what office and what year you served in that office. If anyone knows of a former officer that might not be receiving the VIP Newsletter, please have them contact Mr. Gordon.

"BUILDING BLOCKS TO SUCCESS" is the theme for the Annual 4-H Volunteer Leaders Conference this year and the past officers of the MVLA are considered one of the Association's successful building blocks. Because of this we would like to invite all of the past officers to the Annual Conference February 23-25, 2001. The past officers will be acknowledged at the conference.

-Inez Saum
VIP Reporter

NOMINATIONS OF OFFICERS - 2001

This year is really passing by quickly and there are some things we all need to attend to as it comes to a close. As a past-president of the Mississippi Volunteer Leaders Association, I know just how quickly time can pass. Before you know it there are too many things to get done in the time remaining, so I want to get this request in early and ask each person to attend to it as if you are the only one who is going to ! I'm talking about nominations, both for outstanding volunteer leaders and most importantly for officers to lead this association.

These are working jobs and they are very important. We must have the best we can to work in the MVLA, so nominate peers who you know will work and lead us forward!

We will select a new president-elect, vice-president, parliamentarian, and Treasurer (2 year term) in 2001. These individuals will have the task of leading us during the time when we will be hosting the Southern Region Leaders' Forum at Rock Eagle. Let's choose workers and if you are asked to run please just say- "I'll be glad to". Send in your slate of nominations- today or by February 1, 2001! The nomination form is enclosed, copy it and nominate a worker for each office.

Robert Davenport
Past President

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

This year will provide a broad range of opportunities for Mississippi 4-H Volunteer Leaders. I hope that you will plan to take advantage of these volunteer opportunities. Refer to the list below for due dates and dates of the events.

FEBRUARY

1

DEADLINE: MVLA Officer Nominations due in State 4-H Office.

DEADLINE: Registration forms for Annual 4-H Volunteer Leaders Conference due in State 4-H Office.

DEADLINE: Southern Region 4-H Volunteer Leaders Forum Workshop Proposals due in State 4-H Office.

13

Northwest District Spring 4-H Volunteer Leader Planning Meeting in Winona at 6:30 p.m.

23-25

Annual 4-H Volunteer Leaders Conference at Wesley Pines Conference, Retreat, and Camping Center - Gallman, MS.

MARCH

15

DEADLINE: Registration for South Mississippi 4-H Volunteer Leaders Beef, Horse, and Goat Symposium due in State 4-H Office.

DEADLINE: Registration for North Mississippi 4-H Volunteer Leaders Beef, Horse, and Goat Symposium due in State 4-H Office.

24

Mississippi 4-H Volunteer Leaders Association Board Meeting - MSU.

 

30-31 South Mississippi 4-H Volunteer Leaders Beef, Horse, and Goat Symposium - Laurel.

 

APRIL

1

DEADLINE: Northwest District Spring 4-H Volunteer Leaders Forum Registration due in Montgomery County Extension Office.

 

3-5

Governor's Conference on Volunteerism - Jackson.

6-7

North Mississippi 4-H Volunteer Leaders Beef, Horse, and Goat Symposium - Pontotoc.

13

Northeast District Spring 4-H Volunteer Leader Forum Registration due in Alcorn County Extension Office.

15-21

National Volunteer Week.

21

Northwest District Spring 4-H Volunteer Leaders Forum - Winona.

28

Northwest District Spring 4-H Volunteer leader Forum - Verona

JUNE

1

DEADLINE: Volunteer Years of Service form due in State 4-H Office.

27-29

State 4-H Congress - MSU.

JULY

2

DEADLINE: Volunteer Records due in State 4-H Office.

15

DEADLINE: Registration for 2001 Southern Region 4-H Volunteer Leaders Forum due in State 4-H Office.

AUGUST

1

DEADLINE: Registration for Southwest District Fall 4-H Volunteer Leaders Forum.

DEADLINE: Registration for Southeast District Fall 4-H Volunteer Leader Forum.

11

Southwest District Fall 4-H Volunteer Leaders Forum - Jackson.

18

Southeast District Fall 4-H Volunteer Leaders Forum -Jones County Jr. College.

24

DEADLINE: Registration for Northwest District Fall 4-H Volunteer Leaders Forum.

31

DEADLINE: Registration for Northeast District Fall 4-H Volunteer Leaders Forum.

SEPTEMBER

8

Northwest District Fall 4-H Volunteer Leaders Forum. (TBA)

15

Northeast District Fall 4-H Volunteer Leaders Forum - Verona.

OCTOBER

3-7

Southern Region 4-H Volunteer Leaders Forum - Georgia.

13

4-H Day at Mississippi State Fair - Jackson.

-Harvey Gordon
4-H Youth Development Specialist

2001 4-H LEGISLATIVE PAGE PROGRAM

As was done last year, arrangements have been made with the Lt. Governor's Office and the Clerk of the House of Representatives to allow four (4) youth to represent 4-H and the Center for Governmental Technology (CGT) as pages for one week of the 2001 legislative session. These pages will serve in either the Mississippi Senate or House of Representatives during the week of March 12-16, 2001.

Applications for the 2001 Legislative Page Program are due Thursday, February 1, 2001. Please remind all interested 4-H youth in your county to have them in by that date. I have yet to receive any applications, so please encourage them to apply. These applications were sent to all county offices before Christmas. If you need another copy of the application you may find it on the Extension Network Drive at X:\cgt\4h\application. You may also contact me and I will be happy to fax you another copy.

4-H will provide lodging in a hotel conveniently located near the Capitol, basic accidental/sudden illness insurance, and a chaperon. Applicants who are not selected to represent 4-H and the Center for Governmental Technology as pages are encouraged to contact their state senator or representative and request that they be appointed as a page under his or her sponsorship.

I f you have any questions please contact me in the Center for Governmental Technology at (662) 325-3141. I look forward to hearing from you.

Michael D. Garriga
Center for Governmental Technology

NOMINATION FORM
STATE VOLUNTEER LEADERS ASSOCIATION
FEBRUARY 1, 2001

The officers of the association shall consist if president, president-elect (president the following year), vice-president, treasurer (2 year term), and parliamentarian. Nominees must be present at the annual business meeting in February and be prepared to present a 2-3 minute speech on their nominated position.

You are invited to nominate an adult volunteer to serve as an officer.

I ______________________________________,

recommend and nominate __________________________________________

from____________________________(County)

To serve as (check one)

______President-Elect

______Vice-President

______Parliamentarian

______ Treasurer (2 year term)

Nominee's address:_____________________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

Nominee's telephone # ____________________

Number of years served as a 4-H Volunteer ______Is nominee a member of MVLA? _____(Yes) _______(No)

List major qualifications of the volunteer (include previous experience in similar committees in the county or either in other organizations-attach additional pages if necessary):



*Due in State Office by February 1, 2001

 

Mail to: State 4-H Office

c/o Harvey Gordon
Box 9641
Mississippi State, MS 39762

The VIP Newsletter is published for Mississippi 4-H Volunteer leaders with the Mississippi State University Extension Service by the State 4-H Office. Articles and news items should be sent to VIP, Box 9641, Mississippi State, MS 39762. Editor: Harvey Gordon, 4-H Youth Development Specialist. Distributed to: MSU-ES Administration, Area Directors, State 4-H Staff, Agents with 4-H Responsibilities.

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