4-H ONTARIO LEADERSHIP IN ACTION • DECEMBER <strong>2010</strong> • PAGE 22
4-H ONTARIO LEADERSHIP IN ACTION • DECEMBER <strong>2010</strong> • PAGE 23 Paying it forward! <strong>2010</strong> marks the 96th year of 4-H in <strong>Ontario</strong>. We are humbled to think of the thousands upon thousands of 4-H volunteers who have embraced the 4-H program across <strong>Ontario</strong>, providing Learn To Do By Doing club experiences for generations upon generations of youth in their communities. Youth who have themselves gone on to become leaders within their industry, community, and country. We believe the mantra ‘paying it forward’ has been the lifeline of the 4-H movement in <strong>Ontario</strong>, and will be the foundation of our future. Like all of you, who have been or still are part of the program, you will understand that the words of our pledge are indeed enabled by the freedoms and privileges we have been given – a reminder we embrace as Canadians on November 11th every year. While November is 4-H month, and kicked off by the Show Your 4-H Colours day on November 3rd, we like to think of the 4-H movement being a full year opportunity for clearer thinking, greater loyalty, larger service and better living. Today we are pleased to share with you and give thanks for the news that the 4-H movement in <strong>Ontario</strong> has a volunteer team 400 stronger than last year! This means that 1900 volunteers are paying it forward for their local 4-H clubs, communities and country. Simply fantastic and we thank each and every one of you. As we head into the four year stretch heading toward our 100th Anniversary, we continue to look for ways to meaningfully and effectively address the opportunities and challenges that we embrace every day. We remain vigilant to our planning, management and evaluation processes, as we seek to empower, direct and protect the program, the volunteers and ultimately the 4-H members across this province. 2011 brings new opportunities as we welcome for the first time in <strong>Ontario</strong>’s 4-H history, 9 year olds to the 4-H family. We will be investing the membership, partner, and donor investments wisely toward creating an increasingly effective and vibrant program. Our boards at the provincial and local levels will be welcoming new volunteer directors and trustees as the leadership succession continues, which in and of itself is empowering, as these volunteers dedicate their skills and energy toward making the program at all levels the best it can be. Similarly we will be witnessing and supporting the ongoing succession of our 4-H <strong>Ontario</strong> staff team. A team not unlike our volunteer Boards, which will always experience some change as the team member’s live their lives and pursue new opportunities to contribute their skills and energy whether at home, work or within their community. We are so thankful for our staff team’s dedicated daily contribution to 4-H in <strong>Ontario</strong>. Together with the dedicated volunteers, partners, donors and staff, the collective support of the organization’s vision is so critical to the future of 4-H in <strong>Ontario</strong>. Success is born when we focus on enabling greater involvement of volunteers, a growing membership and ultimately facilitating the incredible impact that this organization of Leaders Building Leaders provides to the communities in which we all live, work and play. Thank you for joining the 4-H family in <strong>Ontario</strong>. Thank you for paying it forward. learn to do by doing apprendre en travaillant the gift of leadership un don de leadership SHONNA WARD President, <strong>Ontario</strong> 4-H Council president@4-hontario.ca ROD STORK Chair, <strong>Ontario</strong> 4-H Foundation chair@4-hontario.ca Head, Heart, Hands, Health Inspiring Youth, Shaping Our Communities
Change language