December 2010 - 4-H Ontario

4-H ONTARIO LEADERSHIP IN ACTION • DECEMBER 2010 • PAGE 23
Paying it forward!
2010 marks the 96th year of 4-H in
Ontario. We are humbled to think of the
thousands upon thousands of 4-H volunteers
who have embraced the 4-H program across
Ontario, 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 Ontario, 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 Ontario
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 Ontario’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 Ontario 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
Ontario.
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
Ontario. 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
Ontario. 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, Ontario 4-H Council
president@4-hontario.ca
ROD STORK
Chair, Ontario 4-H Foundation
chair@4-hontario.ca
Head, Heart, Hands, Health
Inspiring Youth, Shaping Our Communities