leadership - 4-H Ontario

MESSAGES
Ontario 4-H Council
Take advantage of
any opportunity you
can. You deserve to
have as many opportunities
as the 4-H Members you
work with.”
THANK YOU 4-H VOLUNTEERS
by Shonna Ward, Ontario 4-H Council President
Over the years I have seen the
passion and dedication 4-H Volunteers
give to delivering the 4-H program in
their communities. The 4-H program is
what it is today because of Volunteers’
efforts. Youth need strong role models
in the community to provide guidance
so they too can become conscious,
contributing citizens. The Ontario 4-H
Council values the commitment of
all the 4-H Volunteers in Ontario. As
Directors, we are all 4-H Volunteers
and know the time, effort and passion
volunteering requires. We sincerely
thank you for your contributions.
Over the last 96 years the 4-H
program has flourished into a youth
program that also focuses on the
Volunteer experience. It provides the
opportunity to share your talent and
knowledge with the youth in your
community, but it also presents many
opportunities for personal growth and
fulfillment. Because Volunteers are
such an integral component of the 4-H
program, we want to ensure you also
have an enriching 4-H experience.
Take advantage of any opportunity
you can. You deserve to have as many
opportunities as the 4-H Members you
work with. To demonstrate the reach
of 4-H, I’d like to share some of the
opportunities 4-H has given me.
My experiences chaperoning a Go
For The Gold team, 4-H Exchange
and the National Citizenship Seminar
were all rewarding and I will cherish
the memories I made for the rest of my
life. The Alberta Leaders Conference
and the National Citizenship
Seminar provided me with a fantastic
professional development opportunity.
Of course, the 4-H Ontario Conference
and Annual Meeting is another great
opportunity I’ve participated in. The
conference is a great time to meet and
talk with other 4-H Volunteers from
across the province. Through all of
these opportunities I have made 4-H
friends from across Canada who I see
and talk to throughout the year.
One of my most unique 4-H
opportunities happened just last
month. I attended a reception to meet
Ted McMeekin, the new Minister of
Agriculture. I was very honoured to
fasten a 4-H Ontario pin on his jacket
to show the support the Ontario
Ministry of Agriculture, Food & Rural
Affairs gives to 4-H Ontario.
Each and every Volunteer gives an
amazing gift of sharing their time,
talents and knowledge with Members,
fellow Volunteers and the entire
4-H family. They are the key to the
4-H program. Remember to take
some time to take advantage of the
opportunities available to you. You
never know where it will take you.
Ontario 4-H Council Directors
Beverly Agar • Kelly Barclay • Darrell Bergsma • John den Haan, Vice President • Angie Fairfield • Ashley Hall, Director - Youth • Sandra Hanes • Melanie
Lang, Director - Community • Patty Lasby - Past President • Dave McNichols • Brian O’Neill • Shirley Tomlinson • Anne Verhallen, Director at Large •
Shonna Ward, President • Kim Hooey, National Youth Advisory Committee Rep
Leadership In Action • Winter 2011