10 Things to do to Keep Your

Senior Members Involved

What NOT To Do!"Guess I'm not very good in 4-H. This was my first year, and I didn't seem to do too well. The kids like me OK, but the leaders and junior leaders seem to like the other kids better.“ "Seems like the leaders don't think you know anything unless you get an A at the fair and have perfect writing and spotless paper on your records ... guess they don't understand about little sisters and writing with crayons." "Last week, I was supposed to give a demonstration at our meeting. Boy, was I scared! I was making brownies. I was kind a afraid at first, but then I started telling about the day I made some that had dog hair in them. The other kids enjoyed hearing about it, and I thought they'd learn to be careful like I did ... but Susie, our junior leader, gave me a dirty look so then I just read from the project book. Afterwards, Susie said I should have used glass bowls and trays and posters and things like that. Guess you just about have to be perfect to be a good 4-H member. I wish Susie had helped me before I gave the demonstration and showed me how not to be afraid."

10O Meet with your teens – without the

younger members aroundO Ask them what they want out of 4-HO Do some super fun leadership/team

bonding activities with just them

9O Be flexibleO Be firm and fair but understanding

aboutO FFAO AthleticsO RodeoO HomeworkO EmploymentO Other commitments

8O Get them involved in 4-H exclusives

O Shooting SportsO BakingO SewingO Home EconomicsO Rocketry

7O Only Juniors and Seniors may be

officersO By doing this you let Junior and Senior

Members know how valuable they are and that the club could not function without them

6O Make them Accountable

O Your older members need to do all the work – they want to be needed!

O AgendaO Treasurers ReportO Secretaries MinutesO Song and RecreationO Eye Openers

5O Encourage a Mentoring Program

O Assign older members to younger members and give them a list of responsibilitiesO Record Book help/understandingO Project help/understandingO State Trip excitementO Getting started

4O Keep an Open Mind and listen to

what they have to sayO They may be getting mature enough

to have some very valuable ideas, let me share – as a group, let them develop their programO ie, opening meetings

3O Award them

O ExamplesO Outstanding Senior of the monthO Gift cards for major accomplishmentsO You got caught cards

2O Recognition

O Assist them in running for higher offices, let they know they are worth your time

O Newspaper articles, not only have your reporter do this, but make sure to highlight your older members

O Give your younger members reason to stay so they can earn the same in the future

1O Show them that you love them