July 15-18, 2012Austin, Texas

Leading . . . Learning . . . Involvement. .

2012 Texas 4-H Congress . . .

Eligibility• Beanactive4-Hmemberwithinthe

programsofTexasAgriLifeExtension,CooperativeExtensionProgramatPrairieView,orMilitary4-H.

• Be15yearsofageattimeofevent.• Haveawillingnesstoresearchandpre-

parealegislativebillforconsiderationduringtheevent.

• Bewillingtomeetnewfriends,havefun,andlearnallatthesametime!

July 15-18, 2012Austin, Texas

CongressHeadquarters:SheratonAustinHotelattheCapitol

11thStreet,Austin,TX

Deadlines and Timelines• February2012:Information

releasedtoCountyExtensionOffices

• March-May2012:CountyExtensionOfficesselectdelegates.

• April2012:ApplicationstothePressCorpsandLobbyistaccepted.

• May2012:NotificationgiventothoseselectedforPressCorpsandLobbyist.

• May-June2012:Registrationandlegislativebillsubmissionprocess.

• July15-18,2012:Texas4-HCongress

Educational programs of the Texas AgriLife Extension Service are open to all people without regard to race, color, sex, disability, religion, age, or national origin.

The Texas A&M University System, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the County Commissioners Courts of Texas Cooperating

For more information . . .

ContactyourlocalCountyExtensionOf-ficeonspecificdeadlinesforyourcountyandtoknowwhattheselectionprocessisforcountydelegates.

VisittheTexas4-HCongressonlineat:http://texas4-h.tamu.edu/youth/txcongress

orscantheQRcodeusingyoursmartphone.

One of premiere leadership andcitizenshipexperiencethata4-Hmembercanhaveduring their 4-Hcareer isTexas4-HCongress. Heldon theevenyears inAustinattheTexasStateCapitol,Texas4-HCongressimmerses4-Hmembersintothelaw making process. From identifying,researching, writing, presenting, anddebating potential legislationwhich effectthe citizens and communities where the4-Hmemberslive.

As a participant ofTexas4-HCongress,each young personis assigned a role ineither the House ofRepresentatives, theSenate, Press Corps,or as a Lobbyist.MembersoftheTexas4-H Council serve as committee leadersand mentor the other chamber membersthrough the legislative process. Alongthe way, chamber members experiencethe influence of the lobbyist and dailyrhetoric from the press corps in hopes ofdeterminingtheoutcomeofabill.

FromdebatingontheactualhistoricHouseandSenatefloorsoftheTexasStateCapitol,delegates vote on the bills and based on

Texas 4-H Congress . . .theirpassageineachchambertheyaresenttotheTexas4-HGovernorforsigningintolaworonlytobevetoed.

Texas4-HCongressengage4-Hmemberstounderstandthe importanceofhavingavoice, sharingyouropinions,appreciationof others, speaking in front of others,and compromising. Each 4-H member,regardless of their role leaves Texas

4-H Congress with a greaterunderstanding of the history ofTexas,thelegislativeprocess,andstrongerleadershipskills.

Congress Is Not All Work . . .ParticipatinginTexas4-HCongressisalsoa cultural experience! It may be relivingthe days of King Arthur, traveling downa Venetian canal during the Renaissanceperiod,orhavingaluauonthebeachesofHawaii,thethemegalabringsoutthebestineveryone!Everyonegetsintotheactbydressingup,participating inactivitiesandgames, and ending the evening with thegrandestof4-Hdances.

OthereveningeventsincludetheTexas4-HGalatocloseouttheevent,aswellasguestspeakersthroughouttheeventandeveningdances.Lending a Hand . . .

Texas 4-H Congress delegatesalsolendsahandtothoseinneed.Asmall,butvalued,communityserviceproject is integratedinto

thearrivalprocessoftheevent.Startedbythe2010Texas4-HCouncilthefirstserviceprojectcollectedfoodandtoysforthelocalpetagency,resultinginovertwovanloadsof dog/cat food, toys,andotherpetneeds.The2012serviceprojectwillbethecollectionofnewandgentleusedchildrenbooks for the localhospitals.

http://texas4-h.tamu.edu/youth/txcongress