Club Leader Resources
What does a 4-H Club Leader do?
Club leaders are supportive adults with special knowledge and interests in various topics. Clubs can truly be about anything educational from leadership to sewing to photography to public speaking and so much more. All club programs are hands-on, educational, and provided at a low-cost or FREE. Clubs must meet a minimum of 6 hours a year to be eligible to register as a 4-H club and must have a minimum of five members from three or more families. Clubs are fully managed by adult volunteers and supported by the Dinwiddie Extension Office and 4-H Extension Agent. Generally each club has at least two adult volunteers.
How do I become a 4-H Club leader?
Contact Hannah Bishop at hrobbins@vt.edu if you are interested. All club leaders will undergo volunteer training and a background check through Virginia Tech before being eligible to serve. There are opportunities for more short-term volunteer options that do not require an extensive training or background check for those looking for a short-term option.
We love our volunteers! Without our volunteers, we would not be able to reach as many youth as we currently do nor we would be able to offer such a vast array of programs.
Club Requirements for a 4-H Charter
1. Membership of at least five 4-H members
2. At least two enrolled and trained volunteer leaders
3. Enrollment through 4-H Online on file for all members and leaders
4. Elected and trained youth officers (typically a training is offered by the Extension Agent)
5. An adopted club constituion and bylaws
6. A written annual club program plan found here
- 4-H Online
- Club Contacts & Civil Rights
- By-Laws and Constitutions
- Sign-in Sheets
- Club Funds Handling
- Logos and Nondiscrimination Statements
- Project Books
Download directions for parents to complete 4-H Online here. Remember, youth members need to be enrolled by Nov 30.
Clubs will also need to complete the Civil Rights Compliance form found here: https://www.pubs.ext.vt.edu/490/490-156/490-156.html
Here is a sample of a club constitution and by-laws. These must be signed every year and turned into the Dinwiddie Extension Office.
Sign in sheets should be utilized at every club event including meetings, social events, and educational programs. Be sure to collect the contact information for any new member who may join later in the year.
The documents below are VITAL when making club purchases and deposits. Whenever a club is to make a purchase, the Payment Processing Form must be completed at the meeting BEFORE the items can be purchased. Please check with the Extension Office to see if they can make the purchase before using personal financial options.
Should you have no other choice to make the purchase yourself, the individual reimbursement form needs to be completed in addition to the Payment Processing Form. Please note that the reimbursement cannot be processed without the two forms listed and the receipt from purchase. We will also need an address of the individual in need of reimbursement for the check to be mailed to. Reimbursements generally take a month to process AFTER the paperwork is received at the Dinwiddie Extension Office which is why we recommend seeing if the Extension Office can make the purchase through their accounts. Some companies are in our payment system, but you can also check to see if they will send an invoice to our office.
Any time a club is making a DEPOSIT, the deposit form must be completed and brought to the extension office with the deposit slip.
Virginia Cooperative Extension operates according to policies established by federal, state and local governments, Virginia Tech, Virginia State University and VCE Administration. Policies related to proper language and "statements" must be considered when preparing VCE documents.
Project Books can be found on the VCE Publications Website. Best practice is to use the search feature to find the topic surrounding the project book. Project books from other university Extension programs can be used with approval.
