Kent County 4-H

Bylaws of Kent County Jr. Council

Name: 

The name of this organization shall be the Kent County Jr. Council 

Purpose: 

The purpose of this 4-H club is to support the development of Kent County 4-H teens through club meetings, committees, and other activities.

Policies:

The club will meet regularly once a month (August thru May) to conduct business.

• Any major decision of the club must be voted upon by the majority of the members present.

Membership:

• To become a member, a person must be a member of a Kent County 4-H club in good standing and attend two Jr. Council meetings.

• A member shall be dropped from club enrollment if he or she misses three consecutive meetings without reasonable explanation.

• The advisor, with the executive committee, shall review the reasons for absence to determine whether a member’s name is removed from the roll.

• A member in good standing is defined as any member who has attended at least two meetings and two Jr. Council county events.

• Without regard to race, color, sex, disability, religion, age or national origin, Kent County 4-H’er, age 13-19 as of January 1, of the current year may become a member of this club.

Officers, Elections and Duties:

• The elected officers of this club shall be president, vice president, secretary, treasurer and reporter.

• Each of these offices shall be a one year term, except treasurer which shall be a two year term. • Officers shall be elected annually in August and shall begin term of office in September.

• An officer shall have been a member in good standing of the club for three months prior to election.

• Officers shall not succeed themselves.

• Nominees must complete and submit the officer application one week prior to elections.

• Nominations from the floor shall follow the announcement of the candidates if there are no candidates.

• Only those members who are eligible and willing shall be accepted as nominees.

• Each candidate for office shall be given two minutes to speak prior to elections.

• Voting shall be by paper ballet.

• Officers shall perform duties set forth in the 4-H Officer Handbook.

• The vice president shall succeed to the presidency if such vacancy occurs.

• Other vacancies shall be filled by a vote of the members at the next regular meeting or appointed by the executive committee.

• Any officer not in good standing with the organization shall be removed as per membership rules.

Meetings will begin promptly at 7 p.m. on the Third Tuesday of each month. Executive Committee:

• The executive committee shall consist of the officers and advisor.

• The duties of the executive committee shall be to transact any absolutely necessary business between regular meetings and any other business referred to it by the club members.

• The executive committee shall meet between the regular meetings as necessary. Standing and Special Committees:

• Standing committees shall be signed up for at the beginning of the year and serve to the end of the event.

• Special committees shall be appointed by the president and shall serve only as long as needed.

• The vice president shall be a member of all committees.

• The Executive Committee shall appoint the Basket Auction and Younger Member Weekend committees based upon meeting attendance and county participation.

Article IX: Amendments: 

• The bylaws may be amended at any regular meeting by a two-thirds vote of the membership provided they do not conflict with the required articles. 

October 18, 2016 

Kent County Jr Council Officer Expectations

• Develop the agenda for each meeting, with help from the advisor

• Conduct each meeting

• Notify the Vice President if you are unable to attend a meeting

VICE PRESIDENT:

• Conduct meetings in the president’s absence

• Serve as chair of program planning committee o Communicate with speakers o Set up dates and schedule speakers o Remind each speaker 1 week prior to program o Welcome the speaker at the meeting and introduce the person to the group

• Make sure all meetings are conducted using correct parliamentary procedure

SECRETARY:

• Take minutes and maintain secretary’s file during your term

• Forward minutes to Kent County Administrative Assistant within 1 week of meeting to post to county webpage

• See that the Reporter is prepared for meeting if you are unable to attend

• Send official correspondence as needed

TREASURER:

• This is a 2 year term

• Maintain checkbook

• Complete deposits as needed

• Maintain deposit and reimbursement forms

• Contact Jr Council treasury advisor (Lisa Collison) one week prior to each meeting to get the account balance and any other pertinent information from the bank statement

• Develop budget with input from executive committee and advisor

• Propose fundraisers as needed

• Give the secretary a written (or digital) report to file with the minutes

REPORTER:

• Submit a Newsletter article to 4-H Administrative assistant by published due dates

• Create advertisement flier about  Jr Council for members to take to their community clubs

• Record minutes if the secretary is unable to attend and forward to 4-H Admin. Assistant within one week of meeting for posting to county webpage 

ADVISOR:

• Attend all regular and executive meetings

• Provide guidance to officers as needed

• Assist in developing meeting agendas 

Coming soon.

Please email Kristin Cook at kristin@udel.edu

History of Delaware 4-H Links

The first 4-H club work was organized in Kent County in 1914. Dewey Sapp was the first 4-H member in Delaware. The first 4-H club short course was held at the University of Delaware during the Christmas holiday in 1917. Delaware's first state 4-H Leader was H.T. Ruhl, who was appointed in 1914 and served for one year. Theodore Martin, who served from 1918 to 1921, succeeded him. He, in turn, was succeeded by A.D. Cobb, former County Agent in Kent County, who is remembered by 4-H club members and leaders of that time as "Dad Cobb".

In 1927, when 4-H work in Delaware was only 13 years old, Dad Cobb, who was still the State 4-H Leader, realized the fact that when 4-Her's became too old for 4-H work, they had no place to display their leadership qualities. Most of them got married or started farming and let it go at that. Dad Cobb had the opportunity to see older 4-H organizations at work at the Eastern States Exposition in Springfield, Massachusetts. Maryland had organized an older 4-H organization called the All-Stars and other states had organized similar groups under a variety of names. These people had been selected on a basis of personality and character rather than on achievements. The function of these organizations consisted mostly of play and not of training. Dad Cobb got many ideas from the other state organizations and saw a chance for a similar set up here in Delaware. He saw that there was a lack of leadership in rural people as a whole. At that time, the Extension Service consisted of only the three county agents, Mr. Cobb, and an extension poultry man.

In 1926-1927, an organization was formed and named "The Order of Links in the 4-H Club Chain in Delaware". Members were selected on the basis of good 4-H membership. Dad Cobb decided that each County could bring in two 4-H members per year and could nominate one 4-H club member a year. By this method, two members from each county and two former members at large. Dewey Sapp, having been the first 4-H member in Delaware, was called the "Ring in the Wall" to which the other "Links" were attached.

The idea was that the chain would grow longer each year. The county agents and Dad Cobb selected the first members. At the initiation ceremony each year, to be held at the short course, it would be the custom to sing, "Follow the Gleam". This was to be the official Link song. In 1931, a convention was called in the Old State House in Dover to write a Link Constitution. At this time, there were about 40 Link members.

The constitution provided for state officers: a president, secretary, treasurer and historian. It also provided for a County Link Association in each county, with a president of each of these county chapters to act also as vice presidents in the state organization. The State Link organization continued to operate under this constitution until 1965 when it was revised to better fit the needs of the organization. For at this time not only were the Links an active state organization, but each county was active as a separate organization, and this called for different guidelines of operation. It was under this revised constitution that the Links would operate the next decade. The revisions maintained the criteria for Link selection as: leadership, character, cooperation, achievement and community service.

Link members and local leaders in each county would make selections. As time progressed, county Link organizations became more and more active as the state organization became somewhat less active. Each county's membership was built up so as to provide a working basis for their programs and for all practical purposes the State Link Organization had little to do.

In 1976, the state organization underwent reorganization, as the constitution was once again revised and the position of historian was eliminated. At this time, it was decided that the State Link Organization should continue to function and provide the county 4-H councils with assistance in running statewide events, such as Fun Day and the Christmas Dinner-Dance.

The Order of Links has done much toward promoting rural leadership, better 4-H club work and provided opportunities for leadership in many areas. No other organization in Delaware has done so much in advancing leadership in and among 4-H youth. There is little financial reward or honor that goes with working with this organization. The real reward is the satisfaction one may gain from seeing his efforts help someone somewhere to become a more understanding citizen and a better leader to this, "The Greatest Nation in the World".

On April 27, 1995, the Kent County 4-H Links Association was awarded a Governor's Outstanding Volunteer Award. This award was sponsored by then Governor, Thomas R. Carper. Ted Palmer, Extension 4-H Agent, nominated the Links.

Coming soon.

Please email Kristin Cook at kristin@udel.edu

September

• Meeting

• Nomination of New Link Members

• Decided on Gift for Public Presentation Award

October

• Meeting

• Window Display and Litter Barrel Judging (during National 4-H Week)

• Achievement Banquet (Induction of New Members, Sponsor Community Service Certificates and Public Presentation Award)

• Pumpkin, Wreath and Costume Judging at Great Pumpkin Day

November

• Meeting

December

• Christmas Party with Gift Exchange

• Trim-a-Tree Judging (first week of December)

• Charitable Donation food items for local school (collected at Christmas Party)

January

• Meeting

• Public Speaking (Links sponsor trophies)

• Committee to Award Camp Scholarships

February

• Meeting

• Host Winter Fun Day (Last Sunday of the Month)

March

• Meeting

• Favorite Foods Lunch Booth (members work and donate food items)

• Basket Auction Donation (Links donate a basket)

April

• Meeting

• Provide Dinner for Clothing and Textile Showcase

May

• Meeting

June

• Serve drinks at the Delaware State Fair Stockholders Dinner

Summer

• Links Family Fun Event

Additional Events: We will be having a Grotto Pizza event in Milford once or twice during the year.