On the attachment (Are you thinking about joining 4) at the end on the third page there is a photo of Kayle Hutcheson, a member of the SY 4-H

 

So You Say You Want to Join 4-H

Are you thinking about joining 4-H? If so, and if you are a kid between 5 and 19-years-old, then this is the article for you! Here are some of the very interesting projects and jobs you can do if you sign up with the Santa Ynez 4-H.

 

All of 4-H`s projects are educational and fun, like Cinema Arts. This is one of my favorite projects because of all the cool equipment that you handle while learning how to make a movie or TV show! And now, Cinema Arts produces 4-H TV! You get to go to TAP-TV in Lompoc to work on the show, which features 4-H people and events. But hurry – only eight more people can join this particular project!

 

Drama is also a very popular project because after all the drama, you get to be in a play! And who can forget about Robotics & Rocketry? This is also a favorite project because on the first day, you launch mini rockets, and you stay at this fantastic camp in Lompoc for two nights. It is a heck of a lot of fun! Many people can join Robotics & Rocketry and it is one of the best projects of all. But with the 4-H summer comes the best thing of all: Camp Wahoo! This is the greatest camp that you will ever know. Make lanyards, toss horse shoes and hang out with your friends while you sing camp songs or hear funny and super-fantastic stories in Cambria. But wait! There’s more! You can be one of the 4-H leaders. At our club, leadership roles include president, vice-president, treasurer and Secretary. The vice-president helps the president do almost everything, including planning for club visibility, managing committees and arranging for club meeting programs.

 

The president is the most important role of them all because whoever holds this office organizes, starts, ends, and most importantly, guides our monthly meetings. The treasurer accounts for all the money, presents a treasurer’s report at each club meeting and keeps accurate, up-to-date records, which is a lot of work. There is also the secretary, who records minutes, attends every single meeting and keeps attendance records. Then there’s me, the reporter, and I get to send articles into the newspaper, which is a lot of fun. I recently did an interview with Geoff Rotunno, our community leader (top adult advisor), where I asked him questions about our club.

 

AB: Is Cinema Arts and TAP-TV different, or are they the same project?

GR: Cinema Arts is the 4-H project. Kids who sign up learn about film and TV production. Santa Ynez 4-H is a member of TAP-TV and thereby has privileges at the TAP-TV studio. Cinema Arts project members put their skills to practical use and produce 4-H TV at the TAP-TV facility.

 

AB: Where did you get the idea to create the Cinema Arts project?

 GR: I have a background in filmmaking as a hobby, and I grew up in a family that worked in the entertainment industry in Hollywood. Volunteering to lead Cinema Arts seemed like a natural thing to do. The nice thing about the project is that it lends itself nicely to practice in several life skills areas, such as teamwork, communication, and planning and organizing.

 

AB: Why is Santa Ynez 4-H unique?

GR: For one thing, as a whole, our adult leadership team has a tremendous amount of 4-H experience, and I think it helps us stay organized and focused on making things fun. Also, we tend to try to offer projects that kids won’t find anywhere else.

 

AB: This is your second year as community leader, what are your goals for the club this year?

GR: I have just one goal I’m honing in on this year, and that is to promote the wonderful world of 4-H to every kid in our community. I would love to see our club triple in size.

If you are interested in learning more about Santa Ynez 4-H, please consider the annual information and enrollment meeting on at 7 p.m. on Jan. 10 at the Santa Ynez Elementary gymnasium, 3525 Pine St., Santa Ynez, or visit www.sy4h.org.