4-H Community Clubs

Starting a New 4-H Club and Strengthening an Existing 4-H Club!

Starting and leading 4-H Clubs can be a rewarding and challenging experience. A strong 4-H club engages youth members in the decision making, leading and carrying out events and activities. Youth and adult leaders working together is the back bone of a strong 4-H club. These tools can assist in the process.

The Starting a New 4-H Club Guide is for new and returning 4-H club leaders.

• Starting a New 4-H Club (3 pages, 111 KB) This guide provides essential elements for a new club, including what makes up a 4-H club and what are the critical things the youth and adult leadership team must do.
• NEW 4-H MEMBER HANDBOOK (14 pages, 596 KB)

4-H Club Charter and Renewal Process

• 4-H Charter and Renewal Process: 4-H Clubs must have a 4-H charter. The 4-H Charter formally recognizes a group's affiliation with 4-H and grants the group permission to use the 4-H Name and Emblem. It provides the permission for the 4-H club to be a subsidiary of National 4-H Headquarters and eligibility for federal tax exemption status. All 4-H groups and committees that use the 4-H Name and Emblem and handle finances and have a checkbook must be chartered. This includes accepting donations and fundraising.

  4-H Charters and Renewals for 4-H Clubs, Groups and CommitteesThis YouTube video features Greg Hutchins, State 4-H Youth Development Program Director as outlines the purpose and the process for 4-H Charters and their annual renewal. (4:27 minutes)

  Please view the following presentation by Greg Hutchins, State 4-H Youth Development Program Director. (4:27) This is the same presentation in an alternate format.

  4-H Club Charter and Annual Charter Renewals: All 4-H clubs must be chartered. Each year 4-H clubs must renew this charter. These two packets are to be used by volunteer organizational leaders and submitted to the UW-Extension office and 4-H Youth Development Staff. The annual charter renewal is due December 1.
  • Wisconsin 4-H Annual Charter Application: New 4-H Clubs
  • Wisconsin 4-H Annual Charter Renewal: Existing 4-H Clubs
  • 4-H Committees Web site provides information and links for the 4-H Group or Committee Charter and Annual Charter Renewals.

The tasks and responsiblities for leading a 4-H club are outlined in this role description. Team leadership helps insure successful 4-H clubs.

• Team Leadership Role Description (3 pages, 64 KB)
• Team Leadership Role Description ( 3 pages, 155 KB)

Tools to provide 4-H clubs plan great meetings and set guidelines for how the club will operate so all members are informed.

• Developing 4-H Groups and Committees Operating Guidelines (39 KB) This tool provides clubs and committees a checklist for essential elements needed in developing operating guidelines that could be part of a handbook or bylaws. Developed by Jackie Johnson, Chippewa County 4-H Youth Development Agent.
• Considering 4-H Club and County Policies (1 page, 46.96 KB) - This guide can assist members and leaders as they review and update operating guidelines for their 4-H club and county groups.
• Sample Constitution and Bylaws (3 pages, 53 KB)
• Sample Constitution and Bylaws (3 pages, 159 KB)
• Sample Club Calendar Planner (3 pages, 62 KB) This document is required and is part of the 4-H club charter packet.
• Sample Club Calendar Planner (3 pages, 170 KB)
• Club or Committee Activity Planning Form (2 pages, 44 KB) This tool helps club and committee groups plan a successful event or activity. Developed by Chris Viau, Wood County 4-H Youth Development Agent.
• Club or Committee Activity Report Form (1 page, 34 KB). This tool helps club and committee groups report how an event or activity happened and suggestions for the next group. Developed by Megan Stuessel, Trempealeau County 4-H Youth Development Agent.

4-H Meeting Tools

• 4-H Meeting Guide and Planner 09 (3 pages, 101 KB)
• 3 Parts of A Meeting Game (1 page, 47 KB)
• Ice Breaker Ideas to Create a Welcoming Environment (2 pages, 53 KB)
• Sample 4-H Club Program Meeting Planner (1 page, 43 KB)
• Sample 4-H Club Program Meeting Planner (1 page, 147 KB)
• Sample 4-H Club Agenda Planner (2 pages, 57 KB)
• Sample 4-H Club Agenda Planner (2 pages, 153 KB)
• Making 4-H Meetings Fun and Engaging This YouTube video is of the Fast Trackers 4-H Club sharing how they make 4-H meetings that shake, rattle and roll. (October 2000) (2:32 minutes) Making 4-H Meetings Fun and Engaging. This streaming video is of the Fast Trackers 4-H Club in Outagamie County (Oct. 2000) (2:32 minutes) This presentation is the same video as the YouTube version.

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