'We Fought Like Hell'...

I look at King County 4-H and see a “well-connected” community of loving parents, passionate volunteers and Leaders, civically minded and engaged youth.  However, I see little action until the final moment when all hope may be lost on one County Council Vote!  I am perplexed by this overall unwillingness to really speak with one another about the issues at hand and how to not only try to thwart it for the coming year but long-term too?  The lack of foresight for an organization that is all about growing, leadership, learning, civic engagement and community is beyond me.  That is why I wanted to get involved, to begin some sort of open forum utilizing current technology which hundreds of parents and volunteers are already connected to in order to facilitate conversations and action!  Instead fear was shown, overwhelming fear that the internet and technology can create more harm than good!  Well, I have to say that I don’t disagree completely, but I certainly do not agree.  Because of time constraints it’s the groups best bet in organizing collective action, whether it be a letter writing campaign, a protest (see image from newspaper clipping below) or a video diary of current 4-H’ers experiences to share with new members, new community members, to create new networking opportunities and to build support for what seems to be a dying organization. 

On a positive note, the following was shared with me via email by the King County 4-H Adminstrator I have been working with as a gate keeper.  Some of the information is troubling and needs to be addressed as far as youth participation is concerned because it directly reflects what many Council members may be thinking or feeling when it comes time to vote on the funding initiative for 2011 this coming October/November:

“At this time I have been working with clubs and the King County 4-H Association 
on being more visable. I have to amit I have been busy with risk management like getting every one to turn in their paperwork so I can background screen everyone. We also lost 100 4-H member this year wether we would have 4-H. We also gained 167 new member." 

"There is elements of 4-H that has not been encourage by the leaders like Public Presentations and record books.  In Pierce County they have over 200 members doing county presentations while in King county I have had 10 members. There is a lot of work that need to be done in King County. "
 

We will know more about were King County stand when the King County proposed budget is released next month.” (Email correspondence from May 12, 2010).

This is the state of King County 4-H—a “wait and see” mentality.  I’ve joined the bandwagon out of respect.  However, by the end of June, my planning process may change considerably to become more proactive and to perhaps reach out to the greater community of leaders and volunteers on the web as a “concerned citizen” rather than a CD Practicioner or Planner.  Through strategic questioning and concerns, I hope to get to a point where all King County 4-H community members have a sense of “faith in themselves to tackle whatever issues come along” (Wolff 2001).  I only hope to assist with the “visioning process” (Wolff 2001).  I remember at the very beginning of this semester reading through the AMESH), and having one particular bit strike me; a small question to ask the community members, “What story do you want your grandchildren to tell about their home? How would you like your community to look in twenty years?” (Waltner-Toews et al. 2004). These are the questions I want to pose to the 4-H Community, these are the things I’ve asked myself, and I know that I want to be able to share 4-H with my grandchildren or at least tell them stories of how ‘we fought like hell’ to save it. 

On a closing note: I, Alex Conn, Pledge my HEAD to clearer thinking, my HEART to greater loyalty, my HANDS larger service and my HEALTH to better living, for my club, my COMMUNITY, my country and my world.  

Wolff, T. (2001). A practioners’ guide to successful coalitions. American Journal of Community Psychology, 29(2), 173-191.

Waltner-Toews, D., Kay, J., Murray, T.P., and Neudoerffer, C. (2004). Adaptive methodology for Ecosystem Sustainability and Health (AMESH): An Introduction. In G. Midgley and A Ochoa-Arias (Eds). Community operational research: OR and systems thinking for community development (pp. 317-349). New York: Kluwer Academic. 

On the lighter side: A Short Joke :)

Considering my last blog related to my uneasy feelings around the use of technology within this project (Saving King County 4-H) and in general CD work, I felt the email I received from a former colleague at the Northwest Lions Foundation was quite appropriate.  In particular, since my dual posting of my previous blog was done on a discussion board where some of my feedback was also regarding how suffocating, if you will, being "connected" through various online forums and media can seem.  With this said, Enjoy!

MY LIVING WILL  

Last night my sister and I were sitting in the den and I said to her, 'I never want to live in a vegetative state, dependent on some machine and fluids from a bottle to keep me alive.  That would be no quality of life at all,  If that ever happens, just pull the plug.  So she got up, unplugged the computer, and threw out my wine.   She's such a *!~#$!

Courtesy of M. Rastatter, via email correspondence received May 19, 2010. 

Clover's Secret (The 4-H Pledge)

...And the Frustrations Mount

Nearing the close of the Semester 1 and coming ever so much more close to presenting our "actions" or "implementation" process to my in SWSP7123: Community Planning, Engagement and Government I am becoming more and more frustrated with this project.  Yes, I understand that we can "fail gloriously" but time doesn't even seem to afford me that.  As an international student, I feel even more constrained by time limitations, because not only am I expected to take 4 courses full time and maintain high grades in those in order to stay in the country and keep my funding, but I also expect this of myself, I am still learning the area and trying to explore and still feel very poorly connected with the city, town and University (University of Queensland).  Resources are abound, there are many opportunities but I feel given my personal limitations that the help I want, desire and need are just out of reach.

In addition, communicating solely via email with my three contacts in the U.S. is proving to be difficult.  It's a fairly well known fact that amongst those involved in 4-H as volunteers, employees and as members, you tend to spread yourself too thin and well, the folks I am working with are pretty thin as it is.  Emails are far and few between and often responses are usually received in about 2weeks time.  Speaking of which I need to send a reminder in order to get a response.  Also, because of my limitations and lack of ability to be physically available meetings and discussions I have given my personal okay, for the understanding that things move at their own pace and not being physically being there to spur them forward, I have allowed others to take up the reigns when it comes to facilitating any sort of action.  Whether there have been any to date, I am unaware--again physical limitations and distance have hindered my ability to see if any progress has been made at the ground levels.

I also had it quite blatantly expressed that one of my ideas, regarding the utilization of Facebook was just not appropriate because of the way "rumors spread."  And according to many individuals working and volunteering in with the 4-H Organization within King County, WA, the Internet and Facebook are "uncharted territories" and are pretty much "the wild, wild west" when it comes to 4-H.  Despite the fact that when I checked out the 4-H Network Blog, I was quite surprised to see that they have their own YouTube video network with many interesting YOUTH produced films (http://www.youtube.com/user/4HNetworkNews).   This was one of my ideas that may come to fruition and that County Level admin saw as a real possibility given time constraints for them and for this particular class project. The production of a Youth made film regarding the 'good things' each current 4-Her within the county has experienced was really welcomed.  Everything else, thus far, quite shut down.

In addition, there was confusion over what my actual project was going to be about.  Most former 4-Hers when doing Graduate Projects around 4-H are engaging in some sort of "research" and because of the programs basis and early development, as well as current connections with research based, land grant Universities, "research" is a great idea!  As most of us are aware, numbers sell ideas in the U.S. and most Developed Countries, not some little Community Development project.

This being said, I'm not giving up.  I will continue to blog, albeit irregularly and I will keep trying to send my emails.  It seems with every other email huge leaps are taken forward and people are excited and ready to to get moving right in stead with me.  As soon as they speak with others, the next email is a bit disheartened and "questions" have been raised about purpose, relevance and most of all child/youth safety.  I suppose in this particular case it is simply my job to keep spirits up and to keep people positive (even though I'm feeling pretty crummy about the whole thing too).  We will see, what my reminder brings and if anything at all comes to fruition between today May 12th and June 2nd.

Until we meet again (which will be in the very new future...)!
-A

Finally! ! Plan and a couple of connections

Today is the first day I've actually had a chance to look at my blog space since starting it nearly one month ago.

Now, that I've completed a project plan with full Log Frame analysis and Stakeholder Analysis, I finally feel as if I have some grasp on this project and idea of where to go next.  Also, I heard back from my main contact, my former 4-H leader back home in Washington State and she was able to provide me with the contact information for the a new County level 4-H employee!  This was a couple of weeks ago, and I did do a bit of a happy dance then but also became quite anxious and stressed over the thought of giving my 'pitch' to a new person, one I don't have any personal connection too.  However, both being former 4-Hers I'm sure there we have much in common.  I cannot wait to hear her ideas and thoughts on how to proceed with engaging the rest of the King County 4-H family.

I also found out to my dismay that King County 4-H already has a Facebook page that is regularly updated. However, the original purpose of the page (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=73369&o=all&op=1&view=all&subj=111983015505931&aid=-1&id=100000800635298#!/pages/Save-4-H-In-King-County/200387315752?ref=ts) was to facilitate discussion on how to "Save King County 4-H" before the next budgetary meetings occur with the King County Council in November 2010.  No one wants to see the need for protests again in order to make sure the program is noticed and supported again, at the very last minute.  No one wants to feel that fear or see the need to drop everything to gather as many supporters as possible without any real clear mission!  At least I do  not, and from the few individuals associated with the program I have spoken with, neither do they.  So, one of my goals now is to help facilitate the discussion boards (which are currently blank) on this Facebook page and hopefully getting things moving.  Perhaps, one for the parents, volunteers and administrators and one for the kiddos to openly discuss their feelings and thoughts, which in turn can be monitored by their club leaders, parents, etc for content, trends and appropriate use.

We will see how far we get but in the short time we have before classes are dismissed for the final time this semester, the above is as much as I can hope for.  I've just now sent out my email and proposal to my, hopefully new contact and am eagerly awaiting a response.  Despite the my inability to focus solely on this project, as I would prefer, I am now at least somewhat energized and motivated to get started again and with a strong project plan completed, I know that I do have the tools and ability to "get 'er done!" From here on out, I only hope to see positive results. Fingers crossed that 2010 will not be a repeat of 2009 for King County 4-H.

To see what was organized at the last minute in November 2009 for the 2010 budget cycle meetings please visit the following links:
http://queenanne.komonews.com/content/rally-save-king-county-4-h-sunday-keyarena
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2010341088_4hcuts24m.html
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2010513492_web4h15m.html

And here is one that on a time I personally remember quite well.  I was spoken to by our lovely County Executive at the time with several other 4-Hers that previous summer (2000) and were shot down quite harshly by the adult we were told to treat with the utmost respect.  Good times--This is why I care today!
http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=20001106&slug=4051732

Project Proposal

After several weeks and many nerves I have submitted my project proposal both to the professor for my course "Community Planning, Engagement, and Governance" and to my former 4-H leader in Washington State, USA.

My ideas are at this time vague but as I share my ideas with my 4-H Leader and my peers I hope to refine many of these based on what people are willing to do back home as well as where they have already been. Below, please find my proposal. Within the coming week or two I plan to have a background not only to 4-H and my involvement within in but also the background the current financial issues occurring around Washington.

PROJECT PROPOSAL:

PROJECT TITLE: Learning in Action: Save King County 4-H

PROJECT FOCUS: Youth

PROJECT AIM(S):
With this project I hope to begin further conversations perhaps even in a new direction, on how to gain both County/State support for local 4-H (& by default Cooperative Extension Programs) in order to secure funding for the continuation of the program for the long term, rather than the current situation of year-to-year support and funding approval. In addition, I would like to create some type of forum for the youth involved in the organization to at least share their fears, worries and even excitements with one another. This exists at the national level but does not exist at the local, county or state levels.
Long-term I see the project going much further. I would like to be able to work alongside the youth, parents and volunteers within the organization eventually work on legislative change which has made it necessary for 4-H as a non-profit reliant on each subsequent County Council approval each year in order to maintain operations.

PROJECT RATIONAL:
As a former member of 4-H, along with a continued support of the organization, believe that it is a worthwhile youth development program engaging youth from all backgrounds, ethnicities, sexual orientations and abilities with absolutely no discrimination. It is both urban and rural and in essence is a preventative program through extracurricular education and leadership opportunities. It is something I hope to see my children and grandchildren involved in one day. 4-H is a perfect example of a program that has produced many state and national leaders (even former presidents) as well as civically minded and often engaged community members.

PROJECT ACTION(S):
My initial goals in beginning collective action will be work closely, via email, Skype and other messaging programs with my former 4-H leader who is actively engaged in the current struggle to ‘Save 4-H’. Nancy is a not only a club leader but a State Project Coordinator and works very closely with state level volunteers to coordinate the program as a whole. She is my main contact and source of current information from within the organization. I hope to work with her as a club leader to begin speaking (again through web based media) with parents and volunteers within my old club and propose some of my ideas for raising awareness of the issue as well as overall organization marketing. I additionally hope to work with the parents and volunteers to set up some sort of forum (perhaps a blog space) for the children/youth involved in the programs to discuss with one another their fears and ideas which at a later time may be integrated into the actions of the adults within the organization.
Through both conversations hopefully both the adults and youth will be able to collectively move forward with more substantial goals of maintaining the program. I only at this time hope to be a source of rejuvenation of their previous efforts and wish to begin empowering the youth to actively speak out as well.

RISK IDENTIFICATION:
In undertaking this work I will need to be mindful of the fact that all those involved are volunteers and that there are children’s feelings and emotional well being at stake as well. The program is a place to facilitate education not necessarily involve any children in political action (although this is one area that youth can choose to be involved in through 4-H). In addition, I will need to remain conscious that all things take time and that I am mostly acting out of a place of insider knowledge and feelings, as well as my idealized state of consciousness in regards to the subject and program itself, where the actual economic and political ramifications of the project are much larger than my current scope and vision.
Additionally, people may or may not want to participate and could already be resigned to the way things are and the very real possibility of losing 4-H in King County and Washington State within the next 1-2 years. Figuring out a way to either pre-empt this resignation or empower the group again will be another strategy I may need to consider.