Value of Volunteering Series
From the pages of the Clover Flyer
The Value of Volunteering ~ Part 1 in a series ~ Originally Published September 2010
Hopefully, you all had a wonderful fair experience this year. What makes the 4-H experience at Fair so great is volunteering. The Fair would not happen without all those who volunteer to help in all areas – project judging and check-in, set-up, tear down and clean-up, promotions, and of course, the Fair food stand areas (Kitchen, Dairy Bar and Action Center).
More specifically, volunteering to help in the Food Stand/Kitchen is of significant importance as it is one of two major fundraisers for our county 4-H. The profits from the Food Stand areas provide 40% of the funding for Waukesha County 4-H programs. The clubs also benefit, not only from those county programs, but also in that the clubs receive payment for each shift worked.
We encourage every club, old and new, to volunteer next year. An email announcement will be sent in the first quarter of 2011 with information regarding the mandatory fair kitchen meeting. If you are a new club, or an existing club, that has never worked a shift in the Food Stand areas, please contact the Food Stand/Kitchen committee and let us know of your interest. You can email Jean at teatreejean@yahoo.com.
The Value of Volunteering ~ Part 2 in a series ~ Originally Published December 2010
In the September/October issue of the Clover Flyer, this ongoing series presented the importance of volunteering, specifically as it pertains to the Food Stand areas during the Waukesha County Fair. Again, it is of significant importance as it is one of two major fundraisers for our county 4-H. The profits from the Food Stand areas provide 40% of the funding for Waukesha County 4-H programs. The clubs also benefit, not only from those county programs, but also in that the clubs receive payment for each shift worked during the County Fair.
In this issue, we would like to briefly provide information as to how you can be a part of this important county fundraiser at the committee level. In future issues, we will explain how you can be involved at other levels of participation.
Being a member of the Waukesha County Fair 4-H Food Stand Committee is a fun and rewarding volunteer experience for any 4-H member age 15 or older (by County Fair) and 4-H adults. This committee is comprised of individuals who work together as a team to help with the planning, ordering, purchasing, advertising, scheduling, supervising and running of a variety of events. No one person has to do it all.
This committee’s main event is obviously the Waukesha County Fair, but we also provide the spaghetti dinner at the county’s Family Fun Night. The purpose of this event is to provide a reasonably priced meal for families so they can enjoy an evening of fun together.
The other event during the club year that the committee participates in is providing concessions at the ReDiscover 4-H event as well as an informational booth to educate 4-H members on what the committee’s purpose is and to hopefully stir interest in volunteering.
Being a part of this committee is a wonderful educational experience for both youth members and adults. It is a great addition to a youth member’s Record Book as well as college and scholarship applications, and resumes. This is a county level committee and you will gain experience in leadership, organization, communication, and running a small, short-term business operation.
New members are always welcome!
Please consider learning more about this great opportunity. For more information, contact Marge Meyer at 262-547-6393 or Jean Hovey at teatreejean@yahoo.com.
The Waukesha County Fair 4-H Food Stand/Kitchen Committee
The Value of Volunteering ~ Part 3 in a series ~ Originally Published January 2011
In this issue of the Clover Flyer, as this series of articles pertaining to the Waukesha County Fair 4-H Food Stand continues, we would like to explore how you can be a part of this very important county fundraiser at the club level.
Being a member of a 4-H club is at times like being a member of a team. You work together to accomplish common goals. In regards to the Waukesha County Fair 4-H Food Stand, we all work together to accomplish the goal of raising money to help fund the county 4-H program as well as to provide funds to the individual clubs that volunteer to work in the Food Stand areas.
To participate at the club level, you just need to volunteer to help staff your club’s shift in the Kitchen, Dairy Bar, or Action Center during the County Fair. In most cases, it is typically a four to four-and-a-half hour shift. It provides a great time of club bonding, a sense of teamwork – working together towards the common goal, and a lot of fun! Just ask the kids who have participated – they will tell you how much fun it is!!!
In order for the 4-H Food Stand to run properly and to provide good service to our customers, we need a sufficient number of volunteers to staff these areas. In the Kitchen, which is the area that requires the greatest amount of staffing, it typically takes a minimum of 6-7 adults and 4-8 youth members to fully staff the area. The other areas require about half that many volunteers. Keep in mind, in order for a club to receive their full payment for working a shift, they need to have their shift fully staffed.
So, next year, when your Fair Food Stand club representative/overseer asks for volunteers to work in the Kitchen, Dairy Bar, or Action Center, please consider helping! If you have not volunteered before, it is a great way to get started! Not only are you helping your club and county, but you are also providing a valuable service to the community as well. So, jump in and join the fun!!!
If you have any questions, or would like more information regarding joining the Waukesha County Fair 4-H Food Stand Committee, please feel free to contact Marge Meyer at 262-547-6393 or Jean Hovey at teatreejean@yahoo.com.
The Waukesha County Fair 4-H Food Stand/Kitchen Committee
The Value of Volunteering ~ Part 4 in a series ~ Originally Published March 2011
Over the last three issues of the Clover Flyer, information has been presented explaining what the Waukesha County 4-H Food Stand Committee is all about – the importance of it, the activities and events involved, and how you can participate at various levels, such as at the committee level or the club level. As this series of articles continues, we would like to explore how you can be a part of this very important county fundraiser at the individual level - either as your club’s Fair Food Stand Overseer or as a member of the county-level Supervisor Team.
In this issue, we will look at being a Club Fair Food Stand Overseer. Next issue, we will look at being a member of the Supervisor Team.
So, here’s how you can help! You can volunteer to be your club’s Fair Food Stand Overseer. This is not a difficult job, but is very important in the functioning of the club’s team that works their assigned shift(s) during Fair. It requires just a bit more commitment than working the club’s shift. The responsibilities include: attend the Fair Food Stand Mandatory meeting (usually held in April), relay the information from the mandatory meeting to club members, organize club volunteers to work during their assigned shift(s) and assign job responsibilities, communicate and work with the Food Stand Supervisor that is covering your club’s shift, fill out the club’s “Check in/Check out” form at Fair in order to receive payment, and make sure that your club’s workers are properly attired. Again, it is not difficult but is very important to make things run smoothly. Please consider being your club’s overseer if your club does not already have one.
There are many opportunities available to help contribute to the overall purpose and goal of the Waukesha County 4-H Food Stand Committee, those being: the education of our youth and providing leadership experiences, the working together as a team, providing community service, and fundraising for both the Waukesha County 4-H program as well as for the individual clubs. Our goal is to demonstrate the 4-H philosophy “to learn by doing.”
So, jump in and join the fun!
If you have any questions, or would like more information regarding joining the Waukesha County 4-H Food Stand Committee, please feel free to contact Marge Meyer at 262-547-6393 or Jean Hovey at teatreejean@yahoo.com.
The Value of Volunteering ~ Part 5 in a series ~ Originally Published May 2011
Over the last four issues of the Clover Flyer, information has been presented explaining what the Waukesha County 4-H Food Stand Committee is all about – the importance of it, the activities and events involved, and how you can participate at various levels, such as at the committee level, the club level, and at the individual level. As this series of articles continues, we would like to explore how you can be a part of this very important county fundraiser as a member of the county-level Supervisor Team.
The Supervisor Team is a group of adult individuals that volunteer on a short-term basis to help during County Fair week. They may volunteer to help with as little as one four-hour shift, or have so much fun, that they make the Kitchen their home-away-from-home! These temporary supervisors are not members of the Waukesha County 4-H Food Stand Committee, therefore there is no ongoing commitment beyond what is volunteered at County Fair.
What does a member of the Supervisor Team do? As with all the volunteer positions associated with the Fair Food Stand, this is not a difficult job, but is very important in the functioning of the food stand areas. This fundraiser would not operate smoothly without the help of all the volunteers! The responsibilities may include any of the following: helping with food prep, helping with light restocking, overseeing the club shifts working in the food stand areas, checking food temperatures, being a liaison between the club’s Overseer and the Food Stand committee members if questions or issues arise, and finally (and most importantly!), being another friendly, smiling face promoting teamwork and 4-H.
So, here’s how you can help! You can volunteer to be a member of the Supervisor Team. You will be given training and familiarized with the Food Stand area you will be working in. It would be great to have at least one adult volunteer from each club!
It is a short-term time investment that pays big dividends in helping support our county’s 4-H program and our overall purpose and goals, those being: the education of our youth, providing leadership experiences, the working together as a team, providing community service, and fundraising for both the Waukesha County 4-H program as well as for the individual clubs.
So, jump in and join the fun!
If you have any questions, or are interested in volunteering as a member of the Supervisor Team for the Waukesha County
4-H Food Stand, please feel free to contact Marge Meyer at 262-547-6393 or Jean Hovey at teatreejean@yahoo.com.
The Value of Volunteering ~ ReDiscover 4-H ~ Originally Published November 2011
Thanks to all who stopped by the Waukesha County 4-H Food Stand Committee’s information table at the ReDiscover 4-H event on October 1. Our goal was to introduce people to what the Food Stand Committee does and to raise awareness that this committee exists to operate one of two of the county 4-H program’s main fundraisers.
We hope you all enjoyed your visit to ReDiscover 4-H, learned some new things, made some new friends, were inspired to volunteer in areas of interest to you, and enjoyed the free cookie! Also, congratulations to our three free lunch winners!!!
Remember, we are always looking for friendly, smiling faces to join the Food Stand Committee and have a lot of fun while serving your community and county 4-H! We especially are looking for teens that will be 15 years old by Fair – it’s a great experience and opportunity for both our youth members as well as adults. Please feel free to check us out at a future committee meeting!
For more information, please contact: Marjorie Meyer at 262-547-6393, or Jean Hovey at teatreejean@yahoo.com.
