Extension Communications
3614 Administrative Services Building
Ames, Iowa 50011-3614
(515) 294-9915
3/15/02
Contacts:
Brenda Allen, 4-H Youth Development, (515) 294-1567, bsallen@iastate.edu
Tracy S. Petersen, Continuing Education and Communication Services, (515)
294-9915
Black Hawk County 4-H Supporter To Attend National Conference
AMES, Iowa -- Helen Ackerman, Cedar Falls, has been named a delegate to the 2002 National 4-H Conference, April 6 through 13, at the National 4-H Council in Chevy Chase, Md.
Ackerman, who will attend as an adult delegate, has served on the county 4-H youth committee and the State Leaders Retreat Committee and has served as a chaperone for Citizenship-Washington Focus. She also has been a 4-H leader for 24 years.
Joining Ackerman will be youth delegates Teresa Jurchen of Cumberland, Nate Hertel of Jefferson, Andy Determan of Early and Kari Entriken of Webster City. Dee Colwell of Woodbine also is attending the conference as an adult delegate.
This year's conference theme is Building a Global Community: The Power of Youth.
"This year we'll focus on the 4-H centennial anniversary, as well as the Conversations on Youth Development initiative sponsored by the National 4-H Council," Brenda Allen, Iowa 4-H youth specialist, said. That initiative is the result of a series of conversations held over the past several months by 4-H supporters to create a national policy for youth development.
The delegates will attend meetings and focus groups that address recommendations from the conversations and how they relate to 4-H programs across the nation. They include: healthier and safer youth, diversity and how it empowers change, ethics, making education a global priority and the digital divide.
The delegates also will spend a day on Capitol Hill, meeting with members of the U.S. Congress and presenting the National Conversations on Youth Development recommendations.
"I feel 4-H is so beneficial in teaching life skills and building families," Ackerman said. "4-H gives youth a positive self image and provides them with activities that build character."
Ackerman's trip is sponsored by Grinnell Mutual Reinsurance. For more information about 4-H contact your Iowa State University Extension county office.
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