4-H ELECTRIC PROGRAM OBJECTIVES
The 4-H Electric Project is conducted by the North Carolina
Cooperative Extension Service and its professional 4-H Agents and
Volunteer Leaders located
in the 100 counties and Cherokee Reservation. These 4-H Agents and
Volunteer
Leaders participate in training sessions on electric projects, tour
power
plants, camps, and visit businesses. Typically, 4-H Agents train their
Volunteer
Leaders to organize and deliver electric activities for youth in their
counties.
Approximately 30 counties have 4-H Master Electric Volunteer Leaders
who
train other leaders on the electric project. Training materials used by
4-H
Agents and Volunteer Leaders are obtained from the State 4-H office
and the Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering
Specialist
responsible
for the Electric Program.
North Carolina 4-H Electric Congress is an educational event designed to recognize excellence in the Electric Program throughout the state. Electric Congress travels from region to region of the state, thus allowing for a variety of programming opportunities for everyone. Four-H members participate in workshops, meet their Power Company Representatives, and interact with other electric winners. Special outings are planned to help the young people learn about their state. Whether in the mountains rafting on the Nantahala River, riding the waves at the beach, or somewhere in-between, the free afternoon at Electric Congress is fun for all participants.
Electric Congress is held for county winning 4-H'ers who participate in the Electric Project, electric project cumulative record book participants, and 4-H recruiters in the electric program. To attend, one must be 11 years of age (by Jan.1st). Two county project winners, 2 cumulative record book participants, and 1 electric program recruiter are allowed to attend congress per county. Details for each delegate status are discussed below. Recruiting awards are presented to 4-H'ers in each county who recruit new members into the Electric Project. Adult volunteers, agents, and program assistants, are also encouraged to participate in North Carolina's Electric Congress. New 4-H agents or program assistants are especially encouraged to attend, which is an excellent opportunity for them to experience and learn more about this program.
APRIL 15th:
DEADLINE
FOR SUBMITTING INFORMATION FOR ELECTRIC CONGRESS DELEGATES ON ALL OF
YOUR ATTENDING COUNTY DELEGATES AND ADULTS. NO DELEGATE CHANGES WILL BE
ALLOWED AFTER MAY 15th.
1. ELECTRIC CONGRESS DELEGATE STATUS
a. CUMULATIVE ELECTRIC RECORD BOOK DELEGATE (2)
Two (2 maximum per county) 4-H'ers per county that submit a CUMULATIVE ELECTRIC RECORD BOOK on the state competition level are eligible to attend 4-H Electric Congress. The cumulative record books are typically submitted to the state 4-H office by March 1st. Cumulative record book participants must register through their county 4-H Agent and submit required information prior to the April 15th deadline.
b. COUNTY DELEGATE (2)2. TERRITORIAL AWARDS
County delegates are the two 4-H members with the best electric project records from each county and have not previously attended Electric Congress more than once. You can only attend electric congress as a county delegate twice. The member must complete a current electric project book and submit an electric report which lists the current year's electric activities in which they completed to qualify for this trip. The COUNTY DELEGATE'S REPORT FORM and registration form should be submitted.c. RECRUITING DELEGATE (1)
One 4-Her per county that promotes the 4-H Electric Project by recruiting the most new members into the electric project beyond the minimum requirements. The minimum requirements are eight (8) new members if attending Electric Congress as a first year recruiting delegate and a minimum of 16 as a second year recruiting delegate. Eight additional new members will be the required for each additional trip to Electric Congress, i.e. 24 for a third trip and so on. Only new recruiting electric project members who complete and turn in their record can be counted. The same new member can only be counted by one recruiting delegate. Minimum requirement example: A member attends Electric Congress as a county delegate (once or twice), the minimum requirement is eight; another member has attended as a county delegate (once or twice), and as a recruiting delegate once, the minimum requirement is 16. Recruiting delegates are to submit a RECRUITING DELEGATE REPORT FORM, which summarizes workshops or activities performed to win the recruiting award trip. Recruiting delegates are still required to complete the recruiting registration form, as well as, the report form. You must have attended Electric Congress at least once before qualifying for Recruiting Award status.d. AT-LARGE RECRUITING AWARD
e. ADULT LEADERS and COUNTY EXTENSION PERSONNEL (Maximum of 3 Adults per County)
Up to ten at-large (total of 10 for entire state) recruiting awards invitations will be awarded to members doing outstanding recruiting work in addition to the regular recruiting awards above. The selection of the ten at-large recruiting delegates will take place at the state level in the event more than ten qualify. The same minimum requirements apply as stated above for the regular recruiting award. The potential at-large recruiting delegates must complete the RECRUITING REPORT FORM, in order to qualify. Please remember that in order to qualify, you must have previously attended as a regular delegate, have exhausted the county delegate status and lost to another recruiting delegate winner from your county.
The number of Adult leaders that can attend is based on the total number of youth attending from your county;
3 or less youth, one Adult leader plus the 4-H Agent or Program Associate.
4 or more youth, two Adult Leaders plus the 4-H Agent or Program Associate.
An Adult Leader can not take the place of the 4-H Agent or Program Associate if they are not attending.
The Electric Congress delegate registration forms are to be completed and submitted by mail, fax, or email no later than April 15th to:
Grant Ellington-Extension Associate
NC State University
Biological & Agricultural Engineering
Campus Box 7625
Raleigh, North Carolina 27695-7625
e-mail: Grant Ellington grant ellington@ncsu.edu
The Territorial Award winners will be selected from the Cumulative Electric Project Books that are submitted in early March for the state judging competition. First, second, and third place winners are selected from each territory (Duke Power, Progress Energy, and Dominion NC Power) and are recognized at Electric Congress. Territorial winner selection is based primarily on the knowledge, accomplishments, and skills learned in the electric project. The record book must also be well organized and formatted in accordance with the State 4-H guidelines for completing a cumulative record book. There are no age divisions for the territory awards. The 4-H members that submit a cumulative electric book are competing for the following prizes:3. STATE and DISTRICT AWARDS
a. FIRST PLACE - 20-inch COLOR TV with VCR/DVD Player to the 4-H member with the best Cumulative Electric Record book in each utility territory (area) that has not previously won first place territorial or state award in the Electric Project.
b. SECOND PLACE - iPod-Mini to the 4-H member with the second best Cumulative Electric Record book in each utility territory (area) that has not previously won a first or second place territorial or state award in the Electric Project.
c. THIRD PLACE - iPod-Shuffle to the 4-H member with the third best Cumulative Electric Record book in each utility territory (area) that has not previously won a first, second, or third place territorial or state award in the Electric Project.
(Note: Territorial prizes may vary from year to year.)
In addition to individual awards, counties that turn in a Group Cumulative Electric Book are competing for the three traveling plaques and one permanent plaque. A traveling plaque is awarded to the best group book in each territory. The overall permanent plaque is given to the best of the three territorial winners.
d. TRAVELING PLAQUE - To the county with the most outstanding group electric program and achievements in each territory. The traveling plaque is awarded for one year, then returned and awarded to the current year winner.
e. PERMANENT PLAQUE - To the best of the three territorial group winners.
a. Partial Scholarship ($75) to 4-H Congress for district presentation winners, all age groups (9-10, 11-13, 14-18).
b. All district level winners will receive a certificate. State cumulative winners will
receive savings bonds in the following amounts:
Ages 13 - 15 Ages 16 - 19 1st Place - $200 1st Place - $300 2nd Place - $100 2nd Place - $200 3rd Place - $ 50 3rd Place - $100
The following responsibilities are required of attending 4-H Adult Volunteer Leaders during 4-H Electric Congress. These items are crucial to maintaining an educational and respectful event for the attending electric winners, guests, Electric Company dignitaries and host officials. Please notice that these responsibilities are very similar to the responsibilities Adult Leaders provide within their counties and on other overnight trips involving youth.
If you have comments for the above statement, please forward those to:
Grant Ellington-Extension Associate
NC State University
Biological & Agricultural Engineering
Campus Box 7625
Raleigh, North Carolina 27695-7625
PHONE: (919) 515-6793
FAX: (919) 515-6772
e-mail: Grant Ellington grant
ellington@ncsu.edu