Communicating the 4-H Brand Wkshop

What makes 4-H Youth Development a unique youth serving organization? If we could all answer that question succinctly and intentionally, with pride and power, our clientele and our communities, too, would understand what we do and why. How do we communicate that niche with our audiences, colleagues, funding/program partners and our university?

Communication is an integral part of what we do within Cornell Cooperative Extension, yet there are many who are not clear about the unique function that 4-H has in connecting youth across NYS to our land grant university. How do we help others to know the real benefits of
4-H Youth Development?

Workshop panel of:

• Barb Schirmer, State 4-H Leader. Intentional delivery methods of our program and they wisdom behind them.
• Celeste Carmichael, State4-H Program Specialist. Tools for Communicating who we are and what we do.
• George Preston, CCE State Communications Leader. Building a strong image of CCE.
• Cathy Sheils, crm3@cornell.edu, Associate Director of Admissions/Transfer Coordinator, Communicating the non-formal education advantage to our audiences.
• Stephen Hamilton, Associate Provost for Outreach, Proven methods of talent development and the inherent links to the 4-H Youth Develolpment program.

Summary:

• Be sure to always "thank Dad", our parent organization - Cornell Cooperative Extension
• Use tag lines (simle one liners that are easy for folks to remember)
• Have a cadre of example stories
• Memorize a few facts (participant numbers, leader enrollment etc)
• Know our goals
• Promote internally & externally
• Let our kids and public know that 4-H preps kids for college
• Wear it proud!!!
  

Resources:

• powerpoints from the workshop, including a PPT from Dr. Cathann Kress http://nys4h-staff.cce.cornell.edu/
• Guiding Principles http://nys4h-staff.cce.cornell.edu/index.php