Volunteer Spotlights

Michelle, Sonoma County

With over 70 members, Michelle's local 4-H Club, the Gold Ridge 4-H Club, is a large group of enthusiastic youth who need guidance and leadership. Even though she was new to the 4-H Youth Development Program, Michelle embraced the challenge of leading this group and has thrived as the Community Club Leader.

Michelle's enthusiastic attitude and ability to keep herself and others on task has been a great asset to the Gold Ridge 4-H Club. She has taken old projects and breathed new life into them, as well as developed new ideas from the ground up. Michelle is the Arts and Crafts Project leader and the Cooking leader, but most importantly, she is a leader in community service for the club.

Each month, Michelle organizes a new community service project for youth to get involved in. These are often large projects, such as adopting an army troupe in Iraq and supplying them with new items each month. Another project involved collecting and distributing socks to homeless shelters around Sonoma County. She also arranged to have her club participate as bell-ringers for the Salvation Army around the holidays. Michelle's dedication and enthusiasm have been contagious for her members; her actions are a perfect example of community service and civic leadership.

Author: Annalee Sanborn, Student Assistant, State 4-H Office