안녕하세요? 한국4-H본부 김병호 대리입니다.
요즈음 4-H의 발상지인 미국에서는 100주년 기념(Centennial) 행사로 모든 4-H관계자들이 바쁜 나날을 보내고 있습니다. 이를 간단히 소개하고자 합니다.
미국의 100주년 기념행사는 2개의 주요한 행사로 요약됩니다. 미국은 100주년 기념행사를 단순히 축하 행사로 끝내지 않고 새로운 21세기에 걸맞는 청소년 육성 프로그램으로 4-H를 발전시키기 위해 새롭고 엄청난(?) 시작을 준비하고 있습니다.
첫번째 행사로 지난해말부터 시작한 "대토론회(Conversation)"입니다. 카운티 토론회에서 시작해서 주 토론회에 이어 지난 2월 28일부터 3월 2일까지 버지니아에서 National Conversation을 개최했습니다. 21세기 청소년육성 전략 수립을 목표로 한 이 토론회의 결과물을 부시 미국 대통령과 의회에 보고할 계획이라고 합니다. (참고로 미국에서 4-H는 청소년육성 프로그램 또는 단체로 최고의 위상을 가지고 있습니다.)
두번째 행사는 인터넷을 통한 "청소년의 힘 맹세 캠페인"(The power of Youth Pledge Campaign)입니다. 4-H 100주년 기념사이트에 접속하여 자신의 봉사시간을 맹세하는 것입니다. 현재 10만명이 넘는 사람이 130만 시간을 맹세하였다고 합니다. 이곳에는 노인을 돕겠다, 장애자를 돕겠다는 등 구체적으로 어떤 봉사를 하겠다는 내용까지 맹세하게 됩니다.
4-H가 태동한 지 100년이 되었지만 미국은 현재 680만명의 회원을 가지고 있으며 회원들은 시민성 함양, 커뮤니케이션과 표현기법, 소비 및 가정학, 환경교육과 지구과학, 인성개발, 지도력, 동식물, 과학과 기술 등에 관한 다양한 과제활동에 참여하고 있습니다.
미농무부에서 올해 미국의 4-H를 대표하는 민간단체인 National 4-H Council에 140만 달러의 예산을 지원하는 등 미국은 정부기관과 민간단체가 협력하여 4-H를 명실상부하게 청소년육성의 가장 우수한 프로그램이자 단체로 발전시키고 있는 것입니다.
다음은 미국 4-H 100주년 기념행사와 관련한 메시지를 이메일로 받은 내용입니다. 참고하시기 바랍니다.
NATIONAL CONVERSATION HAS BEGUN
The National Conversation is underway at the Crystal City Hyatt Regency Hotel in Crystal City, Virginia. The Opening Session was a huge success!
The Georgia 4-H Clovers and Co. Quartet began the Opening Session with a performance. A trumpet fanfare called the meeting to order and Colleen McClean, from California, welcomed everyone to The National Conversation
on Youth Development in the 21st Century. In her opening comments she said, “What a wonderful time to gather in our nation’s capitol for this important work. What a privilege to share these next two days with each of you. America’s 4-H is proud to serve as the convenor of this conversation
and we are honored to have so many community representatives and representatives from other youth organizations across this great land.”
Ms. McClean invited everyone to join in the tradition used to begin all 4-H meetings, reciting the pledge of allegiance and the 4-H Pledge. The Georgia 4-H Clovers & Co. Quartet led everyone in the National Anthem and the 4-H Pledge.
Donald T. Floyd, Jr., president and CEO of National 4-H Council spoke next. He began, “Welcome to the greatest week in 4-H history! Welcome to the future, not only of 4-H, but of positive youth development!……There could never be a more important time for use to gather. Gather could never
be a greater opportunity to combine our heads, our hearts, and our hands in greater service to our nation.”
Don Floyd then introduced Congressman Adam Putnam of Florida’s 12th District, and former 4-H’er, who spoke for about five minutes.
Mr. Floyd then introduced Dr. Alma Hobbs, Deputy Administrator for Families, 4-H and Nutrition, USDA, who spoke for a few minutes.
Mr. Floyd introduced Lynn Luckow, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, National 4-H Council. Luckow remarked, “….and I know that history will record how we build a united nation of diverse children into a civil society. America is the only western nation today without a national youth agenda. Perhaps this is because we have never before sought to build an agenda from the ground up, in ways that bring us together rather than imposing one’s philosophy on others.”
Mr. Floyd then introduced Dr. Sue Fisher, the Secretary for The National Conversation, Minnesota 4-H Foundation, and the interim USDA deputy administrator of 4-H, who conducted the Roll Call of the States to determine which states and territories are present and accounted for.
Fifty states and the territory of Puerto Rico are present at The National Conversation, which clearly meets the quorum for a national conversation.
Next, Ms. McClean introduced two members of the Centennial Initiative Coordinating Committee, from Virginia the Dean and Administrator, Cooperative Extension, Virginia State University Lorenza Lyons, and from Oregon, the State 4-H Program leader, Jim Rutledge. They to shared a
preview of the events that will be held in the next few days at The National Conversation.
Don Floyd shared the outcomes and goals of the Conversation:
National:
1. Develop a pragmatic agenda that is both real, yet a challenge.
2. Indentify clear priorities and strategies that are tied to the plans of all national youth organizations.
3. Provide the core content for a final National Report to be ready by early April.
4. Indentify the partnerships that we must create in both the public and private sectors.
State:
Ensure that your state agenda supports and impacts the national agenda while the national agenda provides reciprocal support for your work back home.
Individuals:
My hope is that each of you will leave this conversation with a new sense of understanding, a new level of excitement for the mission, and an even greater commitment to action.
This is not just an academic exercise. The product of the Conversation will direct and guide the work to be done in the future.
The morning session concluded and Mr. Brent Baglien, Director of Government Affairs for Con-Agra, and host for the day’s lunch.
The second session is currently underway and will end at 4:00 pm EST.
Delegates will board buses and depart for the Congressional Dinner this evening to be held at the Grand Hyatt in Washington, D.C.
NATIONAL CONVERSATION PHOTOS AVAILABLE ON WEB
See photos taken February 27 and February 28 during visits to Capitol Hill, Martha’s Table, and the Opening Session of The National Conversation
on Youth Development in the 21st Century at
http://www.4hcentennial.org/convphotos/default.asp.
VIDEO NEWS CONFERENCE
A video news conference honoring 4-H’s Centennial, The National Conversation on Youth Development in the 21st Century, and the Power of
YOUth Pledge Campaign will be sent to media via satellite on Friday, March
1. Please contact your local TV stations to pick up this 4-H video news
release.
VNR Satelite Coordinates
To be release: Friday, March 1, 2002
Time: 1400-1430 Firm
Coordinates; Telstar 6, C-Band, Transponder 15
Audios: 6.2/6.8 Orbital Slot: 93 degrees West
U/L Freq: 6225 (H)
D/L Freq: 4000 (V)
4-H ON ABC NETWORK TONIGHT
4-H will be featured on the ABC network World News Tonight this evening.
The network crew picked up footage at the Conversation this morning. Check
your local listing for times.
___________________________________________________
For more information about the news and opportunities found in Clover
Corner News, please contact: Christie Phillips, Senior Vice-President of
Marketing, (301) 961-2915; Nancy Richman, Public Relations/Web Specialist,
(301) 961-2973; Cassandra Blizzard, Administrative Assistant, (301)
961-2829.
National 4-H Council works to advance the 4-H youth development movement,
building a world in which youth and adults learn, grow, and work together
as catalysts for positive change. National 4-H Council partners with the
Cooperative Extension System, communities, and other organizations to
provide technical support and training, develop curricula, create model
programs, and promote positive youth development to fulfill its mission.
National 4-H Council also manages the National 4-H Conference Center, a
full-service conference facility, and the National Supply Service, the
authorized agent for items bearing the 4-H name and emblem. National 4-H
Council is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization. National 4-H Council is
committed to a policy that all persons shall have equal access to its
programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, sex,
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status, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, physical or mental
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or firms.
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