Fall Back into Fall Day

They drove to Robeson County in car loads and vans full to enjoy, learn, and work. What is it all about? The South Central District 4-H Annual Volunteer Fall Day. More than 50 people from 10 counties arrived Saturday morning to see old friends, attend workshops, and conduct business. After a brief welcome from district president Jim Hancock, the group broke down to attend two of four workshops for the day.

Bobby Rogers, a Robeson County 4-H volunteer created a woodworking project for the group. The shelves, which could be used as a spice rack or whatever the imagination can muster, were put together by each individual to take home. As part of the lesson they learned about different types of hammers, different sized nails, and how woodworking can be a great stress reliever.

Christy Strickland, Family and Consumer Sciences Extension Agent in Robeson County offered some great ways to recycle and create money saving projects that will be especially handy during the holidays. Taking old magazines and catalogs, she cut strips and showed the crowd how to make bows for holidays packages, as well as jewelry beads, and even an eye glasses case. Many of the volunteers said they plan to take the projects back to teach other volunteers, youth in the clubs, and even church members how to do.

Mom, also known as Eleanore Getz, a Cumberland County Volunteer, told a packed room about the ACE Master Volunteer Program and how to get involved. The course which offers various levels of training and volunteer work is a state program that allows volunteers to create a portfolio and earn different levels of volunteer achievement.

As part of the ACE program Shea Ann DeJarnette, the Robeson County 4-H Extension Agent, offered a workshop on Jim Collins book "From Good to Great." The workshop explains the theories and principles in the book and allows volunteers to apply them to their 4-H volunteer work. The course can also be as part of the training used by volunteers who are trying to achieve their emerald level in the ACE program.

After the workshops, the group went into their business meeting to approve by-law changes due to redistricting and elect new officers for the upcoming year. Incoming officers include: Past President, Jim Hancock from Cumberland County; President, Marilyn Merritt from Robeson County; President-elect, Karen Cole from Moore County; Vice President, Hannah Dunlap from Anson County; Secretary, Jo Ann Lowder from Cabarrus County; Treasurer, William Byrd from Scotland County; Reporter, Aggie Rogers from Robeson County; Parliamentarian, Walter Brown from Scotland County. Mable Murray from Cumberland County and Alisha Brown from Scotland County are being nominated to run for the state reporter position.

Lunch which was prepared by the Robeson County staff and volunteers was served during a break in the business meeting. After the business meeting, just after 2 the meeting was adjourned and Fall Day was over, so that everyone could go home and set their clocks back awaiting the next meeting, which will be held as part of State 4-H Volunteer Leaders Conference in 2009.