FOUR - Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, August 11,1999
4-H programs help build character
Raising children to become
decent and responsible adults is
a complex and challenging job
that is becoming increasingly
difficult in our society.
According to the 4-H program,
"to be a person of good
character, youth must develop
strengths of the 4 "H's”: head-
they must know what is good;
heart - they must desire to do the
good; hands - they must be
willing to do good; and health -
they must develop a lifestyle that
supports
the desire
and
willingness to do good.
The Morrow County 4-H
program strives to develop good
character in 4-H members, said
Bill Broderick, Extension agent.
Qualities that define good
character have been debated by
various groups but in 1992, the
Josephson Institute of Ethics
with the help of scholars,
parents, youth workers, and
others published the "Aspen
Declaration." This declaration
has become the cornerstone for
the character development
education programs in the
United States.
The Aspen
Declaration states:
1. The next generation will be
the stewards of the world.
2. The well being of society
needs citizens with good
character.
3. People do not automatically
develop good moral character.
Children must be taught so that,,
they develop }hp values and
abilities necessary for moral
decision making and conduct.
4. Character education is based
on core ethical values - pillars of
character
development
trustworthiness, respect for
others, responsibility, fairness,
caring, and citizenship.
5. These core values transcend
cultural,
religious,
and
socioeconomic differences.
6. Although character education
is first and foremost an
obligation of faith communities,
the community in general,
schools, and youth and family
serving organizations are also
responsible.
7. Youth have a better chance
of learning moral values if all
groups work together to teach
and reinforce moral values.
8. Every adult must take
responsibility to model and
teach the pillars of character
development.
You can see, that although this
declaration was only developed
in 1992, 4-H, as the youth
program of the land-grant
Universities (Oregon State
University) has been using
similar guidelines for the past 75
years, said Broderick.
4-H Pillars of Character: Teach
your 4-H members:
-Trustworthiness: be honest,
stand up for their beliefs, show
commitment, keep promises,
don’t ask someone to do
anything wrong, don't gossip,
stand by your friends and family.
-Respect: be courteous, polite,
tolerate the different view of
others, be on time, listen to
others, respect others' decisions,
judge people on merit, use
peaceful methods to solve
conflicts, take pride in their
appearance, take care of their
property and the property of
others.
-Responsibility: think before
they act, take responsibility for
their actions, set a good
example, do their best, not lose
their temper, complete tasks, be
a good sport, return borrowed
things.
-Fairness: treat people fairly,
listen to others, never cheat, play
by the rules.
-Caring: treat others as they
want to be treated.
-Citizenship: respect authority,
protect
the
environment,
volunteer in the community.
The most effective way to
teach 4-H'ers the pillars of
i
character development is to
model the above qualities, says
Broderick. Action speaks louder
than words.
Agents and
volunteers are some of the most
important teachers of our
youngsters. Allow discussions
of moral dilemmas concerning
character. Volunteers, 4-H’ers,
and their parents must know the
values of the 4-H program which
are basically the pillars of
character development.
4-H volunteers are perhaps
some of the most influential
people
in
the character
development of 4-H'ers, he said.
Volunteers help youth learn the
pillars of character by using
some of the following tips:
-Strategy: create an atmosphere
of positive and negative
consequences that encourage
and esteem good character; 4-H
volunteer tips: Praise conduct of
good character, especially when
that behavior was difficult; make
sure that negative behavior
results in an appropriately
negative consequence; don't be
afraid of setting and enforcing
limits in your club; use the
pillars of character development
as a guide when planning
activities for youth.
-Strategy: youth learn by
example. Hold yourself as a role
model for the six pillars of
character; 4-H volunteer tips:
regardless of the difficulty, have
your actions match the expected
behavior of the pillars; when
someone violates one of the
pillars a f good character, express
disapproval; develop club rituals
and patterns that support the six
pillars, such as input into
decisions, solve conflict fairly;
as a club or individual,
participate
in
volunteer
experiences in the community.
-Strategy: express your
commitment
to
character
development
to
schools,
individuals and organizations
that influence youth in your
community; 4-H volunteer tips:
contact influential individuals
and groups about the importance
of character education in your
community; make it clear to
school administrators and other
adults working with youth that
you expect them to maintain an
environment that fosters the
development of the six pillars of
character; work as a team with
parents so that a consistent
message is being sent to your
members.
-Strategy: teach your club
members the importance of
living by the six pillars of
character; 4-H volunteer tips:
look for opportunities to discuss
the moral dilemma of the six
pillars in club situations, TV
shows, movies, news items,
Dear Abby letters, or books;
emphasize character in club
discussions;
acknowledge
feelings and listen.
Morrow County 4-H stresses
character development that will
help youth and volunteers learn:
1) 1 am responsible for what I
do; 2) I am responsible for
treating people with respect and
consideration;
3)
I
am
responsible to support my
community and the world; 4) I
am responsible for treating the
earth with respect; 5) I am
responsible
for
accepting
individual differences; 6) I am
responsible to do what I say I
will do.
In an environment such as the
Morrow County Fair, our
Morrow County 4-H members
can develop the character needed
to be competent, caring, and
contributing adults, he said.
School superintendent to update
Boardman Chamber
Morrow County Superintendent
of Education Bruce Anderson
will update Boardman Chamber
of Commerce members on the
current and future state of public
education in the Boardman
community at the August 18
Chamber meeting.
Betty Kuhn, Columbia Basin
author, will share her adventures
on the process of becoming a
published author, as well as
highlights of her book, "When
Mom Comes to Live With You."
The August 18 chamber
meeting will take place at noon
at the Boardman Marina Park
Picnic Pavilion. There is no
charge to attend. All interested
members of the community are
welcome; those wishing to
purchase a box lunch must
RSVP by 4 p.m. Monday,
August 16. Call 481-2571 or
481-3014 to reserve a $6 box
lunch.
For questions or directions,
contact the Boardman Chamber
of Commerce, 481-3014.
Forest road 54 closed
to weekday travel Construction activities started
Forest Road 54 (Pearson
Creek) will be closed to travel as
crews replace several major
culverts damaged by past
flooding.
"The road is undergoing some
major
improvements
this
summer," said Walt Edwards,
engineenng technician for the
Umatilla
National
Forest.
"Users should expect normal
travel to be interrupted."
Delays from one hour up to a
total closure between 9 a.m.
Monday through 4 p.m. Friday
will be in effect. The road will
remain open and accessible for
weekend travel.
Hydraulic/
Millwright
Gilchrist, Oregon
Progressive wood products company
seeking self-motivated, experienced
Hydraulic/Millwright. Must possess
a minimum of S years experience in
hydraulic and millwright field. Must
be proficient in trouble-shooting
hydraulic systems, read schematics,
rebuilding hydraulic components,
understand flow & design, welding,
fabrication and general millwright
duties. Must possess own hand tools.
R e iu m e to:
Jim Adkisson
Crown Pacific
P.O. Box 638
Gilchrist, OR 97737
Crown Pacific offers an excellent work
ennronment, compensation
and benefits package
EEO/Drug Free Work Place Employer
the week of August 2. The
closure area begins at the
junction of East Birch Creek
Road
and
continues
approximately nine miles south
on Forest Road 54.
"The road will also be
realigned to move it further
away from the stream in order to
eliminate flooding and help
improve fish habitat," said
Edwards. Construction activities
are expected to be completed
sometime in November.
Kids invited to pedal power tractor pull
The Pedal Power Tractor
Pulling Contest, for kids aged 10
and under, sponsored by Pioneer
Implement of Hermiston, will
once again be held at the fair on
Wednesday, August 18, at 5 p.m.
Come out and watch the little
guys and gals pedal as hard as
their little legs will go.
What is 4-H?
What is 4-H?-Fnends, fun and
learning about nature, cooking,
growing plants, photography,
animal care, or working together
to help others.
Who can belong to 4-H? -
Anyone kindergarten through
12th grade. You'll find 4-H
throughout your county, state,
country
and
the
world.
Kindergartners through third
graders must join 4-H adventure
clubs. In Morrow County, we
have over 300 members from
grades four through 12.
Look what you can do in 4-
H?-Members are enrolled in
animal science, natural science,
home economics and expressive
arts project areas.
What do you do in 4-H? -It
depends on you. 4-H members
may be friends in the same
grade or school, or include
people from other communities.
Clubs decide how often to meet
and elect officers to conduct
club business. Your club may
decide to be active in the
community, raise money for
chanty, become involved in
recycling projects or build
nature trails. You can go on
field tnps or to 4-H camp. The
choices grow as you get older.
Does 4-H cost a lot?-There
are no state or national dues or
required uniform.
You pay
$3.50 per year for printed
materials and information and
for project materials in most
clubs. A horse project is $4.50.
Your 4-H club may decide to
collect dues to fund special
activities.
How do you join 4-H? - It's
easy. Choose the project you
like.
Ask some friends or
brothers and sisters to join you.
Ask parents, grandparents, adult
friends or neighborhood adults
to be yoiir leader. Several adults
can share this responsibility.
You need only two members,
but you can have as many as you
like. Determine the projects
your club would like to enroll in
and visit the Extension office or
call an agent for help. There are
also numerous active clubs that
welcome new members.
4-H is Learning Today,
Leading
Tomorrow
and
"learning by doing." - Learning
how to set goals and work
toward
those
goals;
responsibility—for an animal,
finishing projects, choosing how
much to leam and deciding how
involved in 4-H to be;
leadership,
decision-making,
cooperation and how to present
yourself and ideas to others.
For information about the 4-
H Youth Development program,
contact the OSU Extension
office in Heppner, 676-9642 or
1-800-342-3664.
Jazz in the park
set in Hermiston
A free jazz concert has been
planned for Saturday, Aug. 28, at
the McKenzie Park in Hermiston.
The group playing will be “Tall
Jazz.”
‘Wedding ‘Toóles
Kathryn Cutsforth & Edward Fullmer
Wedding-Saturday, August 28th
Darcee Padberg & Slater Mitchell
Wedding-Saturdag, September 4th
Ruth Norton & Dustin Smith
Wedding-Saturdag, September 4th
Mary Jane McCarty & Aaron Heideman
Wedding-Saturdag, September 11th
^ Mmy'i D/uig
Ì I 7 N o rth M a in
H ep p n er
676-91 58
A pedal power tractor pulling contestant about to cross the finish Hne
Awards program planned, Aug. 21
Do you ever feel there is too
much emphasis placed on what
is wrong with youth today?
Here is your chance to see what
is great about Morrow County
youth - attend the Morrow
County Fair Awards program,
Saturday, August 21, at 4:30
p.m. in the Wilkinson Arena.
The Awards Program is a must
for 4-H and FFA youth, parents
and leaders and anyone who
enjoys young people, said Bill
Broderick, Morrow County
Extension agent.
At the awards program, it is
always fun to see older youth
receive the traditional "Grand
Champion"and "Outstanding. . .
awards, said Broderick, but is
also fun to see younger members
receive the "Champion Junior
Cookie Maker" or "Most
Enthusiastic Beginner Livestock
Member" awards."
Most awards are purchased by
the Morrow County 4-H Leaders
Council with funds raised by
volunteers through the donor
campaign or Snack Shack
operation. These awards are
separate from fair premium
awards.
Every youth who completes
project requirements, registers
for fair on time and competes is'
a winner, he said. Encourage
family, neighbors, and friends of
4-H members to attend the
awards
program
and
congratulate youth for their
participation in the 1999
Morrow County Fair.
Open dog show set for Aug. 18
Logan International of
Boardman is sponsoring a
hospitality booth at the fair on
Thursday and Friday, August 18
and 19 between the hours of 12
and 10 p.m..
Everyone is invited to stop by,
visit with Logan International's
representatives and leam more
about the company in Morrow
County and have a sample of
french fries.
Hospitality booth planned
An Open Dog Show will be
held at the Morrow County Fair
Immediately following the 4-H
Dog Judging on Wednesday,
August 18.
The 4-H Dog Judging starts at
3 p.m.
9 The public is reminded that
only dogs that are going to be in
the dog show or in the pet show
earlier in the afternoon are
allowed on the fairgrounds.
Everyone (and their dog) is
invited to participate in the open
dog show.
'
Video on children and
divorce available
The Morrow County
Commission on Children &
Families has donated the video,
"Children: The Experts on
Divorce" to each public library
in Morrow County.
The national award-winning
video tape was created for
parents who want to leam what
children really think about
divorce and what children need
from parents during and after
separations, according to the
Morrow County Commission on
Children & Families. Without
any prompting or coaching, the
children in this video speak from
their own experience of going
through their parents' divorce.
Their experiences represent the
bulk of the research finding
relating to what children need
from their parent ip a divorce.
"They didn't read the research,"
said Dar Merrill, director of
MCCCF. "They know from
living it. This video is not
designed as a 'guilt trip' for
divorcing parents but rather a
guide to help them prevent much
of the long term harm that too
many children feel from being
caught in their parents' divorce,"
he said.
Wyden plans Irrigon meeting
U.S. Senator Ron Wyden has
planned a Morrow County town
meeting this Saturday, August
14, from 4-5:30 p.m. at the
Stokes Landing Senior Center,
195 W. Opal Place, in Irrigon.
Local residents invited to
attend the meeting and speak
with Wyden about any issues or
concerns they may have.
Pioneer
Memorial
Clinic
“
Personalized.
Individual
Care ”
¥ Family Health Care
V Urgent Care for all ages
¥ Hypertension Disorders
¥ Women’s Health Services
¥ Diabetes Management for all ages
¥ Sports Physicals ¥ DOT Physicals
M onday - F riday 9 a.m . to 5 p .m .
Please call fo r an appointment:
(5 4 1 ) 6 7 6 -5 5 0 4
1 -8 0 0 -5 5 9 *9 1 3 3 x 2 9 4 0
P.O. Box 9 • 130 Thompson Ave. • Heppner. Oregon
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