The St. Charles Parish 4-H program is fortunate to have wonderful adult volunteers who help create a strong youth development program.

This year’s volunteers were recognized for their effort at the annual Volunteer Leader Banquet held at the VFW Hall in Luling on May 25.

There are several opportunities for volunteers to assist youth in developing leadership, citizenship and life skills through the 4-H program. Some volunteers serve as school leaders while others serve as judges, Foundation Board members, Advisory Board members, Project Leaders and chaperones.

Some adult volunteers serve as judges — Those who come out on a Saturday, weekday or evening to judge youth contests by listening to youth sing, play an instrument, give a speech, conduct a demonstration or talk about their pet care project. Some judges help by tasting dishes cooked by our very own 4-H members. These judges help each 4-H program run smoothly.

Some volunteers serve as Advisory Board members, chaperones and go-to volunteers. These volunteers give advice on the needs of youth. They supervise youth on educational field trips, challenge camps and summer camps. They also conduct workshops, serve lunch at parish activity days and coordinate shooting sports practices and project-related workshops.

A few volunteers are selected to serve on the St. Charles 4-H Foundation Board. These particular volunteers dedicate several hours to discuss and evaluate budgeting and funding for the 4-H program to create the optimal educational experience for our 4-H members.

Several volunteers serve as organizational leaders. These are school 4-H leaders and parish project club leaders that meet at least once a month with their 4-H clubs during the school year to conduct educational activities and experiences with the youth in St. Charles Parish. While school leaders conduct meetings at school, project leaders conduct meetings that involve parish participation on a specific subject, such as fashion, shooting sports and theatre arts. These leaders help coordinate participation in parish, regional and state events. Between organizing club meetings, managing the collection and distribution of 4-H information and creating educational experiences for youth, these leaders do it all.

Volunteers are the heart of the 4-H program, as they contribute to its overall success. St. Charles Parish is lucky to have such extremely dedicated volunteers, especially Mamie McMillion, who will be inducted into the 2010 Louisiana State 4-H Hall of Fame in Mansura, La.

McMillion has served as a 4-H leader, a Foundation and Advisory Board member, a Louisiana Volunteer Leaders Association member and a sewing teacher to many youth. She has assisted the 4-H program for over 30 years.

As the 4-H program involves over 40 project areas, there are various opportunities for volunteers. The 4-H Club program follows a non-discriminatory policy in all of its activities.

For more information on becoming an active part of the St. Charles 4-H program, contact Kali Zammit at (985) 785-4473 or kzammit@agcenter.lsu.edu.

Hall of Fame - Pictured from Left to Right: Kali Zammit (Assistant Extension 4-H Agent), Mamie McMillion (4-H Volunteer Leader, Foundation Treasurer), David Pichon (County Agent)

Foundation Members - Pictured from left to right are Pamela Owens (President-Elect), Erith Sanchez (President), Melanie Stephens, Lisa Bourgeois (Vice President-Elect), Mildred Butler, Mamie McMillion (Treasurer), Gloria Miller (Treasurer-Elect) and Mary Triche (Vice President).	Organizational Leaders - Pictured from left to right are Andi Alday (Jr. Leaders), Mamie McMillion (Jr. Leaders), Susan Theall (CHEF Home School), Mary Triche (Jr. Leaders), Tiffany Hall (Harry Hurst), Annette Matherne (Ethel Schoeffner), Maureen Ardoin (R. J. Vial) and Gloria Miller (Sewing Project Leader).