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4-H Club Officers

Resources and position descriptions for youth officers in 4-H Clubs.

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Program Contact

Amy Alder, 4-H Program Manager
Phone Number509-962-7565 Email Addressamy.alder@wsu.edu

What Officers Do

Core club officers include the President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer.  Clubs may also choose to elect other officers for specialty jobs or events, depending on the size and needs of the club.  These may include, but are not limited to, the Reporter, Recreation Leader, Historian, Photographer, Safety Officer, and Parliamentarian.

Core Officer Positions

The president helps everyone in the club work together at meetings and during projects.  They facilitate discussion and help everyone take part in discussions, asking questions for the group to consider and giving everyone the opportunity to contribute their thoughts and ideas.  When the club is making plans, the president may observe where more discussion is needed and bring that to the group’s attention or they might guide discussion to a close when it seems like the group has reached consensus.  Members will not feel like they have been overruled by the president’s voice when club members have to compromise.

The vice president assists the president and presides at meetings in the absence of the president.  They use basic parliamentary procedure to conduct effective meetings while working collaboratively with club volunteers and the officer team to develop the yearly club plan for club meetings.  The vice president coordinates communication between officers, members, volunteers, and parents about assignments and duties for meetings and helps with setup for meetings and programs.

The club secretary keeps a current roll of all club members and checks attendance at each meeting.  They keep accurate records of each meeting and read the previous meeting minutes when the club convenes.  The club secretary uses basic parliamentary procedure to conduct effective meetings.  They work with the other officers and club volunteers to develop the yearly club plan for club meetings.  Along with the other officers, they communicate with officers, members, volunteers, and parents about assignments and duties for meetings and they help set up for meetings and programs.

The treasurer maintains the financial records of the club. Working with club volunteers, the treasurer will develop the club budget for the year.  They are expected to save receipts and keep accurate, up-to-date records of all club funds, tracking expenses, income, and the balance in the accounts.  The treasurer pays bills as approved by the club and reports the club’s financial condition at each meeting.  Like other officers, the treasurer will use basic parliamentary procedure to conduct effective meetings.  They will work collaboratively with club volunteers and the officer team to develop the yearly club plan for club meetings and will arrive early to help set up meeting.

The club reporter communicates the club activities to community members and stakeholders outside of the club. They submit reports and photographs of club activities to local media outlets, including newspaper, radio, television, and online outlets.  The reporter will send club news to the county Extension office for the county’s 4-H newsletter, website, and social media presences. They will work with the other officers to use parliamentary procedure to conduct effective meetings and will assist the officer team and club volunteers to create the yearly club plan for meetings.  The reporter will arrive early to assist with meeting setup and support the rest of the officer team.


Holding an Election for Officer Positions

These helpful documents from Ohio 4-H will help you get started electing officers.  From instructions on how to hold the election to tips on running a campaign for office and the importance of voting on these roles, they cover information that will get you started off on the right foot.  And if you need help, don’t forget that your county 4-H staff is an excellent source of help, too!

Electing 4-H Officers

Youth Officer Position Training

Even if you’ve been in leadership positions in other organizations or clubs, training is an important part of learning the roles officers play in their 4-H clubs.

The 4-H Officers Handbook is available through your Extension office or on Shop4-H.  It helps 4-H club officers and committee members learn their responsibilities, prepare for their leadership roles, and make club meetings fun and interesting for all members. The handbook contains eight lessons including “Serve as a Club Officer”, “Appoint a Committee”, and “Know the Basics of Parliamentary Procedure”.