For Volunteers & Leaders

4-H UPDATE – GOVERNOR INSLEE’S VACCINATION PROCLAMATION

Announcement Revised September 7, 2021

Governor Jay Inslee issued a health and safety proclamation on August 20, 2021, in response to a continued state of emergency that exists in all counties due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The health and safety proclamation, as ordered by the Governor, includes employees, contractors and volunteers engaged in activities with state agencies and in educational settings. Therefore, WSU (including WSU Extension and the 4-H program) is required to comply with Governor Inslee’s recent vaccination proclamation directives.

With regard to volunteers, below are a series of references, deadlines and explanations that provide further details.

• The Proclamation (21-14.1) can be found HERE.
• Deadline: All current WSU Volunteers are required to be fully vaccinated or exempted by October 18th. Volunteers who are not fully vaccinated or who do not have an approved exemption on file by October 18 will be put on inactive status. They will not be able to engage in any volunteer activities with WSU Extension until proof of full vaccination can be observed or until an exemption request has been reviewed.
• Proof of vaccination: WSU Extension will announce a county-level process for observing & recording documentation of vaccination status for volunteers.
• Exemption process: WSU Extension will seek to implement a state-level exemption process (for religious or medical reasons) for volunteers and will announce details on that process shortly.

More information on WSU’s Vaccination Policy is available on the web at https://extension.wsu.edu/vaccination-policy/.

Questions regarding WSU’s Vaccination Policy can be directed via e-mail to extension.vaccinepolicy@wsu.edu

BECOME A 4-H LEADER

4-H programs reach out to kids and their families to build skills for life. Your time, knowledge, and heart for youth could make the difference in the quality of life in our community. Adult volunteers play an important role in the 4-H program. Volunteers coordinate local community clubs, and help to conduct local, regional, state and national 4-H events. Garfield County Extension will provide you with the support and training you will need along the way.

There are many ways to volunteer, just ask! Some ways to volunteer include becoming a 4-H Leader. You can serve as a leader by:

• General Club Leader: The main club leader and organizer who works with general club meetings.
• Project Leader: Works with members on their specific project work.
• Activity Leader: Responsible for one or more activities. Some examples are recreation, record keeping, public presentations or community service activities.
• Teen Leader: Works under the guidance of an adult. Helps with activities and events or helps members with their project work.

We are excited to get new volunteers, so please call the WSU Garfield County Extension Office at (509) 843-3701 to discuss becoming a volunteer. The process to becoming a 4-H Volunteer includes:

1. A Washington State 4-H enrollment form.
2.  A Volunteer Application which gives us permission to do a Washington State Patrol background check.
3. A Volunteer Agreement form.

Leaders must also complete 4-H Leader Volunteer on-line training and in-person trainings. You will be instructed as to how to do these trainings after your application is complete.

Return the completed 4-H Volunteer application packet to the Garfield County Extension Office at, P.O. Box 190, Pomeroy, WA 99347, or visit us in our building located at 757 Main Street, Pomeroy, WA 99347, right next to the courthouse.

Follow this link to find the required application materials.