HomeMy WebLinkAbout981650.tiff Glen M."Shorty"Huffman
Kersey, Colorado 80644
(970) 351-0372 (home)
(970) 381-8336 (cellular)
August 7, 1998
Weld County Fair Board
Weld County, Colorado
Dear Fair Board Members:
I write this letter after much personal debate as to whether or not I should share
my opinion, or keep it to myself. I decide that I was compelled to write it
because of my commitment to 4-H and the youth that we serve.
Some personal background so you will know something about the fella
addressing you as a board. I have been a 4-H leader for 21 years, starting out in
Teller County, Colorado. I was a key leader, project leader and became an
organizational leader as well. I was awarded that county's highest honor in 1990
being selected as "Leader of the Year". I also served on the Teller County Fair
Board for 6 years. I was a 4-H leader in Summit County, Colorado for 4 years,
again serving as key leader, project leader and an organizational leader.
I served as a Fair Board member in Summit County for 3 years.
I have served as a project leader in Weld County since moving here in 1994 and
I have served as an organizational leader for the past couple of years. I also
have served on the CSU Youth Advisory Council for Summit County and I
served on the Weld County Youth Development Council. Though I am extremely
proud of my service to 4-H I did not write this to brag on myself, but I felt it
important for you to know my commitment level and the personal investment
that I have made to our State's 4-H program.
I am deeply concerned with actions that have left me questioning several
aspects of recent decisions. I really can summarize my concerns by addressing
only two issues, the establishing of rules and then the following of them. I
believe that the one thing has separated 4-H from so many other programs
throughout the years is that we have consistently set clear expectations and
then we have provided guidance and leadership to achieve the expectations.
We then have rewarded those who achieved the expectations and we have dealt
firmly, yet fairly with those who did not. Because of this I believe 4-H has
enjoyed it's successes, it has maintained the highest level of respect throughout
our country and it has come to mean something when a young adult shows on
their resume, that they belonged to 4-H. It tells a prospective employer that they
know how to set goals and they know how to achieve them, that they
understand there are rules and procedures and that they will follow them. This
oprA 981650
is the reputation that successful 4-H members enjoy, please, let's not jeopardize
this. Establish the rules, print them and then, without fail, enforce them. Let's
continue our demand of responsibility from our members, It is what has set us
apart from so many other organizations.
Lastly, I could not go without condemning the actions of the Weld County Board
of Commissioners. I feel that their action, without justification, seriously
undermined your authority as a governing board. Their efforts to micro-manage
the Fair Board, no matter how noble they thought their cause, was a determent
to not only our program but to all leaders and to all 4-H members. They
established a way to circumvent the rules and to by-pass the proper authority, I
am positive that others will now want to travel this same path, sadly enough. It
was the result of rules not being followed in the first place, but their actions
only added to the problem, they certainly didn't help it. Let's either throw the
rules to the wind or, what I believe is a better option, let's establish them to
insure fairness and then let's stick to them, again to insure fairness.
I appreciate your commitment to 4-H and I appreciate the opportunity to address
you.
Respectfully,
Glen M. "Shorty" man,
Platte Valley 4-H Club
pc: Mr. Jim Smith, Weld County Cooperative Extension Agent
Weld County Board of Commissioners
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