Publications
Installation Ceremony - Officers
4-H Volunteer Leaders’ Series
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Setting
• Ceremony • 4-H
Installation Ceremony with Focus on Character™
This installation ceremony is planned so that retiring officers
will describe their responsibilities to new officers. These are only suggested
presentations for each of the retiring officers. This program can be changed by
the club members to fit their particular situation. Some groups might like to
include other officers.
Have retiring officers located in one area, new officers in
another and club leadership team members visible to both the audience and
officers. Each retiring officer in turn crosses to his/her counterpart,
addresses the new officer and presents the appropriate records. Whatever the
form, this ceremony needs to convey the responsibility involved. A table with
candles and flowers indicates that this is a significant occasion. Invite all
parents to the installation ceremony. Their interest and presence add to the
significance of the occasion.
The new officers of a club should be installed by the
organizational leader of the club. For this ceremony, you will need eight
candles about six inches in length and a 4-H club and U.S. flag.
Those participating will be the organizational leader, the
retiring officers and the new officers. Each retiring officer and the
organizational leader should receive a candle. The retiring officer will stand
to the right of the leader while the new officer will be to the left. The
organizational leader lights the candles of the retiring officers. The leader
returns to his/her place between the two groups of officers.
Organizational Leader: "This flame of leadership is
burning brightly. We have reached a point in our club program for others to
assume the duties of the various 4-H club offices. To a great degree the success
of our club during the coming year lies in your hands. If you will learn and
carry out your duties as an officer, our club can reach a high standard of
success. If you sincerely try to live up to the 4-H club motto "To Make the Best
Better,' you will likely be a successful officer. Will the president-elect step
forward to receive his (her) candle." (The retiring and new president walk to
the center in front of the leader where the retiring president hands his lighted
candle to the new president.)
Retiring President: "I present you with this candle as a
symbol of your office, hoping that it will give you light as you go about your
duties of leading this club. Will you as president attend and preside at the
club meetings regularly, appoint committees and attend county council meetings?
Will you work under the direction of our organizational leader in planning and
carrying out a worthwhile club program?"
New President: "I will to the best of my ability." (The
new president will return to his original position, and the retiring president
walks to a seat in the audience. All other officers will follow the same
procedure.)
Organizational Leader: "Will the vice presidents step
forward."
Retiring Vice President: "As vice president of this club,
you will be expected to serve as program chairman during the coming year. You
will preside at meetings when the president is absent and otherwise assist the
president in any way possible. I present to you now a candle as a symbol to
light your way as vice president of our club. Will you accept these
responsibilities?"
Vice President Elect: "I will."
Organizational Leader: "Will the secretaries step
forward."
Retiring Secretary: "As secretary of the club you will be
expected to attend the club meetings and to keep the membership roll and
accurate minutes of each club meeting. You will be expected to fulfill all
duties for the secretary as outlined in the Officers' Manual and the Secretary's
Book. Will you accept this candle as a symbol of your responsibilities as
secretary?"
New Secretary: "I will."
Organizational Leader: "Will the reporters come forward."
Retiring Reporter: "Keeping the public informed is
important to the life of our club. It is the window through which they will see
what 4-H'ers do. Will you make a report of each meeting for the newspaper
promptly, being sure all names are spelled correctly and that due credit is
given to all persons taking part on the program? Will you accept this candle as
a symbol of your duties as club reporter and carry them out to the best of your
ability?"
Reporter Elect: "I will."
Organizational Leader: "Will the club photographers come
forward."
Retiring Photographer: "As our club photographer you will
be expected to attend meetings and activities of the club regularly. At each
meeting and club activity, you will be expected to bring your camera and take
special pictures of the club and its activities. How many honors and awards our
club receives will depend in part on you. At this time will you accept this
candle and along with it your responsibilities as our club photographer?"
Photographer Elect: "I will."
Organizational Leader: "The song leaders will come
forward, please."
Retiring Song Leader: "The song leader has a very
important role in our club meetings. As song leader, you will be expected to
lead and teach new songs to the club. Will you accept the responsibilities as
outlined in the Officers' Manual? If so, then you will now accept this candle."
New Song Leader: "I will do my best."
Organizational Leader: "Will the recreation leaders come
forward, please."
Retiring Recreation Leader: "Will you accept the
responsibilities of providing worthwhile and wholesome recreation for our club
in the form of games and other activities? If so, take this candle which will
give you the light and guidance in planning and carrying out your phase of our
club program."
New Recreation Leader: "I'll do my very best."
(All new officers now will line up in front of the club.)
Organizational Leader: "As club officers, you have been chosen
to guide and direct the __________ 4-H Club. I know that you will live up to the
trust that has been placed in you. You will be largely responsible for the club
spirit of your organization, for its progress and faithfulness to the principles
of 4-H club work. I congratulate the club on its choices and remind you that it
is your duty to support and encourage them, to work with them at all times for
the good of the club. They cannot carry out their duties as officers unless they
have our cooperation. Will the president now lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance
and the vice president will follow with the 4-H Pledge."
Organizational Leader: A person of character is a good
person, someone to look up to and admire; someone who knows the difference
between right and wrong and always tries to do what is right; sets a good
example; makes the world a better place; and lives according to the Six Pillars
of Character™. As club officers these pillars of character will help guide you
as you assume the duties of the various 4-H club offices.
Retiring President:
(Name) , as president
of the
4-H Club, you represent the pillar of TRUSTWORTHINESS. As president, you
have accepted a leadership duty within your 4-H club program. The members and
leaders have placed trust in you to guide and direct them throughout the program
year. They trust that you will do the right thing for the total club membership,
not just for you personally. You are also a representative of the youth and
leaders in
Club,
County, the State of Arkansas and the nation.
Retiring Vice President:
(Name) , as vice
president of the
4-H Club, you represent the pillar of CITIZENSHIP. As vice president, you have
already accepted a great citizenship opportunity. It is important that the club
by-laws and constitution be followed by the
4-H Club membership. The club's leaders and members are looking to you to help
lead the club in citizenship by assuring that the club and county rules and
regulations for awards, deadlines, trips and the many other areas are followed.
Retiring Secretary:
(Name) as secretary of
the
4-H Club, you represent the pillar of CARING. As secretary, you should make sure
the
4-H Club exercises the Golden Rule: "Do unto others as you would have others do
unto you." The club should at all times show caring for members, parents,
leaders, as well as their families. You may be called on to share this caring
through correspondence and keeping accurate minutes.
Retiring Reporter:
(Name) , as reporter,
you work with the media and the public. The pillar you share with the
4-H Club is RESPONSIBILITY. You need to accurately and enthusiastically report
the activities of the club. You must protect the club's good name, strive always
to further its ideals and purposes and see that the people of the community are
aware of the work being done and the services provided. You will be largely
responsible for the spirit of the organization, for its progress and
faithfulness to the principles and ideals of the 4-H club work.
Retiring Photographer:
(Name) , as
photographer of the
4-H Club, you represent the pillar of FAIRNESS. As photographer, you will be
expected to attend meetings and activities of the club regularly. At each
meeting and club activity, you will be expected to bring your camera and take
special pictures of the club and its activities, being sure not to exclude
members and to represent members at their very best.
Retiring Song Leader:
(Name) , as song
leader of the
4-H Club, you represent the pillar of RESPECT. As song leader, you are to lead
and teach new songs to the club members. You are responsible for planning songs
and activities that show respect for all members. You should be respectful to
all members and teach them to be respectful to each member, parent and leader in
the club, community and beyond.
Organizational Leader: As club officers, you have been
chosen to guide and direct the
4-H Club. I know that you will strive to live according to the Six Pillars of
Character™ and model these traits for your fellow club members as well as
encourage them to live by these principles. Through your attitude and actions,
you will largely be responsible for the club spirit of your organization, for
its progress and faithfulness to the principles of 4-H club work. I congratulate
the club on its choices and remind the club members that it is your duty to
support and encourage them, to work with them at all times for the good of the
club.
The 4-H Focus on Character Installation Ceremony was adapted from the
Missouri 4-H Youth Development Show-Me Character Idea Book, Outreach and
Extension, University of Missouri, Columbia, "Officer Installation" by Patty
Fisher, Pike County, Missouri. Revised by Beverly Hines, former 4-H specialist,
Cooperative Extension Service, University of Arkansas.
| Author: |
Darlene Z. Baker, Ph.D., State Leader - 4-H
Youth Development |
DR. DARLENE Z. BAKER is state leader - 4-H youth development,
Cooperative Extension Service, University of Arkansas, Little Rock.
4HCO2-PD-10-02RV
|
