Cooperative Extension Service
Departments
Administration
Arkansas 4-H Club Web Site Policy
Overview
The purpose of this policy is to provide guidance and support for the
creation of Arkansas 4-H club Web sites. Please realize that because technology
and applications change, this policy is subject to frequent revisions and will
be regularly reviewed and updated to reflect current policy. In addition, this
policy is guided by and secondary to other official University, State, and
Federal policies, such as the
University of Arkansas’ Web policy
and the policy on
Use of the 4-H Name and Emblem.
Please completely read these guidelines before beginning your 4-H club Web site.
Technical issues
Organization and Updating
- Your Web site should be organized in such a way that information
about your 4-H club can be easily found.
- You may find that it is helpful to examine your club Web site at
least once a month to make organizational improvements or update
information.
- It is recommended that all links on the site be checked at least
six times per year for accuracy.
- The agent with primary 4-H responsibility in each county will
check all county 4-H club web pages quarterly for compliance with the 4-H
Club Web Site Policy.
Content
Required Checklist. The 4-H Club Web site must…
- Include the 4-H emblem provided by your county Extension Service
office. (see guidelines below)
- Link to the county 4-H program and/or
Extension office Web site.
- Have a link to the
Arkansas State 4-H Program Web site.
- List the contact name, address, phone and e-mail of the county
Extension Agent with primary responsibility for 4-H in a prominent location.
4-H Club Web site Suggestions…
- Name, story, and history of the club
- List of club leaders (adults may have their first and last name
listed, with permission)
- List of club officers (first name only)
- City or town where most live or where meetings are held
- Upcoming events and activities
- Club meeting minutes
- Photos of club activities (see photo guidelines below)
- Contact information for your group/club can be accomplished by
including an email address to “volunteer leader.” This can be set up so that
the sender only sees “volunteer leader,” but the message is forwarded to
your 4-H leader’s email. This technique won’t let the general public know
what his/her email address is. You can change the email address and trade
off correspondence duties with someone else as desired. Always ask before
you put someone else’s email address on your web page.
- Community service projects
- Fundraiser information
- Award winners
- 4-H camp or county fair information
- “What I am learning in 4-H” or “Why 4-H is fun” by a club member
- Links to other sites appropriate and related sites
4-H Emblem
The official 4-H emblem is provided by the USDA, and carries the 4-H emblem
protection mark. The emblem should be placed in a prominent location on the main
page for the club site, as well as on subsequent pages.
Nothing is permitted to be superimposed on the 4-H emblem. No photo, drawing,
symbol, word or other figure or object may be placed on or obscure the emblem.
Because of restrictions in the USDA name and emblem standards, the 4-H emblem
cannot be used as a watermark, “wallpaper”, or background for Web sites or in
other contexts. Simply put, your guiding rule for the use of the 4-H emblem
should always be to portray it in a dignified, respectful, and preserving
manner.
Those wanting to use a clover as a background component may use a clover that
does not have H’s on the leaves. For more information on the correct usage of
the 4-H name and emblem, or to download the official 4-H clover, please visit
the 4-H Name and Emblem
site.
Copyrighted Content on Web sites
Artwork, images, and other content included on 4-H club Web sites, must be
public-domain, freely available content. Cartoon characters and other images
found online are often not in the public domain, and caution should be exercised
about using these.
Advertising
It is neither acceptable nor permissible to advertise a supporter’s products
or services on a 4-H Web site. Links to commercial products or services may not
be provided from a 4-H club Web site.
A 4-H club may list donors or supporters on their Web site with written
permission from the donor or supporter; however lists should be created in a way
that shows no preference towards specific donors and supporters. It’s preferable
to cite supporters by listing them in alphabetical order. When citing
donors/supporters, the statement “No endorsement of products or services is
implied or intended” must be placed on the site.
Fundraising
Fundraising activities may be mentioned on your 4-H club Web site. The
fundraiser should be consistent with the policies in your county regarding 4-H
club fundraisers. However, fundraising should not be conducted through the web
site. The statement “No endorsement of products or services is implied or
intended” should be placed on the site.
Language, Grammar, and Spelling
The language used on the 4-H club Web site should be consistent with
upholding the dignity and character of the 4-H program. Grammar and spelling
throughout your 4-H Club Web site should also be correct.
Links to Other Sites
Because 4-H is a partnership between county, state, federal and private
partners, there are many agencies and Web sites you could potentially
link your site to, including:
National 4-H Headquarters at USDA
– the program and policy headquarters for 4-H at the national level.
National
4-H Supply Service – the authorized
vendor for merchandise bearing the 4-H name and emblem, t-shirts, awards and all
sorts of 4-H items available.
National 4-H Council – an
independent nonprofit organization which works to build and advance the 4-H
Youth Development movement.
www.4-h.org
- a Web site created by the National 4-H Youth Technology Team which lists
inter-state exchange opportunities, project resources and hosts an online chat
area.
National 4-H
Cooperative Curriculum System – the
national 4-H curriculum cooperative which sells 4-H project books on many topics
and is working to build an online projects area.
News Articles
4-H clubs often send articles of interest to local newspapers. Your club Web
site address should be shared and referenced in these articles as an avenue for
others to learn more information about the club and 4-H.
Approval of County Agent
The county 4-H agent is the authorizing authority for use of the 4-H name and
emblem within a county. After the club Web site is completed, please have the
county agent review the Web site with you.
Links from Other Web sites
Your club Web site may be linked from other appropriate Web sites. Links to
your club’s Web site should be listed in a manner that is acceptable and not
disparaging to 4-H. You are encouraged to request a link to your club Web site
from the county 4-H program’s Web site, as well as from the state 4-H program’s
Web site.
Links to other Web sites
Your club Web site may be linked to other appropriate Web sites, however 4-H
Web sites cannot link to for-profit or commercial Web sites. It is preferred
that a 4-H club Web site link only to other 4-H Web sites to ensure safety. Web
site addresses frequently change, and on occasion, a site acceptable for young
people has been purchased by an organization and converted into something one
would not link to.
Volunteer Information and Identification
Adults listed on a 4-H club Web site should only be identified as “4-H club
volunteers”, provided they are officially screened and registered 4-H club
volunteers and have provided written permission. All 4-H volunteers working with
youths in Arkansas must complete the Volunteer Application available through
your Extension Office. Parents who are not officially screened and registered
4-H club volunteers may be mentioned on the club Web site and identified as
“parents” or “4-H club supporters” with written permission.
Web Hosting Providers
To be completed at a later date.
Online Safety
4-H members in your club should know basic rules for Internet and e-mail
safety. Before your club Web site is posted, it’s advised that the 4-H club
leader host a class about on-line safety with the club membership. Resources are
available through
www.4-h.org
and other Web sites. (See Resources and links below)
Personal Information about Minors on the Web site
4-H club members under the age of 19 must not have their last names, home
addresses, home phone numbers, cell phone numbers, or e-mail addresses listed on
a 4-H club Web site. Even with the permission of an adult, this guideline should
be adhered to. 4-H club members can be identified on a 4-H club Web site by
first name, such as, “Maria” or first name and an initial, “Maria S.”
Telephone Numbers
It is acceptable to list telephone numbers on a club Web site so that
interested individuals can call for information about the 4-H club or program in
general. The primary phone number listed should be the phone number for the
county Extension office. If given permission, the club leaders may have their
numbers listed so that club members can contact the leader. A 4-H club phone
list however, showing the names of club members and their home phone numbers,
must not be placed on the 4-H club Web site.
Photos
To provide for a safe on-line environment, it is critical to remember that
youths depicted in on-line photos should not be identified beyond a first name
and that all youth included in pictures, on-line and off-line, must have a
signed parental permission slip on file with the county Extension Office. If
a 4-H club member does not have the required permission notice on file, none of
the photographs of that youth can be used, including group shots.
Youth in Protective Custody
On occasion we have young people involved in 4-H clubs who are in protective
custody or unusual foster care situations. These youths cannot be photographed
for publicity purposes. Photographs and identifying information about them must
not be placed on a Web site, in the county 4-H newsletter, or in a brochure,
because it could jeopardize their safety. These young people should not be
photographed without the permission of their parent(s) or guardian(s).
Use of Interactive Discussion Tools
A county 4-H club Web site is not permitted to host or promote discussion
boards, chat rooms or any other form of interactive Internet forum that does not
have safeguards to allow review and approval of content prior to posting.
Process
Youth Adult Partnership
Whenever possible, a 4-H club Web site should be created through a
collaboration of youths and adults working in partnership together. Young
children can help select graphics or photos, and offer ideas, even if an adult
is designing the Web site. Teens and adolescents can often create a Web site on
their own. A Web site benefits from youth input and creativity, as well as adult
guidance.
Resources and Links
For more information on use of the
4-H Name and Emblem:
Official 4-H emblems
are available for downloading
4-H Clover Clipart
from North Carolina State University Extension
4-H Clover Kids Clipart
from Iowa State University Extension
4-H Clipart and Graphics Gallery
from the University of Florida Extension
Yahooligans is a search engine of
sites for youth that would give 4-H members some good ideas of what a youth Web
site could look like.
University of Arkansas 4-H Web Site
Curriculum Available
There are three 4-H project books titled “Computer Mysteries” which cover
computer technology, which are produced by the National 4-H Cooperative
Curriculum System. The series includes a helper’s guide for adult or teen 4-H
leaders. These books can be ordered through your county Extension office, or
they can be ordered through the Cooperative Extension Service
publication for sale web site. The
National 4-H Youth
Technology Team provides links on
their Web site to many resources which are helpful to aspiring Web site
builders.
Internet Safety Resources
Netiquette Resources
Enforcement
Failure to comply with these guidelines will result in forfeiture of the
club's right to use the 4-H name and emblem.
Questions?
If you have further questions concerning 4-H Club Web sites, contact your
local county Extension Office.
Revised March 3, 2004
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