Maryland 4-Hers will need to pay $10 club fee next year

By BRUCE HOTCHKISS
Senior Editor

Beginning next year, and for the first time in the history of the founding of the Maryland 4-H organization, youth enrolling in a 4-H club in the state will be asked to pay a $10 fee.
“The reasons are self-evident,” said Jeff Howard, state assistant 4-H director.
The normal and traditional funding streams — federal, state, county and private — are all drying up and to remain viable, 4-H has had to adopt what Howard called “a cost-recovery approach” to its programming.
And it’s not just a one-year, 2011 event.
“It will become the norm,” Howard said. “We will continue to collect the fee in years to come.”
Maryland 4-H is by far not the first in line to establish a club participation fee. It is imposed in 14 other states, Howard said, with annual fees ranging from $5 to $60.
And it has not been approved for imposition here without a great deal of study.
Howard established two focus groups, one of wide-ranging representation and the other of about 20 young people and asked them to give voice to, and explore, the concerns and hurdles and feedback which the fees would engender.
In the end, there was general agreement that most 4-H families, themselves impacted by the nation’s ailing economy, would understand.
All told, in its nine program delivery areas, Maryland 4-H serves an estimated 84,000 young people, but only 9,700 of them are enrolled in the traditional community clubs.
Those served in the other delivery areas often pay one-time fee simply to cover the cost of the activity or event.
Here is a portion of what Howard wrote in announcing the plans to assess the fee in 2011 to Extension 4-H staffers across the state.
“The challenging economic times our nation is in has directly affected the funding available to University of Maryland Extension’s 4-H Youth Development Program.
“Substantial budget cuts over the past two years, and anticipated budget cuts this next year, have led to the need to institute a 4-H participation fee for all 4-H club members in Maryland.
“This fee will help ensure that Maryland 4-H can continue to be one of the leading youth development programs in our state.
“Beginning with the 2011 4-H year, each youth member will be required to pay a $10 participation fee annually.
“A portion of these funds will be used for 4-H programming across the state of Maryland and a portion designated for county and city support through Extension educators.
“A statewide committee comprised of youth and adult volunteers, educators and administrators has been assembled to work on the details of this plan.
“In the meantime, the Maryland 4-H program is dedicated to giving considerable lead time for notice of the new participation fee so families can prepare for the coming 4-H year.”
Maryland Extension has been battling budget woes for several years. 4-H has managed, Howard said, by drawing on “rainy day money, residual dollars, and reduced faculty to cover the $1.7 million in budget reductions.”
But, he added, “we are out of options now. There are no extra monies left to draw on for the deficit. Just like a family that may have a financial crisis due to illness or loss of work or something similar – they may be able to survive for a while drawing on their savings – but eventually, it will run out.”
As the fee system is envisioned, Howard explained, members who belong to more than one club are required to submit only one participation fee annually through their primary 4-H club.
Youth who are members of a military 4-H club will not be required to pay the fee. Maryland 4-H receives a grant through the US Military to facilitate the Military 4-H Program, so additional fees are not required, Howard said.
4-H youth who are enrolled in activities such as curriculum enrichment, special Interest, camping and so forth will not have to pay the fee. The annual participation fee is for community and project club members only. The other seven delivery modes for 4-H often are targeted experiences with schools or community centers and other collaborations.
Clovers will not have to pay the participation fee Howard explained. The annual fee is structured for full benefit 4-H members of official 4-H age in Maryland which is 8-18.
Also, the maximum number of youth that a family has to pay for is three. Howard said.
As to a family’s ability to pay the fee for one, two or three of its members, Howard had this comment:
“We are hopeful that families will see the value of their child’s involvement in 4-H and recognize their participation as an investment in their future. Families will have to make some conscience choices about their household expenses and find a way to manage the annual fee as they do many other youth programs and activities at school and within their community. Just as they may decide about baseball, gymnastics, or band, the family will have to make a decision about what they can truly not afford.”