PAE4-HA Recognizes Lebanon County Volunteers as 2012 Clover Award Recipients

On November 14, 2012, at the annual fall meeting of the Joint Council of Extension Professionals (JCEP), the PA Association of 4-H Extension Agents (PAE4-HA) presented the Clover Award to this year's recipients, Maureen Light and Linda Siegel, 4-H Volunteers from Lebanon County.

The Clover Award is given annually by PAE4-HA, to recognize an individual, who is not a member of PAE4-HA, for his or her support and enthusiasm for, and active involvement in, the Pennsylvania 4-H program, above and beyond normal expectations.

The recipients were nominated by PAE4-HA member, Martha Gregory, who said "Maureen Light & Linda Siegel are very deserving of the 2012 PAE4-HA Clover Award. The two 4-H volunteers nominated have worked together as a team effort for the past 12 years (Maureen 20 yrs. & Linda 12 yrs.) in supporting the county, regional, and state 4-H Clothing & Textiles program. Maureen and Linda are 4-H alumni, 4-H parents, and 4-H volunteers. They were raised in 4-H families and they have raised their children in 4-H families, and now that all of their children are 4-H alumni, they continue to volunteer and provide leadership to 4-H club projects and activities to provide other families the opportunity to experience 4-H."

"Maureen and Linda are “4-H Master Volunteers” in the 4-H clothing and textiles project area.  Maureen teaches beginner level projects and has 30 youth enrolled in projects for 2012.  She also has served as a quilting project leader in previous years.  Linda teaches advanced level clothing and textiles projects, leadership projects, and serves as the organizational leader for the 4-H Friends Community Club which boasts a membership of over 60 members and 12 project leaders."

"Beyond the local club level, Maureen and Linda have both served on the regional fashion revue committee helping to plan, organize and implement the event. They have coordinated staging and decorating for the fashion show and assisted with workshop presentations."

"In recent years as support for State 4-H Achievement Day contests has shifted to more heavily rely on volunteer involvement, Maureen & Linda stepped up and volunteered to serve on the state fashion revue committee. They have assisted with staging and workshops. When funding was questioned for the State 4-H Fashion Revue in recent years, Maureen and Linda worked to form the Friends of PA State 4-H Fashion Revue which has helped to establish an endowment to assist in funding this state level 4-H program activity. They have also been the only volunteer leaders to present workshops as part of the 2010 & 2012 4-H State Leader Forum. Their latest endeavor is a 4-H Clothing Leaders blog to help share their expertise with 4-H leaders throughout the state."