Do You Need HELP?

10 TIPS to ASKING for the HELP YOU NEED
by Jim M. Allen

1. Remember, if you don’t make the request, it will NEVER happen.
Wayne Gretzky once said, “One hundred percent of the shots I don’t make don’t go in. Likewise the unasked question is never answered.

2. Don’t beat around the bush! Just ask!

3. If it’s an extraordinary request, say so. BIG requests are often the best request. Be 100% upfront and honest about what you want and what’s involved.

4. If the request is work that YOU normally (or should) do, explain why you can’t. You don’t need to provide tons of details, but again, be honest with the person you’re making the request of (and with yourself).

5. Don’t assume you know what the answer will be. Maybe they’ll say “No.” Of course, they might say “Yes”.

6. Recognize that the person *can* say “No.” You may not like it, but it will happen from time to time. Accept it and move on.

7. Make one request at a time. Asking for help, assistance, changes, etc., is fine, but don’t overwhelm a person with multiple requests all at once.

8. Make the request clear and distinct.
If there’s an exact way it needs to be done, let the person know. Give them all the information to make a good decision, but also so they can really do what you need them to do.

9. Trust the person to do the right thing. If you’ve made your request clear and the person has said that they’ll do it, expect they’ll do it correctly. Don’t follow them around and hound them about it.

10. Say “Thank You.”
(Even if they turn you down.)

Working for nothing?

To often we refer to volunteers in a flippant manner, almost like they are just an adult 4-Her, or another acquaintance. What they really are is the front line, unpaid employee of Texas AgriLife Extension Service. They are our co-workers. We do not bestow the privileged of representing 4-H and our agency to anyone. They must apply! They must be approved! they must be Hired! even if they are hired with no salary.

The development of our unpaid employees is every bit as important as the develpment of CEA's and Specialists. It's time we start thinking of them as our co-workers. we can hire 'em, we can guide 'em, we should train 'em, and on occasion we should fire 'em.

Something to think about,
Kevin

Keeping 'em safe

Inherently we know that as a professional youth educator one of our first obligations is to keep youth safe. that includes structuring a safe environment for learning and surrounding them with adults that will have a positive influence in their life. That "positive influence" maybe hard to gauge, but we have a system for gauging the converse. Texas 4-H Youth Protection Standards (volunteer screening) is our first line of defense against adults that could/would harm our children. It is also the standard we have created for keeping youth safe while under the supervision of 4-H Volunteers.

We must never let down our guard! It is with our best intentions that we make exceptions. Accepting late entries, including kids in the program that forgot to register, or reconvening the Validation committee to squeeze in one last validation. One place we can not make exceptions is volunteer screening.

Know that it takes a minimum of 48 hours for the state 4-H office to process a volunteer screening request. If today is Wednesday and a last minute change has created the need for an additional chaperon on Saturday, your only pool of candidates, are previously screened volunteers.

Be pro-active. Encourage even moderately active adults sign up as adult leaders early in the 4-H year, and turn in their screening paperwork as soon as possible.

For what it's worth,
Kevin