Introduction

Greetings everyone! My name is Danielle Shaffer and I am thrilled to be representing the wonderful 4-H program as the 2008 State Council President. I proudly hail from Somerset County of the Southwest Region. Some of my favorite projects include cooking, horticulture, market lambs and steers. I really look forward to the many amazing people we will meet this year and the events we will attend. Your council team is composed of many special individuals who are very dedicated to the 4-H program.

At the recent State Leadership Conference (February 15th -17th ) these individuals officially began their council year. It was very exciting for us to finally meet face-to-face and we immediately began sharing our experiences and ideas. We were “Groovin’ into Leadership” with other members, as we attended various workshops including Communications, Time Management, and Team Building. My favorite part was the guest speaker, he had amazing dance skills and a superb sense of humor.

The skills and preparation we experienced at the conference were just the beginning of our initial training. We just completed a jam-packed weekend of workshops and activities. Not only did we learn many important skills, we learned more about our duties in order to better serve all of you. I learned this weekend how to be more “tech savvy” and how to develop good workshops. This was also a huge opportunity for us to get to know each other better and begin to lay the foundation of our team.

I can’t wait for all that is to come, especially Capital Days next month! This will be my first year to attend this event, so I will be working extra hard to prepare! It going to be tons of fun, and remember I will be learning too!

Also, please be sure to check back here often to find out the latest news and information from your State Council. Of course, no matter what, good news should be shared with others! Keep your friends and local leaders informed of the opportunities this year holds. I would like to wish everyone a very happy and successful year!

Yours in green,

Danielle Shaffer

Pennsylvania 4-H State President