TEXAS 4-H CONGRESS

Texas 4-H Congress is the premiere leadership experience for Texas 4-H members between the ages of 15 and 18. Held on the even numbers years in the Texas State Capitol, Texas 4-H Congress allows 4-H members to experience the law making process first hand by writing, submitting, and then serving as a member of the House of Representatives, the Senate, the Press, or as a Lobbyist. From these roles, the 4-H members determine the faith of each bill submitted over the four day event. Cost for the event range from $150.00 to $250.00, pending on donor support.

SPECIAL NOTICE ABOUT CELLULAR PHONES AND PERSONAL COMMUNICATION DEVICES AT TEXAS 4-H CONGRESS: Participants are welcome to bring their cellular phones and personal communication devices to use when not in an organized Texas 4-H Congress event or activity. Organized times include when at the Texas State Capitol during meetings and/or sessions, and during banquets at the hotel. The Texas 4-H and Youth Development Program wants every young person attending Texas 4-H Congress to be focused on the task at hand, and respective of the other members participating. We ask for the support and understanding of all the participants, their parents/guardians, and county Extension agents. Thank you.

PAGE LINKS:
Dates and Schedule
Costs
Age Requirements
Quotas
How Can a 4-H Member Participate
Theme Party
Tuesday Banquet
Submission of Legislative Bills
Registration and Dates to Remember

DATES AND SCHEDULE

The 2008 Texas 4-H Congress will be held July 13-16, 2008

Tentative Schedule (pdf)

2008 Delegate Informational Letter

 

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COSTS

Cost of Texas 4-H Congress is $150.00 per person, however, each district may assess a required additional fee for transportation and/or district expenses.

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AGE REQUIREMENTS

Official ages for Texas 4-H Congress are 15-18 years of age (as of event). This is a prestigious event reserved for older 4-H members.

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QUOTAS

A select number of 4-H delegates will be alloted to each district. In addition to the districts, the urban counties, Prairie View Cooperative Extension and the 4-H Military Program will be allotted a quota of delegates.

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HOW CAN A 4-H MEMBER PARTICIPATE

House or Senate Member:
This position is for 4-H members that have never participated in Texas 4-H Congress. Four-H members serving in the House or Senate should be prepared and able to speak passionately about issues effecting Texas and Texas Youth. The issues that the 4-H member will be speaking about may or may not be related to the subject matter of the bill they submitted. House and Senate members will be participating in a variety of professional settings such as committee meetings, chamber sessions, and may be lobbied or questioned on different issues by the Lobbyist group and/or the Press Corp. These assignments are made by the State 4-H Office.

Texas 4-H Council Member:
Texas 4-H Council Members will assume leadership positions throughout Texas 4-H Congress. All Texas 4-H Council members are required to arrive in Austin on Friday, July 11th between 3:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. Texas 4-H Council members will be involved in an in-depth training and planning these two days prior to 4-H Congress in order to be able to effectively conduct the necessary business.

Lobbyist: (NOTIFICATION WILL BE SENT MAY 20, 2008 - THEN THOSE ACCEPTED WILL REGISTER FOR 4HCONGRESS AS A LOBBYIST)
The Lobbyist group is designed for 4-H members who have attended Texas 4-H Congress in either 2004 or 2006. The responsibility of the Lobbyist group is to identify certain bills and then lobby members of the House and Senate to either pass or defeat the bill. Lobbyist should be knowledgeable about Texas 4-H Congress and the schedule that it follows. Lobbyist members should be prepared to and have the ability to approach other 4-H members and persuade House and Senate members for support. The Lobbyist group will hold a “by invitation only” reception for House and Senate Members, along with Congress Leadership. Approximately twenty-five (25) lobbyists will be selected. Applications for the Texas 4-H Lobbyist will be submitted through the 4-H CONNECT registration program.

Press Corp: (NOTIFICATION WILL BE SENT MAY 20, 2008 - THEN THOSE ACCEPTED WILL REGISTER FOR 4HCONGRESS AS A PRESS CORP)
The Texas 4-H Congress Press Corp play an extremely important part in the success of the event. Press Corp members can be either first time or returning 4-H members to 4-H Congress. Individuals applying for Press Corp should have strong skills in writing, word processing, interviewing, web page design, photography, and focused on making deadlines. The press corp is responsible for the publishing of a daily newspaper and maintaining a web page. Press Corp members should be aware that sometimes they may not be able to attend certain events because of print deadlines. Two Texas 4-H Council members and up to 15 4-H members from across the State will serve on the 2006 Texas 4-H Congress Press Corp. Applications for the Texas 4-H Press Corp will be submitted through the 4-H CONNECT registration program.

Technology Team:
Up to four (4) members from the Texas 4-H Technology Team will be selected by the groups adult leadership to participate in the 2008 Texas 4-H Congress. These individuals will be responsible for assisting with webpage publication, video taping and streaming and other technology based tasks.

Chaperones:
Two adult chaperones from each district and one from PVCEP will be serving in an official role at Texas 4-H Congress. In the Fall of 2007 District Extension Administrators recommended two male and two female County Extension Agents or Volunteers to serve in this role. A final decision on which one male and one female chaperone attending will be confirmed with the District Extension Administrator in mid-April. Chaperones serve as advisors to the legislative committees, chaperone dances, assist with press corp or lobbyist (as assigned), assist with decorating for meals/banquets, and serve as security and transportation monitors. Chaperones are expected to chaperone ALL delegates during Texas 4-H Congress, but be the contact for their district members in case of an emergency or incident. If a chaperone wishes not to provide his/her leadership to Texas and the management team, please notify us so another chaperone may be nominated. Additional chaperones will not be accepted.

Texas 4-H Congress Management Team:
The Texas 4-H Congress Team consists of Texas 4-H Faculty, Texas AgriLife Extension Service Adjunct faculty, and Volunteers. Each of the members of the management team have a certain area of responsibility during Texas 4-H Congress.

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THEME PARTY

The 2008 Texas 4-H Council has selected "Hawaii - Texas 4-H Style". Delegates are encouraged to wear those most exciting Casual Hawaiian attire (clothing must meet guidelines of Texas 4-H Program Dress Code) as they participate in island theme games such as the limbo, hula contest, and others. The night will include a Hawaii style Luau for dinner and end with a dance.

DRESS: Delegates are encouraged to wear beach dress in the form of board shorts, t-shirts, sun dresses, flip-flops. Grass skirts may are allowed if shorts with the appropriate length are worn underneath. NO SWIMWEAR, COCONUT TOPS, STRAPLESS OR SPAGHETTI STRAPS ARE ALLOWED. MALES MUST WEAR SHIRTS. Refer to dress code philosophy concerning other questions about attire.

2008 Delegate Informational Letter

 

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TUESDAY NIGHT GALA

To celebrate the last large event of the Texas 4-H Centennial, the Tuesday night closing event will be a “Green and Black Gala”.

DRESS: Both the ladies and gentlemen are encouraged to wear semi-formal attire to the event. This will provide an opportunity for us to close out the year with the best looking group of 4-H members in the country!

2008 Delegate Informational Letter

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SUBMISSION OF LEGISLATIVE BILLS

Each delegate (Texas 4-H Council member, Texas 4-H Technology Team member, Press Corp, Lobbyist, etc) is required to submit a legislative bill for consideration. Once all bills have been submitted many of them may be joined with other like bills or edited to meet the necessary requirements and format. All bills will be submitted through the registration process on 4-H CONNECT. Delegates should be prepared to submit their bill at time of registration.

Assistance in preparing bills for Texas 4-H Congress is available through the links provided. Only one bill can be submitted by each person and once it’s submitted there can be no corrections made to it.

Getting Your Bill Written!
Parts of Your Bill
Suggestions for Bills
One Vote Does Count!

Example of Bill - #1 (pdf)

Example of Bill - #2 (pdf)

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REGISTRATION AND DATES TO REMEMBER

April 1	Lobbyist Application opens online via 4-H CONNECT
April 1	Press Corp Application opens online via 4-H CONNECT
May 7	Lobbyist Application closes (NOTIFICATION WILL BE SENT MAY 20, 2008 - THOSE ACCEPTED WILL REGISTER FOR 4HCONGRESS AS A LOBBYIST)
May 7	Press Corp Application closes(NOTIFICATION WILL BE SENT MAY 20, 2008 - THOSE ACCEPTED WILL REGISTER FOR 4HCONGRESS AS PRESS CORP)
May 20	Press Corp and Lobbyist notification
May 20	Online Registration opens via 4-H CONNECT
June 20	Online Registration closes
July	District Travel Letters
July	Bill Book posted online
July 11	Texas 4-H Council and Management Team Arrives
July 13	District Delegates Arrive

 

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Page last updated: June 30, 2008