Montana 4-H Salutes Extraordinary Service

11/14/01

              BOZEMAN--Montana 4-H honored three individuals for their extraordinary volunteer service at Montana State University's Ag Appreciation Days.

            The honors were awarded during the celebration's closing banquet, Nov. 10 at the MSU-Bozeman Strand Union.

            MSU President Geoffrey Gamble, Extension Director David Bryant, State 4-H Leader Betty McCoy and 4-H Foundation President Mary Beth Walsh of Twin Bridges presented the awards.

            Dolly Dwyer of Great Falls and B.J. Hawkins of White Sulphur Springs received Montana Tribute to Volunteer Excellence awards. This is the first year these awards were given. Chosen from finalists in eight Montana districts, the two Montana 4-H volunteers will be eligible for a national award called "Salute to Excellence." The winners of the national award, which recognizes volunteers who are actively making significant differences in the lives of 4-H youth programs, will be announced at the National 4-H Council in April 2002. Winners will receive $10,000 cash of which $1,000 is to be used for follow up action in their community.

            Serving in her 58th year as a volunteer leader, Dwyer was honored in the "lifetime volunteer" category. Dwyer began in 4-H in the 1930s when it was popular to use recycled feed sacks as cloth for sewing projects. As a leader, she introduces her club members to the importance of public speaking skills and encourages them to have fun with events like "Denim Days" and "Fantastic Foods." Montana 4-H Foundation Director Terry Wolfe estimates that Dwyer has impacted the lives of as many as 500 children during her years of leadership. Many recent participants in her club are the children of earlier club members. Dwyer developed a Yackety-Yak kit to teach other leaders how to get kids speaking in public, started the state 4-H Rec Lab with Shirley Marxer of Great Falls and has developed and taught a technique to teach sewing to the blind.

            Hawkins was honored in the "volunteer under 10 years" category. She is the station manager for Meagher County Public Television and leads a 4-H video television project called Vid-Kids. Hawkins and Vid-Kids taught youth from Frazier school on the Fort Peck Reservation skills to produce a PSA called "Save our Culture." The PSA, a co-produced with Vid-Kid productions, aired at the Sundance Film Festival. Youth involved in Vid-Kids contribute to the Peabody public television youth project, "Listen Up," featured on the Web. Through Vid-Kids, youth gain the professional skills to produce video for other non-profits. Hawkins also developed a production company called Juvenile Accountability Group, in which juvenile offenders complete their community service by researching their offense, noting consequences of their behavior and gaining production skills to complete a 30-second PSA. Hawkins also helps Meagher County youth with employment training and arts opportunities as a volunteer at the Stevens Youth Center.

            Bill Chiesa of Billings received the 2001 4-H and FFA Outstanding Alumnus Award. This joint award from Montana 4-H and FFA recognizes an individual with a background in both organizations. It salutes success in applying the skills learned in both youth clubs toward an outstanding career and recognizes continued support of 4-H and FFA. Chiesa, now general manager of MetraPark in Billings, was a 10-year member of
4-H and four-year member of FFA in his youth. During his career he has managed Montana's two largest fairs, in Great Falls and Billings, and has strongly supported the importance of agriculture and exhibition opportunities for youth in fairs. This is the second year the award has been presented. In 2000, the clubs honored Taylor Brown of Billings.

Please send  questions or comments (plus your name, location and the subject of the story you read) to Marla Goodman  and Carol Flaherty, MSU Communications Services, Bozeman, MT 59717 or email us at: carolf@montana.edu.

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