Extension Report

Baldwin County Extension Office

302A Byrne Street

Bay Minette, AL  36507

Telephone (251) 937-7176 or

928-0860/943-5061 ext. 2222

FAX (251) 937-7285

Cynthia G. Knowlton

June 28, 2011

Volunteers Make Baldwin County Great!

Among the things that make Baldwin County great are the many volunteers serving 4-H Clubs, FFA, churches, civic clubs, fire departments, United Way, Boy and Girl Scouts, Red Cross and so many more. 

Every one of our 4-H volunteers is very special to us. When I witness the 4-H volunteers serving youth in the  Baldwin County 4-H clubs, I am amazed at their inspiration and dedication.

All of these exceptional volunteers have their own stories as to why they volunteer. Each one is inspiring. Let me tell you about one – Karen Engelman of Foley.

Karen is the volunteer leader of the Dolphin Home School 4-H Club, which meets on the first Tuesday of each month, 2 to 4 p.m. The club meets at the Pleasant View Baptist Church in Foley.

“Parents like having one organization to which they can bring their children of all ages to enjoy and learn together and that helps with their transportation,” says Karen “and that was a discovery I learned five years ago when the club was organized.  I also learned 4-H is more than cows, goats and horses and that clubs can be about anything.”

“The club has grown to more than 50 members with some 30 families involved,” reports Karen. “I love to watch children learn, plan, and follow through to complete an activity. It is exciting to watch them make friends within the club and with other 4-H clubs across the state. Not only that, but I have made friends in other clubs and with state 4-H leaders. It has been a bonding friendship experience for me and members of the Dolphin Club.”

“My motivation to be a 4-H leader comes when I see a timid, reluctant child begin experiencing something he or she had never done before and watch him or her become involved. A light seems to radiate on their faces as they begin enjoying something new,” says Karen.

The Dolphin Club’s projects have included leather crafting, creating a “donation quilt” where those who have donated to the club have their names sewed into the quilt squares, learning to do beading and CPR, conducting a photography project, attending the Mid-Winter 4-H Leadership Retreat and much more.

Events that involve all the club members are the Dinner Mystery Theater and Talent Show – both are fundraisers. The uniqueness of Mystery Theater is that the audience participates in providing clues to solve the mystery. The Talent Show involves members presenting a variety of acts including singing, dancing, reading poetry, a musical and displaying of crafts.

Another project a couple of years ago was to introduce members to horses. Three 4-H horse clubs in the area joined together to put on a horse workshop in which all club members were invited to participate. The workshop included information on the care and feeding of horses, watching a farrier at work shoeing horses, barrel racing and demonstrations of English and Western riding. For many members, it was a first-time experience.

The Dolphin Club has also formed a group within their club for those interested in archery and named it the “Clean Through Archery Club.” The leaders received 4-H Shooting Sports training and have since trained others to help in the instruction of new members.

Karen Engelman is aware that her service in the U.S. Air Force for four and a half years on active duty and five years in the Air National Guard has helped her to be a more effective 4-H volunteer leader. Her husband, George, a project manager for AT&T, assists Karen with the club and its various projects.

According to Karen, “What we are seeing are more moms and dads helping with leadership responsibilities and hospitality. The resource individuals available to the club include those in the fields of forestry, marine science, aeronautics and robotics and because of this and the growth of the club, I am very optimistic about the future of the Dolphin Home School 4-H Club.”

Cynthia G. Knowlton is the Regional Extension Agent for 4-H and Youth Development serving Baldwin and Escambia Counties, 302-A Byrne Street, Bay Minette, AL 36507.  For more information about the nearest 4-H Club and volunteer opportunities, call

(251) 709-8749, cell or (251) 937-7176, office.  Please visit www.alabama4h.com

Email address: cknowlto@aces.edu

Phone number: 937-7176 or 943-5061, 928-0860, ext. 2222

Baldwin County Extension Programs are supported by the Baldwin County Commission.

The Alabama Cooperative Extension System (Alabama A&M and Auburn Universities) in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture is an equal opportunity educator and employer.