Planning and goals

Planning your meeting

This agenda template provides a template for how meetings can be structured. 

• Agenda template

Planning your year

Summary of Resources

• Annual plan

• Ways to gather input 

• Design your own clover activity

• 4-H Club profile

• Setting club goals information sheet

• Goals, strategies and action plan worksheet

Getting started

4-H club officers, youth leadership teams and adult advisors should meet at the beginning of the year to create an annual plan for the club.  This includes determining business and educational programing and assigning people to lead welcoming and recreational activities. 

Part of developing the annual plan is to set goals for the club. Both setting goals and creating an annual plan starts with gathering input from all club members.  The handout "Ways to gather input” shares a variety of ways to brainstorm or reflect in a group setting.  

Further activities to guide your planning:

Design Your Own Clover. Have each member complete a sheet. The club leadership team collects and summarizes the information.  Use this information to determine goals and plans for the upcoming year.  

4-H Club Profile. Complete this profile with the club officers and/or youth leadership team and adult advisors or use the questions to gather input from all club members. Use this data to determine goals and plans for the upcoming year.  

Setting Goals

After you have collected information using strategies above it's time to set goals for your club or group. 

Goals help groups and clubs create purpose and a commitment to action that strengthens their club, community and world. 

To get started review the Setting Club Goals information sheet.

Next, use this worksheet, Goals, Strategies, Action Plan to brainstorm strategies to reach the goal and develop an action plan to reach the goal.  

Seasonal calendar guides 

These seasonal guides serve as a resource to help you see how your plans and activities fit within common activities across the 4-H year. We have provided suggested activities and resources to guide your planning. 

• September - November

• December- February

• March -  May

• June - August

Creating a communication plan

Effective communication is the key to an organized and successful 4-H club. A strong and well- planned club communication strategy is one of the first steps in starting your 4-H year out strong! Use this tool to involve youth and adults in planning your club communications. 

• Club communication planning