THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, January 20, 1996 TAG: 9601200285
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY PERRY PARKS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: ELIZABETH CITY LENGTH: Medium: 76 lines
Officials on Friday answered most of the questions asked by some unhappy 4-H'ers at Pasquotank County Commissioners meeting this week.
In an emotional meeting that stretched for more than 90 minutes in the Pasquotank County Cooperative Extension building Friday, 4-H participants and staff members discussed concerns that have been festering for well over a year. The disgruntled 4-H'ers complained to county commissioners on Tuesday that 4-H officials had balked at giving access to financial information and other club activities.
On Friday, club rosters and leader names were turned over, as were lists of committees and members who guide 4-H activities. Documentation for spending of about $5,000 in discretionary funds was provided, and the details of activities like the annual awards banquet were discussed.
Extension agent Travis Burke and other staff members told Cora Evans and two other 4-H'ers where they could get more information, such as files on grants and statements on a $26,000 endowment fund in safekeeping at Centura Bank.
Evans, who is president-elect for the northeast district 4-H Leaders Association, and more than a dozen other unhappy 4-H participants had complained to the commissioners.
Organization officials say they have provided similar materials on request in past meetings with the same disgruntled group.
Although thoughts and feelings were hashed out Friday, little was resolved.
Evans and some others still feel that they've been shut out of meetings in which Volunteer Leadership Association officers have decided how to spend the $5,000 in funds provided annually through the Albemarle Area United Way.
And they're still bitter over the departure of 4-H agent Pat Shepherd, who says she quit last fall rather than accept a letter of dismissal.
Shepherd and others acknowledge a standing personality conflict between Shepherd and Pasquotank County Cooperative Extension Director Don Baker, each of whom has more than 20 years experience in the Pasquotank County Extension office.
Both sides tried to get beyond the bitterness Friday, with Evans, Phyllis Lamb and Jo Ann Herron calling for a more organized Volunteer Leadership Association with better-defined procedures.
``We feel like there should be a leader's association, it should involve all leaders, have a set time, and let people vote,'' Evans said. ``We all want to be treated equally; we all want to have a voice and a say in meetings; we want meetings to be run orderly.''
Currently, officers in the leadership association are selected by the past president and a nominating committee, Burke said. The system was set up several years ago to create a better accounting of how 4-H's few discretionary dollars are spent, he said.
Burke said the leadership association, during a contentious meeting last February, voted against writing a formal constitution.
The dissatisfied group says it will continue to track down and study all the information it has asked for. Evans said there is a meeting arranged with county officials to go over the 4-H books Monday.
``They're looking for something that don't exist,'' said Baker, who sat in on the last five minutes of Friday's meeting. ``Anything they come in here with and issue they bring up is going to be dealt with. And they're not going to find any hanky-panky.''
Nearly 4,000 youth in Pasquotank County participate in 4-H programs, which include 31 community and project clubs and other organized units, Burke said. More than 500 adult volunteers work with the organization, he said.
Some 4-H staff members and participants said they worried the conflict with Evans and others was harming the group as a whole.
``4-H is about children, and this is not helping anybody,'' said 4-H Treasurer Kathy Byrum, the volunteer who signs all approved checks for projects funded with United Way proceeds. ``I can't comprehend anybody trying to break down the whole system if they really love children.'' by CNB