2001 State 4-H Congress Service Project

The first statewide project for 4-H S.O.S. was the service learning project for Tennessee State 4-H Congress, April 8-11 in Nashville. Each year at Congress, delegates give back to the Nashville community by participating in a local service project. The focus of this year's project was literacy, in support of Governor Don Sundquist's reading initiative. As Governor Sundquist said in his 2001 State of the State address,

"Everyone in this state has a shared responsibility to make Tennessee a better place for our children and our grandchildren than it is for us today. . . .
Together, we must teach our children to read."

More than 135 Congress delegates, Extension staff, and adult leaders helped fulfill this goal by bringing over 525 books to Congress. These books were donated to the Metro Action Commission, which serves 1400 children and their families through Head Start centers and the M.A.C. Center's resource room.

Governor Sundquist and Congress Governor Melissa Daniels presented the books to Head Start director Gwendolyn Chambliss and one of the Head Start classes that will benefit from the books. The Head Start students said the Pledge of Allegiance and sang three songs to thank the delegates.

In his address to the delegates, Governor Sundquist commented, "In those boxes over there, it may look like books, but it's the hopes and the dreams for the future." Thanks to everyone who participated in this service learning project and helped to build those dreams for the future. A special "thank you" goes to the delegates who donated the most books. They are as follows:

Name	County	District	# of books
Laura May	Humphreys	Central	118
Daniel Cabage and Dennis McGhee	Union	Smoky Mountain	57
Melissa Daniels	Wayne	Central	25
Rachel Cox	Sumner	Central	17
Kami Cunningham	Sequatchie	Cumberland	15
Anastasia Waldron	Dyer	Western	10
Hannah Liggett	Marshall	Central	8
Rachel West	Franklin	Cumberland	8
Missy Lawrie	Grundy	Cumberland	7
Terra Harris	Moore	Central	7
Will Brown	Marshall	Central	7


Governor Don Sundquist presents books to Gwendolyn Chambliss, Director of Head Start for Metropolitian Nashville/Davidson County.	Students from one Head Start class sing a song in three different languages to thank delegates for their contribution to the future.

Click here to see more pictures from 2001 State 4-H Congress!

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