Sheboygan County

4-H Special Interest (SPIN) Membership

What is a 4-H SPIN Member?

A 4-H SPIN Member is a 4-H member with a Special Interest in a specific project area. 4-H SPIN members must meet the minimum requirements of the countywide project (over six hours of educational programming, pay project dues, participate in project events, and complete all required service to the project). The selected countywide project appeals to a specific interest of the member and delivers content while also allowing young people the opportunity to make decisions and provide leadership within the project.

What is expected of a 4-H SPIN Member?

In addition to participating and completing all of the required countywide project experiences, 4-H SPIN Members must also:

Complete a 4-H Project Record Page and submit it to the Extension Staff before September 30th of the program year. Failure to complete this record will prohibit re-enrollment as a SPIN member.
Participate in a show, competition, demonstration or other event showcasing the content or skills learned throughout participation in the project. This may or may not be the Sheboygan County Fair.
4-H SPIN Membership costs $20 per member or $50 per family payable to the Sheboygan County 4-H Leaders Association. These funds will be allocated to the 4-H Leaders Association General Fund in lieu of countywide fundraising (i.e. Pizza Sale and Fair Foodstand). This fee is in addition to any specific project fees paid to the chartered project.
Agree to and follow all expectations and policies of the Sheboygan County 4-H Program.

How do I enroll as a 4-H SPIN Member?

In order to enroll as a 4-H SPIN Member you must follow the directions for member enrollment in 4-H Online. When you are asked to select your club you will select 4-H SPIN Membership. This will allow your 4-H Educator to communicate specifically to members of this type. You must also select the project that you are interested in participating in under the Project tab.

Additional Anticipated Questions about Special Interest (SPIN) Membership

What is SPIN Membership? SPIN members are members who have a Special Interest in a specific topic. Many youth and their families like the experience of being a part of 4-H, yet are unable to commit to a year-long 4-H club experience. This is especially true as youth become older and experience conflicts with sports, part-time jobs and school.

Can a SPIN member enroll in more than one SPIN project? Yes. For example they could participate as a Spin Member in the Horse and Pony and Cat Projects.

Can a SPIN member enroll in more than one project if one of those projects is not a SPIN project? Yes, all projects are now available as SPIN projects. However, requirements must be met for each project area. Participate in over six hours of educational programming, pay project dues, participate in project events, and complete all required service to the project.

How do SPIN members contribute to the costs of the program such as insurance? $20/member ($50/family) dues from SPIN members must be paid directly to the Sheboygan County 4-H Leaders Association in addition to any project dues that are collected directly from the project. SPIN members will be encouraged to contribute to the fundraising efforts of the 4-H Leaders Association.

Why don’t other counties offer this? This is a pilot program that Sheboygan County is offering to assess the strengths and limitations of broader implementation. There are, however, SPIN Clubs in other counties that offer membership experiences that focus on a special interest area.

Are SPIN Members eligible for 4-H Educational Experiences (Trips), scholarships, and other 4-H member benefits? Yes, 4-H SPIN Members are like other membership types in that they are eligible to apply for scholarships, funds to travel through 4-H, and participation in county-wide events and programs. They are recognized by the Division of Extension as members of our program.

Strengths of Special Interest (SPIN) Membership:

Draw people into 4-H who may not otherwise join.
Decreased time commitment compared to multi-project clubs.
Less overwhelming to start out in a complex 4-H Program.
Focused communication during the months that the project is active.

Strengths of the Multi-Project Community Club:

Stronger sense of community, members are typically geographically close
Offers a wide variety of ways to engage in the program
Year-long communication and information regarding the breadth of 4-H
Strong year-round communication and volunteer leadership provided