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Show 4-H YOUTHS 'SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES' Today's youth are a vocal group. They espouse many causes. Most have something worthwhile to say, and know how to address an audience in a persuasive manner. Among the "worthwhile"' group are 4-H Club members engaged in a public speaking activity or project. With the help of adults to coach and assist as-sist them in practiea sessions, these youngsters develop into knowledgeable, self - confident and poised individuals. The Cooperative Extension Service offers a 4-H Public Speaking Program to boys and girls from 9 to 19 years old. Not only are they coached in how to make a convincing speech, but also in how to research re-search the material. Competition Competi-tion among themselves through speaking contests tends to make them their own best critics, 4-H leaders point out, for they judge each other's performance. Final results of the county, state and national competition also bring material rewards provided by the program sponsor, spon-sor, Union 76 Division. Union Oil Company of California. The two top finalists in the nation, a boy and a girl, this year will each receive a $600 scholarship, plus an expense-paid expense-paid educational tiip to the 1969 National 4-H Congress in Chicago. At the local level, the most outstanding pair in the county will win a handsome f;old-filled public speaking medal. The state award is a S50 U. S. Swings Sw-ings Bond for the highest ranking girl and boy. During the last decada particularly. par-ticularly. 4-H'ers have learned how to talk into a radio microphone, micro-phone, before a television camera, cam-era, at a podium with a public address hook-up, and into tape recorders. The training has helped them in school, church, and community endeavors. Their records show that many have become student leaders, and have held offices in school. 4-H and other youth groups. Anyone interested in signing up as a 4-H member or as an adult volunteer leader for a public speaking group should contact the County Extension . office. |