Letter To the Editor:

Dear Dodge County 4-H families, county commissioners, school personnel, businesses, community members, newspaper editors and friends.

It seems like only yesterday that I was sitting in the basement of the Wells Fargo Bank in Dodge Center interviewing for the position of the Dodge County 4-H Program Coordinator. I remember that I got teary eyed when they asked me why I wanted the position. I explained that 4-H had been an important part of my life and that in particular, my 4-H agent, Cindy Grass, had a huge impact on me because she believed in me, helped build my self-confidence and taught me life skills that I still use today and that I wanted to have the opportunity to be someone's "Cindy Grass."

With ongoing problems with seizures and being recently diagnosed with Lupus I cannot make a commitment to giving 100% to my job. So as you can imagine, it is with great sadness that I must tell you that it has been decided that it is in the best interest of the Dodge County 4-H Program that a permanent Program Coordinator be hired. I will remain on unpaid leave for the next two years in the hope that my health will become manageable. At which time, I can explore other opportunities at the University.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the youth, parents, adult leaders, businesses, fair board members, auction buyers, school personnel, community members, and county commissioners who have been a vital part of the growth and success of the 4-H program in Dodge County. It has been so rewarding to watch fourth graders I worked with graduate from high school, and to see some of the youth I have worked with go on to college to follow their dreams. Watching the youth who had struggled finding that one thing that they were really good at and once they found it watching the ripple effect that success had on everything they did was amazing. The support I received from the parents and adult leaders and the entire community was second to none and made it possible for me to do my job – without all of you - it would have been impossible. I wish nothing but the best for all of you. All of you were like an extended family to me. I hope that the new program coordinator will appreciate how lucky he or she is to be a part of such a great community.

My final thought is that I hope that in the nine years that I served in Dodge County, I touched the life of at least one youth, and was their "Cindy Grass" and helped them feel more confident, taught them life skills that they will use for the rest of their lives and gave them the feeling that someone in addition to their parents and teachers, believed in them.

Thanks again from the bottom of my heart!   
  
            Sincerely,
            Diane Whalen