814-Lancaster Firming, Saturday, May 7, 1994
Teens Learn To
GAIL STROCK
Mifflin Co. Correspondent
REEDSVILLE (Mifflin Co.)
This is the time of year high
school seniors look forward to
graduation. But 39 teens and five
adults from Perry, Juniata, and
Mifflin Counties participated in a
graduation of different sorts on
Thursday, April 14, at the Came
lot Restaurant near Reedsville.
They were graduates of the Dale
Carnegie course offered to FFA
and 4-H Junior Leaders through
the Cooperative Extension Ser
vice. The Dale Carnegie Program,
one of this nation’s leading com
munication workshops, teaches
communication skills and helps
participants devleop confidence,
express themselves clearly, main
tain poise under pressure and
motivate themselves and others.
“Through a cooperative
arrangement with the Dale Carne
gie Program, Pennsylvania
4-H’ers have a unique chance to
get experience and confidence in
public speaking,” says Dr. Robert
Lewis, professor of 4-H and youth
development in Penn State’s Col
lege of Agricultural Sciences.
“The Dale Carnegie Course is
offered through 4-H in different
regions of Pennsylvania several
times each year.”
“It’s a good leadership prog
ram,” says Jim Ladlee, multi
county Youth Development Agent
stationed in Lewistown.
Ladlee brought the program
opportunity to the tri-county area
through a PA Department of
Agriuclture Grant- the Agricultur
al and Rural Youth Organization
Grant. This grant was issued to
Juniata County with the under
standing that all three counties be
given the opportunity to
participate.
And an opportunity it was. Dale
Carnegie courses usually cost
almost $l,OOO. But with the
$2,500 grant, each student needed
to pay only $2O. More than 350
Pennsylvania youths have com
pleted the course during the past
five years. Dale Carnegie instruc
tor and Mifflin Countian Audrey
Bobbie Burdge of Mifflin accepted the highest award for
achievement at the Dale Carnegie graduation.
Gay Rodgers conducted the
12-week course with s pot instruc
tional appearances by her father
John Reed Rodgers.
At graduation, certificates of
recognition went to six/Dale Car
negie graduate assistants who
helped conduct the course. They
were Richard Baxter from Lewis
town, Candy Ciecierski from
Lewistown, Erin Goss from Lew
istown, Jim Ladlee from Lewis
town, Amy Laughlin from
McClure, and Kelly Spokus from
Lewistown.
“The graduate assistants have
been through .the course before.
Most have been elected by class
members. They give demo’s each
week of what is expected that
week, do the bookkeeping, and
time the speeches,” says instructor
Audrey Gay Rodgers.
Book awards went to Sonya
Ryan of McCalisterville, Mark
Fogleman of Mifflintown, and
Michelle Burdge of Mifflin, for
presenting the most effective talk
that evening. Bobbi Burdge of
Mifflin received the highest award
for achievement.
The students not only learned
valuable motivational and leader
ship skills, but also set self
improvement goals. They were
also told how to apply for obtain
ing three college communication
credits for taking the course.
Here’s some of what the students
had to say in their last session
three-minute presentation.
Richard: My goal was to con
quer worry, stress and fear. This
was helpful when choosing a col
lege. I learned that it’s not healthy
to worry.
Warren: My goal is to look for
the good in others. There’s some
thing very special in each person.
It is easy to stereotype someone
before giving people a chance. My
goal is to stop and take a first, sec
ond, third, and even fourth look to
find something special in
everyone.
Sonya: I learned it’s o.k. to
change, even though it can be
hard. I benefited from my personal
change and know that my family
Develop Positive Attitude
Sonya Ryan of McAlistervllle (left), Mark Fogleman of Miffllntown (center), and
Michelle Burdge (right) of Mifflin, accepted Book Awards for presenting the most
effectives talks that evening.
is very important to me and I’m
glad Dad is here. My goal is to
count each one as special.
Sharon; My goal is always to
have a smile on my face. 1 am
encouraged to go out and be
friendly. I urge others to smile and
be friendly. You meet interesting
people that way.
Chris: I learned we need to rec
ognize strengths in each other.
You can always find at least one
good thing in each person. It
changes a person’s life to hear the
good things. We need to commu
nicate this effectively to all.
Charlotte: I’ve learned confi
dence. Now I can conduct meet
ings and I have improved socially.
Now I look forward to doing
activities I have planned for
myself. My goal is to excel
socially.
Megan: 1 teamed to give more
compliments and to become a
friendlier person. Now I notice the
good things about people.
Megan: My goal was to stop
complaining. Now I’m getting
better grades in school because I
do my homework without com
plaining. It has helped me with
speaking in front of a group.
Jim: My goal was to stop wor
rying, which was hard because the
first five Dale Carnegie classes
were cancelled because of snow!
But we pushed on and I’m seeing
a lot of future leaders in this class.
My personal goal is to spend more
time with my family.
Mark: I don’t like dealing with
academic disappointment. I’ve
learned to try to deal with disap
pointments by looking at the
bright side. I’ve learned we can do
a lot with our attitudes.
Nathan; My goal is to begin
what I do in a friendly manner and
to encourage everyone I meet. If
you begin in a friendly manner, it
makes others feel important.
Joan; My goal in the beginning
of the class was to work on com
First Step To Sound Money System
UNIVERSITY PARK, (Centre
Co.) If you’re having difficulty
making it from one payday to the
next, it’s time to start keeping
careful spending records, advises
Dr. Marilyn Furry, assistant pro
fessor of agricultural and exten
sion education in Penn State’s
College of Agricultural Sciences.
‘The first step in developing a
budget is finding out just where
the money goes each week,” Furry
says. “Have family members carry
a small notebook and jot down all
munication and listening skills. I
have learned to focus on who is
speaking. Everyone will get more
out of it if more people listen.
Erin; My goal at the beginning
of the class was to become more
enthusiastic about schoolwork.
My goal is to keep my grades up.
Rachel: My goal is to try and
not compare myself with others.
My goals are with my family, to
not criticize or complain.
Scott: This course has helped
out a lot with speaking in front of
people. It has given me more con
fidence. It’s easier to talk to
people.
Michele: I found if you have
more confidence in yourself, you
can go far in whatever you choose.
Erica; My goal was to speak
better in front of a group. It’s a lot
easier now. I’m going to encour
age others to be leaders and to lis
ten to others.
Robert: This has helped me
with speaking in front of class. I
now like new challenges because
of this course. I would encourage
others to not be afraid to take on
challenges.
Candice: I’ve learned that if I
get mad, step back and take a deep
breath, don’t just walk away. I’ve
learned to know when to say when
when you talk.
Marcia: I’ve become more out
spoken. I encourage other to be
more vocal.
Beth Ann: This has helped me
in talking in front of anyone. My
presentation in front of English
class had a good outcome.
Ryan: I’ve learned to give as
many compliments to as many
people as possible. This course
will help me in college.
Amy: I’ve learned to concen
trate on what I’m doing and not to
worry about what’s coming up.
Danielle; My goal is to smile
during everyday, ordinary things.
Everything will be better then.
expenditures. It’s important to list
even small items, such as parking
fees, snacks and one-item stops at
drug and grocery stores. These are
easy to overlook, but they add up
quickly."
Organize everyone’s spending
records into categories such as
food, transportation, mortgage or
rent, utilities, clothing, gifts, char
ities, medical care and recreation.
“Keep recording these expenses
for at least a month,” Furry says.
“With this information, the family
can play ways to increase purchas
Judy: This has helped me with
human relations principles. I am
able to listen more effectively.
Gay: I encourage everyone to
get involved with others, especial
ly kids. I’ve rediscovered the
fountain of youth with my new job
at a youth camp.
Rachel: I’ve learned not to
complain. I’ve learned to voice
my ideas while not criticizing the
other person.
Kelly; My ideas now are spo
ken more clearly. I’ve learned to
listen to what others say.
Amy: I’ve learned to be more
enthusiastic.
Josh; This has built up my con
fidence. I’ve learned if I put my
mind to it, anything-can happen.
Bobbi: I’ve learned that if you
always think positive, you will
most likely succeed. Don’t be
afraid to speak out and be heard.
Mark; My goal is to take control
of my life, make new friends, and
don’t be shy about things.
Jackie: Now I have; no problem
getting up in front of people.
Kelly: I’ve learned that if you
are enthusiastic about what you
do, you’ll like what you do, and it
will have a good outcome.
Amy: My goals were to get up
in front of people without getting
nervous. I’ve learned to be open to
new challenges.
Melissa: This class has
improved my self confidence and
lowered my self-consciousness.
People will think more of you if
you speak your ideas.
Heidi: I wanted to build up my
self confidence. If you smile and
put on a cheerful attitude, people
will be more friendly.
Diane: I learned how to control
stress and worry. You can decide
how much anxiety a subject is
worth and don’t give it any more.
Anita: I’ve learned human rela
tions principles, to stand tall and
hold your head up high.
ing power and save money. It also
will help to decide on allowances
for everyone.”
Every family member should
take part in budgeting. “Hold reg
ular discussions about needs and
goals whether it’s a new bike,
next year’s vacation or paying
income taxes,” says Furry.
“Young children don’t need to
know every detail of the budget,
but it’s important that they’re
included and their thoughts and
questions heard.