First-hand governing experience

Members of Chatham County's 4-H clubs participated last week in a mock Chatham County Board of Commissioners meeting. Prior to the exercise, Commissioner Clerk Lindsay Ray, Commissioner Karen Howard and Board Chairman Mike Dasher (left to right at front of room) spoke to the clubbers about local government and their respective roles. .4-H Program Assistant Liz Mauney called the experience a 'once-in-a-lifetime opportunity' for the youth. 'This opportunity will afford these youth experiences with governmental processes that will enable them to better engage with decision makers in their communities and allow them to have a voice in decisions and policy being implemented in the communities in which they live. Such experiences will help them to develop skillsets to become engaging leaders in their communities at school, home, church, and in the community at large.'