Class of 2015 4-H Hall of Fame Laureates. Dorothy Calimer is front row, third from right.
Dorothy (Dot) A. Calimer of Cologne, New Jersey was inducted into the National 4-H Hall of Fame on October 9 for her lifetime achievements and contributions to 4-H.
Honored by the New Jersey 4-H Youth Development Program, Calimer was one of 16 people inducted during the ceremony at the National 4-H Youth Conference Center in Chevy Chase, Maryland.
The National 4-H Hall of Fame honorees are nominated by their home states, National 4-H Council, the National Association of Extension 4-H Agents or 4-H National Headquarters/NIFA, USDA based upon their exceptional leadership at the local, state, national and international levels.
Honorees were presented with a National 4-H Hall of Fame medallion, plaque and memory book during the ceremony. The National 4-H Hall of Fame was established in 2002 as part of the Centennial Project of the NAE4-HA in partnership with National 4-H Council and National Institute of Food and Agriculture, USDA.
“We are proud to acknowledge the outstanding 2015 National 4-H Hall of Fame honorees for the passion, dedication, vision and leadership they’ve shown toward our young people during their many years of service to 4-H,” says Jeannette Rea Keywood, Rutgers Department of 4-H Youth Development and National 4-H Hall of Fame Committee Chair.
Left to right, Lisa Lauxman, director, Division of Youth and 4-H, Institute of Youth, Family and Community, NIFA, USDA; Kimberly Gressley, president, National Association of Extension 4-H Agents; Dorothy Calimer, Rutgers 4-H volunteer; and Jennifer Sirangelo, president and chief executive officer, National 4-H Council.
Dorothy Calimer is an 82-year-old, vibrant and ready-to-go senior who loves to volunteer her time to many organizations – something that has been instilled in her since a very early age by her parents, who were also volunteers. As a lifetime volunteer, Dorothy has had the opportunity to impact countless lives throughout the decades – from youth, to the middle-aged, to seniors, to the needy. She feels that being able to volunteer and meet people every day helps to keep her body and mind active. Earlier this year she was recognized by the New Jersey Association of 4-H Agents with the 4-H Volunteer of the Year Award for her significant contributions to the New Jersey 4-H program.
Dorothy has been a a 4-H volunteer for the 4-H Youth Development Program of Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Atlantic County for 52 years. She began as a dedicated club leader, teaching the youth members of her club how to sew, can, freeze and various other forms of the home economics projects. Even after her children aged out of the 4-H Program, Dot continued her service, joining the Atlantic County 4-H Fair Association. Dot serves on the Executive Committee where she was president for ten years – the first and only female president to this day. She was elected as secretary in 1990 and still holds that position. Dot is very involved in assisting with the set-up, management and take-down of the annual Atlantic County 4-H Fair. She works with the chicken barbeque during the fair and runs the fair secretary’s office. Dot also volunteers for the numerous events that the 4-H program holds throughout the year and serves on the Yearbook and Family and Consumer Science Committees.
Dorothy Calimer is a extremely dedicated volunteer who continually serves her community with a positive attitude.
For more information about the National 4-H Hall of Fame event and past recipients, visit www.nae4ha.com/hof
