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Impact Report

For plan Adult 4-H Volunteer Leader Development (Valencia County)
Date November 1, 2011, 6:23 pm
For Objective Short-term Show short-term objectives
Impact Report Adult volunteers are essential to the success of the 4-H Youth Development program in Valencia County. These leaders provide their knowledge and guidance to youth and aid in the development of the important life skills 4-H promotes. These leaders also provide support and guidance to the 4-H Agent. 4-H volunteer leaders must be recruited, screened, selected, oriented, trained, supervised, evaluated and recognized for a sustaining volunteer program. Increased retention of volunteers is a challenge. Each year, potential new 4-H volunteer adult leaders complete the application and screening form for processing before being enrolled as a New Mexico 4-H Leader. New organizational club leaders are be offered an orientation, provided a copy of the “4-H Policies and Procedures Handbook” and the “Club Leaders’ Handbook”, information on the 4-H enrollment procedures for Valencia County, and the communication linkage to Valencia County Cooperative Extension Office and other 4-H volunteers. Adult 4-H volunteers are offered least one leader education program during the 4-H program year, as well as the opportunity to attend the annual New Mexico 4-H Forum for Adults. Enrollment: Eighteen adult volunteer leaders were recruited, completed the screening process and enrolled as new county leaders. Additionally, 71 adult volunteer leaders reenrolled in the program. Total enrollment for the current year was 89 adult volunteer leaders. The Agent is responsible for overseeing the entire program, its membership and volunteers. Recruitment Efforts: The Agent presented a New Parent Orientation for all first year parents. This orientation is held in conjunction with the first County-wide Welcome to NM 4-H Project meeting which all first year 4-H’ers must take. Adult participants received information on the Cooperative Extension Service, office staff, the leader enrollment process, opportunities for youth and adults, and information on helping their children make it through the first year of 4-H. One seasoned 4-H parent attended the orientation to provide their insight into the program. 22 new parents attended the training and 5 (22%) of those enrolled as leaders in the county. The Agent contributes articles and information about the 4-H program to the bi-monthly Valencia County e-Newsletter. The agent uses this avenue to inform and recruit potential new volunteers to the program. This newsletter is distributed to a minimum of 250 Valencia County residents. Leader Trainings: Project Leader Training: The Agent presented one project leader training to new and returning project leaders in the county. 13 adult volunteer leaders attended the training. Participants in the training learned about their roles and responsibilities as a project leader which included signing up as the leader, getting started, how to hold project meetings, teaching techniques and activities to incorporate into the meetings, and ways to secure information and resources for projects, as well as information on getting the 4-H’ers motivated. The Agent created a booklet of the information presented for the attendees. The leaders that attended the training liked the information that was presented and felt the booklet was a useful guide for them to use in their meetings. One project leader attended this training for the third year in a row and expressed how she has learned something new every year from the trainings. Club Organizational Leader Training: The Agent hosted two Club Organizational Leader Trainings at the County Extension Office. Sixteen current Club Leaders attended one of the two trainings where they received information on Effective 4-H Clubs, Roles of Club Leaders, Running Successful Clubs/Meetings, Planning Meeting Agendas, Tips for Effective Meetings, 4-H Policies and Procedures, New Fundraising Policies and Club Financial Management. Leaders who attended this training said it helped them better understand “the importance of meeting deadlines” and “the importance of passing down information from the Extension Office.” County Club Reviews: The Agent is responsible for making sure all 4-H Clubs are in compliance with 4-H Policies and Procedures and the Valencia County 4-H Council Bylaws. County Club Reviews were conducted by the Agent with all of the Organizational Club Leaders in Valencia County to evaluate the progress of their club over the previous 4-H year. This evaluation is used to help Club Leaders discuss issues the club may have and explore ways to improve communication, youth and parent involvement, and member retention. The Agent prepared and presented a guide for leaders to increase understanding and knowledge of expectations and deadlines for the year. The Agent also handed out and went over the current “4-H Policies and Procedures” manual.