Adult Volunteer Leader Development

For the 2010-2011 4-H program year San Miguel County had 22 new adult volunteer leaders complete the screening process and enrolled as leaders. There were 44 adult volunteer leaders that reenrolled for a total enrollment of 66 leaders/Volunteers in the county.

Volunteer Training

One hundred fifty five (155) 4-H volunteer adult leaders completed the application and screening form for processing before being enrolled as a New Mexico 4-H Leader in San Juan County. With over 525 4-H members enrolled in over 26 clubs, keeping volunteers leaders trained is directly related to the success of the San Juan County 4-H program.

• 100% of new organizational club leaders were offered an orientation and initial education lessons.
• Provided new and experienced 4-H leaders with new project curriculum, contest, opportunity, and other training.
• Over 25% of adult 4-H volunteers participated in at least one leader education program during the 4-H program year.
• 4-H Specialists served as a resource to the county by instructing at 4-H leader education programs.
• Provided each new 4-H leader/volunteer with new project curriculum, contest, and other training.

San Juan County offered four volunteer leader trainings through out the year with over 75% of the active clubs attending at least one of the trainings. The October meeting is held to distribute new enrollments as well as other information that is needed to have successful leaders and clubs. This is our basic 4-H leadership 101 course which is met with lots of questions and answers to start the 4-H year off right. Twenty-six leaders attended this meeting with the majority being less experienced 4-H leaders. Our January meeting is one that we bring in a State Specialist and this year Linda Schultz presented a program on the eight essential elements for 4-H. She answered many questions relating to teaching at the local club level. With over thirty volunteer leaders attending, turnout was great and many ideas were exchanged among leaders. Our April meeting is one to make sure all forms and requirements are met before the April 15 deadline and to assist the leaders in any matter seemed relevant. This year we discussed the needs of the leaders as well as the members to assist the agents in the direction of the county program. A follow-up of Linda Shultz’s presentation was discussed. 4-H charters and EIN numbers for each club was still reinforced for the training as well as fundraising activities and money management. This training had over twenty leaders present, they were leaders that had not been to training for the year and they gained knowledge about the 4-H program. In July we held our meeting in conjunction with a County Council meeting and went over all the requirements for the 4-H indoor projects. We discussed posters, pictures, baking, pie & cake scholarship, and other information pertinent to the success of the members and the count fair indoor competition.
The agent works with many volunteer leaders to make San Juan County 4-H program a success. Besides the thirty-two traditional club organizational leaders, the agent works with shooting sports leaders in the area of shotgun, archery, pellet, and .22 rifle. The agent provides current information to these leaders and schedules meeting and practice times. The agent works closely with rodeo leaders, sportfishing leaders, horse leaders, and rabbit leaders. The agent assists and provides training as well as scheduling needs. Keeping a fresh group of leaders is beneficial to the program and the youth of San Juan County

Short Term Objectives
Objective #1:
Each year, potential new 4-H volunteer adult leaders will complete the application and screening form for processing before being enrolled as a New Mexico 4-H Leader.
Accomplishments
Over 555 new adult volunteers successfully completed the screening process and 445 of them enrolled as leaders in 25 counties. 1610 adult volunteer leaders re-enrolled as 4-H Club Leaders for a total of 2,055 enrolled adult volunteer leaders.

Objective #2
By April of each year, 100% of new organizational club leaders will be offered an orientation and initial education lessons, provided a copy or the web link to the “4-H Policies and Procedures Handbook”, provided a copy of the “Club Leaders
Handbook”, and will understand the 4-H enrollment procedures and the communication linkage to county office and other 4-H volunteers, resulting in an involved 4-H club membership.
Accomplishments
• Seven counties (21%) conducted an orientation or an organizational leader training for volunteer leaders, increasing knowledge and skills related to organizing meetings, project planning, child development, reporting child abuse, 4-H opportunities, training opportunities, etc.

Objective #3
By September 15 of each year, 100% of new special interest and school enrichment key group leaders will be offered an orientation about their role, responsibilities and enrollment procedures, resulting in youth actively learning and having fun.
Accomplishments
• 24 counties (73%) trained and utilized volunteers in conducting special interest programs to reach over 19,861 youth.
• 25 counties (76%) trained and utilized volunteers and school personnel in conducting school enrichment programs to reach over 31,991 youth.

Objective #4
By September 30 of each year, 15% of adult 4-H volunteers will participate in at least one education program during the 4-H program year, resulting in increased volunteer satisfaction and knowledge gain as reported by agents.
Accomplishments
• 17 counties (52%) reported that leader education was provided to club and project leaders. Volunteers gained knowledge and skills related to positive youth development, new projects, meeting procedures including parliamentary procedure, record keeping, communication, leadership, youth activities, volunteer roles, active teaching methods, project specific topics, special interest and school enrichment programs, enrollment and ownership deadlines, insurance and liability issues, policy and procedures, and EIN.
• 78 new shooting sports leaders attended the statewide shooting sports training receiving education in one of three shooting sports disciplines.
• 81 adult volunteer leaders attended the NM 4-H Livestock School gaining knowledge and skills related to animal science, showmanship, grooming/fitting, animal nutrition, animal first aid and ethics.
• 35 adults participated in a Judging Clinic focusing on Livestock, Horse and Wool judging skills.
• 12 adult volunteer leaders participated in the 2010 New Mexico 4-H Home Economics School gaining knowledge and skills related to cultural education, record keeping, project planning, service learning and 4-H opportunities.
• 17 counties (52%) had 4-H leaders who participated in the statewide NM 4-H Adult Forum held in November. This was a one-day educational event in 2010 due to hosting the WRLF 2010 in March. It offered 18 workshops, educational displays, a community service project, make & take activities, silent auction, special presentations and time for networking. Leaders gained knowledge and skills related to community service, quilting, technology, learning & behavior styles, involving new parents, servant leadership, risk management, shooting sports, rocketry, hippology, substance abuse prevention, arts & crafts, upcycling, cloverbuds, and leadership.
• 297 participants from 13 states, American Samoa and Alberta, Canada convened in Albuquerque, NM in March 2010 for the Western Regional 4-H Leaders’ Forum. Of the total participant number, 121 were New Mexico volunteer leaders and 4-H personnel from 26 New Mexico counties. WRLF provided 72 workshops, a share fair opening event, educational displays, community service project, make and take activities, special presentations/speakers and opportunities for informal networking with peers.
• 90% of counties utilize electronic and hard-copy newsletters to provide education for adult leaders.
• 2,114 adult volunteers received training.
• 5,397 adults volunteered time and efforts to the New Mexico 4-H Youth Development Program.

Objective#5
4-H Specialists will serve as a resource to counties, including instructing at 4-H leader education programs delivered at county, multiple county or district levels upon request.

Accomplishments
• Specialists conducted trainings in 6 counties (18%) in 2009-2010. Topics included:

Teaching Methods Effective Club Meetings
4-H Indoor Exhibits Program Review & Strengthening 4-H
Delegation County Expo Development
Essential Elements of Positive Youth Development

Over 585 volunteer leaders, representing 28% of all enrolled leaders across the State of New Mexico, have gained knowledge and skills related to involving and working with volunteers, having effective club meetings, positive youth development, projects, exhibits, leadership roles, delegation, teaching methods, strengthening programs, shooting sports, contest training, record books, working in special interest and school enrichment delivery modes and new leader orientation topics.

There are 201 4-H adult volunteer leaders that have completed the application and screening process before being enrolled as a New Mexico 4-H Leader in San Juan County. With just over 600 4-H members enrolled, recruiting and maintaining volunteer leaders is directly related to the success of the San Juan County 4-H Program.
One hundred percent of new organizational club leaders were offered an orientation and initial education lesson. 50% of 4-H adult volunteers participated in a least one leader education program during the 4-H year.
Twenty two leaders attended the October Leaders’ Meeting. At the leaders meeting the agent was responsible for distributing new enrollments, club certifications, yearly calendars and insurance information as well as other necessary information needed for a successful 4-H year.
Seven leaders attended the January Leaders’ Meeting. Frank Hodnett, State 4-H Director, was invited to present “IRS and EIN’s”. The program was very well received.
Fifteen leaders attended the April Leaders’ Meeting. The agent was responsible for providing information for the April 15th 4-H deadline and making sure leaders’ knew what was due and that they received the correct forms.
Throughout the 4-H year the agent provides any information requested or desired by the adult volunteer leaders. The agent also works closely with the leaders to schedule practices and secure facilities for numerous 4-H activities. Keeping the adult volunteer leaders satisfied and involved is key to the sustainability of the San Juan County 4-H Program.

Santa Fe County has a very strong base of 4-H leaders. The agents provide continual support to these leaders on a daily basis. This year one of the programs offered for 4-H members was the 3rd annual organizational leaders training held in February.
In response to the extremely positive feedback from the first two years of training, organizational leaders from each 4-H club within the county were asked to attend this day long training developed by the 4-H Ag agent and the 4-H Home Economist. A portion of the training was dedicated to reviewing the current state and county policies and procedures for 4-H clubs. Addressed in this portion was reviewing club charters, using the 4-H name and emblem, and procedures for registering for an EIN number and reporting to the IRS.
Another portion of the training was dedicated to addressing the issues that many organizational leaders have within their clubs. Some of the topics discussed included learning how to identify leaders within your club, recognizing and prioritizing needs, delegating responsibility, and utilizing outside resources. These topics were discussed in an open forum allowing leaders to share ideas and concerns.
This year’s training also focused on developing a complaint free environment for our clubs. The agent modified a national curriculum teaching the leaders from Santa Fe county how they can identify the complainers, and turn the environment in their club into a more positive one.
Also covered in the training this year was the topic of service within our project work. The agent began to notice that the service component was being separated from the project work more often than not. The agents facilitated an exercise in which leaders were asked to identify ways that we can incorporate service as it relates to the subject matter work of member’s projects.
15 leaders attended this training.