Adult 4-H Volunteer Leader Development

1. Application & Enrollment
Fourteen new adult volunteer leaders completed the screening process and enrolled as leaders in Eddy County. Forty five adult volunteer leaders reenrolled for a total enrollment of 62 leaders in the county.

2. Volunteer Orientation/Special Interest Volunteers/School Enrichment Volunteers
An orientation was offered for three new adult volunteer leaders, increasing their knowledge and skills related to running effective meetings, organizing meetings, child development, communicating with parents, what 4-H offers, and other opportunities.

3. Newsletter
Every organizational club leader is sent a bi-monthly newsletter. The newsletter provides leader education, gives important dates and information, and assists leaders in better guiding youth of the county.

4. Education Program
Six adult volunteer leaders attended training on “How to Prevent Hum Drum Meetings." Leaders gained knowledge and skills related to communication, and leadership.

5. 4-H Agent
The 4-H Agent serves as a resource to volunteers in the county by providing instruction at the club and county level. This includes visits to clubs, county trainings, and bi-monthly leaders’ association meetings. Also, the 4-H Agent encourages participation at state level events, including the Forum for Adults.

Six 4-H enrolled screened leaders attend the 2010 State 4-H Shooting Sports Certification Training for Rifle and Archery. These 4-H leaders then came back the county and spent an average of 5 hours per week working with youth in addition to the other six 4-H Shooting Sports leaders Otero County has. It is through this training that our Shooting Sports project area is possible. These leaders assist in helping the 4-H members to develop positive relationships with adults, work on life skills and have a safe environment to learn marksmanship, 2nd amendment rights and citizenship.

For the 2009-2010 4-H Program Year over 76 4-H leaders were enrolled and screened in the Otero County 4-H Program. Of these 76 4-H leaders, 6 of these 4-H leaders are the organizational leaders and attended organizational leader meetings to assist in planning and preparing for their volunteer work in the Otero County 4-H Program. The 4-H Agent has also spent an average of ten hours per week answering leader 4-H questions about the 4-H program, recruiting and encouraging 4-H leaders. It is through the 4-H leaders that the Otero County Extension Service is able to reach more youth and affect more lives to make a difference in the future of Otero County. As one 4-H leader said, "4-H is a great avenue for me to work with youth. I am excited about the future of our county." Six volunteer leaders from Holloman AFB attended Western Regional Leaders Forum in March of 2010 and gained valuable training and information for the 4-H program at Holloman AFB.

Thrity two 4-H leaders and twenty two 4-H members attended a Leader's and 4-H members training night in February 2010 at the Otero County Extension Service Office. The 4-H members gained skills in team work and leadership while participating in a 4-H members training. The 4-H leaders and parents attended a traning put on by the NM 4-H State Specialists. One aspect of this training was for these adults to be able to share their ideas and suggestions to make 4-H better in Otero County. The other aspect of the training was focused on information provided by the State 4-H Specialists on Liability and Insurance at 4-H events, Project Meetings/Leaders, Record Keeping. These 4-H leaders commented that they felt these types of meetings are important to better the 4-H program and hear from the clientele. The 4-H leaders also said that they would like more trainings to allow for information to be explained to them. Over 96% of the adults in attendance felt they learned and planned to implement the information they received.

School Enrichment Volunteers
230 volunteers and school personnel were trained and utilized in conducting school enrichment programs to reach over 2200 youth.