Adult Volunteer Leader Development

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 an organizational leaders training held in February.
Every organizational leader of a 4-H club within the county was asked to attend this day long training developed by the 4-H Ag agent and the 4-H Home Economist. The first portion of the training was dedicated to reviewing the current state and county policies and procedures for 4-H clubs. Also addressed in this portion was the new procedures for acquiring a club charter, using the 4-H name and emblem, and procedures for registering for an EIN number and reporting to the IRS.
The second portion of the training was used to address 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. Hands- on activities along with round table discussion were used to deliver the material.
100% of the organizational leaders received the information from the training. On a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being the highest, the average overall score given by the leaders for the training was a 9.3. In general the leaders all felt the training was very useful and agreed that an annual training similar in nature would be very well received.

46 new adult volunteer leaders completed the screening process and enrolled as leaders in Santa Fe County. There was a total enrollment of 199 leaders that have gone through the screening process in the county up to this point.

Volunteer training

One hundred and seventy (175) 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. • 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 and other training. • Over 30% 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 three volunteer leader trainings through out the year with over 30% of the register leaders 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. Our January meeting is one that we bring in a State Specialist and this year Linda Shultz presented a program on leader retention, awards recognition and conflict management. It was met with great reception and more information was asked for after this program. 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 4-H charters and EIN numbers for each club was the hot topic for training. The agent presented a presentation over the importance of receiving both of the above items to be considered a 4-H club in San Juan County. The agent relieved many leaders and walked all the clubs through the necessary paper work and all clubs did receive a charter and EIN number for their finances. The agent works with many volunteer leaders to make San Juan County 4-H program a success. Besides the thirty-five traditional club organizational leaders, the agent works with shooting sports leaders in the area of shotgun, archer, 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, rabbit leaders, and Citizenship Washington Focus 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

4 school teachers were trained and utilized in conducting school enrichment programs to reach 30 youth during six week summer school program.

9 parent volunteers attending the New Mexico Leader’s Forum in Albuquerque, NM attended a training on “Joining the Youth’s Communication Quest”. Parents and volunteers gained knowledge and understanding of the positives and negatives of personal online web pages as well as blogs and text chatting/messaging. 100% of participants reported an increase in knowledge regarding online web page safety and learning new ways of communicating with youth.