Note: This site is for reviewing legacy plan of work data from 2007-2011. If you are looking for the current plan of work interface, visit pow.nmsu.edu.

Adult Volunteer Leader Development (Valencia County)

Plan Goal

This plan deals with volunteer leader trainings, organizational leaders, project training for leaders, recruitment efforts; anything related to ADULT volunteers.

Situation Statement

Adult volunteers in Valencia County provide a significant amount of direct contact with 4-H youth and are essential partners in the 4-H Youth Development Program for maintaining and expanding the New Mexico 4-H program. 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. Adult leaders need options of how and when to be involved, as their priorities regarding volunteer, personal and work commitments change over time. Volunteer leaders need orientation and education about the organizational structure of 4-H, 4-H delivery modes, affirmative action, youth protection, risk management, enrollment procedures, working with youth, leadership styles, leadership roles, 4-H projects, and local, state, national and international 4-H opportunities.

Target Audience and Actions

Adult Leaders in Valencia County who are 19 years of age by January 1 of the current 4-H year and not enrolled as a 4-H member; potential adult volunteer leaders; and senior 4-H members.
Actions:
• Begin University mandated screening process in October 2006 for adult 4-H leaders.
• Revise County 4-H Leader Handbooks annually or as needed.
• 4-H Agents serve as a resource to clubs for leader education, subject matter expertise, and general support.
• Facilitate and conduct planning of adult workshops at the county level annually.

Short-Term Objectives

• 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.
• 100% of new organizational club leaders will be offered an orientation and initial education lessons (can use 4-H web site lessons or the “Welcome To The World of 4-H” video), 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 4-H enrollment procedures and the communication linkage to county office and other 4-H volunteers, resulting in an involved 4-H club membership.
• Each year, 15% of adult 4-H volunteers will participate in at least one leader education program during the 4-H program year, resulting in increased volunteer satisfaction and knowledge gain.

Medium-Term Objectives

Long-Term Objectives

Evaluation Plan

Overall satisfaciton of leaders will be measured thorugh an annual survey.

Workshop evaluations will be utilized to measure knowledge gained, usefullness of information and quality of presentation.

Leader enrollment statistics.