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Adult 4-H Volunteer Leader Development (Chaves County)

Plan Goal

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

Situation Statement

Adult volunteers provide a significant amount of direct contact with 4-H youth and are essential partners in 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, youth protection, 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 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.
• Utilize the 4-H Policy and Procedures Handbook as needed.
• 4-H Specialists will be utilized as a resource to Chaves County for leader education, subject matter expertise, and general support.
• Utilize 4-H leader lessons from web site to support leader education from a distance.
• Utilize lesson plans and other resource materials distributed at 4-H In Service.
• Assist and support the planning of adult workshops at statewide youth events with the NM Leaders’ Association Executive Board.
• Assist and support the planning of 2010 Western Region 4-H Leaders’ Forum hosted in New Mexico.

Short-Term Objectives

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.

2. Each year, new organizational club leaders will be offered an orientation and initial education lessons, provided a copy of 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.

3. By September 30 of 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 as reported by agents.

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

Medium-Term Objectives

5. By spring of 2010, the Western Region 4-H Leaders’ Forum will be conducted in New Mexico. Chaves County will have representation at the Leader's Forum, with 4-H volunteers attending to gain information and to be workshop teachers.

6. By the 2010-2011 4-H program year, there will be a 3% increase from the 2007-2008 program year of 4-H volunteers recruited, screened, and enrolled statewide.

7. By the October 2010-2011 4-H program year, there will be a 3% increase in the retention rate of first year 4-H club leaders from the 2007-2008 program year.

8. By October 2010, there will be defined options for how volunteers can be involved in the 4-H program and at least 10 job descriptions developed to assist in this endeavor. At least 50% of the these defined options and job descriptions will be utilized by the 4-H agent to assist volunteers in carrying out their 4-H duties.

9. 4-H Specialists will serve as a resource to Chaves County, including instructing at 4-H leader education programs delivered at county, multiple county, district or state levels upon request.

10. Each year, the 4-H Agent will utilize materials developed by 4-H Specialists to support Chaves and other counties in leader education programs.

Long-Term Objectives

11.The addition of new 4-H projects or activities, outreach to under-served youth audiences, and the on-going development of unpaid and paid 4-H faculty/staff will be enhanced by the empowerment of volunteers.

12. New Mexico 4-H Leaders’ Forum will have representation from Chaves County.

13. New Mexico 4-H Leaders’ Association Executive Board will maintain its role in providing adult leader workshops at statewide events and upon request from counties. Chaves County will utilize that available information to increase volunteer leaders' knowledge of the 4-H program.

14. Each year, the 4-H Agent will utilize 4-H Specialists as a resource, including instructing at 4-H leader education programs delivered in Chaves County, multiple county, district or state level activities upon request.

15. Materials developed by 4-H Specialists will be utilized to support Chaves County in leader education programs.

16. Web based leader lessons will be updated and new resources added by the 4-H Specialists. Chaves County 4-H leaders will be made aware of the web-based leader lessons and encouraged to utilize them.

Evaluation Plan

1. Evaluations will be conducted at the county level by 4-H agent to measure knowledge gained, usefulness of information and quality of presentation after leader training or other volunteer activity.

2. 4-H advisory committee will be utilized to assist in the evaluation of the county 4-H program and specific educational programs.

3. Annual 4-H Enrollment: The ES-237 report will include statistics on adult volunteer leader enrollment and will be utilized to evaluate the success of volunteer leader education and support.