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Adult Volunteer Leader Development (Luna County)

Plan Goal

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

Situation Statement
Adult volunteers 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, youth protection, working with youth, leadership styles, leadership roles, 4-H projects, and local, state, national and international 4-H opportunities.
Presently, Luna County’s 4-H program is in a transitional stage. January 2, 2008 was my starting date as a 4-H agent for the county. I have spent time learning and observing. The agents’ positions were vacant for an extended period of time, creating an environment void of leadership, education and support for the adult volunteers. There is no advisory board established within the county. We have four clubs in Deming and none in the Columbus area. Currrently, no schools utilize any 4-H enrichment programs. FFA teachers at the middle school level have expressed the desire for 4-H involvement at the elementary level, yet the response from the elementary schools is often that teachers already have too much to do or there is no time to add anything else to the after school program. I believe that pressure to improve academically in the school system is partially accountable for creating the present climate and attitude toward anything that resembles added curriculum for teachers. The lack of education, bonding and recruiting efforts with the community from the local 4-H program is also responsible. Engaging in activities to inform the public and the 4-H adult volunteers will advance the notion that 4-H can enrich the lives of our youth and will increase involvement of adults in this pursuit.

Target Audience and Actions

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 including senior citizens senior 4-H members -4-H agents and paraprofessionals.

Actions:

-Utilize 4-H Policy and Procedures Handbook as needed to educate adult leaders.
-As a 4-H agent, serve as a resource of subject matter expertise, and general support.
or local groups , individuals and agencies, -Offer Leadership training for volunteers and provide resource materials as needed.
-Encourage involvement in state leader forums and other training opportunities
-Continuing my education and training as an agent in order to remain informed and to implement programs in a professional and accurate
manner. -Recruit new volunteers through community agencies, such as senior citizens groups and community coalition groups.
-Educate schools about the value of 4-H in their educational program through advisory board meetings, approaching afterschool program coordinators and the curriculum coordinator for the school system. -Participate in community festivals and school programs to inform and recruit possible leaders -Make the public aware of 4-H and its’ volunteer opportunities through public service announcements and articles in the local media.

Short-Term Objectives

Short-Term Objectives
1. Organize an adult leader training/inservice program and support system for existing volunteers 2. Recruit and educate volunteers in Columbus 3. Inform key community agencies and leaders about the value of 4-H and to recruit new volunteers 4. Encourage present volunteers to attend state 4-H Leader’s Forum and any other educational programs that may occur.
5. Partake in educational programs for agents including forum, inservice trainings and Centra. 6. Have a 4-H advisory board completed

Medium-Term Objectives

Medium-Term Objectives
1. Provide between 2 and 4 training or support meetings for adult leaders in 2009
2. Recruit and train Columbus volunteers for a program to begin in 2009
4. Retain present volunteers and increase their involvement
5. Facilitate at least one 4-H advisory board meeting in 2009.
6. Assist schools in recruiting volunteers for the school enrichment program
7. Utilize materials provided by the state to support our county in leader education programs. 8.Continue personal education and training through programs offered at state level.

Long-Term Objectives

Evaluation Plan