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 4-H Volunteer Leader Development (Otero County)

Plan Goal

This plan deals with volunteer leader trainings, organizational leaders, project training for leaders, recruitment efforts, NM 4-H Forum for Adults; anything related to ADULT volunteers.

Situation Statement

New Mexico 4-H Leaders volunteer for an average of 8 years and their service results in a $6 million dollar impact of time spent with NM 4-H according to research done by Seevers, Hutchins, and VanLeeuwen et al. 2000. Adult volunteers 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 and want orientation and education about the organizational structure of 4-H, 4-H delivery modes, affirmative action, youth protection, risk management, enrollment procedures, youth protection and working with youth, leadership styles, leadership roles, 4-H projects, and local, state, national and international 4-H opportunities.

Target Audience and Actions

Audience:
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; senior 4-H members; and 4-H agents and paraprofessionals.
Actions:
• Conduct University mandated screening process for adult 4-H leaders.
• Review 4-H Policy and Procedures Handbook as needed and distribute updated copies to Organizational, Project Leaders
• 4-H Agent serves as a resource for leader education, subject matter expertise, and general support.

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.
• By April of each year, 100% of new organizational club leaders will be offered a New 4-H Leader Orientation Workshop. They will be provided links to NM 4-H website resources, provided a copy of or the web link to the “4-H Policies and Procedures 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.

• By September 15 of each year, 100% of new special interest and school enrichment key group leaders will be offered an orientation about their role, responsibilities and enrollment procedures, resulting in youth actively learning and having fun.

• 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.

• Each year, 4-H Agent will serve as a resource to County 4-H leaders with education programs presented in Otero County.

Medium-Term Objectives

• By the 2010-2011 4-H program year, there will be a 3% increase from the 2008-2009 program year of 4-H volunteers recruited, screened, and enrolled in Otero County.
• By the October 2010-2011 4-H program year, there will be a 3% increase in the retention rate of first 4-H club leaders from the 2008-2009 program year.
• Each year, the 4-H Agent will serve as a resource to 4-H leaders with educational programs delivered in Otero County through coordination with the State 4-H Office.

Long-Term Objectives

• By 2011, 30% of all Otero County volunteer leaders will have participated in some type of educational program that encourages participation and provides positive learning situations.
• By 2011, Otero County will have leader representation at the New Mexico’s 4-H Forum for Adults.
• By 2011, Otero County 4-H will have a 5% increase in project leaders.

Evaluation Plan

Evaluations conducted at county level at New Leader Orientation Meeting, Special Interest Leader Training, Project Training and any other informational Leader workshop by 4-H Agent to measure knowledge gained, usefulness of information and quality of presentation.