Certification Plan Workshop

1. Certification Plan Workshop May 7, 2014 Version 1.1

2. What We Will Cover • Mentor Program Overview • Certification Stories • Behavioral Styles • Volunteer Opportunities • Certification Planning • Volunteer Sign-up today

3. Purpose of Mentor Program • To support and assist Associate Master Gardeners as you acquire your certification hours and become part of the MG community. • Your mentor is not your garden guru – his/her support is primarily to help you get the information you need.

6. Responsibilities Mentor • Maintain contact (phone call, email, card) with mentee through the first year of the certification process • Be available to mentee for questions and guidance • Encourage mentee to attend monthly MGA meetings and if possible, carpool with the mentee • Participate in mentee’s recognition of certification when awarded at MGA meeting Mentee • Attend the Certification Plan Workshop • Communicate with your mentor during the certification year

7. Certification Stories 50 hours in 13 months? Easy shmeasy!!!!

8. Why Behavioral Styles? • Know your style • Helps you select volunteer work you will enjoy • Know others’ styles • Promotes teamwork It’s not about the hours

9. CONTROLLING ANALYZING PROMOTING SUPPORTING

10. CONTROLLING Characteristics Take Charge Decisive Results Focused Tend to ask “what” Like to win Like to have the last say Potential Liabilities: Impatient, Insensitive, Autocratic ANALYZING Characteristics Thorough Organized Good Planner Tend to ask “how” Make lists Implementers Potential Liabilities: Indecisive, Too Detailed, Risk Adverse • PROMOTING • Characteristics • Stimulating • Inspirational • Idea Generator • Tend to ask “who” • Dislike boring explanations • Potential Liabilities: Impulsive, Poor Follow-through, Poor Planning • SUPPORTING • Characteristics • Team Player • Consensus Builder • Relationship-oriented • Tend to ask “why” • Like positive attention • Potential Liabilities: Too Agreeable, Avoids Conflict, Not Demanding Enough

11. CONTROLLING Mentee – May want to find own projects Mentor – Overbearing or will want more involvement ANALYZING Mentee – May want plan w/ dates; stress if not getting hours Mentor – Could take too long to help mentee make decision PROMOTING Mentee – Lots of ideas with trouble following through Mentor – May find it difficult to follow-up w/ mentee SUPPORTING Mentee – May be in it for personal contact; may want more interaction Mentor – May be more concerned w/ how mentee feels than if they are finding activities

12. When Working With … CONTROLLER Let them be in charge of something Allow freedom to do things their own way ANALYZER Provide them with info Provide some structure PROMOTER Get excited with them – show some emotion Inspire them to bigger & better accomplishments SUPPORTER Be supportive & show you care Give them specific plans & activities to be accomplished

13. Which Style? • Farmers Market information table • Arrange materials • Greet visitors • Look-up answers to questions • Tally interactions • Packing up • Chair (coordinate)

14. Which Style? • Monsoon Madness Plant and Yard Sale • Entrance greeter w/ clicker (attendance counter) • Help customers with plant selections

15. Key Points • All styles are good; takes all styles to make a dynamic team • Most people are not at extreme end of any one style; most will step out of default style when needed, but with extra effort • Any style can be a great leader • Any style can follow and be a good team member What style are you?

16. How you will know about volunteer opportunities - • Check e-mail for announcements • Mentor can provide input on opportunities that may interest you • Volunteer Projects Status Log e-mailed with MGA meeting reminder • Can sign-up at MGA meetings (black binder) • Recent handout of projects (one-time for today’s sign-up) • Create your own project • Discuss w/ mentor • Notify Jeff / Mary • May be asked to submit application • Monthly MGA meetings provide volunteer & continuing education hours

17. Personal Projects • “Project” Definition A “project” is defined as a work effort that: • is a coordinated community, Master Gardener, or Cooperative Extension event and • is educational for the public and/or Master Gardeners or supports Cooperative Extension purposes/goals • Where to find new project ideas: • Schools • Your neighborhood • Community • Non-profits • Garden clubs • Other

18. Volunteer Opportunities • See Project Status Log • Today’s sign-up • Farmers Mkt info tables in Sedona, Camp Verde, Prescott • Extension Office Helpdesk – office tour / training • Speakers Bureau – give talks • Arizona Highlands Garden Conference (Oct) • Watch for e-mail for Monsoon Madness

19. Chairing a Project • Chair Training • Process for getting volunteers • How/when to communicate with them • Task lists available for repeatable projects • Questions?????

20. Next Steps • Mentors & Mentees • Take a few minutes to discuss styles and communication going forward • Identify volunteer work that mentee will LOVE • Fill out Certification Plan • Post your name on the styles sheet on wall • Sign-up for some volunteer opportunities today • Continue communication over the next months to find volunteer activities that fit your style • Have fun!!!!

21. Current or upcoming volunteer opportunities I’m interested in: Project Date _________________________________________ _______________ _________________________________________ _______________ _________________________________________ _______________ If you fail to plan, you plan to fail. Master Gardener Certification Plan Hours June MGA Meeting _____ __________________________________________ _____ July __________________________________________ _____ __________________________________________ _____ August MGA Meeting _____ __________________________________________ _____