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Empowering Volunteers to Lead Extension Educational Programs

Empowering Volunteers to Lead Extension Educational Programs. Improving Lives. Improving Texas. Volunteer-led Extension Programs. Create Greater Impact in Communities Add Credibility to Extension Programs. Benefits of Volunteer-led Programs. Greater Impact in Communities

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Empowering Volunteers to Lead Extension Educational Programs

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  1. Empowering Volunteers to Lead Extension Educational Programs Improving Lives. Improving Texas.

  2. Volunteer-led Extension Programs • Create Greater Impact in Communities • Add Credibility to Extension Programs

  3. Benefits of Volunteer-led Programs • Greater Impact in Communities • Volunteers extend Extension’s sphere of influence in the community • Volunteers have time to focus on a specific problem and then address target audience

  4. Benefits of Volunteer-led Programs • Credibility • Private citizens who choose to work with Extension; unsalaried • Volunteers are objective Source: From the Top Down, Susan J. Ellis

  5. Volunteers Leading Extension Programs • Specific Program Areas • Home Horticulture & Gardening • All areas of 4-H (*4-H Livestock) • Wellness topics • Physical Activity (i.e.Walk Across Texas) • Natural Resource conservation • Commodity topics

  6. AgriLife Extension Volunteer Facts • Last year more than 104,000 people volunteer for Texas AgriLife Extension* • 18,639 of these volunteers led Extension educational programs • These 18,639 volunteers reached over 3 million Texans through educational programs *Texas AgriLife Extension 2009 Data

  7. Volunteer Facts: A Closer Look • Less than 18% of Extension’s volunteer force is taking a lead role in delivering educational programming, yet this group reached over 3 million Texans with life-changing information.

  8. Volunteers - Unlimited Potential • Increasing the number of volunteers leading educational programs has an exponential impact. • Empowering volunteers is the key

  9. Empowering Volunteers Empowerment is giving volunteers responsibility, along with authority and resources, to accomplish their mission.

  10. Empowering Volunteers: Orientation • Why is orientation important? • Allows individual to join as an informed equal • Motivates volunteers • Provides forum for Extension to explain expectations, goals and objectives

  11. Three Parts of Orientation • Social Orientation • Position Orientation • System Orientation

  12. Social Orientation • Introduction to county staff • Tour of facility/office • Explanation of dress code • Directions to the break room • How to operate the copy machine, fax machine, etc.

  13. Position Orientation • Overview of roles and responsibilities • Review the position description

  14. System Orientation • Mission of Extension • Legislation that created and defined Cooperative Extension • Program Areas • Volunteer Opportunities • Policies and Procedures

  15. Utilizing Volunteers • Setting up a system • Find a good balance of program ownership and responsibility • Show trust and freedom through responsibility • Expectations and evaluation should be included in system

  16. Utilizing VolunteersSetting up a System • Pair new volunteer with veteran with at least one year experience • Shadow veteran to at least two presentations • Practice presentations prior to delivery to target audience

  17. Utilizing VolunteersSetting up a System • If equipment is provided by Extension, have volunteers who are responsible for the check out and return of all materials • Provide resources for continued education and allow volunteers the opportunity to offer recommendations for including new material in program presentations

  18. Adjust Your Attitude and Actions • Understand what it means to be a volunteer • Their time is valuable too, be appreciative of that • Think about frustrations of volunteers and how they can be eliminated • Give up some control • Do not give up administrative duties, but allow them to show leadership when possible

  19. Adjust Your Attitude and Actions • Let them to work! • Take their ideas and transform them into tasks • Guide their efforts/supply resources

  20. Motivate Yourself, Motivate Others • A great start on motivating volunteers is to motivate yourself because it is contagious • Show enthusiasm! Interacting with volunteers is not a hindrance, but an integral part of Extension • Project a friendly and open persona

  21. Motivate Yourself, Motivate Others • Meet frequently with volunteers • Studies show meeting frequently (with a purpose) increases and sustains volunteer enthusiasm • Be a listener; show concern and respect for their opinions

  22. Motivating Volunteers • Recognize their efforts! • Reward them for a job well done • Public recognition • Let them know the impact of their efforts • Say THANK YOU! • Personal thank you note or telephone call

  23. What can I do if my volunteers do not become empowered? • Take it slow • If they fail to feel empowered, other problems may exist.

  24. Reap the Benefits! • You are developing leaders!

  25. Helpful Resource • The Volunteerism Resources Section of Extension’s Organizational Development Web Site http://od.tamu.edu/volunteerism-resources/

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