Garrard County CES

Title:

Leadership Development and Recruitment of Volunteers

MAP:

Community and Leadership Development

Agents Involved:

Hixson, Comley, Hettmansperger

MAJOR PROGRAM 1:

Business Retention and Expansion

MAJOR PROGRAM 2:

Community Strategic Planning

MAJOR PROGRAM 3:

Kentucky Extension Leadership Development (KELD)

MAJOR PROGRAM 4:

Volunteer Development

Situation:

According to national statistics, 25% of adults volunteer. With volunteer work valued at more than $24.00/hour, the economic impact and reduction of the strain of resources on non-profits to produce staff supported results is immense. The critical importance of volunteerism is found in the time committed to exploring and developing skills to contribute back to the local community. The Garrard County Extension Council (CEC), although not recognizing the need to train leaders per se for roles in the Extension Council system, did recognize the need for growing and developing leadership in educational endeavors such as agriculture, youth life skill development and programming,  drug abuse education, growing energy crisis with alternative sources, local business enhancement, senior issues, built environment issue, and parenting issues.

Long-Term Outcomes:

Extension leadership development efforts will translate into improved leadership efforts in the community-at-large with leaders addressing public issues and running for public office. Participants will serve as mentors for future leaders.

Intermediate Outcomes:

People will participate in a variety of local through national leadership training opportunities. People will engage in public debate on local, regional and national issues. Participants will take on formal community leadership roles.

Initial Outcomes:

Participants in Extension programs will learn how and be encouraged to seek officer positions in extension-related organizations. Extension leaders will increase their knowledge about how to be an effective leader, build their team leadership abilities and learn how to be better at leading a group or an effort to fruition.

Evaluation:

Initial Outcome: People taking leadership roles in the community and on extension councils and committees.
Indicator: Formal and informal surveys and person to person contact
Method: Survey program participants, observing extension committees and councils
Timeline: Year Round

Intermediate Outcome: People participate in leadership trainings and engage in public issues.
Indicator: Formal and informal surveys and person to person contact
Method: Survey program participants, observing extension committees and councils
Timeline: All year

Long-term Outcome: Leaders engaging in public issues and running for public office
Indicator: Formal and informal surveys and person to person contact
Method: Survey program participants, observing extension committees and councils
Timeline: All year

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: County Extension Council members, Extension District Board members, FCS council, 4-H Council

Project or Activity: Initial training meetings for new members, regular meetings of the different Extension groups

Content or Curriculum: State Extension Council training materials, FCS/KEHA materials, Councils 101

Inputs: Agents and Extension Specialist

Date: Year round

Audience: Extension Homemakers

Project or Activity: Extension Homemaker Leader Trainings, Area/county Homemakers events, Extension Homemaker Council meetings

Content or Curriculum: KEHA/KELD materials

Inputs: Agents and Extension materials

Date: Monthly meetings

Audience: club members and potential club members in FCS special interest clubs

Project or Activity: regular meetings with leadership training

Content or Curriculum: KELD materials

Inputs: FCS Agent / resource persons when appropriate

Date: year round

Audience: 4-H Members

Project or Activity: attendance of local, district, and state-level events

Content or Curriculum: Unlocking Your Leadership Potential

Inputs: 4-H Youth Development Agent, Volunteer, Local Funding Sources, 4-H Council, and Grant Development

Date: Year Round

Audience: In-School Programming

Project or Activity: Participation in local, area, and state-level communications events

Content or Curriculum: National 4-H Communication Curriculum and Expressive Arts Curriculum

Inputs: 4-H Agent, Volunteer, Curriculum, 4-H Council funding sources, materials

Date: January, February, March, April

Audience: 4-H Volunteers

Project or Activity: Continued Education or New Volunteer Education

Content or Curriculum: Kentucky Volunteer Forum, Southern Region Volunteer Conference, Volunteer Leader Horse Certification, Volunteer Leader Livestock Certification, Certified Leader Shooting Sports Certification

Inputs: 4-H Agent, Designated Curriculum, Local Funding, Materials, Volunteers

Date: Year Round

Success Stories