Develop Individuals for Volunteer Roles Plan of Work

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Whitley County CES

Title:
Develop Individuals for Volunteer Roles
MAP:
Engaged Communities
Agents Involved:
Moses (Community Arts), Burgard (FCS), Jones (4-H), Prewitt (Horticulture)
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Build Engaged and Empowered Communities – General
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
Volunteer Engagement in the Arts
MAJOR PROGRAM 3:
Kentucky Extension Homemaker Association
MAJOR PROGRAM 4:
Community Leadership Development
Situation:

Volunteers are important in building engaged and empowered communities. Volunteerism throughout the life cycle makes productive leaders. Whether leading 4H clubs, serving on a program council, or attending homemaker meetings, Cooperative Extension thrives on volunteer leaders to understand the community better. 

The Whitley County Cooperative Extension Service incorporates several avenues for volunteers to work in the community. Our leadership roles include a County Extension Council, programming councils, District Board. These volunteers are instrumental in the success of the Whitley County Cooperative Extension Service by serving their community. Within each program area, there are opportunities to volunteer in Extension Homemakers, Beekeepers, 4H Teen Council, and teaching Fine Arts classes. These are just a few examples of opportunities that local individuals can be involved and also further their education in the process. 

The Whitley County Extension Fine Arts Council has identified enhancing artisan skills, community poverty rates, citizen engagement, and a qualified workforce as pressing concerns for Whitley County Extension to address. According to Americans for the Arts, “The arts are integral to the lives of our citizens. The arts are essential to the health and vitality of our communities and our nation.” In the rapidly changing (and challenging) times in which we live, the arts can address county poverty, resident vitality, and a vibrant local economy. 


Data from The College Board shows that students who take four years of arts and music classes while in high school score 98 points better on their SATs than students who took only one-half year or less. It is clear that the arts, music, creative writing, drawing, and dance, provide skills that contribute to increased quality of life. Not only does participation in arts programming and artisan entrepreneurship create a skilled and educated workforce for local community businesses to have quality employees, but it also contributes to resilient families and communities, vibrant culture, and significant economic impact to local residents. Without Fine Arts Extension the Whitley county citizens would have to drive 1 hour for a comparable art experience. There are very little opportunities in the arts in Whitley county and Extension Fine Arts fills this gap at a free or affordable cost. 

Long-Term Outcomes:

-Program and Extension Council Members help provide insight into each program area and provide an unbiased look into all parts of the county. 

-Council members serve as active Extension and community volunteers engaged in addressing community needs. 

-Whitley County residents will recognize Extension Fine Arts as a valuable provider of educational, economic, and social opportunities and skills within the arts and develop an increased appreciation for the arts. 

-Whitley County will have a strong, healthy community arts coalition that meets 3-4 times a year and supports artists through preparing bi-annual arts exhibits and developing the annual Appalachian winter market. 

-Whitley County will grow artistically in conjunction with our economic growth, making Whitley County an increasingly vibrant place to live. 

Intermediate Outcomes:

-Extension leaders will practice personal leadership skills through leadership roles at the club, county, area and/or state level. 

-The number of KEHA volunteer service hours reported annually for KEHA, Extension and Community activities will increase. 

-They will share their interests and skills with others in their homes or within their support group. 

-Local Artist will artistic skills such as dancing, sculpture, drawing, music, theater, creative writing can share their knowledge and talents with the residents of Whitley County.  

-To increase recognition of the arts and the importance of the arts within Williamsburg, Corbin, and all rural communities within the county. 

-Whitley County will identify opportunities for creative placemaking and community design. 

Initial Outcomes:

-Council members will gain organizational knowledge through annual trainings. 

-Volunteers and KEHA members will increase knowledge and skills in personal leadership through lessons and special interest workshops. 

-Residents gain new skills in the arts. 

-Residents will recognize that art is an integral part of life. 

-Create a sense of connection to community through the arts. 

-More citizens aspire to volunteer in in fine arts programing and events. 

-More students believe they can carve an artistic, yet financially solvent career. 

Evaluation:

Outcome: Volunteers and KEHA members will gain organizational knowledge through annual officer training. 

Indicator:  Number of volunteers who report knowledge gained through county and/or area officer training. 

Methodprogram evaluation with pre and post assessment questions 

Timeline:  on-going 

  

Outcome: Volunteers will increase knowledge and skills in personal leadership through lessons and special interest workshops. 

Indicator:  Number of individuals reporting improved personal and interpersonal leadership knowledge and/or Number of individuals reporting improved personal and interpersonal leadership skills. 

Method: end of program evaluations, surveys 

Timeline:  on-going 

  

Outcome: Volunteers will practice personal leadership skills through leadership roles at the club, county, area and/or state level. 

Indicator:  Number of Volunteers or KEHA members who utilized knowledge gained through training to fulfill a leadership role at the club, county, area and/or state level. 

MethodObservation, review of officer directories 

Timeline:  on-going 

 

Outcome: Whitley County residents will recognize Extension Fine Arts as a valuable provider of educational, economic, and social opportunities and skills within the arts and develop an increased appreciation for the arts. 

Indicator: Attendance to arts programming and events will increase, art and art education will be utilized and incorporated into community programs, local artists become more valued. 

Method: Observation, testimonies, increase number of artists, arts awareness increase 

Timeline: ongoing 

 

Outcome: To increase recognition of the arts and the importance of the arts within Williamsburg, Corbin, and all rural communities within the county. 

Indicator: Local galleries displaying/selling artist work, space created for creation of art and art education, murals, increase purchases of local art be Whitley county residence 

Method: Observation, testimonies, evaluations 

Timeline: Ongoing 

 

Outcome: Residents gain new skills in the arts 

Indicator: Higher quality of art made, experimentation with different art media, increase appreciation for working artists, increase number of artists, arts awareness increase 

Method: Observation, testimonies, evaluations 

Timeline: Ongoing 

 

Outcome: Whitley County will grow artistically in conjunction with our economic growth, making Whitley County an increasingly vibrant place to live. 

Indicator: More working artists, art venues increase, increase number of artists, arts awareness increase 

Method: Observation, testimonies, evaluations 

Timeline: Ongoing 

 

Learning Opportunities:

Audience:  Whitley County Extension Homemakers 

Project or Activity:  KEHA Officer and Chairman Training / County KEHA Kickoff 

Content or Curriculum: KEHA Training Toolkit, KEHA Manual, KEHA Website 

Inputs: FCS Agent, State Advisors 

Date: Annually each fall 

  

Audience: Whitley County Extension Homemakers 

Project or Activity:  KEHA Leader Training and/or Special Interest Workshops 

Content or Curriculum: KELD Curriculum, FCS Extension Lesson Resources, FCS Curriculum 

Inputs: FCS Agent, State Advisors, UK Specialist, FCS Program Assistant

Date: August 2024, September 2024, February 2025

  

Audience:  Whitley County Extension Homemakers 

Project or Activity:  KEHA State Meeting 

Content or Curriculum: Officer Training & Educational Chairman Workshops 

Inputs: FCS Agent, State Advisors 

Date: Annually each spring 

 

Audience:  Whitley County 4-H Volunteers 

Project or Activity:  Kentucky Volunteer Forum

Content or Curriculum: Curricula for all program areas, volunteers pick their own learning track. 

Inputs: 4-H, Volunteers 

Date: Every 2 Years


Audience: Program Council Members 

Project or Activity: Program Council Meetings (Community Arts, Family and Consumer Sciences, ANR, Hort, 4H) 

Content or Curriculum: 

Inputs: Agents, Specialists 

Date: Quarterly Meetings

 

Audience: Cooperative Extension Council Members 

Project or Activity: Extension Council Meetings 

Content or Curriculum: Council Orientation 

Inputs: Agents 

Date: Quarterly 

 

Audience: 4H Volunteers 

Project or Activity: 4H Camp, 4H Community Clubs, 4H Council 

Content or Curriculum: Various 4H Curriculums (Livestock, Horse, STEM, FCS, etc) 

Inputs: Agents, program assistants 

Date: August-June yearly

  

Audience: Community Arts Leaders 

Project or Activity: Extension Community Arts Council meetings 

Content or Curriculum: Program Council 

Inputs: Community Arts Agent, Council Members 

Date: Quarterly 

 

Audience:  Whitley County residents:  youth and adults. 

Project or Activity:  Old Fashion Trading Days. 

Content or Curriculum:  UK pubs 

Inputs:  agents 

Date:  Annually in September. 

 
Audience:  Whitley County residents:  youth and adults. 

Project or Activity:  Nibroc Festival. 

Content or Curriculum:  UK pubs. 

Inputs:  agents. 

Date:  Annually in August. 


Audience: Whitley County Residents 

Project or Activity: Teaching Artists

Content or Curriculum: Provide local artists with tools and knowledge, and space to teach their skills to community 

Inputs: Local Artists, Community Arts, 4-H 

Date: Monthly 2024-2025


Audience: Whitley County Residents

Project or Activity: Whitley County Master Gardener

Content or Curriculum: KY Extension Master Gardener Curriculum/ UK Publications/ Variety of Handouts

Inputs: Agents/ Specialists 

Date: 2024-2025



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