Extension faculty, in their role as administrators of volunteers, often lack the competencies to fully manage and utilize this tremendous resource. Research reports the findings of a nation-wide Delphi study that identified 33 competencies required by persons leading volunteers. These competencies included skills in the broad constructs of organizational and systems leadership, developing a positive organizational culture, personal skills that will help them in developing effective teams and managing change, and skills in daily management of volunteers. It is recommended that Extension devote greater time and resources to helping faculty acquire these competencies. (Journal of Extension).

Volunteer Administration Academy has been a year-long course I have taken with Dr. Ken Culp III. This course equips participants with tools necessary to market and recruit volunteers, engage, evaluate, retain, and disengage volunteers. This course goes in-depth into multiple volunteer models, especially the GEMS model. As a new agent during orientation the GEMS model was presented, but it is impossible to truly dissect and exercise the model during one session. This course provides a unique road map that the agent creates to better their county volunteer program. In the beginning we set SMART goals to achieve by the end of the course. 

Dr. Culp also implements Councils 101 for each agent's advisory council, which was not only beneficial to my council, but to me as well. During Councils 101, Dr. Culp has the Council brainstorm ideas on recruitment, and explains the processes of an effective Council. My advisory council came together to work toward shared goals. The presentation Dr. Culp gave refreshed my council and put their ideas into perspective. The course has opened up networking opportunities through shadowing other volunteer administrations outside of Extension. Our class created individualized county Volunteer Recruitment Packets that I use often when explaining the opportunities to volunteer with 4-H. These packets have been very helpful, and there were many benefits to sharing materials with other agents.

Since completing Volunteer Administration Academy, I learned how to market opportunities to volunteers, and how to seek out volunteers for task-specific goals. Since learning these invaluable tools, my volunteer recruitment effectiveness has increased by 100%, and council participation and engagement has increased drastically, and has expanded audiences to further reach parity. Committees and sub-committees within my council have become more engaged with recruiting leaders and youth as well. I gained new ideas on marketing and received publications, handouts, and other resources to utilize in Mason County.