Partnering with Volunteersand

Sharing Leadership to Achieve Impact

Melinda MillerStacey Ellison

Laura Perry Johnson

University of Georgia

Partnering with Volunteersand

Sharing Leadership to Achieve Impact

Melinda MillerStacey Ellison

Laura Perry Johnson

University of Georgia

Extension Leadership System(ELS)

Program Development Team(PDT)

From An Organizational Perspective…

Background

• 2005 Extension Delivery recognized a need

• Visionary Leadership

• Since April 06, monthly Team Meetings

Existing County Advisory System

• CEC Led

• 2 meetings per year

• Not program area specific

• Primarily affirmation, PR and social

• Perfunctory

Goals

1) Overhaul the Current County Extension Advisory System

2) Strengthen Program Areas and Build Capacity

3) Create a Statewide Advocacy Base

Process

• Strong Administrative Support

• Wise Leader

• Program Development Team

• 5 Year Implementation Plan

Concept• Focus on Agent and their Program

Area

• Begin with Needs & Goals

• Build a Team to Support These

• Supply Tools & Resources

• Work Backwards – TRUE Program Development!

REPE System

Review

Educate

Plan

Engage

From A County Perspective…

Melinda MillerLowndes County 4-H Agent

Program Area Goals• Purchase of new transportation for 4-H

program travel to events in and beyond county lines. Need vehicle to transport 10-15 safely and preferably without CDL requirement.

• Gain entree into middle schools for 4-H club educational programming.

• Acquire additional corporate support for in school program delivery.

Lowndes County 4-H ~ Existing Situation:

Functioning Volunteer Leader Association

This Process enhanced and strengthened existing programs as well as created new opportunities,

partners and collaborators.

Successes

• Enhanced School System interaction

• Kids Dig it!

• Financial & Manpower support

Successes

Stacey EllisonHouston County 4-H Agent

Program Area Goals• Increase the number of Houston County

Elementary Schools hosting 4-H clubs from 10 in 2006-2007 to 15 by 2008-2009.

• Increase the number of Houston County Middle Schools hosting 4-H clubs from 2 in 2006-2007 to 5 by 2008-2009.

• Identify and begin partnership with at least one other youth-serving entity in Houston County (Recreation Center, YMCA, etc.) to offer 4-H club program on-site.

• Devise at least one major countywide funding opportunity (fundraiser, donor relations, etc.) that will enable increased funding of Houston County 4-H activities.

• Grass Roots Goal----as identified by committee.

Houston County 4-H ~ Original Situation:

Episodic Volunteers with Strong Networks

PDT Provided:

• Unifying body towards shared goals

• Opportunity for ownership/buy-in

• Networking

PDT Successes:

• Volunteer Recruitment/ Increased # of Clubs

• Achievement Banquet

• 4-H Fest

Why Was this Different?

• Strong Administrative Support

• Program Development Buy-In

Why Was this Different?

• Kept in Forefront

• Part of Performance Evaluation

Why Was this Different?

• Good plan that presented in increments

• Easy for County to Implement – User Friendly

• Success Was Seen Fast

Why Was this Different?

It Would NOT Go Away!

What are the Challenges?

• It was something different

• Required time and commitment on the front end

What are the Challenges?

• Some thought it would go away

• Some felt like it was top down with too much structure

What are the Challenges?

• To really work, it required a strong program and thus poor programs were challenged

• Required lots of “people or soft” skills

Points of Interest

• Worked great with new agents and where no existing Advisory System

• 4-H seems to be best positioned to capitalize fast

• ANR has many commodity/special interest groups

What is Next?

• County Council led by CEC’s

• Integration into total Base Programming

• Not losing momentum

For More Information:

http://www.caes.uga.edu/intranet/coextopr/progdevelop/index.html#leadership