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Emily Eubanks - Managing Volunteer Resources
- 1. Managing Your Volunteer Resources EmilyEubanks Interim Florida Master Gardener Coordinator Communications Coordinator, UF/IFAS CLCE
- 2. My Volunteer Experience •Interim State Master Gardener Coordinator • Micanopy Friendship 4-H Leader • Florida Farm Bureau Women’s Leadership Committee
- 3. Master Gardeners • Citizenshelping citizens • Extending information • Principles and practices of environmental horticulture • Volunteers in action helping to beautify and protect our environment • Recognized service title
- 4. Partnerships • Cooperative ExtensionService • County and State Government • Land-Grant University • USDA • Citizens
- 5. MG Program History •Began in 1972 • State of Washington • Based on the premise – Well trained volunteers could respond to many homeowner questions – Programs now in 50 states and Canada
- 6. Mission & Vision •Mission – To assist Extension Agents in providing research- based horticultural education to Florida residents. • Vision – To be the most trusted resource for horticultural education in Florida.
- 7. 2014 Numbers • 4,763Active Volunteers in 60 Counties • 382,648.39 hours donated • Value: $7.3 Million • 536,524 Clientele Contacts • Reporting – Hours – Contacts – CEUs
- 8. Statewide Master Gardener ActivityHours • 22% Plant Clinics • 18% Work with Demo Landscapes • 5% Give or Assist with Presentations • 5% Set-up Exhibits • 5% Work with 4-H or other youth • 6% Community Gardens • 1% FYN Program • 18% Other
- 9. Demographics • 55+ yearsold • Majority women • Caucasian • Retired • Tend to be long-term volunteers • Voracious information seekers
- 10. Volunteers & Coordinators •1 Statewide Coordinator • 58 County Coordinators in 60 Counties • 4,763 Volunteers • Attrition of approximately ¼ each year • Train approximately 1,000 new MGs each year
- 11. Volunteer Screening • Application •Background Check • Interview • Paperwork
- 12. Volunteer Training • Traineesreceive 50+ hours of initial training • Must provide 75 hours of volunteer time in the first year as volunteer • 35 hours every year after + 10 CEU hours
- 13. Volunteer Training • CountyTraining – Meetings, field trips, advanced training • Conferences – Odd Year – Statewide 3-day conference – Even Year – District 1-day conferences (5) – Even Year – Leadership School for MG Exec Committees – Southern Region – International
- 14. Curriculum • 20 Modules •Fully developed lesson plans – Facilitator’s guide – Participant’s guide and lab book – Powerpoints • To be released this summer • Will provide baseline of what MGs should know
- 15. Coordinator Training • In-ServiceTrainings • One-on-One • Regional Meetings • Conferences • Often will have horticulture knowledge, but no volunteer management experience
- 16. Volunteer Roles • Everycounty is different • A good volunteer knows what is expected of them • Board vs. Committee Structure • Provide ownership and input into the program • Example Roles: – President or Chair – Field Trip Coordinator – Speaker’s Bureau Chair
- 17. Volunteer Responsibilities • Tryto match volunteers to their interests, skills, and strengths • Work to empower them • Give them a duty they are comfortable with or provide them training to get there
- 18. Volunteer Mentors • Formalvs. informal mentoring program • Veteran MG paired with an MG trainee • Checks on them • Accompanies them to their volunteer assignments • Explains culture and experiences of MG program
- 19. MG Projects • PlantClinics • Demonstration Gardens • Youth Gardens/School Gardens • Speaking • Citizen Scientists • Clerical Help
- 20. Disgruntled Volunteers • Varietyof reasons • Often will contact BOCC or UF President/Dean • Hear from all sides • Work towards resolution • Don’t leave an outspoken, disgruntled person in volunteer group • Volunteers can be fired!
- 21. Volunteer Recognition • ServiceAwards – Every 5 years – Recognized our first 35 year volunteer in 2014 • Awards of Excellence – Recognized for projects – Competitive application process – External judges
- 22. Association with UF •Considered an unpaid employee of UF • Must comply with UF/IFAS recommendations • Aware of Sunshine State Law • Protection of UF brand
- 23. Identity Management • Recognizedservice title that is earned • Maintain our own identity guidelines that match UF/IFAS policies • “Nascar” issue
- 24. Communication Efforts • Countynewsletters • Newspaper columns • Direct email • Meetings
- 28. Other Social Media •Twitter • Pinterest • Blog • Flickr • YouTube
- 31. Challenges • Training newdemographic of volunteers • Reaching underserved audiences • Maintaining quality control of content • University awareness
- 32. Tips • Only recruitvolunteers when you have a specific job for them • Train them well • Give them ownership • Provide recognition that means something to them • Make it fun!
- 33.