Master Volunteers of Fort Bend County

1
Master VolunteersofFort Bend County
Vincent J. Mannino, County Extension Director
2
Value of Volunteers

• Old Chinese Proverb - Behind every able man
  there are always other able men
• Workers breed vocations, whereas
• Volunteers breed avocations

3
What is theMaster Volunteer Program?

• An organized educational volunteer program -
• with specific guidelines set by Texas AM
  AgriLife Extension,
• created to expand the capacity of AgriLife
  Extension to distribute educational information
  to individuals and groups in the community.

4
Who are the Master Volunteers?

• Representatives of the Texas AM AgriLife
  Extension Service
• Representatives of the Texas AM University
  System,
• Volunteer educators for the Fort Bend area,
• Local folks that love sharing their vocation or
  avocation with others.

5
Considerations Regarding Volunteers

• Does this person have a history of volunteerism?
• Is this person mature enough to teach?
• Will personality problems interfere?
• Will this person be judgmental of others?
• Is there a willingness to learn to be
  supervised?
• Will this person cooperate with others?
• Is this person committed and dependable?
• Does this person have a criminal record?

6
Convey to Volunteers

• 1 - PART of The Texas AM University System
• Texas A M University (7), Prairie View,
  Tarleton
• Texas AgriLife Extension Service
• Texas AgriLife Research (Experiment Stations)
• Texas Engineering Extension Service
• Texas Engineering Experiment Station
• Texas Forest Service
• Texas Transportation Institute
• Texas Veterinary Medical Diagnostics Lab

Texas AM System
7
Convey to Volunteers

• 2 - Part of U.S.D.A.s Land/Sea Grant Univ.
  System
• (CREES) Cooperative State Research, Education and
  Extension Service
• Research Experiment Stations (Hatch Act 1887)
• Education Land Grant Universities
• (Morrill Act - 1862, 1890, 1994
  Land-Grant Colleges)
• Outreach Cooperative Extension (Smith-Lever Act
  - 1914)
• 3 - Cooperate with Co. Commissioners Court

8
AgriLife Extensions
Convey to Volunteers

• Mission Providing quality, relevant outreach and
  continuing educational programs and services to
  the people of Texas.
• Vision To be the premier 21st Century outreach
  and continuing education organization in Texas
  responding to the needs of the people.

9
Texas AM AgriLife ExtensionsFort Bend County

• Our Mission To offer outreach education to
  individuals, families and communities to help
  improve the quality of their lives and to build a
  dynamic future for Texas.

10
To Accomplish our Mission

• WE NEED
• VOLUNTEERS!

11
Master Volunteer vs. Volunteer

• The Master Volunteer title is used only by
  individuals trained in a specific Master
  Volunteer program
• Master Volunteers must receive a specified number
  of hours of instruction
• Master Volunteers must volunteer a specified
  number of predetermined hours that equal to or
  above the number of hours of instruction
• The Master Volunteer title is bestowed after
  completion of volunteer service
• Master Volunteers will undergo additional
  training per year to maintain the Master
  Volunteer title.

PAC member, task force member, coalition
member, etc.
12
Our Charge

• Provide in-depth training, educational
  opportunities and written material
• Utilize Master Volunteers to increase the
  availability of educational information and
  extend projects throughout the community
• Help develop a Master Gardener, Master
  Naturalist, 4-H Master Volunteer, and Master
  Wellness network that is supportive of the
  mission vision of AgriLife Extension.

13
Volunteer AssociationsDo We Need Them?
14
Master Volunteer Associations

• MV Association must include
• Certified volunteers who serve as representatives
  of Texas AM AgriLife Extension Service
• A staff member of the local county Extension
  office that serves as an advisor to the
  association
• An executive board made up of LEADERS of the
  total Master Volunteer body (officers at-large
  members)

15
Responsibilities of the Association

• Assist AgriLife Extension in
• Recruiting and selecting participants or interns
• Coordinating, conducting and funding training for
  Master Volunteers
• Certifying and recertifying Master Gardeners
  using State Master Volunteer Guidelines
• Identifying, developing and determining volunteer
  activities and projects which support Extension's
  educational mission
• Background checked
• Support of partial cost recovery (PCR)

16
Responsibilities of the Association

• Assist AgriLife Extension in
• Recording and reporting volunteer service of the
  Master Gardeners
• Recognizing Master Gardeners for volunteer
  service and leadership
• Facilitating communications between Extension
  personnel and Master Gardeners
• Support of Best Management Practices
• Adhere to the guidance given by agent advisors

17
HOW?
By Spelling Out!
The Requirements
The Contract
The Job Descriptions
18
Job Descriptions

• Purpose To extend AgriLife Extensions
  educational programs in the area(s) of (name
  areas)
• Duties Answers questions and inquiries by
  telephone, clinics, demonstration, and other
  methods as needed
• Cooperates with and assists AgriLife Extension in
  preparing and producing of specific educational
  resources
• Effectively communicate with public by telephone,
  personal contact and through written language.
• Keeps appropriate records
• Hours of volunteer service performed
• Number of contacts, and perhaps type of contacts
• Nature of call, answers given and references made
• Responsible to The Extension agent/advisor in
  charge, volunteer coordinator and others as
  required

19
The Contract!

• Spell out the program
• What does it entail
• What is expected
• Spell out the requirements
• What will it take
• How much time will it take
• Certification recertification requirements
• Spell out the consequences
• What if I do wrong?
• Sign the contract (every 1 or 2 years)

20
The Requirements

• Requirements
• For individuals with a willingness to learn and a
  desire to help others
• Completion of a minimum of (60) hours of
  instruction
• Completion of (60) hours of approved volunteer
  service
• And, THEN you are certified.

to be determined
21
Maintaining Certification

• Certifications last 2 years - Thats all folks!
• Every year you must
• receive (12) hours of recertification training,
• donate (12) hours of volunteer service

to be determined
22
Volunteer Opportunities
Relate to the following program areas

• Agriculture
• Family Consumer Sciences
• 4-H

23
Agriculture Natural Resources
24
Agriculture Program Area Committees/Task Forces

• Agriculture
• Row Crops (14)
• Rice (5)
• Beef Cattle Forage (9)
• Horse (14)
• Agriculture Natural Resources
• AgTivity (35)
• Master Naturalist (6)
• Horticulture
• Master Gardeners (6 )
• Bee Keepers (4)
• Pecan T.F. (4)
• Citrus Comm. (5)

Board members
25
Ag Volunteer Events

• Field Days
• Horse Clinics (roping, jumping, SHOT)
• Beef Cattle/Forage Workshops
• AgTivity Barn Fair Functions
• Short Courses
• Cattle Shows,
• Result Demonstrations Applied Research
• Regular Meeting Educational Programs
• Emergency Preparedness

26
Programs/Projects/Activities

• Demonstration Garden Committees
• Master Volunteer Hotlines
• Speakers Bureau
• Special Educational Events
• Monthly Educational Program
• Newsletters
• Fruit Vegetable, Citrus, Pecan Shows
• Emergency Preparedness
• Many more..

27
Family and Consumer Sciences

• Family and Consumer Sciences
• Master Clothing Volunteer (proposed)
• Texas Extension Ed. Assoc. (7)
• Partners for Parenting (9)
• CEP (10)
• FF News (10)
• Better Living for Texans

28
FCS Volunteer Events

• Baby-Think-It-Over
• FRED (Fathers Reading Every Day)
• Do-Well-Be-Well
• TEEA Classes/Dist. State Meeting
• Food and Activities for Senior Citizens
• Fund Raisers for 4-H Scholarship
• 4-H Food and Fashion Shows
• AgTivity and Fair Functions
• Emergency Preparedness

29
4-H

• 4-H Development Committee (11)
• 4-H Youth Council (30)
• 4-H Adult Leaders (25)

30
4-H Master Volunteers

• PROGRAMS AND EVENTS
• Consumer Decision Making
• Clothing
• Animal Project Areas
• Foods and Nutrition
• Vet Science
• Robotics
• Shooting Sports
• Outdoor Clubs
• Companion Pets

31
Items to Remember

• No one should display credentials or give the
  appearance of being a Master Volunteer at a place
  of business unless that place is conducting an
  authorized Master Volunteer activity.
• Master Volunteer programs are
• NOT FOR FINANCIAL GAIN.

32
Items to Remember

• It is improper to imply that the Texas AM
  AgriLife Extension Service endorses any product
  or place of business.

33
Items to Remember

• Report to the Agent
• Report to the Agent
• Report to the Agent

34

• Welcome to our Master Volunteer Family!

Vincent Mannino, County Extension Director -Fort
Bend, email v-mannino_at_tamu.edu
35
(No Transcript)