Florida 4-H Program Handbook

SECTION 6: A Volunteer Middle Management System

 

Designing, implementing and maintaining a volunteer system are among the key elements of an agent’s job. What this system looks like will vary from county to county, but there are some principles that guide the development of a volunteer system, regardless of its final structure. This section will offer a look at some of the necessary processes and components of a successful volunteer system. 

Historical Perspective

When did volunteers become part of 4-H? There is no "chicken and egg" dilemma here! Volunteers in 4-H preceded Extension Agents. The roots of 4-H extend back to the dark days before the formation of Extension. Community minded individuals with the welfare of young people as a keen interest have served without monetary compensation since the earliest days of the 4-H movement.

Over the years the definition of the role of the Extension Agent doing 4-H has changed. In the 1950's the National enrollment expectation for a full time Extension staff member was 250 - 300 members. The staff role during this period involved a great deal of personal contact directly with individual members. In the sixties, the involvement of volunteers working directly with youth raised the expected number to 750 - 1000 members per Extension faculty member Since the early 1970's Extension faculty have demonstrated that one Agent can manage programs with essentially no limit, if there is a complementing volunteer system.

The trend toward increased use of volunteers in 4-H over time has led to the emergence of a new professional role. To be effective, agents must have volunteers providing service to other volunteers as a standard method of operation. Working directly with every volunteer needed to successfully carry out a county 4-H program at every step of the volunteer’s involvement also greatly limits the potential size of the program. The agent must continue in the role of educator and at the same time become the manager of a 4-H system supported primarily by volunteers.

Return to top