““Why Why Volunteer?”Volunteer?”

Be A Volunteer and Be A Volunteer and Experience the Power of Experience the Power of 4-H!4-H! The State, County and Local 4-H The State, County and Local 4-H

program is a dynamic program is a dynamic organization that reaches out to organization that reaches out to youth in grades 3-12 (and even youth in grades 3-12 (and even younger in some counties) with younger in some counties) with opportunities for personal growth opportunities for personal growth and increasing social and and increasing social and technical skills. technical skills.

Be A Volunteer and Be A Volunteer and Experience the Power of Experience the Power of 4-H!4-H! Volunteers tell us the most important Volunteers tell us the most important

benefits they receive from working benefits they receive from working with the 4-H Youth Development with the 4-H Youth Development Program are chances to:Program are chances to:– Help children grow in personal self-Help children grow in personal self-

worth. worth. – Gain a better understanding of their Gain a better understanding of their

community. community. – Interact with others and create family Interact with others and create family

togetherness. togetherness.

Be A Volunteer and Be A Volunteer and Experience the Power of Experience the Power of 4-H!4-H! 4-H volunteers enjoy the new friends 4-H volunteers enjoy the new friends

they make and the realization that they make and the realization that they make a significant impact in the they make a significant impact in the development of young people.development of young people.

Share with the youth in your Share with the youth in your community and help them become community and help them become more motivated, capable and strong.more motivated, capable and strong.

What is a Volunteer?What is a Volunteer?

A volunteer is defined as a person A volunteer is defined as a person who did unpaid work (except for who did unpaid work (except for expenses) through or for an expenses) through or for an organization.organization.

Trends in VolunteerismTrends in Volunteerism

44%44% of adults volunteer an average of of adults volunteer an average of 3.6 hours/week. 3.6 hours/week.

83.9 million adults83.9 million adults volunteer a total volunteer a total of of 15.5 billion hours15.5 billion hours; equivalent of ; equivalent of over over 9 million9 million full-time employees full-time employees

Nationally, volunteer contributions Nationally, volunteer contributions worth worth $18.04 per hour $18.04 per hour ($15.57 in ($15.57 in Indiana). Indiana).

Nationwide volunteers donated time Nationwide volunteers donated time valued at valued at $280 billion$280 billion..

Source: Independent Sector, Source: Independent Sector, www.independentsector.orgwww.independentsector.org

Trends in VolunteerismTrends in Volunteerism

Volunteer characteristicsVolunteer characteristics– Women (46%) more likely to Women (46%) more likely to

volunteer than men (42%)volunteer than men (42%)– 35-44 year old group most likely to 35-44 year old group most likely to

volunteer (34.7%)volunteer (34.7%)– Those who volunteer typically Those who volunteer typically

contribute more than those who do contribute more than those who do not ($2,295 to $1,009)not ($2,295 to $1,009)

Factors Influencing Factors Influencing Volunteer Volunteer ParticipationParticipation People volunteer when asked to do People volunteer when asked to do

so (71%).so (71%). 2/3 of volunteers first volunteered 2/3 of volunteers first volunteered

as a youth, often with their family.as a youth, often with their family. Volunteer marketing campaigns Volunteer marketing campaigns

simply heighten awarenesssimply heighten awareness Typically volunteer to work on Typically volunteer to work on

issues pertinent to them or their issues pertinent to them or their familyfamily

Are you thinking Are you thinking about volunteering?about volunteering?

Here are some tips to Here are some tips to consider when volunteering…consider when volunteering…

10 Tips for Wise 10 Tips for Wise VolunteeringVolunteering Research the causes or issues Research the causes or issues

important to you.important to you. Consider the skills you have to Consider the skills you have to

offer.offer. Consider volunteering as a family.Consider volunteering as a family. Would you like to learn something Would you like to learn something

new?new? Don’t over-commit your schedule.Don’t over-commit your schedule.

10 Tips for Wise 10 Tips for Wise VolunteeringVolunteering Nonprofits may have questions, Nonprofits may have questions,

too.too. I never thought of that!I never thought of that! Give voice to your heart through Give voice to your heart through

your giving and volunteering!your giving and volunteering! Virtual volunteering?Virtual volunteering? Be a year-round volunteer!Be a year-round volunteer!

Source: Independent SectorSource: Independent Sector

What are the benefits What are the benefits of volunteers in 4-H?of volunteers in 4-H?

There are many!!!There are many!!!

Benefits of Volunteers Benefits of Volunteers

Point of local contact for Point of local contact for informationinformation

Historical perspective of the Historical perspective of the program; may have been program; may have been participants themselvesparticipants themselves

Great network of contacts – for Great network of contacts – for people, donations, etc. people, donations, etc.

Know who to contact; typically Know who to contact; typically well-respected by the communitywell-respected by the community

Benefits of Volunteers Benefits of Volunteers

Allow organization to reach wide Allow organization to reach wide range of audiences range of audiences

The program is “owned by” the The program is “owned by” the local people; staff members come local people; staff members come and go, but the local people have and go, but the local people have the long-term ownership of the the long-term ownership of the programprogram

Youth need volunteers Youth need volunteers who…who… Care about them;Care about them; Let them know they are valued;Let them know they are valued; Provide opportunities for them to Provide opportunities for them to

make decisions and try out ideas;make decisions and try out ideas; Show confidence in their ability; Show confidence in their ability; Help them develop new skills; Help them develop new skills;

Youth need volunteers Youth need volunteers who…who… Communicate realistic, appropriate, Communicate realistic, appropriate,

and positive expectations;and positive expectations; Listen to them;Listen to them; Spend time with them;Spend time with them; Recognize their efforts, Recognize their efforts,

achievements, and special qualities; achievements, and special qualities; andand

Serve as good role models. Serve as good role models.

How do I volunteer How do I volunteer for 4-H?for 4-H?

Are you interested in Are you interested in volunteering for 4-H? Read volunteering for 4-H? Read

on…on…

Purdue University and the State Purdue University and the State 4-H Program have adopted a 4-H Program have adopted a screening process that each screening process that each person interested in volunteering person interested in volunteering to help with the 4-H program to help with the 4-H program must complete. must complete.

The next few slides describe this The next few slides describe this process.process.

Volunteer Screening Volunteer Screening ProcessProcess Why?Why?

– Allows volunteers to reaffirm their Allows volunteers to reaffirm their commitment and dedication to the commitment and dedication to the well-being of youth as they provide well-being of youth as they provide them with positive growth experiences.them with positive growth experiences.

– Helps to ensure youth receive a high-Helps to ensure youth receive a high-quality education in a safe quality education in a safe environment.environment.

– It documents volunteer excellence.It documents volunteer excellence.

Who completes Who completes process?process? AllAll individuals who wish to individuals who wish to

volunteer with the program are volunteer with the program are included in the screening process. included in the screening process.

Club and project leaders, Club and project leaders, committee members, advisory committee members, advisory board members, any others who board members, any others who volunteer with the program. volunteer with the program.

What behaviors are What behaviors are addressed?addressed? Source: 4-H 783 & 4-H 785Source: 4-H 783 & 4-H 785 Follow rules and guidelines established by Follow rules and guidelines established by

Purdue Extension, including those related to Purdue Extension, including those related to child abuse and neglect. child abuse and neglect.

Be a positive role model for youth. Be a positive role model for youth. Be courteous, respectful, and truthful; exhibit Be courteous, respectful, and truthful; exhibit

good sportsmanship; handle conflict good sportsmanship; handle conflict reasonably. reasonably.

Represent 4-H Youth Development program Represent 4-H Youth Development program with dignity and pride, accept supervision and with dignity and pride, accept supervision and support from others, participate in orientation support from others, participate in orientation and training, and work to create an effective and training, and work to create an effective 4-H Youth Development program.4-H Youth Development program.

What behaviors are What behaviors are addressed?addressed? Ensure equal access to programs.Ensure equal access to programs. Understand that physical and verbal abuse Understand that physical and verbal abuse

and criminal acts are not a part of the 4-H and criminal acts are not a part of the 4-H Youth Development program.Youth Development program.

Not allow, consume, or be under the Not allow, consume, or be under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs at 4-H influence of alcohol or illegal drugs at 4-H Youth Development events. Limit tobacco Youth Development events. Limit tobacco use to times when volunteers are not with use to times when volunteers are not with youth.youth.

Operate machinery and equipment in a Operate machinery and equipment in a responsible manner; treat animals humanely; responsible manner; treat animals humanely; use technology appropriately.use technology appropriately.

Screening Process Screening Process Steps:Steps:1.1. Contact the County Extension Office Contact the County Extension Office

and indicate that you are interested and indicate that you are interested in volunteering with the 4-H Program.in volunteering with the 4-H Program.

2.2. The Educator will send you a packet The Educator will send you a packet with information on how to complete with information on how to complete the screening process. This will the screening process. This will include:include:

a.a. Cover letterCover letterb.b. 4-H Volunteer Application Form4-H Volunteer Application Formc.c. General information about volunteering in 4-HGeneral information about volunteering in 4-H

Screening Process Screening Process Steps:Steps:

3.3. Complete and return the 4-H Complete and return the 4-H Volunteer application.Volunteer application.

4.4. The Educator will begin a The Educator will begin a confidential file for you, confidential file for you, complete your three reference complete your three reference checks, and conduct a search of checks, and conduct a search of the Indiana Sex Offender’s the Indiana Sex Offender’s Registry database.Registry database.

Screening Process Screening Process Steps:Steps: After the Educator has completed After the Educator has completed

the screening, you will receive a the screening, you will receive a letter of notification letter of notification

If accepted as a volunteer, you If accepted as a volunteer, you will receive a set of Adult will receive a set of Adult Behavioral Expectations to sign Behavioral Expectations to sign and return along with a volunteer and return along with a volunteer position descriptionposition description

Steps to complete:Steps to complete:

7.7. Successful applicants will then Successful applicants will then receive an orientation on the receive an orientation on the basics of the 4-H programbasics of the 4-H program

8.8. This orientation will be followed This orientation will be followed by information on upcoming by information on upcoming training opportunities.training opportunities.

Contacting your Contacting your County Extension County Extension Office:Office: To find out about opportunities to To find out about opportunities to

volunteer in 4-H, contact your volunteer in 4-H, contact your County Extension Office 4-H Youth County Extension Office 4-H Youth Extension Educator. Extension Educator.

Click on: Click on: http://www.ces.purdue.edu/http://www.ces.purdue.edu/; select County Offices, and click on ; select County Offices, and click on the county in which you would like to the county in which you would like to volunteer. volunteer.

Thank you for your Thank you for your interest in serving as interest in serving as a 4-H Volunteer!a 4-H Volunteer!