Extension Volunteers [microform] / K. K. Navaratnam

The Cooperative Extension Service has become the largest adult education and human service program in the United States. It makes use of about 1.5 million adult volunteers who spend an average of more than 100 hours each conducting Extension programs under the guidance of extension personnel. Volunteers play a variety of roles including policy formation, teaching and coordinating Extension activities, training volunteers, supervising projects, supporting Extension programs, and providing facilities, funds, and other resources and services. Over the years, roles of extension volunteers have become both specialized and diversified. Yet, Extension has not created nor clarified volunteers' job titles. Volunteers should be classified and given different levels of training according to their needs and participation areas. Categorizing volunteers by their titles will help Extension personnel plan and deliver a unified and systematic recruiting and training program for volunteer development. The need for categorizing volunteers based on titles and expanding the number of volunteers and the volunteer sector will be the major effort of Extension in the near future. Giving volunteers titles will also help the organization evaluate volunteers' effectiveness as well as increase their involvement. (Tables are provided showing suggested titles for volunteers in the various program areas of Extension.) (KC)