Florida 4-H Program Handbook

SECTION 6: Orientation of Volunteers

Orientation

Each new volunteer needs an orientation to Extension, 4-H and to their specific role. Frequently orientation overlaps with recruitment, because the potential volunteer needs to have some of the orientation before committing. Among the things included in orientation are:

1. A review of the volunteer’s current tasks and duties.. Review the service description to be sure there is a common understanding of the roles and responsibilities therein. Discuss the training resources available to the volunteer and how to access these resources. Remind all volunteers that they are not employees and serve without compensation.
2. The relationships of the volunteer’s role with the overall 4-H program. Volunteers need to have a feel for how their volunteer efforts fit into the big picture. Some basic 4-H history, an overview of how 4-H is organized in your county and the state, what some of the county programs emphases and events are and where the volunteer’s position fits is important here. A discussion of the mission, purpose and scope of the program will help the volunteer get comfortable with being part of a sometimes confusing array of activities.
3. Program management details Review nondiscriminatory policies; reports required; access to clerical support, if any; fund-raising restrictions; and the like. Adult behavioral expectations should be clear (see appendix for example). To whom does the volunteer report and how will the volunteer be evaluated?
4. Begin an individual volunteer development plan. As part of orientation, it is important to begin the volunteer on a path toward achieving their personal goals and furthering the work of 4-H by planned continuous development of knowledge and skill related to the volunteers’ role. An assessment of current knowledge and skill can serve to insure that the volunteer is properly placed and forms the basis for training to follow. Helping the volunteer know what training is planned and discussing other ways that needed knowledge and skills can be developed is key to getting the volunteer off to a good start and making them confident that we will help them become more competent in their role.
5. Benefits to the volunteer Discuss liability coverage and workers compensation. The availability of county vehicles, or reimbursement for travel, access to teaching kits, equipment, meeting rooms and the like can be mentioned here.

In general, orientation provides the opportunity to give essential start-up information to the volunteers, provides them a sense of being connected to the larger organization, introduces them to the "corporate culture", and gives you a chance to assess training needs and begin training.

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