Extension Volunteer Programs
Volunteers represent an important part of the Extension delivery system in Mississippi. Being a volunteer gives you the satisfaction of working with many people throughout the state and a satisfaction in knowing you provide training and experience to those who really need it.Everyone has valuable skills to share, and there are those who need to learn certain skills. Volunteers get involved in many activities that are unfamiliar to them. Using the resources available through the Extension Service, you can gain a working knowledge in any area you chose. In doing so, you are able to engage people more effectively in community service to help solve local problems.
This brochure provides information about the Volunteer Programs offered through Mississippi State University Extension Service.
Master Teacher in Family Life
Master Teacher in Family Life volunteers live in limited-resource communities. These volunteers are trained to educate fellow residents about important issues in the areas of health, the family, education, and employment. They also create and sustain a network of those who want to make changes in these areas. The program is unique because it empowers individuals within communities to create and support long-term changes.Volunteer training includes the following topics:
- Values Awareness -- establishing mutual respect for values and attitudes of others
- Communication and Listening -- developing effective listening skills
- Problem Solving -- learning effective problem-solving strategies to empower limited-resource families
- Understanding Behavior of Adolescents and Children -- understanding human development
- Encouraging Responsible Behavior -- learning how to use information and skills to foster self-discipline in children and adults
- Program Planning in the Community -- using skills to strengthen communities and build support for long-term changes
- Health Issues -- understanding the helping role.
Louise Davis, Ph.D.
Child and Family Development Specialist
Box 9745, Mississippi State, MS 39762
Phone: 662-325-3083, Fax: 662-325-1805
E-mail: louised@ext.msstate.edu
Mississippi Master Gardener
The Master Gardener Volunteer Program is an educational program that enhances public knowledge in consumer horticulture. Through trained and supervised volunteers, it provides people with educational assistance in areas concerning lawns, fruits, vegetables, trees, and ornamentals.Under the guidance and support of Extension agents, participants in the program complete a training program, pass an examination, and volunteer a minimum of 40 hours per year through the local Extension Service office.
The Master Gardener Volunteer program allows Extension to extend education to an ever-increasing gardening audience and to meet the public demand for information. Statewide there are approximately 500 active Master Gardeners in 20 counties.
Example
Projects
| Answer telephone calls at Extension or Master Gardener offices |
| Assist with organizing and teaching Master Gardener classes |
| Civic and garden club presentations |
| Compile report of Master Gardener volunteer hours |
| Demonstration gardens |
| Extension advisory committees |
| Home garden visits |
| Horticulture therapy projects |
| Master Gardener newsletter |
| Media Relations |
| Teach gardening classes |
| Vegetable and flower shows |
| Work at garden clinics and county fairs |
| Write gardening information fact sheets |
| Youth garden programs |
Contact:
Freddie Raspberry, Ph.D.
State Master Gardener Coordinator
Box 9555, Mississippi State, MS 39762
Phone: 662-325-2311, Fax: 662-325-8742
E-mail: freddier@ext.msstate.edu
Master Clothing Volunteers
The Master Clothing Volunteer Program assists individuals in learning to plan, select, care for, construct, and alter clothing. Volunteers work with community groups, families, and youth to teach clothing construction and selection. Working in conjunction with county Extension staff, the volunteers develop county clothing plans, targeting programs and audiences.The program brings volunteers, professionals, and families together with representatives from the sewing industry, giving a new direction to home-based sewers, offering an opportunity for home-based businesses to be created.
Adults and youth are introduced to new materials, equipment, and supplies with levels of training and expertise being developed in an orderly manner.
The series includes old and new construction skills such as quilting, French hand sewing, appliqueing, and smocking.
Master Clothing Volunteer Programs are also organized to help address the clothing aspects of job-readiness skills for family members.
Contact:
Deborah Grayum
Master Clothing Volunteer Coordinator
Sunflower County Courthouse
200 North Main Street, Indianola, MS 38751
Phone: 662-887-1901, Fax: 662-887-6610
E-mail: sunflower@ext.msstate.edu
Master Naturalist Volunteers
The Master Naturalist Volunteer Program is a course to help participants become familiar with the landscape and natural history of Mississippi's coastal environments. Offered through Mississippi State University's Coastal Research and Extension Center in Biloxi, Master Naturalist is sponsored by the Chevron, U.S.A., Pascagoula Refinery in Pascagoula. Currently a pilot effort, this program will soon be available throughout the southeastern United States.Over a 14-week period, trainees are schooled in a wide range of topics that integrate information about the landscapes around them (basic geology, geomorphology, and hydrology), the habitats that make up these landscapes, and the major groups of organisms that reside within the landscapes. The connections and interactions of habitats and organisms on broader regional and global scales are also addressed along with key socially important issues regarding the environment. The underlying theme of this training program is that habitats exist and function as integrated parts of the overall landscape around us.
The program was developed to fill a growing need for trained individuals to assist with environmental education programs and events in coastal Mississippi and to help expand these efforts. Examples include in-school programs such as the Water Riches and Backyard Wildlife programs offered by the Mississippi State University Extension Service, and out-of-class programs such as the Annual Conservation Field Days sponsored by County Soil and Water Conservation Districts. Master Naturalists also assist with environmental festivals and events such as Earth Day and hazardous waste disposal days, and they serve as field trip guides for schools and other groups. These volunteers are of enormous value in developing and maintaining area nature trails and environmental monitoring programs.
Contact:
Mark W. LaSalle, Ph.D.
Extension Marine Resources Specialist
2710 Beach Blvd., Suite l-E, Biloxi, MS 39531
Phone: 228-388-4710, Fax: 228-388-1375
E-mail: markl@ext.msstate.edu
Mississippi Homemaker Volunteers, Inc.
The Mississippi Homemaker Volunteers organization (MHV) promotes programs that strengthen families, encourages participation in public decision making, and trains volunteers. Membership is open to anyone concerned about families and communities. The only requirements for membership are an interest in enhancing the quality of life for families and a willingness to share the responsibilities of making the club a success.Topics of Interest
- Leadership
- Skills
- Family Issues
- Public Policy and Decision Making
- Literacy
- Community Involvement Skills
- Personal Development
- Nutrition, Health, and Diet
Special statewide projects include the following:
- Providing 100 therapy dolls per month to Mississippi Children's Hospital in Jackson; dolls are used in therapy for children with life-threatening diseases.
- Donations of books, clothing, and toys are supplied daily.
- Financial assistance to the expansion and renovation of Children's Hospital.
- Active involvement with the Mississippi Legislature to change child-occupant protection and blood alcohol level laws to help protect Mississippi's children.
Bettye Wadsworth
Leadership Development Specialist
Box 9644, Mississippi State, MS 39762
Phone: 662-325-3360, Fax: 662-325-8407
E-mail: bettyew@ext.msstate.edu
4-H Volunteers
4-H is the Cooperative Extension System's dynamic, informal, educational program for today's young people. The program combines the cooperative efforts of youth, volunteer leaders, Mississippi State University, federal-state-local governments, and the U. S. Department of Agriculture. Mississippi's 4-H program assists youth in acquiring knowledge, developing life skills, and forming attitudes that will allow them to become self-directing, productive, and contributing members of society.The 4-H youth program helps young people develop their potential through "hands-on" (experiential) educational programs that stress leadership development and life skills training. Volunteers leaders are of vital importance to the delivery of 4-H programs in all county Extension offices.
Volunteers serve the youth of Mississippi through the following roles:
- Activity leaders
- Club organizational leaders
- Project leaders
- Resource leaders
- Teen leaders
- Transportation leaders
- Annual volunteer conferences
- County training
- District leader forums
- Leadership 2000 and 2001
- Regional volunteer forums
Harvey L. Gordon
Extension Specialist, 4-H Youth Development
Telephone: 662-325-3353; Fax: 662-325-5207
Box 9641
Mississippi State, MS 39762
E-mail: harveyg@ext.msstate.edu
Mississippi State University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, or veteran status.
Miscellenous 1037
Extension Service of Mississippi State University, cooperating with
U.S. Department of Agriculture. Published in furtherance of Acts of
Congress, May 8 and June 30, 1914. Ronald A. Brown, Director
Copyright by Mississippi
State University. All rights reserved.
This document may be copied and distributed for nonprofit educational
purposes provided that credit is given to the Mississippi State University
Extension Service.
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