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Prospective Shelby County 4-H Volunteer Letter
The Ohio State University Extension
__________________________________________________________________
Shelby County
810 Fair Road
Sidney, Ohio 45365-2949
Phone (937) 498-7239
Fax (937) 498-7241
Fall, 2007
Dear Prospective Shelby County 4-H Volunteer:
Let me take this opportunity to thank you for expressing an interest in becoming a Shelby County 4-H volunteer. Across Ohio, more than 25,000 adult and teen volunteers contribute their time, energies, and talents each year, enabling Ohio 4-H to reach nearly 300,000 youth and helping Ohio 4-H fulfill its mission of helping youth to become caring, capable, and contributing citizens. Here in Shelby County, more than 100 adult volunteers annually work with more than 800 youth to deliver the high quality positive youth development program known as 4-H. In selecting, screening, and placing 4-H advisors in Shelby County, we adhere to the Ohio State University Extension policies and procedures as described in the following paragraphs.
All individuals who are interested in volunteering with Ohio State University Extension and working with a member of a vulnerable population (minors, elderly over age 65, or individuals with disabilities) must complete a selection process under the direction of an Extension professional.
To more efficiently and effectively support our Ohio 4-H members, parents, volunteers, and professionals, Ohio State University Extension has a policy concerning the selection of individuals who desire to volunteer for the organization in a long-term and/or higher risk position. While the actual order of implementation may vary from county to county, all potential volunteers will: (1) receive a position description; (2) complete an application and return it to the Extension office; (3) have references collected by Extension professionals; (4) complete an interview; (5) submit to a criminal history fingerprint record check; (6) agree to and sign the volunteer standards of behavior form; and (7) participate in an orientation/training program.
Please know that all information related to the selection process may be updated periodically and will be kept in a secured file cabinet. This information will be kept on file for a minimum of three years following the receipt of your materials or the completion of your involvement as an Ohio 4-H volunteer (whichever is longest). The release of information will follow The Ohio State University and Ohio State University Extension operating procedures and will be in accordance with Ohio law.
Working with individuals in your community can bring you immense satisfaction as you help them grow, learn, develop, and succeed. Additionally, volunteering provides you an opportunity to gain new skills, help others, and meet new friends. We hope that you recognize the tremendous benefits of volunteering and will join us in helping ensure that everyone involved has a positive, educational experience.
To get you started with the process of becoming a Shelby County 4-H volunteer, we have enclosed three key pieces: (1) the volunteer application that must be completed and returned to the Extension Office; (2) the volunteer standards of behavior form that needs to be read, agreed to, signed, and returned to the Extension Office (Please keep the second copy for your files); and (3) a 4-H volunteer job description that is somewhat generic in nature, but helps describe the types of roles you may fill. Upon receipt of your completed paperwork, we will begin the process of contacting your references, and we will schedule both volunteer interviews and an orientation session for you and other potential new volunteers. Please feel free to pursue completing the BCI fingerprint web check through the Shelby County Sheriff’s Department at your earliest convenience….It must be completed before you can begin your volunteer work with Shelby County 4-H.
We appreciate your interest in volunteering as an advisor with the Shelby County 4-H Youth Development Program and your cooperation in completing all of the steps in the screening process. And, we look forward to potentially working with you.
Sincerely,
Carolyn Belczyk
Extension Educator
4-H and Youth Development
