Criteria for Master Gardener (MG) Volunteers According to the Official Volunteer Guidebook, University of Tennessee Extension

Three Levels of Volunteers:

· Intern MG Volunteer: participating in 40 hours of UT Extension training and beginning 40 hours of initial volunteer service and 8 Continued Education Units.

· Certified MG Volunteer: has passed the tests during class and completed the 40 hour commitment of volunteer service and 8 continued education units (CEU), or an individual who recertifies by maintaining 25 hours of volunteer service plus 8 CEU’s.

· Master Gardener, VIP: a Certified Master Gardener who has remained with the volunteer program for a minimum of three years, and/or has provided exceptional service for the program’s mission.

Volunteer Status:

· Active Status: The MG certificate is valid for one year. Advanced training and re-certification are available for those wishing to continue. Re-certification for volunteers who wish to maintain active status and recertify should include an annual minimum requirement of 25 volunteer hours and 8 CEU’s.

· Inactive Status: MG’s may join this category if they are unable to complete the above annual requirements, but would like the opportunity to return to active service in the future. An Inactive Status Form must be completed for Extension Agent approval. The request is valid for one year.

· Lifetime Status: Certified MG’s who have provided 10 years of continuous service to the program. Lifetime status does not require annual re-certification. To be eligible for lifetime status, records of service must be accurate and in line with the guidelines of the TMG program.

· Out-of-State: Volunteers must provide proof of enrollment in an out-of-state program (a letter from former coordinator or certificate). Volunteers must also audit the TMG course where the work is performed. Registration fees will apply which includes the cost of the TMG handbook.

Continued Education

MG’s are encouraged to continue learning new horticulture related information. 8 hours of personal TMG Continued Education Units (CEU’s) are required for annual re-certification. To earn a CEU credit, you “receive” education for yourself that you will pass on to others. Examples of CEU’s: lectures or field days sponsored by UT Extension (or other University), Master Gardener training class sessions, botanical garden lectures, other horticulture related lectures, etc.

“A.C.E.” Volunteer Service Hours

Three Categories:

· “A” = Administrative/Agricultural

· “C” = Community

· “E” = Education

*Volunteer Service hours will no longer be weighted in the different categories. As a volunteer you are “on-your-honor” to fulfill your annual commitment in each area to the best of you ability. The total must be 40 hours for interns and 25 hours for certified MG’s. Both interns and certified MG’s are also required to earn 8 CEU credits/year.

Administrative/Agricultural: Hours contributed while conducting organizational work for Master Gardener activities, projects, county organizations or the Extension office. Examples of “A” hours include coordinating MG’s to help with the county fair, recording hours into the TMG annual report database, committee meetings, fundraisers, serving on the Executive committee or newsletter committee etc.

Community: Hours are contributed while working on MG approved community projects that are non-educational. Examples of “C” hours include replanting flowers in the welcome sign or Extension entrance planter, working at the county/state fair, assist with plant sale, church/school/other group tree planting, weeding, planting flowers, maintaining projects etc.

Education: Hours are contributed while teaching or preparing MG or Extension education programs, answering horticulture questions, writing articles or during office duty in the Extension office. You are “giving” education to someone else. Examples of “E” include writing newsletter articles, timely tips for website, research for educational programs, teaching home-garden program for school or other civic group, educational demonstrations given for clubs, fairs or festivals, MG Hotline, giving gardening advice, etc.

* This is different from a CEU in that you are contributing (giving) education to another entity rather than getting (receiving) education.

Reporting Volunteer Service

Mileage

Mileage should be reported on your Volunteer Service Report Form (Contact Sheet) for volunteer service hours (ACE). This report may be used to keep up with mileage to use as a deduction on tax returns. Travel time to and from CEU opportunities does not count toward volunteer hour requirements. Travel time to and from ACE opportunities does count toward volunteer hour requirements.

Calculating Service Hours

MG volunteers may consider reporting service hours and CEU’s trivial, but the importance of this is critical to the success and continued support of the TMG Volunteer Program. Quantifying time invested in these activities and the numbers of people reached through our activities are important measures that demonstrate the work of the MG Volunteer Program.

Recommended MG Volunteer Service Activities

The following activities are by no means a complete list, but instead are examples to give better understanding of how the MG program operates.

Extension Office Work:

· Answering home gardening and pest management phone calls and helping visitors at the county Extension office

· Compiling mail-outs; organizing Extension newsletters and phone schedules for MG program.

· Organizing reference material, publications and files for MG’s to disseminate

· Accepting plant, disease, insect or soil samples for the Extension office.

Record Keeper:

· Managing and requesting hours from volunteers.

· Assisting county agent with compiling volunteer service hours for all MG’s in the county; entering hours into the TMG database.

Social & Special Events:

· Coordinating with home and garden shows, county fairs, gardening information booths, diagnostic clinics, etc.

· Picking up or delivering supplies for programs, plant clinics, exhibits, seminars, conferences or other MG functions.

· Preparing displays, posters, advertisements or any artwork that benefits or represents the MG program.

· Serving as special events coordinator/organizing field trips.

Journalism:

· Writing articles for the local association newsletter.

· Photographing events/projects.

· Serving as newsletter chair, communications director etc.

Research:

· Working on research projects and reports to develop and disseminate information or seeking grants under supervision of the county Extension agent.

Community Projects:

· Serving as project coordinator/chair.

· Serving as MG group liaison (coordinating programs with other agencies).

· Example projects include: Plant-a-Row for the Hungry, Habitat for Humanity, county fair, school outdoor classrooms, etc.

Scrapbook/Historian:

· Collecting articles and photos of the MG activities and recording the history of the group.

Presentations/Programs:

· Organizing, researching, planning and presenting programs/classes to civic or garden clubs, schools, MG classes or meetings, conferences etc.

· Serving as a speaker’s bureau coordinator or program director.

MG Training Classes:

· Assisting with assembly of written materials and handouts, equipment setup, refreshments etc.

· Serving as class coordinator/selection committee.

· Organizing a Mentor Program (Bud Sprout).

What’s Up Network:

· Receiving and disseminating information provided by the state MG coordinator and the county MG coordinator and distributing to the county MG group (via email, newsletters, website etc.).

Youth Gardening Activities:

· Assist classroom teachers with gardening projects, school gardens or landscapes (involving students).

· 4-H Youth activities

· Mentor Junior Master Gardener program in county.

The Official Volunteer Guidebook can be accessed on the office TMG website.

Official Tennessee Master Gardener Website:

http://mastergardeners.tennessee.edu

Montgomery County Master Gardener Website: