{"id":326,"date":"2019-10-07T18:56:31","date_gmt":"2019-10-07T18:56:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.oregonstate.edu\/mgcoordinators\/?p=326"},"modified":"2019-10-07T18:56:36","modified_gmt":"2019-10-07T18:56:36","slug":"volunteer-recruitment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dev.blogs.oregonstate.edu\/mgcoordinators\/2019\/10\/07\/volunteer-recruitment\/","title":{"rendered":"Selecting Prospective Master Gardener Volunteers"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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It’s volunteer recruitment season!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Every fall, most Extension Master Gardener Programs in Oregon open applications for their new class of volunteers. This might be a good time to take a look at the resources for Recruiting and Selecting new volunteers<\/a>, on the national Extension Master Gardener Coordinators website<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In general, many Extension Master Gardener Coordinators report increased success with a training class, when they build in time to talk with or interview prospective volunteers. Taking the time to meet with and talk to prospective volunteers provides an opportunity to make sure that each individual understands the volunteer commitment part of the program, and also the general structure and goals of the program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our group has developed a list of suggested questions <\/a>that you may want to ask prospective volunteers. Master Gardener Coordinators can also find the interview questions in the MG Recruitment Folder on Box<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nIf you have more applicants that you can accept into the program, you \nmay find it helpful to rank each applicant\u2019s answer.  This may help you \nchoose among multiple applicants.  \n\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The questions on the interview sheet are merely suggestions. You may modify these questions to meet the specific needs in your county. You may also want to ask prospective trainees to elaborate on their response to a particular question.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

IMPORTANT:  You must not ask age, marital status,\nchildren, race, religion, or sexual orientation. Avoid any personal questions\nother than those on the interview sheet that are pertinent to the candidate\u2019s\ngardening experience and ability to participate in the program. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you are conducting group\ninterviews, with multiple Master Gardener interviewers and multiple Master\nGardener applicants, a warm-up activity may help to break the ice.  A few ideas for the warm-up:<\/p>\n\n\n\n