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Virginia Cooperative Extension Volunteer Month recognizes Scott County volunteers throughout October
Gate City, Va., September 22, 2010 – As Virginians everywhere celebrate the accomplishments of more than 36,000 Extension volunteers in October, the local community will have an opportunity to recognize the Extension volunteers who donate their time and talents to Scott County during Virginia Cooperative Extension Volunteer Month.
Gov. Bob McDonnell has issued a proclamation declaring October to be Virginia Cooperative Extension Volunteer Month. The proclamation acknowledges the value of Extension volunteers to Virginia citizens and salutes the state’s Extension Leadership Councils (ELCs) – groups of citizens who help design, implement, and evaluate Extension’s community-based programs.
“Whether enhancing and protecting the quality of our land and water resources, giving families the information they need to become healthy and financially secure, creating opportunities for 4-H youth to develop life skills through a strong science-based curriculum, or providing education to small business owners and local leaders to help them create business-friendly communities, our volunteers serve their local communities in ways that transcend a dollar amount,” said Eddie Hannah, chair of the State ELC. “Our network of volunteers brings research-based solutions to Virginia’s homes, farms, businesses, and communities.”
According to a report from Independent Sector, more than 36,000 Extension volunteers donated more than 1.1 million hours of their time in 2008, valued at nearly $24.6 million. This includes volunteers from the Master Gardener program, established in 1979, and the Master Food Volunteer program, established in 2010.
Extension will focus on specific aspects of the organization during each week of October:
• Week 1: 4-H volunteers, coincides with National 4-H Week, Oct. 3-9.
• Week 2: ELC members and community viability volunteers.
• Week 3: Agriculture and natural resource volunteers.
• Week 4: Family and consumer science volunteers.
“Every year, Virginia Cooperative Extension counts on the energy and talent of hardworking volunteers who bring the knowledge of Virginia’s land-grant universities – Virginia Tech and Virginia State University – to communities both rural and urban,” said Alan Grant, dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and interim director of Extension. “Virginia Cooperative Extension Volunteer Month gives us a way to show our thanks to our volunteers and supporters who make it possible for us to deliver programs that improve the quality of life for Virginians.”
For information about volunteering for Extension in Scott County, contact Scott Jerrell at sjerrell@vt.edu or 276-452-2772
Virginia Cooperative Extension brings the resources of Virginia's land-grant universities, Virginia Tech and Virginia State University, to the people of the commonwealth. Through a system of on-campus specialists and locally based agents, it delivers education in the areas of agriculture and natural resources, family and consumer sciences, community viability, and 4-H youth development. With a network of faculty at two universities, 106 county and city offices, 11 agricultural research and Extension centers, and six 4-H educational centers, Virginia Cooperative Extension provides solutions to the problems facing Virginians today.