Each year, thousands of individuals serve as volunteers for Cornell Cooperative Extension.  They extend and amplify the efforts of our paid staff.  They improve the quality of our work and increase enthusiasm for our programs throughout the state.  While these volunteers are a tremendous help to our system in carrying out our mission, having so many people work in a variety of settings with different levels of supervision can provide a management challenge!

  Defining an Association Volunteer

CCE Association Volunteers are individuals who neither receive nor expect to receive any monetary compensation for performance of services directly related to the business of CCE, to support its activities, or to gain experience in specific endeavors.  Individuals who receive payment beyond expenses incurred during performance of service (whether such payment be in the form of cash, goods, lodging, food, etc.) are not considered volunteers.  Persons wishing to become a CCE Volunteer must complete a volunteer application which includes providing three valid references.

  Who May Volunteer

Any member of the general public, students, former program participants, and current or retired employees of CCE may serve as CCE Association Volunteers with the following restrictions:

• Youth under the age of eighteen may serve in only those volunteer roles that do not require a signed volunteer agreement and may do so only with signed parental consent.  Youth engaged in service learning or community service activities are considered to be program participants and are not considered to be CCE Association Volunteers.
• An employee of CCE may not volunteer in a capacity that is the same or essentially similar to that individual’s paid work assignment.

Status of Association Volunteers

All Association Volunteers serve at the discretion of the CCE Association.  A volunteer’s supervisor may release the volunteer from service at any time.  A volunteer may discontinue his or her service at any time.  An individual occupying an elected position serves a term under the provisions of NY County Law 224 (8)(b), the Association Constitution and Cornell University , but may be released from other volunteer assignments within the Association.

  The CCE Association may, within its discretion, choose to discontinue the service of a volunteer.  Reasons for discontinuing service of a volunteer include, but are not limited to, a finding by the CCE Association that a volunteer intends to or has:

• Compromised the health or safety of program participants, employees, or members of the general public.
• Mismanaged public funds.
• Evidences a conflict of interest or commitment.
• Engaged in behavior that compromised the effectiveness of other volunteers or staff.

  Volunteers in all categories are expected to follow the CCE Association Volunteer Code of Conduct.  Supervisors may release volunteers who do not follow this code of conduct.

Volunteer Agreement

The Volunteer Agreement defines the relationship between the volunteer and the local CCE Association, confirms an understanding of each party’s responsibility to the other and declares the right of either party to terminate the relationship.  A signed volunteer agreement is required for an enrolled volunteer if it is determined that this volunteer’s decisions or activities raise the risk of personal injury or the potential for a liability claim against CCE.  Enrolled volunteer activities which will require a signed agreement include but are not limited to:

• Work with minors, individuals over 65, and individuals with disabilities.
• Work with confidential information.
• Laboratory work.
• Professional services.
• Travel of any kind.
• Work with animals.

  Safety and overall risk management for our volunteer force are a priority for Cornell Cooperative Extension. 

  All volunteers will undergo a DMV check prior to being allowed to act as a CCE Association Volunteer.  Volunteers who continue to serve on an ongoing basis will have their DMV check redone at least once every three (3) years.

  Any volunteers whose positions require them to work in an ongoing unsupervised setting with minors, individuals over 65, or individuals with disability are required to complete and pass a criminal background check prior to being allowed to act as a CCE Association Volunteer.  Volunteers who continue to serve on an ongoing basis will have their background check redone at least once every three (3) years.

• Authorization/Consent Form: Word Document | PDF

• Cornell Cooperative Extension Volunteer Agreement and Code of Conduct

• Fulton & Montgomery Counties Volunteer Application: Word Document | PDF

• Motor Vehicle Record Request Permission Form

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You can reach us at:
The Johnstown Hotel, 55 East Main Street, Suite 210, Johnstown, NY 12095
Telephone: 518-762-3909, Toll Free: 866-762-3909, Fax: 518-762-8155
E-mail: fultonmontgomery@cornell.edu
or: mastergardenerccefm@cornell.edu

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Fulton & Montgomery Counties provides equal program and employment opportunities.
The information given herein is supplied with the understanding that no discrimination is intended and no endorsement by Cooperative Extension is implied.

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This website was created by Empire Web Pages on April 12, 2000.
This page was most recently updated on August 03, 2006.