Masters Theses

Date of Award

12-2002

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

Major

Agricultural and Extension Education

Major Professor

Roy R. Lessly

Committee Members

Randol G. Waters, Martha Keel

Abstract

Statement of Problem

Extension is changing and so is the role of FCS agents working with the TAFCE. At present, many new FCS agents advising with TAFCE are not given adequate guidance as to their role with TAFCE. To continue to provide quality educational materials and meet the needs of TAFCE it is important that The Agricultural Extension Service stay in touch with TAFCE members and aware of their needs.

Purpose of Study

The purpose of this study was to describe the Tennessee Family and Community Education club in terms of organizational purpose, influence, membership characteristics, educational programs, relationships with the Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service, and the impact of the organization on the individual, community. For a more complete idea of educational program results, extent of volunteerism and financial support in communities, leadership and personal development, and the relationship TAFCE has with Extension, both the FCS agents and the TAFCE members were included in this study.

The Sample

This study consists of two populations. The first population was Tennessee Family and Community Education Club members. Tennessee has a total of 11,654 members in four districts. A random sample of 406 was selected for this study. A list of numbers was generated using a computer program to correlate with numbers assigned to the TAFCE membership list. A list was obtained from each of the four district TAFCE secretaries.

The survey was submitted and approved exempt study by a review board. The survey was conducted by direct mailing. The survey was mailed to the selected TAFCE members with a cover letter outlining the need for the study and the confidentiality of the survey. The fact that this survey was strictly voluntary was also stated. A self-addressed stamped envelope was included for the return of the survey.

The second population surveyed was the University of Tennessee Agricultural FCS agents with TAFCE responsibility. The survey was conducted by E-mail with a letter outlining the need for the survey. The issue of confidently and it being a voluntary survey were also addressed in the letter. A follow up letter was sent three weeks later by E-mail.

A questionnaire was developed to answer the research objectives of the study. Data gathered for the study were analyzed using SPSS 11.0.1.

Major Findings

The study revealed that TAFCE members are predominantly an older, white, female group. Most do not work outside the home and less than 9 percent have children at home. TAFCE members are generally well educated - 90 percent have a high school education or better. There were more respondents with adult age children and not employed outside of the home.

The majority of the agents who responded have worked less than 15 years and have 10 or less county clubs and 50 to 150 TAFCE members.

Both groups perceived the most important purpose of TAFCE to be education, secondly community service, thirdly leadership development and fourth, social. While both groups ranked the purposes the same, the members viewed education and community service more important than did the agents.

Both groups perceived the most important role of Extension in TAFCE to be to provide educational materials and the least important to be that of member recruitment.

TAFCE is most valuable to retirees and middle age homemakers and has the least impact on single parents and young homemakers. Both the TAFCE members and agents perceive that TAFCE has the greatest influence on retirees. The members perceived TAFCE to have an overall positive influence on themselves and their families.

Recommendations

The TAFCE organization should continue to encourage younger members and to promote the Civil Rights statement "The Agricultural Extension Service offers its programs to all eligible persons regardless of race, age, gender, national origin, or disability..." TAFCE members and agents need to realize they can not be all things to all people. TAFCE should remain open to all and continue to define its program areas toward older women and provide educational materials for different life styles, but if the organization is going to survive it must market its programs to a younger audience. In the opinion of the researcher, if Extension wants to continue to promote TAFCE as a vital Extension program, agents must "think outside the box" and provide non-traditional opportunities to promote TAFCE to a younger audience. Examples of these opportunities are adjusting meeting times and places that fit into a young homemakers' schedule. Lunch and night meetings, special events, mother's day out programs and an on-line TAFCE club that uses the internet for chats and information, were also examples. Agents need to enlist the "traditional" older members to promote TAFCE to a younger audience by providing a mentoring club, or the predominantly older members sponsor a younger club.

The lack of continuity between the agents' perceptions of the purposes of TAFCE indicates to the researcher that there is not a clear idea of TAFCE or the agents' role in the organization. The purpose of TAFCE as stated by the National Home Demonstration Council is to further strengthen, develop, coordinate and extend adult education in home economics...and promote the progressive improvement of home and community. The Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service Family and Consumer Sciences program has a similar purpose to improve family and community life. Since both groups have a similar purpose, efforts should be made to bring these groups stronger together for this common purpose. A team should be developed consisting of FCS specialist, FCS agents and TAFCE members to develop high quality educational materials.

Community service was also considered to be an important purpose. The TAFCE board needs to develop a better plan in promoting the state-wide service projects so there will be more participation at the county level. This would give more continuity across the state and show greater impact.

TAFCE should have as its major purpose education with community service and leadership development as secondary purposes. Programs should be developed with these purposes in mind. The researcher found it surprising that both the TAFCE members and agents ranked the social aspect last. From personal observations of the researcher, the social aspect tends to be the focus of the majority of the members. Other indications of the data lends the researcher to believe that the members perceive TAFCE to be more of a social time for example the value of agent presenting programs at club meetings and the lack of value placed on leadership development/officer training.

A clear definition and focus of TAFCE needs to be established. If the composition of TAFCE is going to remain predominantly an older, white female population, the focus needs to be on programs that are relevant to that population. Program planners may want to develop and present programs on issues related to an older population such as health issues, money saving tips and hobbies. However, if the TAFCE organization wants to promote younger homemakers and single parents' participation, programs should be planned and implemented to encourage that groups' participation. Programs area interests are not going to be the same for retirees as it would be for younger homemakers so TAFCE program planners will have to be creative to provide educational materials to meet the needs of different life styles and cycles.

In an advisor capacity, Extension needs to encourage and develop programs that will continue to have a positive influence on TAFCE members and their families.

With education being the main purpose of TAFCE, Extension needs to continue providing quality educational materials for use by FCS agents and TAFCE leaders. In the opinion of the researcher, TAFCE needs to remain a vital Extension program, but Extension is changing and agent advisors and TAFCE members need to be aware of those changes and realize how these changes affect TAFCE. FCS agents have less time to devote to managing TAFCE. Extension should promote the role of advisor and not the manager of TAFCE. Extension should wean the organization away from being dependent on FCS agents.

TAFCE is an organization to promote better life for families and communities. Extension is also an organization that promotes better life for families and communities. One way Extension promotes this is by training and encouraging leadership development. TAFCE members do not perceive leadership development and officer training to be as important a role of Extension as do the agents. TAFCE program planners need to develop a program to orientate TAFCE members to want to participate in leadership and officer training. If this takes place, FCS agents will not have to spend as much time "managing" the TAFCE organization. The researcher concludes from this study that TAFCE members are relying too much on the FCS agent for guidance and management. TAFCE members as a whole need to take more ownership for their organization and not just come to the meetings to be entertained.

If TAFCE is to continue to be a vital part of the University of Tennessee Extension program, Extension should develop a clear job description or definition for FCS agents working with TAFCE clubs. It should be part of new workers orientation to learn about the function of TAFCE and their role as an agent advisor to the TAFCE organization. Inservices should also be provided to FCS agents. Many new agents are expected to know everything about the different aspects of Extension and at times are left without any directions. This job description or definition of responsibilities should also be clearly stated to the FCS agents, TAFCE leaders and members.

Download
Files over 3MB may be slow to open. For best results, right-click and select "save as..."

Share

COinS