ADDITIONAL INDEX WORDS: Leadership Development, Extension SUMMARY The VCE Master Gardener Coordinator Manual, 14-chapter resource book, was developed

cooperatively with teams of Master Gardeners (MG), coordinators, and agents to enhance coordinators ’ skills in managing the local VCE MG program. The manual includes chapters on VCE MG management components such as risk management; job descriptions; recruitment and screening; and volunteer review, recognition, and retention. Additional resources within the manual include a synopsis of educational program planning, implementation, and evaluation, as well as a copy of the current VCE Master Gardener Program Policies and the volunteer section of the Virginia Master Gardener Handbook, which serves as program orientation for new or prospective trainees. The VCE Master Gardener Coordinator Manual was the basis of four local MG coordinator training sessions in 1998. Evaluation of the manual identified areas for enhancement prior to final publication. It showed that coordinators are using the manual. They are adapting the suggestions and samples to fit their local programs despite the fact that more planning time is often required. Use of the manual has 19 also resulted in increased understanding of VCE goals and the role of the MG by MG volunteers, coordinators, and other paid VCE staff; a slight increase in leadership skills of MGs; and increasing interest and demand for information on training MG to design and implement strong educational horticulture programs for Virginia communities