the council’s role in building stakeholder relationships county extension council training module...

The Council’s Rolein Building Stakeholder

RelationshipsCounty Extension Council

Training Module

Missouri Council Leadership Development — a partnership of the University of Missouri Extension State Council and University of Missouri Extension May 2005© 2005, University of Missouri Board of Curators

Missouri Council Leadership Development: 21st Century Programs, Governance and MembershipMay 2005 2

Objectives

Understand role in:– Establishing, maintaining stakeholder

relationships:

• County Commissioners

• Other County Officeholders

• State Legislators

• City Government Officials

• Local Funding Partners

– Communicating value of extension programs


Extension Stakeholders

Decision makers:– Have ownership for supporting extension

programs

– Along with their constituents, benefit from programs

– Have capacity to generate goodwill

– Can obtain resources to support Extension mission


State Statutes

Section 262.597— Financial budget for extension programs“... council, in cooperation with the county

commission and the university, shall prepare an annual financial budget covering the county's share of the cost of carrying on the extension services … ”


State Statutes

Section 262.600 — Monthly requisitions on county commission“ …council shall requisition the county

commission for the estimated amount of the month's expenditures” and “…submit to the county commission a certified, itemized statement of all expenditures ...”


State Statutes

Section 262.603 — Names of council members and officers given university and county commission “ …council shall present … a list of

members of the council and of its officers with statements signed by the chairman of the council certifying that the named officers have been duly elected …”


State Statutes

Section 262.617— Annual report to county commission “ …council, through its secretary, shall

make an annual detailed report to the county commission, covering all receipts and expenditures, together with a summary of work undertaken and results accomplished. …”


Commissioner Focus Group

Commissioners want:

Ongoing communication:

• Succinct

• Instigated by councils, faculty, staff

Programs to assist:

• Their decision making

• County residents’ lives


How to Build Relationships

Listen, listen, listen– Informal conversation/formal

interview

– Capture important points

– Share findings

– Approach with respect



Practice good listening skills– Listen with your face

– Establish eye contact

– Concentrate

– Don’t interrupt



Treat stakeholders as clients– Ask about their concerns, problems

– Suggest how extension can help

– Refer to faculty, Web sites and other resources

– Answer WIIFM?



Invite stakeholders to programs; host events– Co-sponsor open houses, coffees,

breakfasts, receptions

– Work with MU Alumni Association and other local entities

– Provide tour of local programs



Invite stakeholders to serve on council committees– Match their talents/skills with

leadership roles and program needs



Recognize stakeholders for their achievements– Send clippings from paper with

congratulatory note

– Keep scrapbook of extension articles and display at events

– Honor with awards, certificates



Recognize stakeholders’ subgroups– Establish “Extension Heroes”

– Recognize someone in ag, business, government, etc. in stakeholder’s group

– Garner media attention



Communicate throughout the year … not just at budget time!– “Adopt” one or more stakeholders

• Develop profile of person• Create plan to communicate regularly• Visits• E-mail• Phone, Mail• Events



Communicate throughout the year … not just at budget time!– Stay current with stakeholder’s concerns

• Read commission minutes

• Read/watch news coverage

• Discuss issues with stakeholder’s neighbors, friends

• Determine extension connection



Communicate throughout the year … not just at budget time!– Ask commissioner on council to

report about county concerns and how extension can help

– Drop by to visit

– Share program impacts, testimonials



Communicate throughout the year … not just at budget time!– Share copies of newsletters, fliers,

pass-along card, other materials as appropriate

– Send thank-you notes for program support



Communicate throughout the year … not just at budget time!– Participate in local fairs, displays,

events

– Participate in Legislative Day

– Share relationship ideas with other councils



Communicate throughout the year … not just at budget time!

Be enthusiastic !!


Produced by the Council Leadership Development Committee a partnership of the University of Missouri Extension State Council

and University of Missouri Extension

http://extension.missouri.edu/extcouncil/training/

The Council’s Rolein

Building Stakeholder RelationshipsCounty Extension Council Training Module

University of Missouri Extension does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability or status as a

Vietnam-era veteran in employment or programs.

the council’s role in building stakeholder relationships county extension council training module...

Documents

county commission council

council committeesmatch

council certifying

names of council members

county residents liveshow

elected state statutessection

annual report

annual financial budget