Planning for Extension Leadership Councils

Planning for Extension Leadership Councils

Eric Kaufman

Extension Specialist

Virginia Cooperative Extension

Objectives for this Session

• Describe the role of Extension Leadership Councils (ELCs)

• Identify practices for developing ELC membership

• Outline a plan for engaging an ELC• Share resources for implementation &

evaluation

Who is Eric Kaufman?• Associate Professor &

Extension Specialist @ VT

• Support Virginia Cooperative Extension Leadership Council

• Coordinator of Strengthening Extension Advisory Leaders (SEAL) program

A Place to Begin…

VA Secretary of Education Report (2011)

Observation of Extension Leadership Council:

“While the group appears to be representative of many interests within VCE, this group could be better utilized to communicate with local volunteers and lead advocacy efforts in addition to helping to surface issues from the field or local constituencies.”

Among the primary recommendations:

“Strengthen the role of the local ELC and their work on the local level with various constituencies and stakeholders.”

Provide Input

What is the most important task of an Extension Leadership Council?

Provide Output

(i.e. Advocacy)

Provide Input

What is the most important task of an Extension Leadership Council?

Provide Output

(i.e. Advocacy)

Extension Leadership Councils

• Mission:To advance and promote Virginia Cooperative Extension’s programs and presence in the local community

• Areas of Work– Relationship Building– Extension Advocacy– Program Support &

Advisement

Relationship Building Role

• Expand the communication network of the agent

• Ensure all sub-groups of community are served by Extension

Extension Advocacy Role

• Share Extension’s story with minimal conflicts of interest

• Extend the presence of reliable sources of information

Program Support & Advisement

• Maintain stakeholders at the center of programming

• Guide investment and allocation of resources

VCE Programming Model

State of ELCs in VCE (2011)

According to Unit Coordinators & ELC Chairs:• There is a predominant lack of clarity

regarding purpose, role, expectations, & tasks of unit ELCs– 55% are “functioning fairly well” – 31% are “staff-dependent” – 9% “exist on paper only”– 5% are “non-existent”

State of ELCs in VCE (2011)

• # of unit ELC meetings per year:– Range: 0-14– Average: 3.8

• # of members of a unit ELC:– Range: 5-33– Average: 13.7

• # of members attending each meeting:– Range: 3-22– Average: 8.4

Inneffective or Very Inneffec-

tive

Neither Nor Effective or Very Effective

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

Ratings of Effectiveness with ELC Func-tions (2011)

Extension Ad-vocacyRelationship BuidlingProgram Ad-visement

%

HOW DO WE MAKE SURE THE ELC IS THERE WHEN WE NEED IT?

GEMS Volunteer Development

• Generate

• Educate

• Mobilize

• Sustain

GEMS Model: Generate Phases

• Needs Assessment

• Position Description

• Identify

• Recruit

• Select

Who Are Your Stakeholders?

Reasons for Volunteering (Spearman, 2011)

1. Desire to serve others and improve the community

2. Give back to society through Extension volunteerism

3. Positive attitudes and interests about Extension

4. Desire for value and meaningful service

5. Prior positive experience with Extension

Candidate WorksheetWhat interests does the candidate represent?

How will the candidate contribute?

Is the candidate a good fit?

GEMS Model: Educate Phases

• Orient

• Protect

• Resource

• Teach

How do your prepare members?

Orientation Checklist

• Overview of VCE• Introduce Local

Programs• Define ELC• Describe Local ELC• Obtain Commitment• Continue Education

Sample Position DescriptionIdentify a clear purpose.

Offer options for involvement.

Obtain a commitment.

GEMS Model: Mobilize Phases

• Engage

• Motivate

• Supervise

Do your meetings look like this?

VCE Programming Model

Purpose-Driven AgendaLead with questions:• How has our community changed

in the past year or two?• Which Extension programs relate

most to current community needs?

• How can Extension programs be improved or restructured to better meet community needs?

• Which stakeholders and policy makers need to know more about Extension’s programs and efforts?

• How can we better advertise and promote Extension’s programs?

• Which programs, staff members, and volunteers deserve extra recognition for recent accomplishments?

GEMS Model: Sustain Phases

• Evaluate

• Recognize

• Redirect

• Retain

• Disengage

When it’s not working…

Responsibility ReportRegular 360-degree evaluation is key.

Best Ways to Retain Volunteers (Spearman, 2011)

1. Provide meaningful engagement opportunities

2. Provide training opportunities

3. Appreciate and recognize service

4. Respect volunteer time and inputs

5. Provide challenging opportunities for leadership improvement

Organizing the Plan

• Community Needs Assessment (August?)

• Program Review & Planning (November?)

• Program Promotion (February?)

• Recognition (May?)

Community Needs Assessment• How has our

community changed in the past year or two?

• Which community needs relate most to Extension’s mission and program areas?

Program Review & Planning• Which Extension

programs relate most to current community needs?

• How can Extension programs be improved or restructured to better meet community needs?

Program Promotion• Which stakeholders

and policy makers need to know more about Extension’s programs and efforts?

• How can we better advertise and promote Extension’s programs?

Recognition• Which programs, staff

members, and volunteers deserve extra recognition?

• How can we better recognize and support these individuals and programs?

Importance of Minutes…

Extension Leadership Councils

• Mission:To advance and promote Virginia Cooperative Extension’s programs and presence in the local community

• Areas of Work– Relationship Building– Extension Advocacy– Program Support &

Advisement

SEAL Course Sitehttp://bit.ly/ExtAdvisory

Questions & Discussion

Webinar Evaluation: http://bit.ly/SEAL-eval

For More Info

• Strengthening Extension Advisory Leaders

(SEAL) Curricula: http://bit.ly/ExtAdvisory

• Eric Kaufman, EKaufman@VT.Edu