Advocacy Makes A Powerful Difference – Locally!

Mark Tucker

County Extension Director

Forsyth County, NC

Forsyth County, NC

• Population – 350,670• Extension Staff – 21 positions

– 11 agents / educators– 7 Program Assistants / Technicians– 3 support staff

Forsyth County, NC CES

• County Budget - $800,000– County Building– County Vehicles– County Benefits

Advocacy

• Advocacy is an on-going process. • If you wait for a crisis it may be too late.• Personally my philosophy has changed

concerning advocacy and working with elected officials. My job as CED is to help educate decision makers about Extension Programs.

Advocacy vs Lobbying

• Advocacy – arguing for a cause on another’s behalf

• Lobby – to seek to influence (legislation) on behalf of a special interest

Advocacy

– The Two Most Important Questions in Politics• How many of you know your legislators, policy-makers

and/or influencers?• How many of your legislators, policy-makers and/or

influencers know you?

– The Bottom-line • It is equally important for you to know them and for them

to know you.

Advocacy

• The Strategy– Guiding Principles

• 3 Know’s– Know who you are.– Know who you are talking to.– Know what is important to who you are talking to.

• 3 Be’s– Be flexible.– Be relentless.– Be honest.

Advocacy

• State Level– educate agents (4-H, FCS, Statewide)– Educate statewide volunteer groups (ALS,

ECA and 4-H volunteers)• ALS member – “train us on what you want us to

say or we will go say what is on our minds”

Advocacy

• Forsyth County Level– Plan– Market and Communicate– Engage

Purpose of ALS• Programming• Resource Development• Marketing

– Provide communication to key groups• Advocacy

– Build and nurture relationships with key leaders, citizens and elected officials

http://als.ces.ncsu.edu/

Preparing for Advocacy(Plan)

• Selection of ALS members (21 + 124)• Review strengths and relationships of

volunteers– 300+ EMGV’s– 100+ ECA– Growers

Preparing for Advocacy(Plan)

• Select / match county advocate for each state legislator

• Keep ALS and other advocates informed of situation

Preparing For Advocacy(Market)

• Keys:– Listen and learn issues and elected

officials interests • Operation Military Kids• Steeplechase

– Commissioner’s “pet” project, prior 4-H comments– Significant risk– Lots of work (Impacts minimal, marketing potential

great)– Concerns could have made a decision not to

participate easy.*New respect for 4-H, offer of County “4-H” Camp

Preparing For Advocacy (Know Yourself)

• Involve / Inform Advocates– Keep them informed of issues– Keep them active in programs– Help them to see their connection

(especially at state level)– Offer opportunities to develop their

“testimonials” (Market)

Preparing For Advocacy(Market)

• Help Elected Officials to Know Extension before the crisis– Mass Media

• Staff training by Extension and local tv station• Media personality speakers• Volunteer / partner awards

– Report To People– County Government Relations/Involvement

• County versus state agency

Preparing For Advocacy(Engage)

• Help Elected Officials to Know Extension before the crisis– Volunteer Recognition / Report To People

• Elected Officials tell the story / present awards about their activities with Cooperative Extension. Volunteers tell why they volunteer with Extension.

• 2011 – 5 commissioners, 3 State Representatives, municipal elected officials and judges.

Preparing For Advocacy(Engage)

• Help Elected Officials to Know Extension before the crisis– Elected Officials Breakfast

• Partnership with Farm Bureau• Educate on Agricultural Issues

– Farmland Protection (VAD Chair), City Councilman– Local Foods – Farmer, Agribusinessman– 4 Commissioners, 1 state rep, 4 city council reps,

Sheriff, Judges

Preparing For Advocacy(Engage)

• Help Elected Officials to Know Extension before the crisis– 4-H Events (Recognition programs,

livestock events, etc.)• 4-H Citizenship Focus • Forsyth Citizenship Focus

Preparing For Advocacy(Engage)

• Help Elected Officials to Know Extension before the crisis– 4-H Citizenship Focus

• Youth attending learn about all three branches of state government, discuss how the work of government impacts them, and develop the tools necessary to develop a localized action plan for their community. They hear from a variety of state officials and identify opportunities for teen engagement in the political and governmental life of North Carolina.

Preparing For Advocacy(Engage)

• 4-H Citizenship Focus (2 youth per county)• Individual Appointments with State Senators

and Representatives• Action Plans

– Law and Order – Forsyth (included parliamentary procedures training, elections, and a mock trial)

– Voter Registration Drive– County Youth Council (appointed by

Commissioners)

Preparing For Advocacy(Engage)

• Help Elected Officials to Know Extension before the crisis– Forsyth 4-H Citizenship Focus

• Planned with youth (25 participants)– Presentations by Chair of Commissioner, Deputy

County Manager, Sheriff, Elections Director, Budget Director, lunch with 5 of 7 Commissioners, recognized at Commissioners Briefing

Advocacy

• The Strategy– Strategic Leadership– Strategic Communication– Strategic Relationships– Strategic Action (Let others tell your story –

you have to prepare them)

A Culture of Advocacy!

Questions?