Local Government Training:
An Engagement Tool For Extension
by
Rodney L. Clouser and Pete Vergot III
Gilchrist County, FL Courthouse
Why “Engage” County Government
Funding
Funding
Funding
Extension Funding
$ M 35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
95-96
2002-03
Fed
State
County
Core Components of Local Government
Training Engagement Effort
Establishment of Assistant Director-County Relations
Strengthen Relationship With Association of Counties
Establish County Administrator Advisory Group
Offer Assistance at No Cost
Begin Teaching Effort on Trial Basis
Develop Curriculum
Develop County Partner Day Program
Establish County Partner Award Program
Engage Elected County Officials In Programming:
Internationalizing Extension
Lessons Learned:
Establishment of Assistant Director
County Relations
Change In Structure and Organization Was Difficult
Shared Assumption: Less Administration
Is Better?
Not All View County Relationship As Important:
Loss of Control
Administration Outside Extension May Not View
Counties As Partner Nor Clientele
Lessons Learned:
Strengthen Relationship With Florida
Association of Counties
Full-Time Effort For First 18 Months
Frequent High Level Staff Changes
Credibility Must Be Established
Participate In As Many Association Activities As
Possible (Annual Meeting, Policy Meeting, Legislative
Meeting, Trainings, Etc.)
Payoff From This Effort Has Been Large: Statewide New
Commissioner Orientation, Important Committee
Appointments, CE Training, Commissioner Certification
Training, Commissioner Educational Needs Assessment,
Some Small Amounts of Funding, Etc.
Lessons Learned:
Establishment of County Administrator
Advisory Group
Important Because Administrator Makes First
Recommendation On County Budget
Turnover Rate of Administrator’s Is Very High
Distance and Their Responsibilities Makes It Difficult To
Have Face To Face Meetings
Be Careful of What You Wish For: If You Ask For Their
Advice They Expect You To Listen
Lessons Learned:
Develop County Partner Day Program
Many County Commissioners and Administrators May
Have Never Been On Campus
Others May Be Alumni Hunting For Ways To Return To
Campus Or Have Children In School
Program Is: “Gee Whiz…Oh My Gosh”, Demonstrations,
Candid Discussion With Director, Meal, Hands-On or
Fun Event (Tour, BB Game)
Mix Between Campus Based and Off Campus Base
75% Of All Counties Invited Participate
Event Can Become Too Large
Lessons Learned:
Establish County Partner Award Program
High Profile
In County
At Public Meeting
Limited Awards
Positive Public
Relations
Lessons Learned:
Commissioner Involvement in Programs
*Build It And They
Will Come… With
Some Effort
*Stronger
Understanding of
Extension
*Interactions With
International
Leaders That Aren’t
Easily Duplicated
Pictures of Local Government
Meeting And National General
Assembly Visit in Costa Rica
Examples of Impacts From Efforts….
Almost 70% (112) of All New County Commissioners
Elected Since 2000 Have Attended New Commissioner
Training Taught By Extension
Over 400 Commissioners and Administrators Have
Taken CE Course Taught by Extension Since 2000
Over 100 Commissioners Have Taken Voluntary
Certification Classes For Credit Taught By Extension
In Excess of $40,000 in Funding Has Been Obtained To
Develop Curriculum and Programs
Four Commissioners Have Participated in An 11 Day
International Development
Some Comparisons Pre and Post 2000
New Commissioner’s Training Taught By Extension:
Pre 0; Post 2
New Commissioners Taught By Extension: Pre 0; Post
112
Commissioners and Administrators Who Have Taken CE
Course Taught by Extension: Pre 0; Post 400+
Course Taught For CE Credit By Extension: Pre 0; Post
14
Commissioners Who Have Taken Voluntary Certification
Classes For Credit Taught By Extension: Pre 0; Post
100+
Future Plans…..?????????
Greater Emphasis on Individual Commissioner and
Commission Meetings
Include Commissioners and Administrators in More
Program Events …Example: International Extension
2003
Encourage Use of Technology By Association of
Counties for Training and Other Events
Inter-Agency Personnel Agreement With State
Association
More Time Needed Or Efforts May Be Maxed Out
New State Director Will Need To Assess Continuation