The Council’s Role
in Building Stakeholder
Relationships
County 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
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
Missouri Council Leadership Development: 21st Century Programs, Governance and Membership
May 2005
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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
Missouri Council Leadership Development: 21st Century Programs, Governance and Membership
May 2005
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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 … ”
Missouri Council Leadership Development: 21st Century Programs, Governance and Membership
May 2005
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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 ...”
Missouri Council Leadership Development: 21st Century Programs, Governance and Membership
May 2005
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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 …”
Missouri Council Leadership Development: 21st Century Programs, Governance and Membership
May 2005
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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. …”
Missouri Council Leadership Development: 21st Century Programs, Governance and Membership
May 2005
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Commissioner Focus Group
Commissioners want:
Ongoing communication:
• Succinct
• Instigated by councils, faculty, staff
Programs to assist:
• Their decision making
• County residents’ lives
Missouri Council Leadership Development: 21st Century Programs, Governance and Membership
May 2005
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How to Build Relationships
Listen, listen, listen
– Informal
conversation/formal
interview
– Capture
– Share
important points
findings
– Approach
with respect
Missouri Council Leadership Development: 21st Century Programs, Governance and Membership
May 2005
9
How to Build Relationships
Practice good listening skills
– Listen
with your face
– Establish
eye contact
– Concentrate
– Don’t
interrupt
Missouri Council Leadership Development: 21st Century Programs, Governance and Membership
May 2005
10
How to Build Relationships
Treat stakeholders as clients
– Ask
about their concerns, problems
– Suggest
how extension can help
– Refer
to faculty, Web sites and other
resources
– Answer
WIIFM?
Missouri Council Leadership Development: 21st Century Programs, Governance and Membership
May 2005
11
How to Build Relationships
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
Missouri Council Leadership Development: 21st Century Programs, Governance and Membership
May 2005
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How to Build Relationships
Invite stakeholders to serve on
council committees
– Match
their talents/skills with
leadership roles and program needs
Missouri Council Leadership Development: 21st Century Programs, Governance and Membership
May 2005
13
How to Build Relationships
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
Missouri Council Leadership Development: 21st Century Programs, Governance and Membership
May 2005
14
How to Build Relationships
Recognize stakeholders’
subgroups
– Establish
“Extension Heroes”
– Recognize
someone in ag, business,
government, etc. in stakeholder’s
group
– Garner
media attention
Missouri Council Leadership Development: 21st Century Programs, Governance and Membership
May 2005
15
How to Build Relationships
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
Missouri Council Leadership Development: 21st Century Programs, Governance and Membership
May 2005
16
How to Build Relationships
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
Missouri Council Leadership Development: 21st Century Programs, Governance and Membership
May 2005
17
How to Build Relationships
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
Missouri Council Leadership Development: 21st Century Programs, Governance and Membership
May 2005
18
How to Build Relationships
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
Missouri Council Leadership Development: 21st Century Programs, Governance and Membership
May 2005
19
How to Build Relationships
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
Missouri Council Leadership Development: 21st Century Programs, Governance and Membership
May 2005
20
How to Build Relationships
Communicate throughout the
year … not just at budget time!
Be enthusiastic !!
Missouri Council Leadership Development: 21st Century Programs, Governance and Membership
May 2005
21
The Council’s Role
in
Building Stakeholder Relationships
County Extension Council Training Module
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/
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.
Missouri Council Leadership Development: 21st Century Programs, Governance and Membership
May 2005
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