by Rodney L' Clouser and Pete Vergot III

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byRodney L. Clouser and Pete Vergot III

• Local Government Training
• An Engagement Tool For Extension

Gilchrist County, FL Courthouse
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Why Engage County Government

• Funding
• Funding
• Funding

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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
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Lessons LearnedEstablishment 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
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Lessons LearnedStrengthen 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.
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Lessons LearnedEstablishment of County
Administrator Advisory Group
Important Because Administrator Makes First
Recommendation On County Budget Turnover Rate of
Administrators 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
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Lessons LearnedDevelop 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 WhizOh 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
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Lessons LearnedEstablish County Partner Award
Program
High Profile In County At Public Meeting Limited
Awards Positive Public Relations
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Lessons LearnedCommissioner Involvement in
Programs
Build It And They Will Come With Some
Effort Stronger Understanding of
Extension Interactions With International
Leaders That Arent Easily Duplicated
Pictures of Local Government Meeting And National
General Assembly Visit in Costa Rica
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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
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Some Comparisons Pre and Post 2000
New Commissioners 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
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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