Joint Council of Extension Professionals

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Joint Council of Extension Professionals

• Communicating with Legislators
• Presented to the
• JCEP Regional Workshops 2005

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• Jennifer Garner, Special Assistant to the
  Chancellor, University of Wisconsin-Extension
• Ben Miller, Assistant Dean for Communications and
  External Relations, College of Agricultural and
  Life Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison

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Today we hope to accomplish the following

• Help Extension Educators identify and articulate
  the work they do to successfully design relevant
  messages for decision makers.
• Help Extension Educators identify who and where
  key stakeholders are and how to effectively
  communicate with them.
• Engage Extension Educators on strategies for
  engaging and informing elected officials.

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Why is this important?

• A. In times of budget pressure, decision makers
  must rank funding priorities. For Extension
  educators to continue to receive adequate
  funding they must take their good work and place
  it in a framework that allows them to leverage
  their political assets so that decision makers
  will make them a priority.

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Why is this important?

• B. What motivates decision makers? Lawmakers
  expend their political capital by working on
  issues that will help them respond to the
  voters that elect them and the donors that
  fund their re-election campaign.

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What are your political assets and how do you use
them?

• Exercise 1
• Let us now write a statement that describes who
  you are and what you do?
• How would you describe yourself to a complete
  stranger?

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SECS Framework

• Statement
• Evidence
• Conclusion
• When you communicate with politicians you must be
  prepared to deliver your information in a clear,
  brief manner. Unlike the academic world, you get
  no extra points for verbosity!!

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Examples of SECS Framework

• Statement--
• Evidence--
• Conclusion--

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Relevancy and Value?

• Exercise 2
• Let us now write about what you do and why it is
  relevant and valuable to a lawmaker in your
  state.

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Keys to Success How is Extension Different?

• 1. Connection to the research base.
• 2. Unbiased and objective. We dont deliver
  serviceswe are educators. This is particularly
  important in family living and 4-H/Youth
  Development. Some legislators think we are
  social service workers.

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Keys to Success How is Extension Different?

• 3. We use the research base to deliver best
  practices adapted to the needs and priorities of
  local communities while also being able to
  address statewide needs because of our statewide
  presence. (Smart Growthstatewide need Teen
  Violence survey-local need)

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Exercise 3

• Let us now think about your work and then make a
  list of your key stakeholders (Family living
  educators parenting education)

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Grant County Partnerships

• Grant County Extension programs result from a
  number of partnerships and collaborations.
  Listed below are some of the many relationships
  which contribute to educational programs in Grant
  County.

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UW-PLATTEVILLE COLLABORATORS

• Family Living Programs
• Extension Outreach Valerie Shaw
• School of Education Dr. Gwen Coe
• 4H/Youth Development
• School of Psy Psychology Dr. Marc Wruble
• School of Psychology Dr. Theron Parson
• School of Agriculture Dr. Keven Berhardt
• School of Agriculture Dr. Sue Price
• Extension Outreach Marian Maciej-Hiner, Rick
  Morgan
• Pioneer Prairie Farm Phil Wies

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• Crops Farm Management
• UW-Platteville Horticulture Intern Program Dr.
  Michael Compton
• School of Agriculture Dr. Kevin Bernhardt
• School of Agriculture Dr. Sue Price

• Dairy Livestock
• School of Agriculture Dr. Kevin Bernhardt
• School of Agriculture Dr. Rami Reddy
• School of Agriculture Dr. Sue Price

• Community Development
• Chancellor Markee
• Office of Continuing Education Marian
  Maceij-Hiner
• School of Agriculture Dr. Tom Hunt
• Department of Economics Dr. John Simonson

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COMMUNITY, BUSINESS, ORGANIZATION RELATIONSHIPS

• Family Living Programs
• The Family Center Teressa Pellett, Director
• Grant Regional Hospital Rochelle Williams
• Kiwanis Clubs of Grant County (Boscobel,
  Fennimore, Platteville)
• Connect for Healthy Kids Sue Noble, Project
  Director
• Platteville Parent Network Mary Ann Schultz,
  President
• Family Preservation Support Arlene Siss,
  Coordinator
• Friends of Winskill (Elementary School)
• Grant County Health Department Linda Adrian,
  Director
• Boscobel Elementary School Florence Kuntzman,
  Principal
• Evenstart Family Education Program Rita Noble,
  Director
• Food Pantries (Platteville City, Lancaster
  Association of Churches, Riverdale Area)
• Grant County Department of Social Services
• Economic Support Division Sherlyn Kleinow
• Grant County Works Program Steven F. Alt,
  Employer,Employee Consultant
• Faith Works Program Beth Smieth Coordinator
• Grant County WIC Program Danielle Varney,
  Director
• Homeward Bound
• Home visiting with individuals via referrals

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4H/Youth Development

• Platteville Working Together Dave Jones,
  President
• Grant County ATOD Consortium Tina Craugh,
  President
• Grant-Iowa Task Force Nathan Dreckman
• Grant County Healh Department Linda Adrian,
  Director Laurie Walker
• River Ridge School District Caron Townsend,
  Counselor
• Platteville School District Mary Kay Logeman
• Southwestern School District Steve Elvidge and
  Paul Velsor, Counselors
• Potosi School District - Gail Steiner, Luanne
  Gerth
• Lancaster School Distrcit Ron Meisner, Middle
  School Principal and Steve
• Curley, Director of Staff Development
• Fennimore School District Rosemary McGinnis,
  Nurse
• Cassville School District Bruce Boyum Counselor
• Iowa-Grant School District Angela Belkan,
  Counselor
• MI Bank - Rick Benson
• FM Bank Marcia Ragatz
• Dicks Supermarket Mark Hoffman
• Scenic Rivers Rick Kolb
• CESA 3 Shelly Reutten, Comprehensive Services
  Coordinator
• Badgerland Farm Credit Services Jerry Olson

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4/H Youth Development (cont.)

• Finney Implement John Finney
• Kenney Motors - Bob Kenney
• Ferris Auction Service Dean Ferris
• Butchershop Rick McLimans
• Webers Processing Norm Weber
• Bloomington Meats Roger Kirschbaum
• Equity Livestock Vernon Kruse
• Fennimore Livestock Dick Klas
• American Cancer Society
• Grant County Cattlemen
• Grant County Pork Producers
• Grant County Junior Holstein Association
• Grant County Color Breed Organization
• Local FFA Chapters
• Grant County Homemakers
• Grant Regional Health Care Rochelle Williams

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Crops Farm Management

• FarmA Syst Farm Environmental Assessment Gary
  Jackson
• Custom Manure Applicators of Southwest Wisconsin
  Dana Cook,
• Cooks Countryside Trucking
• Master Gardener Training Robert Tomesh
• Grant County Land Conservation Department Barb
  Thompson, Director
• Grant County Natural Resources Conservation
  Service Mike Lieurance,
• District Conservationist
• Grant County Farm Service Agency Russ Raeder,
  Director
• Nutrient Management Education Karen Talarczyk
• Wisconsin Department of Ag, Trade Consumer
  Protection Sue Porter
• Grant County Ag Workers
• UW-Lancaster Research Station Tim Wood
• Southwest Wisconsin Technical College M.J.
  Walker
• Grant County Health Department Linda Adrian

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Dairy Livestock

• Grant County Holstein Association
• Grant County Pork Promoters
• Grant County Cattlemens Association
• Grant County Dairy Herd Improvement Association
• Grant County Ag Workers
• Grant County Graziers
• Lancaster Research Stations
• Southwest Bankers Association

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Community Development

• Grant County Health Department Linda Adrian,
  Director
• Natural Resource Conservation Service Mike
  Lieurance, District Conservations
• Grant County Land Conservation
• Grant County Zoning Committee Jim Nemo
• Southwest Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission
• Grant County Chairman Gene Bartels
• Grant County Emergency Management Steve Braun
• Grant County Center on Aging Maureen Strickland
• Grant County Health Department Linda Adrian,
  Director
• The Family Center Teressa Pellett Director
• The Shopping News
• Grant County Highway Committee
• Grant County Highway Department Stan Abing,
  Director
• Platteville Area Chamber of Commerce Kathy
  Kopp, Director
• Platteville Main Street Program Cheryl Zmina,
  Director
• Platteville Chamber of Commerce
• Lancaster Chamber of Commerce
• Boscobel Chamber of Commerce
• Cassville Changer of Commerce

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Stakeholders

• What about legislators?
• Which legislators in your state are the most
  important?
• What are the key committees (ag, natural
  resources, children and families, forestry etc..)

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Stakeholders

• What about state agencies?
• The Governor?
• External Associations?

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Community Partner Advisory Groups

• Ensuring Local Effectiveness
• And Partner Relationships

Arlen LeholmDean and Director
Cooperative Extension
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Why CPAGs?

• Changing local/state environments
• Fiscal, management, program
• Task Force on New Strategies
• New Urban Models
• Budget Crisis Response
• Recommended CPAGs

Community Partner Advisory Groups
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Purpose of CPAGs

• Program advice
• Input on program effectiveness
• Identify new partners
• Strengthen existing relationships
• Communicate value

Community Partner Advisory Groups
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Who Creates CPAGs?

• County Extension Committees have statutory
  authority
• Appointment process subject to local policy and
  procedures

Community Partner Advisory Groups
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CPAGs Should Not

• Make Policy
• Take on budget authority
• Replace other advisory groups

Community Partner Advisory Groups
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CPAGs Should

• Reflect diverse voices
• Have regular interaction with Extension
  Committees
• Interact with all Extension staff
• Build local strategies to communicate value

Community Partner Advisory Groups
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CPAGs Can Contribute to Extension Effectiveness

• New opportunities for issue discussions,
  programs, funding
• New forum to discuss effectiveness and value of
  programs
• New links to policy makers and legislators

Community Partner Advisory Groups
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Key Philosophies and Guidelines to Consider

• More diverse perspectives than now
• Operating guidelines reflect local flexibility
• Value local circumstances
• Entire Extension office team involvement

Community Partner Advisory Groups
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How Will CPAGs and Staffbe Supported?

• Dean and Associate Dean provide leadership
• CPAG Liaison, 1.00 FTE
• Resources from district directors, program areas
  and program support
• Continued training, web resources, coaching,
  counseling
• Minimal budget allocation

Community Partner Advisory Groups
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BREAK TIME!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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What are some other hot topics important to
elected officials?

• Senator Kohl Federal Dairy Policy
• Senator Specter NIH funding
• Senator Schumer gun violence
• Senator McCain campaign finance reform

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Keys to Success

• Prior to visiting with an elected official take
  time to understand your own talking points. If
  you cannot answer a specific question just say
  that you will be happy to get that information to
  the member. But you should have a basic
  understanding of the issues and why they are
  important to you prior to the visit.

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Keys to Success

• Identify yourself as someone the elected official
  and staff and can call on as a resource should
  they need advice in the future.
• Do not be offended when speaking with just the
  staff. Nine times out of ten the staff will be
  more informed on the subject matter than the
  member him or herself. Congressional staff
  members work to become experts of specific issues
  and are responsible for advising the member on
  the subject.

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What is the condition of the U.S. Federal budget?
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Congressional Budget Office reports the following

• The 2004 Actual Budget Deficit was 412 Billion
• Projected 2005 Deficit is 368 Billion
• Projected 2006 Deficit is 300 Billion

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What are the categories of Federal Spending why
do I care?

• Mandatory Spending direct spending including
  benefit programs like Social Security, Medicare
  and Medicaid. Congress determines spending for
  each by establishing rules for eligibility.

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What about Discretionary Spending?

• Discretionary Spending is controlled by the
  annual appropriations process and policy-makers
  decide each year how much to allocate to a
  specific program. Examples include-national
  parks, law enforcement, disaster assistance, etc.

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How much do we spend on Mandatory and
Discretionary Programs?

• In 2004 total discretionary spending included
  895 Billion that is 454 billion on defense
  programs and 441 billion on non-defense
  activities. (17 billion was Agricultural
  related including Smith-Lever)

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Mandatory Spending

• In 2004 we spent 492 billion on Social Security
• 297 Billion on Medicare
• 176 Billion on Medicaid
• Total mandatory spending total was 1.2 trillion

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What can you do?

• Face to face visits with members and staff to
  highlight why funding for specific programs
  remains important to their district and
  constituents.
• Offer to give tours to members and staff when
  they come out to the district again
  highlighting your work, accomplishments, and
  challenges.
• Be concise yet convincing. If you leave material
  behind it should ideally be one pagers.
• Follow up with thank you.

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Group Discussion and Questions
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So who are these people?

• Jennifer Garner, jennifer.garner_at_uwex.edu,
  608/263-7678
• Ben Miller, bmiller_at_cals.wisc.edu, 608/262-5570