Presentation for Stafford County Extension Leadership Council (ELC) using examples from Arlington and Alexandria Extension Leadership Council: Communication Tools, Marketing, Networking, Retreat and Strategic Plan, Appreciative Inquiry, Advocacy with Legislators and Elected Officials

1. ELCs Building
Success
Stafford County ELC
Mary Van Dyke
Arlington & Alexandria ELC
December 2012

2. What is an ELC?
Extension Leadership Council
● Virginia Cooperative Extension (VCE) Mission
Enable people to improve their lives through an educational process that
uses scientific knowledge focused on issues and needs
● Extension Leadership Council (ELC) Mission
Implement programs that direct Extension's resources toward the
resolution of identified issues and concerns
● ELC Vision
○ Diverse group of staff and volunteers that discuss issues and needs
○ Determine action and program areas
○ Assist in evaluating and reporting results
○ Advocate for local, private, state and federal funds, staff and
resources

3. ELC and its Members
● Marketing for Membership
● Membership Committee
● Invite people from all sectors
○ Continual process
○ Orientation, retention
○ Meetings
● Communication

4. ELC Meetings
● Invite speakers on various topics
○ Environmental/Energy issues
○ Health
○ Finance
○ ELC and VCE management

5. Promotion in the Community
● Marketing Tools
○ e.g. bookmark, flyers
○ volunteer badges for ELC
● Networking
○ Chamber of Commerce
○ Leadership groups
● Communication and Development Committee
● Social Media, Website, Blog, FB

6. Appreciative Inquiry - Our Wishes
● Annual Retreat - extra meeting
● Different techniques
● Reflect
● Create Annual ELC Strategic Plan

7. Legislative Outreach and Advocacy
● Legislative Breakfast
○ Themes and speakers
● County Fair
● Community Forum
● State Budget Hearings
○ 3 minutes, benefits

8. Meetings with Legislators and
Elected Officials
● Agenda
● Public Value Statements
● Data for Legislators and Elected Officials

9. Thank You!
Mary Van Dyke
Chair, Arlington & Alexandria ELC
maryvandyke4@gmail.com
571 425 5278

10. Selected Online Resources:
National Resources
http://www.extension.org/
○ Public Value Statements
http://extension.missouri.edu/staff/publicvalue/
http://extension.missouri.edu/staff/documents/publicvalue/FFE_PV_listing_format_Final.
pdf
VA State Resources:
http://www.ext.vt.edu/
http://future.ext.vt.edu/
○ Blog templates
http://blogs.ext.vt.edu/template1/
http://blogs.ext.vt.edu/template2/
http://blogs.ext.vt.edu/template3/
http://blogs.ext.vt.edu/template4/

11. Selected Online Resources:
Local Resources: Arlington and Alexandria
Arlington & Alexandria ELC Brochure 2012 - one page flyer - http://goo.gl/McKp7
One Minute about Arlington & Alexandria Extension: Elevator Pitch - http://goo.gl/hkrc4
Arlington & Alexandria bookmark 2011-12 http://goo.gl/sWm
Blog template - prefer template 4 -http://blogs.ext.vt.edu/template4/
Pilot blog at http://arl-alexvce.blogspot.com
Legislative Breakfast 2010 - compiled SWOT http://goo.gl/G4UIG
Legislative Breakfast 2011 - data state and local http://goo.gl/AR6W0
Legislative Breakfast 2011- notes http://goo.gl/0ME9r
Appreciative Inquiry (AI) Questionnaire - http://goo.gl/u8BEU
Examples of AI compiled answers - http://goo.gl/T65vN
AI in use - Three Wishes for the Arlington & Alexandria ELC 2012 http://goo.gl/2DP
Blank Agenda for ELC meetings with Elected Officials/Legislators 2012
(includes public value figures, volunteer data, notes) http://goo.gl/p0s
Public Value Statements based on Missouri PVS info http://goo.gl/cKehM