Extension Advisory CouncilsSteps to Recruiting & Engaging Members
Where Are We? What Does Our Feedback
Tell Us?
• Report from the State Extension Council
• Reports from Agents
Building Your Advisory Group
The Board Building Cycle---BoardSource
Building A Diverse Group
• Avoid tokenism• Accept that inclusivity will widen perspectives
and opinions• Ask “What do we need and what do we want?”• Evaluate— “What is the current composition?” “What characteristics, skills, and backgrounds do we need?” “What are the gaps?” “What are our priorities for recruiting?”
Identify
Member Characteristics to Consider
• Ability to . . .
• Willingness to . . .
• Willingness to develop . . .
• Possess . . .
Identify
How and Where to Find Council Members
• Where to find suggestions for members Colleagues, other groups, media, staff, other
members, volunteer and leadership groups, subordinate or collaborative groups
• Whom to consider for membership Current or past clientele and collaborators, community
leaders, representatives of clientele groups, corporate volunteers, people in professions related to your mission, people with needed traits, skills, interests, etc.
• Where to look for prospective members Faith-based groups, professional and civic associations, organizations representing other groups
Cultivate
Motives to Join an Advisory Group
• to help others
• to give back to the community
• to meet new people
• to fill a personal void
• because it is a tradition
• to learn new skills
• the ability to influence others Volunteer Management 101 John Lipp
Recruit
Orienting New Members• Current programs
• Finances
• History
• Plan of work
• Organizational structure
• Roles and responsibilities of members
• Operations of the group
• Membership lists
• Skills to possess or develop
Orient
Engaging Advisory Council Members
• Train them • Build trust, relationship, and
communications• Identify interests and skills and assign
accordingly• “Level the field”• Engage new members “early”• Involve them in meaningful activity and
wisely use their time (committee work is important)
Involve
Extension Program Committees
• C-MAP
• Task forces
• Educational activities
Involve
Barriers to Member Involvement• Group is too large for the work to be done—
under-working• The overall group is too small—over-
working• Subordinate groups are overshadowed by
the larger group• Insufficient communication and orientation• Weak agendas or no agenda• Feelings of not being involved gainfully• Lack of social glue
Involve
Developing Members by Education
• Council assessment
• Review of the mission statement
• Formal trainings
• Retreats
• Electronic – teleconferencing, e-mail, web sites
• Staff
Educate
Evaluation
• Council reflection
• Evaluation forms for the group and for the individual
Evaluate
Rotate
• Keeping the group fresh
• Using term limits
• Saying good-bye
• Removing a difficult advisory member
Rotate
Celebrate
• Appreciation and Recognition
“In conscious celebration we create moments that illuminate the deeper meaning of our lives and guide our footsteps for the future.”
Cathy DeForest Transforming Leadership from Vision to Results
Celebrate
Credits
-BoardSource (formerly National Center for Nonprofit Boards, www.boardsource.org)
-Nonprofit Leadership Initiative at the University of Kentucky, www.kynonprofits.org, [email protected], (859) 257-2542
-Kentucky Advisory Council System web site, http://ces.ca.uky.edu/advisorycouncil/, [email protected], (270) 365-7541 Ext. 220,
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