Benefits Of Volunteers And Advisory Leadership


Critical reasons for having a strong advisory leadership system for extension and the university
. Advocate for Cooperative Extension; marketing and public relations
. Citizen input; make sure programs are on target with the needs of the people 
. Public awareness; help community understand Cooperative Extension
. Budget support and development
. Help with prioritizing programs 
. Grassroots support
. Leadership growth and opportunities for volunteers
. Ownership of programs
. Connects university to citizens
. Fulfills the land-grant mission
. Keeps Cooperative Extension efforts on the cutting edge; makes goals and directions relevant
. Provides public policy support
. Provides vision for future program needs
. Promotes economical mind of the community
. Provides check and balances
. Provides a group of advocates to interpret programs
. Provides insight and outward perspective rather than inward
. Power up, not power down
. Advisory leaders can speak with conviction and credibility about what extension has done for them personally
. Places responsibility on the university to listen to expressed needs
Benefits extension and the university receive from a strong advisory leadership system
. Local, financial, and political support
. Connectivity and empowerment
. Opportunity to challenge the status quo at the university
. Keeps programs from becoming stagnant
. Builds networks and partnerships
. Visibility of extension
. Local leaders can help university reach unreached audiences
. Nonpartisan support for public funding
. Enhances extension image in political arena
. Captures expertise of volunteers
. Public ownership from being part of the developmental decision making
. Empowered advisory leaders provide input we need and cannot live without
. Give a different perspective to staff
. Accomplish more by expanding paid staff abilities
. Builds support in community
. Liaison with government officials
. New programming ideas
Benefits volunteers receive from participating in a strong advisory leadership system for extension and the university
. Gives a sense of purpose, ownership, and a chance to grow
. Professional networking
. Opportunity for volunteer to make a difference in their community
. Feeling of being a part of a larger institution
. Sense of belonging, accomplishment, and self worth
. Leadership development transfers to other community leadership roles
. Recognition for their influence and leadership
. Lifelong learning
. Provides a broader view of extension and program relevance
. Builds self confidence
From Strengthening Extension Advisory Leadership in the Southern Region, a Southern Region Extension Advisory Leadership Conference held in Charlotte, N.C., May 3-5, 2001