County Commissioner Training: From the Outside Looking In

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County Commissioner TrainingFrom the Outside
Looking In !

• Rodney L. Clouser
• Food and Resource Economics
• And
• Pete Vergot III
• Agricultural Education and Communications
• IFAS/University of Florida

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County Commissioners OftenHear Good Things About
Extension

• Youth Programs
• Housing Education Programs
• Family Financial Management
• Agricultural Producers
• BUT!!!

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• Only Infrequently Are Commissioner
• The
• Clientele or Customer Group
• Being Educated!!!

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Educational CommitmentTo Elected OfficialsNeeds
To Increase!Why?All Politics Are
LocalLocal County Governments Provide
Significant Extension Funding
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In Florida County Government Is The
PrimarySource Of Extension Funds
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• What Happens If You Were
• Late To The Party
• Or
• You Werent Engaged With Those Holding The
  Party
• And
• You Were Left Outside Looking In?

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Lessons LearnedIn Developing County Government
Programming Effort
Stand Alone Or Partnership Effort 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.) Dont Start By Asking For Money
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Lessons LearnedIn Developing County Government
Programming Effort
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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Top Six Policy and Procedure Programs(indexed to
highest vote total)
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Top Five People and Personal Programs(indexed to
highest vote total)
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Lessons LearnedNew Partners For Extension Based
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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Some Comparisons Pre and Post 2000
New Commissioners Training Taught By Extension
Pre 0 Post 3 New Commissioners Taught By
Extension Pre 0 Post 250 Commissioners and
Administrators Who Have Taken CE Course Taught
by Extension Pre 0 Post 500 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 144