Waldo County Extension Association

Executive Committee Meeting

Agenda

December 8, 2008

6:15     meet, greet, grab a snack [provided by Abby]

6:30     welcome & opening

            Provocative opening question

            Why do people volunteer?

            Why did you say ‘yes’ to volunteer for Cooperative Extension?

6:45     Volunteer with meaning

• People learn about board service by serving
• People learn about dysfunction (or function)
• People take learning about service and function with them to other boards and groups
• Serving on a board can be categorized into three areas
  • (I) Monitoring:  is the budget balanced? How much money do we need to secure? How do we attract (enough) people?
    • Not very exciting
    • Can monitor and ‘sleep at the wheel’
    • It works
    • May lead to micromanaging since have nothing else to do
  • (II) Strategic:  how might we use technology to increase our effectiveness?  Are we focused on the right audience or client?  Do we need to shift our strategic priorities?  What steps will help us improve our visibility?
    • Most groups do not get to these questions but once a year or every three years
    • Which is more exciting:  discussing bylaws or planning
    • Need to get to these questions at each meeting
  • (III) Visionary:  what external factors will most affect our work in the county in the coming year?  How do we learn to look at the organization through the eyes of key stakeholders?  Is the program (we are considering) (or providing) consistent with our values?
    • These are the what if…. And thought provoking questions
    • May not get to at each meeting – but might if the meeting is framed around that question…. For example: 
      • [III] what would it take to make this a green office?
      • [II]  how does this lend to our advantage?
      • [I] what will it cost?

6:55     What do County Extension Association Executive Committees (and hence their members) do????

8:00     Intro to consent agendas        

8:30     Safe travels home