Extension Making a Difference Newsletters- Valuable Interpretation tool

One of the components of the 2010 County Programs Interpretation Initiative is the Extension Making a Difference newsletters for County Commissioner Courts. This newsletter can serve a number of purposes including enhancing communication with Commissioners Courts, provide recognition of agents programming, and communicate the public value of Extension programs in the county.

Some tips that should be considered prior to preparing this newsletter includes...

• Know Your Commissioners and Judges- Know what is important to them and is this information they need?
  
• Consider the County Commissioners and/or County Judges Point of View- Address topics from their point of view, not yours.
• Think About How You Present Yourself- The tone of the newsletter should be professional yet friendly.

The following are three simple questions that should be considered prior to developing this newsletter..

• What is this newsletter supposed to accomplish?
• Is this newsletter contributing to a systematic interpretation strategy?
• Does this newsletter serve to interpret the importance of Extension programming in the county?
  

The expectations for District Extension Administrators associated with the Making a Difference Newsletter are as follows;

• Send each County Commissioners' Court in the District at least one newsletter annually.
  
• This newsletter should be designed to communicate program program outcomes, acknowledge awards and recognition by agents, and/or serve as a means for interpreting the importance of Extension programming in the county.
• The newsletter should not be more than two pages in length.
• Copies of the newsletter should be sent to Dr. Edward Smith, Mr. Kyle Smith, Dr. Darrell Dromgoole, local State Representative and State Senator.
• Newsletters should be sent at strategic times during the year such as when new commissioners take office, following significant events, etc.
• County Extension Agents should not be asked to write or develop content to be utilized in these newsletters. Information used in this newsletter should come from monthly reports and/or other prepared reports such as program outcome summaries.

All District Extension Administrators should be reminded that the 2010 County Program Interpretation Initiative includes the following;

• District Judges and Commissioners Conferences hosted by District Extension Administrators.
• Utilization of the Extension Making a Difference Newsletters that communicates Texas AgriLife Extension's public value. This newsletter will be published on an annual basis.
  
• Utilization of an Urban Capacity Program Highlight report for County Commissioners and key stakeholders.
• All Counties conduct formal interpretation events with County Commissioners Courts annually that communicates Texas AgriLife Extension's public value.
• All Counties involve elected officials in Extension "showcase" events.
• All Districts will have a Marketing and Interpretation Committee.

In addition to interpretation efforts that District Extension Administrators provide leadership to, it is imperative that every county has an interpretation plan that is systematic and comprehensive in nature.

Reference

Brousard, S. & Floress, K. (2007). Are newsletters Effective? Assessing Their Role as a Communication Tool. Purdue Extension . FNR-269-W.