With that done and her own house in order, Beckymakes a list of all the points of contact she is going to have influence in the university to make the point about 4-H and its role. She reaches for the Chardonnay. Four months of meetings ensue, and re-meetings, andcultivation, and stewardshipof those who begin to see the opportunity. To call them “meetings” maybe a mischaracterization. They are anxiety-filled conversations that take place within the stormfrom the legislature and the intense pressure from the Office of the President to show aggressive plans and results for local outreach. The Capital News has initiated a weekly series on the university, with an emphasis on the future of young adults in the state and the reasons they are not becoming part of Panda Pride. Today’s profile is of a farmer’s son – a 4-H alum – whose roommatewas from China and spoke only limited English, but who was on a full scholarship in the engineering department.
Becky’s phone buzzes. RickCarter needs to speak to her ASAP.
Everyone and anyone is looking for a thread to hold onto.
Becky believes she has that thread. When she has the opportunity to make the point about 4-H being the image of the university in the community and to parents with college-agedyouth, leaders across the university begin to understandhow 4-H canbe positioned as – and is in fact – anasset that canbuild the community presence of the university. The thread is thin right now, she knows. The numbers are stagnant andolder youth are not part of 4-H. That makes the caseweaker than it could be. But with resources, andwitheffort across the university, 4-H (and Extension) could build deep and broad community presence. She just needs visibility and access. How tomake her own ExtensionDirector and the College of Agriculture listen? How to make them see the asset? Andhow to use them to get to the President and to the legislature?
But right now, got to return Rick’s call.
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