Candidates Needed for Extension Councils in Southwest Missouri, Learn More Online

Contact: David Burton, civic communication specialist
Headquartered in Greene County
Tel: (417) 881-8909
E-mail: burtond@missouri.edu

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Counties in southwest Missouri are accepting nominations for the 2014 public election of County Extension Council members. Names of nominees are generally needed during November for review by existing county council members.

Getting nominated as a candidate can be done by contacting the local MU Extension center and expressing a willingness to serve. Most MU Extension councils have an elections chairperson who will follow up with candidates and secure their permission to be placed on the ballot.

Persons who are interested can start by calling the MU Extension center in their home county.

Those telephone numbers include Barry County, (417) 847-3161; Barton County, (417) 682-3579; Cedar County, (417) 276-3313; Christian County, (417) 581-3558; Dade County, (417) 637-2112; Dallas County, (417) 345-7551; Greene County, (417) 881-8909; Hickory County, (417) 745-6767; Jasper County, (417) 358-2158; Lawrence County, (417) 466-3102; McDonald County, (417) 223-4775; Newton County, (417) 455-9500; Polk County, (417) 326-4916; Stone County, (417) 357-6812; Taney County: (417) 546-4431  ; and Webster County: (417) 859-2044.

The Greene County Extension Center has an informational brochure about the requirements of serving on an extension council and a nomination form under the “plans and reports” link on the Greene County website: http://extension.missouri.edu/greene.

A brochure explaining the roles of an Extension council can be found at http://extension.missouri.edu/greene/documents/council/Council-nomination-brochure.pdf

A nomination form is available at http://extension.missouri.edu/greene/documents/council/ConsentForNomination.pdf

“Serving on a county extension council is a great way to represent your community, serve your county, and help create educational opportunities for your neighbors,” said David Burton, civic communication specialist for University of Missouri Extension.

Every county in Missouri has an Extension Council made up of elected (and appointed) members who represent the broad educational needs and backgrounds of people in that county. Council candidates must be at least 18 years old and reside in the district they represent.

Missouri statutes create County Extension Councils to work with MU Extension specialists. Council members assist in planning and carrying out MU Extension programs, providing local Extension governance and representing the diversity of the county’s changing population.

Most counties in southwest Missouri hold council elections the third week of January. Each council election is held in accordance with state law (Chapter 262.550-262.620 R.S. Mo. 1969).