UNH Cooperative Extension's State Advisory Council meeting Thursday first focused on our efforts in the areas of communications, public relations, marketing and branding. Later in the day, the advisory council members worked with George Morse, Professor Emeritus from the University of Minnesota Extension Service, who is now doing educational workshops through his business, Extension Economics Associates.

David Foote, director of communications and information technology for Extension, started the communications and marketing session with a look at the differences between communications, public relations, marketing and branding. He went on to note that results from a 2004 UNH Granite State poll indicated that 52% of respondents remember hearing that Cooperative Extension is part of UNH and that we were "by far the most recognized unit on campus."

Holly Young and Peg Boyles, who make up our Extension Communications Team, showcased their many efforts, which support administrators, staff and volunteers in producing high-quality educational materials and as the hub for Extension promotion, marketing, and public relations.

Morse's public value workshop looked at ways of identifying, creating and using public value statements to support Extension's mission. At the end of the day, each group had created a public value statement relating to UNH Cooperative Extension. They will be compiled and reviewed by the council and further refined.