March 16, 2018 Dear business owner or manager: EXCEL is a proven research-based community program for developing emerging leaders. The program targets residents of western Greene County living outside of Springfield. MU Extension is using this program to develop leaders in response to feedback at a community forum two years ago. Participants at that forum identified a lack of community leaders and volunteers as one of the top three most important issues facing our county and communities. For the first class in 2017-2018, the Greene County Extension Council used reserve funds to fully fund the program. For this coming year, we need businesses and organizations to sponsor program attendees for $300. This covers all costs associated with the program. It might be that a sponsor ing business would like to enroll an employee in the program. We can do that! Or maybe your business just wants to provide a community scholarship to fund a county resident in this program. A brochure is enclosed explaining this program along with a donation card. If you are donating so a particular person can participate in this program please provide their name and contact information. Sincerely,

David L. Burton Civic Communication Specialist University of Missouri Extension — Greene County PS: Program participants have developed some outstanding project plans that will impact Ash Grove, Willard and Republic for year’s to come. A listing of those projects is included. PSS: We hope you have been reading the Greene County Commonwealth this year. If so, you have noticed that EXCCEL class members have written numerous columns about the community.

2400 S. Scenic Ave, Springfield, Mo. 65807 Telephone: (417) 881-8909

Email: burtond@missouri.edu Internet: http://extension.missouri.edu/greene

GREENE COUNTY EXTENSION CENTER

Greene County Extension Council

Jason Whitesell

Chairman

Kent John Vice-chair

Morgan Ash Secretary

Lisa Bakerink Treasurer

Harold Bengsch County Commission

Johnny Davis Farm Bureau

Samuel Snider City of Willard

Jordan Miller MFA

Joseph Hoffman City of Springfield

Members at large Larry Adams

Tony Ahart Greg Boehne

Karen Dowdy James Garton

Tyler Gunlock Ann Hall

Brandon Hebbert David Johnson

Samantha Mosier Chris Schulze Rick Stenberg

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IMPACT REPORT ON EXCCEL 2017-2018 Program for Residents of Western Greene County

The following items would be considered significant impacts of EXCCEL. Packets of group editorials and reflection writings showcase what students have learned. EXCCEL program generated over $8,500 in space from the Commonwealth to publicize the

event along with printing team editorials, columns, letters, etc. These weekly editorials were impactful and caused city councils in Ash Grove and Willard to take up new issues/projects.

This contact with city leaders led to invitations to more events. Examples include:

1. The city of Republic contracted with David Burton and MU Extension to lead a staff retreat on the implementation of the new city mission, vision, and values. Two-day training resulted in six citywide goals for employees to implement over 18 months.

2. Led to a presentation to the Greene County Mayors Association about EXCCEL and a discussion about expanding the program countywide.

3. Opened the door to doing this training for other communities in Greene County in-cluding a possible combined event that would bring city staff from Ash Grove, Wal-nut Grove, and Fair Grove together for a training similar to one in Republic.

Class member Dana Guerra pursued answers to the housing shortage in Ash Grove and set

up a meeting with the largest rental owner there and the Superintendent of Ash Grove Schools. The goal was to discuss mutual concerns, as well as the schools, expressed the need for more housing for families. This meeting led to:

1. A proposal to the Homebuilders Association about building in Ash Grove; 2. creation of a property inventory for the city; and 3. a packet for builders regarding costs and contacts for building in Ash Grove. 4. The director of the Homebuilders Association is organized a meeting of builders 5. The goal is to have 10 homes underway during 2019 which would be equal to the

total amount built inside the city over the last five years.

Creation of individual project plans by EXCCEL class members. These plans have great impacts themselves and include: Creation of a Betterment Fair in Ash Grove. Working to finalize a date and location. Event

will provide an evening of education related to topics identified as concerns in the commu-nity as well as a volunteer recruitment fair.

Addition of a Volunteer Recruitment effort for non-profits at the existing Business Expo in Republic organized by the Republic Chamber. An EXCCEL team organized this Chamber event. The volunteer recruitment efforts of non-profits at this event in April led to the over-all growth of this Chamber event regarding booths sold and overall attendance.

Creation of a fundraising campaign for a non-profit in Republic leading to the creation of a Boys and Girls club type of facility for at risk students.

Start of cooking classes at the food pantry in Ash Grove for low-income families. This was a requested service for the food pantry that MU Extension was able to meet.

Develop a training/coordination program for volunteers in Ash Grove to maintain flowers at the welcome signs, park and city triangle. This after having no volunteers for several years to maintain these areas. Involved getting sponsors as well. The volunteer did this in partner-ship with Master Gardeners and the Ash Grove Park Board and Ash Grove Schools. Includ-ed design work as well as plants and labor.

EXCCEL team member created a list of safe places in western Greene County. These are places (marked with a yellow triangle) where those in danger from abuse can see refuge un-til police are contacted. Part of her efforts included an awareness campaign for what the yel-low triangle and “safe places” program is all about. Resulted in recruiting additional loca-tions as safe places.

Worked with the City of Republic to name a new city walking trail in honor of a fallen solider (grad of Republic) and the creation of a hero wall inside the high school. This has been expressed by city resident during a survey as something that was missing in a town that was big on honoring sports.

Development of a communication mode between senior centers in Ash Grove and Republic to connect drivers and cooks when a need exists. For example, there are times when Repub-lic has too many drivers for meal delivery and Ash Grove is short, yet many deliveries occur in the rural area between Ash Grove and Republic.

Creation of an Ash Grove endowment as part of the Community Foundation of the Ozarks. Probably known as the Ash Grove Foundation, this will seek to capture monies and keep them in Ash Grove for benevolent purposes and community development.

Creation of a welcome sign for the city of Willard. The original idea was a “W” shaped planter funded by local businesses. However, the announcement that Hwy. 160 will be ex-panded to four lanes changed the location of this sign. As a result, this student is working with the Spring 2018 Drury project focuses on Willard, and the plan is not to put a Willard sign in one of the new city roundabouts.

Team members are taking a legislative trip to Jefferson City on April 17 and numerous other contacts and ideas are circulating as a result of these described projects.

Let’s me honest, not all of these projects will be successful. However, new emerging leaders have been discovered and they have put some of their time and effort toward improving the quality of life in one of our communities. Don’t we all want more of that?

You can be involved by:

Spreading the word about EXCCEL to someone you think would make a great participant. Funding a participant or being a sponsor so the program can continue. Support future individual projects from class members and targeting your community Or even host one of our EXCCEL team meetings by providing space and food.

I want to support Greene County MU Extension Excel community leadership program:

Other: ____________ Name(s) _____________________________________________________________________ Address _____________________________________________________________________ City _________________________________ State __________________ Zip ____________ E-Mail ______________________________________________________________________ Home Phone _____________________________ Business Phone _______________________

Sponsorship of EXCCEL PERFERRED—Send a CHECK - Please enclose a check, payable to Greene County Extension, with this form mailed to Greene County Extension Center, 2400 S. Scenic Ave., Springfield, Mo. 65807. Given in support of this enrollee. Name: Contact info:

Giving Form In support of … Greene County Extension Center 2400 S. Scenic, Springfield, Mo. 65807

Tel: 417-881-8909 http://extension.missouri.edu/greene

Since 1914, Greene County residents have sought help from MU Extension in areas related to agriculture, gardening, youth, nutrition, cooking, families, and business and community development. Local Extension programs — like 4-H, Master Gardeners, nutrition education and more — have had a positive impact on the quality of life in Greene County. Your gift helps that impact continue. Your gift is fully tax -deductible and goes directly to the Greene County Extension Council to help grow MU Extension’s 100 year history of programs.

http://extension.missouri.edu/greene

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http://extension.missouri.edu

Greene County MU Extension Office located inside the Springfield-

Greene County Botanical Center

2400 S. Scenic Ave., Springfield, Mo. 65807 Tel: (417) 881-8909

burtond@missouri.edu

Office hours: Monday - Friday * 8 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Home to these programs and more! The Extension office offers:

Soil testing

Lawn and gardening hotline

Trainings for those who love plants

4-H program for youth

Leadership development programs

Nutrition education for families

Community visioning

On farm education

Private pesticide applicator trainings

Support for locally grown foods

Programs for new business owners.

Facilitation and moderator services

Training for childcare workers

Education for senior adults and families

Training for communities, non-profits

Research-based and affordable

And much more Since 1914, Greene County and area residents have sought help from Extension in areas related to agriculture, gardening, 4-H youth, nutrition, families, business and community development. MU Extension programs focus on the high-priority needs of Missourians to improve lives, communities and economies with relevant, responsive and reliable educational solutions. Each county extension center, with oversight by locally elected and appointed citizens, is your local link to practical education on almost anything.

Facebook: Become a Fan Find the Greene County Extension Council on Facebook along with Master Gardeners of Greene County and MUExtension417.

County’s Extension Website The website had over 34,000 visitors in 2017. (extension.missouri.edu/greene)

“Reaching Out Report” Monthly newsletter from Greene County Extension details events and is available at http://issuu.com/greenecoext.

David L. Burton County Program Director Community Development Joined the local office in 2001 David manages the local office but also leads the EXCEL program among other local MU

Extension programs and events.