If it hadn’t been for Cornell Cooperative Extension …
How to Tell Your CCE Story
Whether you’re a 4-H leader, Master Gardener, program participant, advisory committee member, or another type of friend to Cornell Cooperative Extension of Ulster County, you have a story to tell … the story of how Cornell Cooperative Extension has helped you, your business, or your community.
You have several opportunities to share your story:
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Call, or send an open letter to Ulster County legislators. For the name, address, phone number and email address for the Legislator from your district click here. We encourage that you write from your own personal experiences. For a sample letter please click here.
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Write a letter to the editor of a local daily or weekly newspaper. Make the letter to the editor about the difference Cornell Cooperative Extension has made in your life, or about the positive ways you’ve personally seen Cornell Cooperative Extension impact your community. For listings and contact information for our local newspapers click here.
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Schedule an interview with local radio, television or newspaper reporters. CCE of Ulster County staff can give the local media the facts and statistics of our valuable programs; however, you can share your personal experience. For listings and contact information for our local media/radio stations click.
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Attend a public forum—perhaps a county legislature meeting, or other public setting where you could tell your story in just a few minutes. The County Legislature has scheduled public hearings at the Ulster County Office Building, Legislative Chambers, 244 Fair Street, Kingston, New York at 6:00 PM on Tuesday, November 17, 2009; the Village of Ellenville Government Center, Conference Center, 2 Elting Court, Ellenville, New York at 6:00 PM on Wednesday, November 18, 2009 and Ulster BOCES, 175 Route 32 North, New Paltz, New York at 6:00 PM on Thursday, November 19, 2009.
No matter what the forum you choose, here’s how to tell your story:
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Explain how Cornell Cooperative Extension has made a difference in your life.
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Be specific; give specific examples of the positive ways Cornell Cooperative Extension programs and staff have touched you, your family, and your community.
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Voice ways Cornell Cooperative Extension has made a difference that are not obvious at first glance. Perhaps how things used to be – compared with how much better they are now (and the role Cooperative Extension played).
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If you’ve learned new skills as a result of Cornell Cooperative Extension programs, tell about those skills and how those new skills have changed your life—whether as a parent, a worker, a 4-H’er, or a business owner.
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If you are a volunteer, explain how you became involved with Cornell Cooperative Extension and why you continue to volunteer. Again, share specific examples of the positive impacts you see as a direct result of Cooperative Extension programming.
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Practice saying your story aloud to another person. Doing so will give you confidence in telling your story to others.
Thank you in advance for helping us by sharing your story – and for helping Cornell Cooperative Extension continue to make a difference in Ulster County communities.