When The New Car Smell is Gone… Who Will Change the Oil?

Betsy Greene and Mary Peabody

Michaelautorepair.com

The Early Days• Ups and Downs

+ New and exciting+ Lots of energy and motivation+ Funds…+ Immeasurable Potential

- The Elephant…where to start?

HorseQuest Hindsights

F2F Meetings • Relationships are KEY

Technophiles and Technophobes• Partner up opposites• Ease into technologies/social networking

Identify and utilize strengths • Content Makers, Reviewers, FAQers,

Middle Age• Keep Going…

+ See fruits of the efforts+ Continue to add materials+ Engage new people

- Not as exciting doing maintenance of content- Non-measurable Results/Impacts… - Turnover of content contributors- Marketing and fundraising become key

aplusauto42718.com

HorseQuest HindsightsIdentify and utilize strengths

• Grant writers, Abstract/Pub leaders Let Leaders Lead

• Title or not…

Technophiles and Technophobes• Google docs is your friend

Evaluate as you go!

“Mature” CoPs

• Leader Turnover/transition• Keeping Content New

– Google juice?

• Ever changing technologies• Content Overhaul• Fading of stamina of members

– And we are all still “young!”

Autofacts.org

HorseQuest Hindsights

F2F is critical - Relationships – Evaluate, Set Goals, WORK!

Maintain contact with folks– Listserve, email, bi-monthly conference calls

Assignments according to strengths/likes....– Folks won't do stuff they hate.

Target the participation to make it translational to their university’s version of pink, green or blue sheets...

Autofacts.org

Strategies for Keeping the CoP Moving Forward

• Have a process for leader recruitment and rotation

• Create member opportunities• Make the expectations clear• Build in adequate time for leadership• Have a detailed work plan

(with identified leaders)• Keep communication open

Jalopyjournal.com

Strategies, cont

• Plan Evaluation Strategies as you develop your content

• Have regular training to keep everyone familiar with the work environment

• Develop a plan for aging out content, FAQs, etc.• Learn to juggle! Fundraising, evaluation, PR,

member recruitment….oh and content too!

Homepages.nyu.edu

Some Final Tips…• Roll up your sleeves and dive in, even in

murky water• Plan, but be flexible…• Instead of focusing on what doesn’t work…

find what does and work around the other…• Push for what you need from eXtension