Advisory committee members who are respected by their peers are likely to have more contact with other members of the target audience. A person who has rapport with the target audience is likely to be more influential in bringing about change. It is important for the advisory committee member to be more knowledgeable than the average member of the target audience. If the committee member is not knowledgeable about the situation or the target audience, they bring little or not power to the advisory table. Thus the committee member with little knowledge of the situation contributes little in the way of advice, counsel, and decision making.
Extension expects the advisory committee member to be a leader.
The member does not have to be the most dynamic person in the community but must nevertheless have some leadership skills. The member is expected to be able to communicate Extension's programs and needs to the public and also to be a good listener, to the target audience as well as to others in the community. The member should be able to account to the public for what county Extension programs are accomplishing. Extension expects committee members to regularly attend advisory committee meetings. Poor attendance of committee meetings is a good indicator that Extension ranks low on a member's list of priorities.