Mizzou Athletics County Ambassador Program
Goal
Working alongside the MU Extension & Engagement staff, Mizzou’s Department of Intercollegiate Athletics would like to have an individual embedded in each of Missouri’s 114 Counties, plus the City of St. Louis. These Athletic County Ambassadors will serve to positively promote Mizzou Athletics, and the University of Missouri, within the County which the selected individuals reside.
What Does an Ambassador Do?
The Mizzou Athletics Ambassador Program is designed to offer a personalized, proactive approach to educate and engage Mizzou fans throughout the state about the Tigers’ highly-successful Southeastern Conference (SEC) intercollegiate athletics program. In addition to the educational component, individuals will be asked to:
- Sign up 10 (or more) local businesses for the Mizzou Spirit Program.
- Distribute a minimum of 50 posters provided by Mizzou Athletics.
- Secure 2 new TSF members (at any level).
- Sign up 3 new season ticket holders (in any sport).
- Send out 1 monthly personal e-mail to ambassador’s area constituents (grassroots database) outlining positive messages from Mizzou Athletics. Talking Points to be provided by Mizzou.
- Report their activity back through their local University of Missouri Extension Councils, and local County Engagement Specialist
What is the Mizzou Spirit Program Mentioned Above for Businesses?
The Mizzou Spirit Program provides businesses with the opportunity to show their Mizzou spirit at no cost. Spirit Program members will receive the following items to promote Mizzou Athletics, to include:
- A Mizzou flag
- Tickets to select Mizzou athletic events
- Mizzou team posters, schedule cards and schedule magnets to display
Athletics will have you submit the Business names and contact information to them via Mizzou Athletic Marketing via email. Materials are usually shipped to the business within 4 weeks of the order. To check on order status, you can call (573) 884-8341.
Selection Process:
By April 29, 2020, the Mizzou Athletics Department, MU Extension, and the Mizzou Alumni Association will seek to fill the remaining 13 slots. The Athletics Department may wish to suggest potential appointments in some instances, however, it believes that the County Extension Council members will be more familiar with individuals in their areas who may have a desire to assist Mizzou Athletics in this fashion.
What’s in it for our Ambassadors? We’re glad you asked! Ambassador Program Benefits Include:
- Tickets to select Mizzou Athletics events will be provided to Athletics Ambassadors and their immediate family.
- Recognition at a Mizzou football or basketball game.
- Mizzou Athletics gear.
- Weekly Mizzou Athletics e-mail updates and Insider News to share.
- An Annual County Ambassador meeting with Mizzou Director of Athletics Desiree Reed-Francois.
- All materials needed will be provided by Mizzou Athletics.
For More Information Contact: Tracy Feller, Director of Strategic Partnerships at MU Extension (fellert@missouri.edu or 573-772-4134)
Come Join Our Team! M-I-Z…!
Frequently Asked Questions
About the Mizzou Athletics County Ambassador Program
Why is this a partnership with MU Extension? What do they have to do with Athletics?
Extension is the University of Missouri’s branch that addresses its Land Grant Mission. When the State Universities were given land (to use or sell) to start or grow their Universities, it came with a charge to “extend” or disseminate the University’s knowledge and research to all Missourian’s, not just those who went to school here. That became Extension. Because Extension has a network of MU Extension Offices in every Missouri county, they were perfectly positioned in our state to help reach their local communities, and help keep them informed about the great stories, events and opportunities coming out of Mizzou – including athletics.
How did MU Extension & Mizzou Athletics become partners?
This marks the third year Mizzou Athletics and MU Extension have partnered on the Ambassador program. The program was born out of a brainstorming meeting in the spring of 2017 and the first Ambassadors came on board in the fall of 2017. It is grassroots marketing and education program at its finest, and Mizzou Athletics is grateful for its partnership with MU Extension to help make this program a reality. We are not aware of any other program like this nationally.
How are the County Extension Councils involved in the program?
Our Ambassadors are deputized by their local County Extension Council and are asked to provide regular updates to the Council on their efforts to promote Mizzou Athletics.
What is the goal of the Ambassador Program?
Working alongside the MU Extension & Engagement staff, Mizzou’s Department of Intercollegiate Athletics would like to have an individual appointed to each of the 114 County Extension Councils within the Show Me State to positively promote Mizzou Athletics within the area in which the selected individuals reside.
How many Ambassadors are there?
There are 114 counties plus the city of St. Louis in our state. Our goal is to create a Black and Gold Mizzou presence in all of them. But in some of the larger counties, they have elected to have co-Ambassadors to work side by side, or as a couple. Currently, there are 133 people involved as Ambassadors, covering 92 counties, with 23 counties still in need of Ambassadors. Counties seeking Ambassadors can be found on a map located on mutigers.com, the official web site of Mizzou Athletics.
Who qualifies to be an Ambassador?
We welcome all Mizzou alumni, supporters and Tiger fans to express an interest and tell us why they would like to make a difference in their county and communities. Extension will provide assistance through its County Extension Councils, while Athletics will supply the materials needed for Ambassadors to be successful in their volunteer roles.
What does an Ambassador do for Mizzou Athletics?
The Mizzou Athletics County Ambassador Program is designed to offer a personalized, proactive approach to educate and engage Mizzou fans throughout the state about the Tigers’ highly-successful SEC athletics program. In addition to the educational component, Ambassadors will be asked to:
- Sign up 10 (or more) local businesses for the Mizzou Spirit Program.
- Distribute posters and schedule cards throughout the year as provided by Mizzou Athletics.
- Secure 2 new TSF members (at any level).
- Try to sign up 3 new season ticket holders (in any sport).
- Put out at least 1 or more monthly personal emails to ambassador’s area constituents (grassroots database) outlining positive messages from Mizzou Athletics. Talking Points will be provided weekly by Mizzou Athletics.
- Report their activity back through their local Extension Councils.
- “Like” and “Share” good news via Social Media they use on Mizzou Athletics.
How will I learn about the latest news in Mizzou Athletics?
Each week during the academic year, Mizzou Athletics will e-mail you regular newsletter updates for you to pass along through your own e-mail chain and social media channels. In addition, you will have chances to attend special events with your family, hear from Mizzou coaches and student-athletes, and network with fellow Ambassadors from across our state! Through these events you will get a behind the scenes look into the very latest in Mizzou Athletics.
What is the Mizzou Spirit Program?
The Mizzou Spirit Program provides businesses with the opportunity to show their Mizzou spirit at no cost. Spirit Program members will receive the following items to promote Mizzou Athletics, to include:
- Mizzou flag
- Tickets to select Mizzou athletic events
- Mizzou team posters, schedule cards and schedule magnets
All we ask of our Ambassadors is to sign up 10 (or more) local businesses for this free program and Mizzou Athletics will take care of the rest! For more information, please contact Mizzou Athletic Marketing at (573) 884-8341 or via email.
What is TSF?
The Tiger Scholarship Fund (or TSF for short) is the fund-raising arm of Mizzou Athletics. TSF’s mission is to provide financial resources to maximize the impact of the overall Mizzou student-athlete experience and to uphold the Department of Athletics' core values of Respect, Integrity, Gratitude, Humility and Together.
What if I don’t know what to do?
We will make it easy by providing you with a check list, supplies and arming you with suggestions and all of the latest Mizzou Athletics news. During an upcoming event, we hope to ask our veteran Ambassadors to share their best practices to also give you more ideas.
I’m out-of-state but with a Mizzou Alumni Chapter. How can I be an Athletics Ambassador?
Our new Out-of-State Athletic Ambassadors center around Alumni Chapters, not counties. Any recognized Mizzou Alumni Chapter can nominate an Ambassador. We will be working with MAA to get the word out about this. In addition to many of the same things the in-state Ambassadors do, they can also be helpful when Coaches Caravans come near them, or when teams play in their areas.
What type of materials will I be asked to distribute as an Ambassador?
You will receive supplies several times a year from Mizzou Athletics, primarily consisting of posters and schedule cards for you to distribute within your county to fellow Mizzou fans. In the past, we have also asked Ambassadors to distribute yard signs, 1839 brochures and information on the Tiger Stripes program to interested parties within your area.
Are Ambassadors making a difference?
You bet you are! Whether we are bringing a coaches caravan to your area, asking you to share news, distribute materials or being a resource for creating a Mizzou Presence in your communities – we see the difference you are making!
For More information, contact
MU Extension Director of Strategic Partnerships Tracy Feller can be reached at 573.882.4134 or via e-mail at fellerT@missouri.edu.
