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                Auburn University - University Relations
                            (334) 844-9999
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8/10/95                 Diane B. Clifton

OUTREACH'S SOUTHWEST "PARTNERSHIP" FORUM SET FOR BAY MINETTE

      AUBURN -- Auburn University Outreach's fifth public forum in its 
summer "Partnership with the People" program is scheduled for Tuesday, 
Aug. 15 at Bay Minette.
      The forum will begin at 7 p.m. at Faulkner State Junior College.
      The "Partnership with the People" campaign began in June with the 
first public forum in Demopolis. Since then, forums have been held in 
Tuscaloosa, Athens and Anniston.
      The series of seven public forums is an effort to determine the 
effectiveness of AU's existing outreach programs and to gather direct 
feedback from Alabamians about how future programs can be most beneficial.
      "As Alabama's primary land-grant university, Auburn has close 
ties with the people of the state," says David Wilson, associate provost 
and vice president for University Outreach. "We need to reaffirm those 
ties and our role of service to the people."
      The forum in Bay Minette is geographically located to serve 
Baldwin, Mobile, Washington, Monroe, Conecuh and Escambia counties, but 
residents are invited to attend any of the forums, says Maury Matthews, 
chair of the AU Outreach Forum Committee and adviser to the vice 
president for Outreach.
      Matthews says that the success of the meeting will depend on 
local collaboration.
      "Efforts such as these public forums depend upon the support and 
guidance of local leaders," says Matthews. "Alabama is blessed with 
leadership at the local level, and it is a great pleasure for us to 
collaborate with outstanding community leaders."
      The program will begin with a short plenary session followed by 
small group discussions, giving all participants the opportunity to voice 
their concerns.
      Thomaston Mayor Patsy Sumrall said the Demopolis forum was a 
"boost to the entire region. I thought it was a great community builder. 
We had the opportunity as a city and a region to get together and 
brainstorm. It really brought the university to the community one-on-one."
      Wilson agrees that success of the forums depends on community and 
regional involvement.
      "We strongly encourage the residents of each area of the state to 
attend and inform us of their views and concerns," says Wilson. "This 
information will enable Auburn University Outreach to develop a practical 
agenda of action items to guide our work in the future."
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aug95:AU-bayminette 
                              CONTACT: Wilson or Matthews, 334/844-5700.
(NOTE: Faulkner State Junior College is located at 1900 Highway 31 South 
in Bay Minette.)