County Ambassadors Program

The NCACC Board of Directors has approved the creation of a County Ambassadors Program. Designed and developed by staff members of Strategic Goal Team 1, the program recognizes commissioners who actively engage citizens and the media in understanding more about the role and importance of county government and supports President Kenneth Edge’s desire to increase awareness about county government.

Commissioners who make a minimum of 10 public speaking engagements per year where they discuss county government will be recognized as a County Ambassador. Each year at the Association’s Annual Conference, the NCACC will recognize the highest achievers from each of the Association’s 18 districts as District County Ambassadors of the Year. From those 18 winners, the very highest achiever – that person who has done the most to improve the public’s understanding of county government – will be recognized as the Outstanding County Ambassador of the Year.

When can I begin logging my speaking engagements?
The technical start date of the program is Dec. 1, 2011, meaning you can include any speaking appearances you have made since Dec. 1, 2011.

When is the deadline for sending in the completed card?
To be eligible to be recognized at the 2012 Annual Conference, you must send in your completed card to the Association by July 15, 2012. After this year, the program will run on an annual basis coinciding with a county’s fiscal year, from July 1 through June 30. If you have not completed your card by the deadline for each year, you may continue to use that card until it is filled, and then send it in for the next year. A commissioner will only be named a County Ambassador once per year, but can be named a County Ambassador in more than one year.

Does the card have to be filled out completely before I send it in?
To be recognized as a county ambassador, the card must be filled out completely (i.e. 10 speaking engagements). However, if you have already sent in one card for a year and the deadline is approaching, you may send in a subsequent that is not completed so that your total number of speaking engagements for that year will be considered when determining the district and statewide ambassadors of the year.

Do appearances on television or radio programs count?
Yes, as long as your appearance on the program is related to discussing county government and not your campaign or another personal reason, such as promoting your business.

How will the District and Statewide County Ambassadors of the Year be determined?
The Association staff team in charge of implementing Strategic Goal No. 1 (Educate the public and media about the role of county government) will work with the 18 NCACC district directors to review the cards that have been submitted and choose one winner per district. The judges will take into consideration the number of appearances and the size and diversity of the audiences. In addition, commissioners will receive extra credit for speaking with youth groups (schools, scouts, church youth groups, etc.) in recognition of the Association’s emphasis on youth development.

How do I get a copy of the PowerPoint presentation tailored for my county, or additional copies of the Welcome To Your County booklet, or a copy of the county government video?
Please contact Communications Director Todd McGee at (919) 715-7336, and he will email you a copy of the PowerPoint and/or send you additional copies of the booklet or video. If you need the materials for a specific speaking engagement, please try to make your request at least one week in advance.

Do campaign speeches count?
The short answer is no. However, if during your campaign speech, you do spend a considerable amount of time discussing what counties and county commissioners do, then it will be acceptable. If you are participating in a debate with other candidates or speaking at a candidates’ forum, then those appearances do not count.

How will County Ambassadors be recognized?
Upon receipt of your completed card, the NCACC will send a news release detailing your accomplishment to your county to be distributed to the media at your next Board meeting. In addition, counties will be encouraged to recognize the commissioner at that meeting for his/her accomplishment. Each of the 18 District Ambassador of the Year winners will be recognized by an NCACC staff member at a meeting of their Board of Commissioners after the Association’s Annual Conference, while the statewide winner will be recognized during a General Session at Annual Conference. County Ambassadors will also receive a ribbon to wear at Annual Conference and other Association meetings.