A message to build momentum

Increasing awareness of what counties do is one of four goals outlined by 2010-11 President Joe Bryan

By Jason King
Assistant Communications Director

Wake County Commissioner Joe Bryan took his seat as the NCACC's 94th president on Aug. 28 during the 103rd Annual Conference in Pitt County and announced an ambitious agenda for the next year that included four goals with an emphasis on building greater awareness of county government in North Carolina.

In his inauguration speech, Bryan referenced his campaign theme for second vice president in 2007, "continuing to build momentum together – a strong foundation for all 100 counties." The emphasis on educating the public and media about the role of county government is a key part of that foundation and is one of the NCACC's five strategic goals. It also echoes NACo President Glen Whitley's initiative of raising the awareness and understanding of counties.

"Linking our strategic goal with NACo's goal makes sense for this year," Bryan said. "We will focus on getting the county message out so that everyone knows what county government is all about – local education, paramedics, firefighters, libraries, social services, sheriff's deputies, water supply resources, public healthcare, jails and many other services."

Bryan's theme was well-timed considering that the youth representatives in attendance for the Association's first youth summit – YouthVoice 2010 – will play a key role in the development of a strong foundation for counties through their own development as future leaders. The Annual Conference theme of "Developing Leaders: Inspiring Tomorrow's Leaders Today" was the result of a year-long initiative by Cleveland County Commissioner Mary Accor, who transitioned to the role of past president at the Aug. 28 President's Banquet.

Recruited through 4-H Youth Development and Cooperative Extension, youths in attendance worked late into the evening Aug. 27 to develop a list of priority concerns to present during the next day's business session. Topping the list of youth issues was teen pregnancy.

Bryan announced that his second goal would be to continue Accor's youth initiative.

"This Annual Conference has given us a lot of knowledge on how we can assist our youth in being prepared for the global economy," Bryan said.

Indeed, eight of the 12 workshops offered during the conference focused on youth development and leadership. Topics included alternatives to school suspension, the Early College High School project, cultivating future leaders and retaining home-grown talent. (Copies of presentations and handouts distributed at workshops are available online at www.ncacc.org/annualconf.htm.)

Bryan's third goal centers on using and promoting county services that assist military personnel and families. As one of the state's largest economic drivers, the military has a growing presence in North Carolina at Fort Bragg, Pope and Seymour Johnson Air Force bases, Camp Lejeune and Cherry Point.

"I want each county to think about what you can do to recognize and honor the sacrifices that are being made by these heroes and their families as well as those who served in the past," said Bryan, a retired U.S. Navy lieutenant. "This may include helping veterans find jobs, medical and counseling support, or create a daily recognition of their life sacrifices by flying the flag at half-mast."

Building human capital – Bryan's fourth goal – involves a collaboration of education and human services to help citizens reliant on government programs become self-sufficient. Bryan charged Wake County Human Services Director Ramon Rojano with working with the NCACC's Human Services Steering Committee to address the partnership between education and human services.

Hunter elected 2nd vice president

Bryan and Accor are joined on the Association's Executive Committee by Jackson County's Brian McMahan (President Elect), Cumberland's Kenneth Edge (First Vice President) and Hertford's Howard Hunter III, who ran unopposed for the office of Second Vice President.

Counties in even-numbered districts caucused on Aug. 28 and chose new representatives for two-year terms to the Board of Directors:

• District 2: William Mitchell (Hertford)
• District 4: Ted Davis (New Hanover)
• District 6: Jeannette Council (Cumberland)
• District 8: Don Lancaster (Franklin)
• District 10: Jarvis Woodburn (Anson)
• District 12: Jennifer Roberts (Mecklenburg)
• District 14: Judy Porter Poe (Ashe)
• District 16: Bill Stanley (Buncombe)
• District 18: Leon Inman (Stokes)

At the time of this writing, Bryan had not named the at-large members of the Board of Directors and steering committee chairs.

Lots of concerns for U.S. education official

Dennis Bega, a senior education advisor for U.S. Department of Education Secretary Arne Duncan, gave the keynote address during the Opening General Session on Aug. 27 and voiced several concerns with and goals for the nation's education system.

Citing statistics that show the United States has slipped substantially among developed countries in several benchmarks, Bega outlined several goals to help the nation move its education system forward. The burden of the work falls not only on students, teachers and school administrators, but also on parents and citizens in general.

One problem, Bega noted, is that the teaching profession has lost its place as a position of dignity. In other countries, he said, teachers are held in high regard.

"Somewhere along the line we have forgotten the dignity of teaching," he said. "We need to restore [that]."

One area parents can improve upon is to understand the environment that students are in today. It is an environment that has radically changed, with students working off smartboards and teachers communicating with students via smartphones. A student's environment needs to be safe and supportive in order for that student to succeed, Bega said.

While Bega touted a supportive environment, NC SPIN panelists were anything but supportive of each others' opinions in a respectful but no-holds-barred debate on Aug. 28. Led by moderator Tom Campbell, NC SPIN, a long-running weekly political talk show that airs on television stations across the state, held a special session during the Second General Session.

Panelists Dan Blue III, Chris Fitzsimon, Henry Hinton and John Hood touched on several political hot topics, including the looming budget deficit that will surely drive the 2011 legislative session. They may not have agreed on much else, but they seemed to agree that legislators will share the pain with local governments.

Campbell polled audience members as to how many believed counties will be forced to absorb part of the state deficit, and was met with an almost unanimous showing of hands. Hood predicted legislators would pass some costs down to locals to "disguise a tax increase."

"You guys will obviously be one of their targets," Fitzsimon said.

"How much more can you cut out of your county budget before you not only feel the pain, but see the flesh?" Blue asked. He added that none of the structural problems with the tax base are currently being addressed.