Strategic Goals team updates

The Association is in its fifth year of implementing its strategic plan for North Carolina counties. The strategic planning and visioning project was a multi-year journey leading to the adoption of five strategic goals, which have continued to be validated and revisited for continued priority in the ensuing years. The NCACC staff is divided into five implementation teams, one for each goal, and the teams meet monthly to develop programs and action steps to help achieve assigned goals. The teams make monthly reports to the Executive Director on their progress.

Every action taken by the Board of Directors is designed to further the achievement of one of the five stated goals. As with any strategic plan, there is no end point – the goals have longevity, and ideas for advancing them continue to evolve over time. In addition to the work of the teams, each year the Association undertakes organization-wide initiatives geared toward accomplishing one or more of the goals. The Association is currently sponsoring upgrades to the UNC School of Government’s Civic Education Consortium database to develop new lesson plans and expand access to teaching tools about county government for high school teachers. This is a major initiative in support of Goal 1.

Additionally, the Association has expanded its support for university internship programs to provide enhanced support to its advocacy efforts, consistent with Goal 4. Additional workplan components this year include the three topical task forces on Youth Involvement (Goal 1), Building Human Capital (Goal 3), and Veterans Outreach & Services (Goal 5).

Each Goal Team's current strategies, objectives and initiatives are listed below.

1. Educate the public and the media about the role of county government

Team members: Richard Barnes, Terry Chance, Donald Czysz, Todd McGee (team leader), Rebecca Troutman, Alissa Willett

Strategies:

1. Help citizens understand county government and how it works.
2. Share best practices in public information and media relations.
3. Create a clearinghouse of county information.

Objectives:

1. E-mail newspapers with updates of new issues in county government; send letters to editors informing them of our goals.
2. Use newer technologies. Use focus group of varying ages to explore methods of communication.
3. Create NCACC activity book; put on Web site so it can be downloaded.
4. Reach 4th graders while they are studying N.C. history; also focus on high school civics classes.
5. Explore youth council models and best practices.
6. Conduct Essay Contest for high school sophomores.
7. Recruit participants for County Speakers’ Bureau.
8. Support 2010-11 Youth Involvement Task Force.

2. Strengthen county leadership and board development

Team members: Alisa Cobb, Michael Collard, Stuart Darden, Scott Kauffman, Judy Stancil, Latonia Strickland, Jo-Ann West (team leader)

Strategies:

1. Create a "board-building" leadership development program.
2. Share board leadership and development "best practices."
3. Develop a continuing education program for commissioners.
4. Sponsor regional seminars, workshops and training sessions.

Objectives:

1. Expand online courses with content geared toward various experience levels.
2. Develop PowerPoint presentations on Best Practices for boards of commissioners. Post on Web site.
3. Encourage participation in training. Offer leadership positions based on certification level.
4. Assign mentors; develop follow-through methods and practices.
5. Develop introduction packets for newly elected commissioners.
6. Develop best practices for leadership; publish quarterly in CountyLines.

3. Enhance the state-county relationship through effective communication and the development of a working partnership

Team members: Willie Allen, Amy Bason, Kelly Brown, Catherine Franklin, Judy Rhyne (team leader), Craig Sappenfield

Strategies:

1. Engage county and state officials in joint sessions to discuss state and county roles, responsibilities and relationships.
2. Create a joint visioning process with the Governor, General Assembly, school boards and municipalities for examining the future of North Carolina.
3. Develop a proactive, collaborative advocacy process to supplement existing advocacy and lobbying efforts.

Objectives:

1. Engage county and state officials in joint sessions to discuss state and county responsibilities, key statewide issues and relationships.
2. Create a joint strategic process with the Governor, General Assembly, school boards, and municipalities for improving the future of North Carolina.
3. Engage in a proactive, collaborative advocacy and communications process.
4. Develop training program on county government for newly elected Legislators.
5. Support 2010-11 Building Human Capital Task Force.

4. Enhance the ability of county officials to represent counties and the NCACC on local, statewide and national issues

Team members: Bob Carruth (team leader), Glenn Girton, Gerald Honeyblue, Jason King, Trinh Ngo, Sheila Sammons

Strategies:

1. Build a grassroots advocacy network using teams of county commissioners and managers.
2. Inform and educate counties about advocacy issues.
3. Recognize county diversity but maintain county unity.
4. Strengthen state and county analysis of policy and legislative impacts.

Objectives:

1. Provide materials for and encourage county officials to meet with their legislative delegation prior to County Assembly Day.
2. Provide support to Government Relations Team for Legislative Goals Committee meetings and Legislative Goals Conference.
3. Get 100 percent participation in Essentials of County Government classes.

5. Facilitate regional and intergovernmental collaboration

Team members: Kathy DeMay, Charlie Eaton, Elizabeth Floyd (team leader), Michael Kelly, Lisa Nolen, Sharon Scudder, Ed Wooters

Strategies:

1. Model collaboration by organizing and convening regular meetings of regional stakeholders.
2. Forge regional partnerships to strengthen counties’ economic health and quality of life.
3. Provide information, education, training, and technical assistance to counties in collaborative planning, visioning, and problem-solving.

Objectives:

1. Provide topical forums in the east and west, on matters of interest all counties. Solicit input for topics (school capital finance, transportation, water, growth, and the economy).
2. Keep members updated on county specific statistics.
3. Board involvement should include keeping up with the pulse of Washington.
4. Use resource partners – business leaders, school boards, chambers of commerce, citizens, state officials, nonprofits, faith community, COGs.
5. Support 2010-11 Veterans Outreach & Services Task Force.