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How to get your Organization to Fly Together

By Rebecca Woodbury and Andrew Hening, City of San Rafael In my last Morning Buzz, Judi Brown and I wrote about the beginnings of an innovation and engagement initiative called Together San Rafael. Today, my co-author is Treager List Top Influencer, Andrew Hening, San Rafael’s Director of Homeless Planning & Outreach. Andrew is shepherding our guiding principles process for this initiative. After...

I Have to Ask You: Most Difficult Personnel Matter

In this series, guest columnists respond to one of three topics selected by ELGL co-founder Kent Wyatt. This week David Clyne, City of Independence, OR City Manager, writes about managing difficult personnel matters. Question: What is the most complicated or unusual personnel matter that you have addressed in your career? Over a career spanning nearly...

Weekly Update: Pop-Ups, Project Coordinator, Dues, & Software

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Dear ELGL members, I'm back home (and tired as a dog) after a week with my kids at Mother-Child Camp on the Oregon Coast. It was fun and exhausting. I did hikes that overlooked views like this: ...and also ate disgusting camp food, used communal bathrooms, and had zero internet or cell reception. I was...

Innovating Local Government from the Inside Out

By Rebecca Woodbury, City of San Rafael & Judi Brown, CivicMakers The City of San Rafael, like many city governments, faces growing challenges related to public trust, community satisfaction, and employee morale. With a structural budget deficit paired with increased demand for modernized services by residents, the status quo and “business as usual” is no longer a sustainable option. (Sources: Pew,...

TCU Takeaways: CODE RED!

Chad Doran (LinkedIn and Twitter), City of Appleton, WI, is blogging about finishing the Certified Public Communicator Program at TCU. Read about the first two parts of his experience - TCU Takeaways: It's Time for a Hotwash and TCU Takeaways. Wednesday, July 26 Crisis communication was the focus today. We spent the day involved in a mock crisis...

I Have to Ask You: Serving as a Planning and Zoning Commissioner

ELGL co-founder Kent Wyatt asks three questions to our guest columnist, who chooses one to write about. This week, Susan Barkman reflects on the skills gained from serving as a Planning and Zoning Commissioner. Question: You serve as a Planning and Zoning Commissioner in Broomfield. What three skills did you gain during this experience? This...

I Have to Ask You: We Want Our Own Facebook Page!

In this series, guest columnists respond to one of three topics selected by ELGL co-founder Kent Wyatt. This week Jennifer Davies, City of Las Vegas, NV, Public Information Officer, writes about factors to consider when departments ask for their own social media accounts. By Jennifer Davies, LinkedIn and Twitter "We want our own Facebook page."...

July Twenty Seventeen: Laugh, Cry, Think

ELGL co-founder Kent Wyatt is bloggin’ about those things that make you Laugh, Cry, and Think. He is also dishing out the #BigLocalGovBaller designation. Here's what you missed in June. July 30 It's Traeger List week! Here's how we'll reveal this list. Monday: #81 to 100 Tuesday: #61 to 80 Wednesday: #41 to 60 Thursday: #21...

The Scoop on Comp, Master, General, Strategic, Vision Plans

This is a new monthly blog by AJ Fawver, the Planning Director in Amarillo, Texas. She'll share her perspectives on land use, planning, and community development in this series. Learn more about AJ from her GovLove interview! In the initial post of this series, we talked briefly about what makes cities successful, and the fact...

14 Ways to Make Local Government More Accessible

This guest reflection is by ELGL member and NRC Marketing Manager Angelica Wedell. “OPEN” is a four-letter-word, but one that local governments today need no longer avoid. Making the profession more accessible is a major talking point for ELGL (Engaging Local Government Leaders), and was a recurring motif at the recent conference in Detroit. Keynote speakers...

Knope of the Week: Bridget Kozlowski, Amanda Opalewski, and #ELGL17 Planning Team

Update: NRC, Inc #ELGL17 Photo Album Update: 3 Reasons Why #ELGL17 Was the Most Fun Local Gov Has Had in Ages The Knope of the Week recognizes sustained excellence in local government. It’s the Heisman Trophy, Noble Peace Prize, James Beard Award all rolled into one. Many have vied for the honor over the years, but only...

#ELGL17: What's Going On with Stacy Peterson, City of Peoria, IL

#ELGL17: Agenda, Facebook Group, Guest List, Hotels, Partners, Register, Sponsorships and Twitter List Meet #ELGL17 attendees. Stacy Peterson City of Peoria, IL Before you leave for #ELGL17, what’s the biggest project facing you at work? In my position, I’m usually working on projects for multiple departments at the same time. It keeps things interesting. Currently—working on launching a...

5/28/17: Laugh, Cry, Think

ELGL co-founder Kent Wyatt (LinkedIn & Twitter) is straight bloggin' about #ELGL17. For breaking news, follow #ELGL17 on Twitter. Sunday, May 28 It was a white wine night in Sunriver. I am beginning to think that I am the only male who drinks white wine. I am secure in my manhood so I will not let...

Kittelson's Corner: Dreamland

Welcome back to Kittelson’s Corner my weekly musings on things I think are interesting or important, especially in local government nerd-dom. It's time, let's go.... What I Read Book Review: DreamLand by Sam Quinones This book was pretty much all I read this week, I was totally engrossed by it. The author Sam Quinones makes the case, very...

#ELGL17: What's Going On with Susan Barkman, University of Colorado

#ELGL17: Agenda, Facebook Group, Guest List, Hotels, Partners, Register, Sponsorships and Twitter List Meet #ELGL17 attendees. Susan Barkman University of Colorado - Assistant Director of Community Outreach Connect: Storytellers, LinkedIn and Twitter Before you leave for #ELGL17, what’s the biggest project facing you at work? As a part of my job, I do a lot of data analysis on our programs and...

2017 Resume Book™️

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The 2017 ELGL Resume Book™️ is here! All of the award-winning ELGL members that submitted their resumes are listed below along with a short description of themselves and their latest resume. But what should I use this for? Here’s a few hypothetical reasons the Resume Book™️ is awesome: Let’s say a graduate student is looking...

#ELGL17: What's Going On with Laura Hardwicke, ‎Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County

#ELGL17: Agenda, Facebook Group, Guest List, Hotels, Partners, Register, Sponsorships and Twitter List Meet #ELGL17 attendees. Laura Hardwicke ‎Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County Connect: LinkedIn and Twitter Before you leave for #ELGL17, what’s the biggest project facing you at work? I will be moving Nashville's Transportation Demand Management grant into startup which means MOUs, appropriation resolutions,...

It's a Deal! Go All In and Attend #ELGL17!

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]ELGL’s Annual Conference is quickly becoming one of the most talked about events in local government and this year we’re taking the show on the road to Detroit, MI. The conference promises to inspire, motivate, and immerse conference attendees in a hands on experience learning from the public, private, and non-profit leaders driving change in...

Hosting Webinars 101 for Local Governments

By Angelica Wedell - National Research Center, Inc. Did you have low attendance at your last town meeting but you’ve got important information to share with your community? Hosting a webinar is one low cost way a jurisdiction can reach its busy, web-connected residents. National Research Center, Inc. (NRC) data show younger adults and working...

You Talk, We Listen: Digital Upgrade

We're currently collecting your feedback on what ELGL is doing right, and what we need to do less of, as part of our digital services upgrade. Don't forget to fill out the survey if you haven't already; it's a great way to communicate your preferences to us as we align our goals and mission with...