[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Dear ELGL members,
It is HOT in Portland this weekend. 101 degrees right now! As miserable as it is outside right now, it’s just a preview of the heat that the ELGL Board of Directors will face in a few weeks at our annual retreat in Phoenix, Arizona.
When I say that we’re traveling to Phoenix in July, people are appalled. Who goes to Phoenix in the middle of summer? A new board that is trying to save money, determine our direction and future, and wanted a location that is (relatively) central to our nationwide reach.
You can be sure we’re chronicle the full weekend so ELGL members know what we’re talking about and the decisions we’ll be making. Even though it will be hot, it will still be productive!
One other tidbit from this week – I continue to catch some heat (ha ha, pun intended) from some executive recruiter firms that don’t want to adhere to our new policy of only posting jobs for All-In members. I created this handy flowchart to explain who we post jobs for, and how to submit a job. To further clarify for everyone’s understanding:
- Executive recruiting firms are expected to sign up their clients as All-In members if they want to post their jobs on ELGL and our social channels.
- This keeps it fair and equitable for those organizations who are already All-In members.
- Plus, it’s an excellent way for our executive recruiter friends to share the value of ELGL membership.
- All-In members get unlimited job postings for a year and free memberships for 10 employees for $250.
- Compared to the cost of posting one job on any other local government job board, this is a bargain.
I think I’m pretty easy going. That being said – dealing with these firms that try to cut corners or question the value of All-In membership (again, especially when compared to other job boards) makes me feel like this:
Have a great week –
Kirsten
What I’m reading:
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Like the rest of the world, I poured through this article: The Post’s new findings in Russia’s bold campaign to influence the U.S. election.
What I’m listening to:
- It’s Mt. Rushmore season on Pardon My Take! Even if you don’t love sports, you’ll enjoy this podcast. I think I giggle out loud at least once every episode.
- And of course, with the rest of ELGL nation, I LOVED listening to John’s interview of Malcolm Gladwell on GovLove!
What I’m watching:
- West Wing on Netflix. I caught Kent’s bird flu at the end of the week so I made myself feel better by eating a lot of soup and watching everyone’s favorite presidential staffers. I forgot that Moira Kelly, aka Lucas Scott’s mom, was on Season One. I prefer her in soapy WB teen dramas, instead of on President Bartlett’s staff.
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I spend a lot of time each week taking phone calls and making plans with ELGL partners. Our partners range from companies that join ELGL as All-In members, to other professional organizations, to cities that want to use their ELGL membership in new or different ways.
Generally, when I talk with these groups about partnerships, a cornerstone of that agreement is to contribute to ELGL members’ learning and understanding in a new area of expertise. We do this by encouraging blog partnerships, webinars, lunch-and-learn sessions, or hosting a Supper Club. To us, these are the gateways to long term, sustainable participation with ELGL and its members. One of my favorite parts of these calls is to list out the ways that our members want to learn from others in the local government arenas. Instead of putting up barriers or monetizing everything we do, our goal is simply to connect people with the latest and best ideas in local government.
I anticipate in the coming weeks launching some new initiatives designed to educate about building codes, procurement, and long range financial planning. When these programs launch, please look for opportunities to offer your perspectives as part of these series.[/vc_column_text][vc_text_separator title=”G-Suite” color=”chino”][vc_column_text]
We made the jump to G-Suite this week for ELGL’s email and documents/spreadsheets/presentations, etc. It’s a seemingly minor change in our online operations, but it feels like a big step as we continue to professionalize and streamline the way we do business. So far, we’ve made significant changes to the way we plan for the future, develop a budget, our leadership structure, and my role as ED.
I know I’ve written quite frequently about the sense that ELGL is “growing up.” Little steps like G-Suite – or any of our other enhancements and upgrades (to Trello, to Slack, etc…) are just stair steps on that path to long term organizational sustainability. It’s a good feeling.
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Last week, Ben told you about how the Digital Working Group is digging into what ELGL membership means. This week, Kent writes about how all of our members are created equal. These exercises are part of our examination into what membership means, looks like and feels like. It’s a fun process (led by Kevin Herman and Luke Fretwell with ProudCity) and it’s making us think deeply about how we serve our membership.
A few years ago, Kent, Ben, and I went through a lengthy process to develop the organization’s mission and values. That was similarly beneficial, as it made us think about what ELGL did and why we did it. Extrapolating on that process to really dig into membership (and then later, figure out how that translates into online member services) is yet another step forward in our growth as an organization. Over the next week, if you see questions on social media asking about member experiences, please continue to show your support and share your opinions with us. It’s extremely helpful.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]