Craig’s Corner November 2021
Planning for our Future – Honoring our Past
On Wednesday, October 20th, I had the pleasure and honor to represent VLGMA at a luncheon in Hanover for many of the men and women who have served as local government managers during years past, and who are now retired … but who are still very active, and very interested in knowing what’s happening in our profession! Your professional organization was host for this event, along with the Berkley Group (special thanks to Drew Williams and Kelsey Wong for attending the event as well!)
Participating in this luncheon, and meeting several of the retired managers for the first time, was a highlight of the year for me. Many of the attendees are “legends” in our profession, and are leaders that I heard about when I entered local government in Virginia in 1998. I thoroughly enjoyed hearing some of the “war stories” from several attendees, and was also excited to learn about many of the activities that these active folks are continuing in their retired years.
As I’ve shared with you in past newsletters, one of the focus areas I want to emphasize this year is finding more ways to engage the newer members of our profession. We hear a lot of talk about the “silver tsunami” that will be taking place in our profession in the next decade; we need to be actively engaging our colleagues who are just starting in local government, and providing opportunities for mentorship, growth, and leadership.
One thing I heard several times during the luncheon from the retired managers was “if I can help you or VLGMA, please let me know.” If you are a younger member in our profession, please feel free to reach out to one of VLGMA’s senior advisors, or let me know if you’d like to have someone contact you to provide mentorship or guidance … or just to talk! Our retired managers have a vast wealth of knowledge and experience, and would be glad to talk and/or meet with you to help you along your path.
One other observation from my trip to Hanover – we are blessed to live in one of the most beautiful areas of the country! I decided to take the “roads less traveled” back to Montgomery County, and I saw many wonderful farms and quaint small communities along the way home. I saw evidence of growth and prosperity in areas of our state that excite me for our future. The next time you travel several hours away for a meeting or event, make time to enjoy the route along the way – you’ll be glad you did!
I look forward to seeing many of you at the VACo annual conference November 13 through 16, and I hope you can join us for our VLGMA luncheon on Monday, November 15. Ron Carlee will be speaking to us about the teamwork and resilience initiatives that resulted from the 9/11 attack on the Pentagon – Ron was manager in Arlington County on the day of the attack, and has a compelling message to share.
Please join me in welcoming our new VLGMA members this month – Michelle DeWitt, Assistant City Manager, City of Williamsburg and Donna Snow, Human Resources Manager, County of Fluvanna
All the best,
Craig