What are you waiting for...
Good morning, folks! I had the pleasure of speaking at the County Commissioners Association Administration Conference yesterday, and let me tell ya, I was blown away by all the fantastic folks I met there. Some of 'em had been serving their County for 30, 15, even 25 years – talk about dedication to their communities!
Now, the topics at the conference covered a whole range of crucial issues like employee retention, safeguarding citizen data, finance and budgeting, retirement solutions, and you betcha, financial fraud prevention and protection (that last one was my presentation!). Spending a few hours diving into these topics, gaining new skills, connecting with fellow professionals, and maybe even finding a mentor along the way – now that's time well spent.
Professional associations are like the glue that holds government entities together, offering a space for professionals to link up, collaborate, and swap their best practices. They're like a goldmine of resources, training sessions, and networking events that keep government officials in the loop on all the latest trends and developments in their field.
Take my advice on this one and become involved in your professional association – it opens up a whole world of information and expertise that can help government entities tackle even the trickiest challenges and make savvy decisions. These associations are always on the ball, conducting research, sharing insights, and throwin' gatherings where you can soak up all that good knowledge.
And let's not forget about our other professional pals – CPAs, lawyers, doctors – they've been in the game of learning and growing through associations for ages. It's all about keepin' up with what we need to know now and these groups are your secret weapon for stayin' sharp and savvy in the ever-evolving world we live in.
So, to all our government employees and local elected officials out there, I say this – get in on the action, join your professional association. There are countless groups out there just waiting for you to jump in and be a part of the team – so what're you waitin' for? GFOA-PA (Government Finance Officers Association of Pennsylvania) County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania Pennsylvania School Boards Association Pennsylvania Municipal Authorities Association Pennsylvania Municipal League Pennsylvania Municipal League Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors