Leadership: Up-close look at local government brings awe, appreciation
Centre County government was the primary focus during Leadership Centre County’s recent program day. Government certainly is at a forefront for many of us this year with a highly coveted Pennsylvania Senate race, the upcoming drop from 18 to 17 U.S. Representatives, and a recent state Supreme Court decision on the redrawing of our map.
The homework assignment prior to our program day was to attend one local government meeting (in person or virtual). A suggestion: C-NET Government & Educational TV is a resource that should have a home on everyone’s computer toolbar.
During our program day, we did not dwell in current events or national matters; rather, the understanding was from a framing of facts and processes. The curriculum included Centre County/state government. Local municipal managers and government leaders joined to share their expertise and provide an insider’s view. We talked about the importance of civility in government. We participated in a mock government meeting exercise, where we found that engagement in local government can be emotional, contentious and empowering on a personal and relevant level; decision-making cannot.
During our session on civility and civil discourse, we reflected on the book by Institute for Civility in Government co-founder Cassandra Dahnke, “Reclaiming Civility in the Public Square – 10 Rules That Work” Those rules are: 1. Know yourself; 2. Listen with your strength; 3. Respect: differences are enriching; 4. Listen with your mind; 5. Help comes from the most unexpected places; 6. Relationship is everything; 7. Listen with your heart; 8. Trust, trust, trust; 9. One is powerful; and 10. Numbers count.
The Community Leadership Program for my class is now more than halfway complete. Toward the end of the day as I sat in the College Township Municipal Offices with my classmates, processing and debriefing the program, many members of our class collectively recognized the culmination of leadership development up until this point in our program year. With each layer and level of understanding, skill building, application and exposure, we are beginning to realize that transformation happens where you are reaffirmed/changed by another. We know that as leaders we must decrease emotions, do not hit the walls, set aside time for ourselves, limit our multi-tasking, affirm and provide credibility, get information and ask questions, and be open to change.
Speaking on behalf of my classmates, I can safely say that we remain in awe and appreciate the local leaders who sit as elected officials and the staff members in our boroughs and townships. Those individuals are threatened and tested more than applauded and recognized. They are keeping government open and moving while continuing in our pandemic world. They are governing and assisting in times of great division and where groupthink limits compromise, negotiation and openness to being heard and understood and accepted. Those community members who do so daily in a calm and diffusing demeanor with a sole purpose to represent their constituents and get things done. We want to especially thank those who were with us on our program day: College Township Manager Adam Brumbaugh; then-Ferguson Township Mananger David Pribulka, Halfmoon Township Manager Denise Gembusia; Patton Township Manager Douglas Erickson, Centre Region Council of Governments Executive Director Eric Norenberg and State College Borough Manager Thomas Fountaine.
When I applied to join the Leadership Centre County class, I knew that awe, appreciation and cheerleading would not be enough. The expected standard is to be active, engaged and involved. By participating in Leadership’s Government & Criminal Justice Day, we had the opportunity to get to know our ABCs (Associations, Boards, and Committees) and local government in a close and personal way: Exposure. Experience. Evolution.
Thank you to M&T Bank and FirstEnergy Foundation for sponsoring this program day. Thank you to College Township government for hosting our class.