Meetings: Bane or Blessing?

摘要

For local agency officials, meetings are part and parcel of public service, but perspectives on meetings vary widely. Many officials enjoy meetings because, as former Lafayette City Council Member and Contra Costa County Supervisor Gayle Uilkema observed, "That's where all the ideas start growing." Contrast her view with that of humorist Dave Barry who quipped, "If you had to identify in one word the reason why the human race has not achieved and never will achieve its full potential, that word would be 'meetings."' How can local officials help their communities conduct the kinds of meetings that reflect Uilkema's perspective instead of Barry's? In these contentious times, it can be a challenge. The Institute for Local Government (ILG) website offers helpful resources, which are collected in the new ILG Meeting Resource Center. The center's offerings include: