being delegated

In Pennsylvania, municipal elections occur in odd numbered years and the governing boards formed by those elections swear-in new members at a meeting that following January. At that same meeting the board will reorganize, including making various appointments or assignments.  If participating, one of those appointments is Delegate to the Council of Governments (COG). In a wholly unscientific anecdotal survey, it has been observed that this duty is often assigned to the newest member(s) of the board; i.e. an individual just elected in November.  This results in that newly elected official having to learn the ropes of their office and what it takes to be a member of the board of an organization intended for regional action.  Challenging!

To help,  here is a handy top-ten list of ways COG Delegates can make a difference.

1.  A COG is a government council.  It serves the governments that comprise it.  Help it work with your municipality, not against it. 
2. Be positive and constructive in your role as delegate and as conduit between two organizations. Sometimes in working out compromises and collaborations the path isn’t clear and this can be frustrating.  This is your opportunity to shine as someone who believes in your town and in your neighbors.
3. Have a “COG presence.”  Attend other meetings of your local government or with other local governments with an eye for how the COG can help make good decisions, programs or outcomes occur in your area.
4. Share the information you gain at COG with your home governing board.  Make sure you make a report on the workings of the COG at all your regular meetings, including COG agendas and minutes. 
5. Honor the commitment. Come to meetings, and share the work with your fellow municipal officials.
6. With your fellow COG Delegates and COG staff, research, analyze, and come to consensus as a board. Be in a position to explain and support decisions and programs of the COG.
7. Respect differing viewpoints. This may sound obvious but the membership of the COG may include many different communities and experiences.  Avoid making assumptions and instead offer listening, respect, and suspension of judgment a bit longer than you may in situations where you have more complete information. 
8. Invite others to attend COG meetings. They are open to the public.
9. Scan the environment regularly for regional opportunities.  If your town is going through it, it is likely that someone else’s town is too. 
10. Share ideas with your fellow Delegates and support COGs across the state.  This includes getting to know the variety and specialties of COGs.  Network with other COG officials.  Every one of them has a unique and creative story of how their COG came to be!  Share and learn. 

Do you serve on an intergovernmental board?  How's it going, fostering collaboration?  If you serve on a COG Board, thank you!   Intergovernmental cooperation and collaboration is truly important in striking a balance between local control and regional success.  How do you hone your abilities and succeed?