Continuing Ed & Conferences

One of the best things about being in County government (other than the people….employees & residents) themselves, is the amazing networks we have surrounding us.  From ISAC (Iowa State Association of Counties) to each individual affiliate (the separate departments like Auditor, Treasurer, Secondary Roads, etc) and beyond, we have so many opportunities to be involved and continue to learn through meetings & conferences.    

It is up to each department head to determine which conferences/meetings are required, beneficial, and necessary for us to continue to do our job as effectively as possible.  For some departments there are trainings required for certifications like bridge inspections for Secondary Roads and Election Certification for members of my office.  Personally, I find it to be a balancing act of making sure I’m learning and growing, but not out of the office all the time.  

There are often trainings for different departments as the state changes laws, rules, and regulations.  It is important for us all to keep up with those changes and make sure we’re doing our jobs correctly.  Some departments have more trainings and meetings than others and some trainings have been moved to online (via Zoom or another platform) for the trainings, which helps minimize the amount of time that employees are out of the office.  

The other part of trainings and meetings is the connection with other County officials in your same field.  It is so great to be able to be able to bounce ideas off each other, learn how other counties are doing things to see if we can grow and better our efficiency and service to our residents.  This part is priceless and is always one of the greatest benefits.  

Meetings & trainings can be once a year or even quarterly, just depending on the department and the reason for the meeting.  So, when department heads & employees are out of the office, keep in mind that they may be bettering themselves professionally to provide the County (both the organization and the residents) with the very best service that they can.  If you have questions about trainings & meetings, feel free to reach out to me or any specific department head.  Until next time…