President's Message - Legislative Preview 2000

Past Presidents Remain Vital Resource

We have a wonderful secret weapon at the Association. And I guess I'm about to make it not-so-secret.

During our annual convention in August we discussed the creation of a group called the ACCA Presidential Task Force. This group is composed of the persons who have served as president of this Association and are still in office as county commissioners.

The first charge given to this group was the creation of a position for our Association to consider on the issue of the reform of Alabama's constitution. The group went right to work and you are all probably aware by now that the Association adopted its position during the Legislative Conference in December.

Printed in the last issue of our magazine, this position outlines a positive approach for our state's leaders to consider on the issue of constitutional reform. I am proud of the work of this group during the last six months and, for that matter, for the last several years.

In part, the position says, "the Association encourages the Governor, the legislative leadership, local officials and business leaders to form a study commission to evaluate the method that should be used for reforming Alabama's constitution. This first step must be accomplished before the state embarks on further reform efforts that could -- by their very existence -- actually serve to preserve, rather than reform, our existing constitution.

"The Association commits its resources and leadership to be an active participant in this study effort and is ready to begin work immediately."

The wisdom exhibited in crafting this position on constitutional reform is indicative of the role this group has and will play in our organization.

There will be other issues that we will ask this group to address during the remainder of my term as president. And, I trust, the next presidents of our organization will also utilize the resources, wisdom and dedicated that is vested in our former presidents.

In some organizations, those persons who have served as past presidents are simply thanked for their service and pushed into the back seat. Our organization has benefited from the provision in our by-laws that creates a permanent seat for any past president for as long as he or she remains a county commissioner.

County government in Alabama is very complex, and becomes more complex by the day. The activities and services of our Association have changed as counties have changed. The perspectives of our past presidents -- people who have walked the walk and have watched our organization change -- is vital to our continued growth and vitality.

During my tenure with this Association, I have witnessed numerous occasions when the leadership and strength of our past presidents has carried this organization to its goals. Whether it is with the Alabama Legislature, U.S. Congress, state and federal agencies, the news media, grass roots contacts or any number of other projects that our association undertakes during a given year, the work of the past presidents is one of the main reason for our success.

I want to personally thank Larry Bennich, the chairman of the Morgan County Commission, for his hard work as chair of the Task Force. Larry, president of our group way back in 1993-94, has never wavered in his participation, support and dedication to our organization. I'd like to have a dollar for every trip he has made from Decatur to Montgomery to work on a project for the Association.

I also wish to personally thank the other past presidents for leading this organization and for their work on this Task Force.

We all owe a debt of gratitude to Roger Hayes (1999-2000), chairman of the Winston County Commission; Sam Jones (1998-99), president of the Mobile County Commission; Stanley Menefee (1997-98), chairman of the Limestone County Commission, Judge Hardy McCollum (1995-96), probate judge and chairman of the Tuscaloosa County Commission; Chris McNair (1994-95), Jefferson County Commissioner and James "Pappy" Dunn (1991-92), Calhoun County Commissioner.

During the last couple of years I have come to understand -- very clearly -- the commitment of time and resources that is demanded of the Association's president. And, I guess there would be a tendency for me to consider moving to the back seat in August when my year as president is completed. However, these past presidents have set a high standard of leadership and participation that I, and the other presidents that follow me, must uphold.

So when my year as president concludes, I will become an active member of the Task Force, as well as continuing to serve as a member of the Association's board of directors, legislative committee and other groups.

Until then, I -- like the other members of the Association -- will continue to rely heavily on the members of our now not-so-secret weapon.