|
President's Message
- Volume 53, Number 5 - 2009
Traveling across Alabama and learning more about each county commission along the way.
This year’s district meetings allowed President Larry White the opportunity to spread his wings and visit with Association members across the state. But, one member left an indelible impression not soon forgotten.
Before assuming the post of president of the Association of County Commissions of Alabama, one of my favorite events in the yearly schedule was the “one” ACCA district meeting I attended each year.
That one meeting each year has always provided me and my colleagues from across my area of the state with an opportunity to exchange information and to hear first-hand the challenges and opportunities county governments will face in the next Regular Session of the Alabama Legislature.
Since Escambia County has never hosted one of the meetings, we’ve always enjoyed a nice afternoon drive to the meeting site, a tasty evening meal, and the chance to learn important information.
Well, that was how it used to work. This year, I was given six of those opportunities, and at least a couple of those opportunities presented more than a just a leisurely afternoon drive.
All-in-all, I traveled more than 1,500 miles and had the chance to listen to our executive director give the same report six different times!
I enjoyed six wonderful meals, met some new colleagues, and even got lost on the drive back from the Russell County Courthouse.
The events were certainly well worth the effort necessary to make the drive all over Alabama. I found what most of us already knew – that the Association’s strength is the support of its membership.
The attendance at the meetings was outstanding and the participation was, again, indicative of an organization that understands its responsibilities and is certainly willing to take on new programs and challenges.
After discussing our legislative issues and gaining input from commissioners and staff leaders from across the state, there’s no question ACCA is ready for what promises to be a challenging legislative session. This year’s session will be made all the more challenging because, in case you’ve forgotten, 2010 is an election year.
There’s no question the first leg of the trip was the most eventful – at least it gave me the best opportunity to see the inside of county government and the Association as well.
Our first meeting was in Double Springs in Winston County. A cold wind and an overflow crowd greeted us for an outstanding meeting. And, because the next evening we’d be holding the year’s second meeting in Guntersville, the staff and I stayed the night at the beautiful Lakeshore Inn.
It was quiet – as we were the only patrons that evening. It was necessary to drive away from the facility down the road a short distance to get wireless telephone service – but we were able to watch Monday Night Football on the “big” screen television. The next morning I learned more about county government than perhaps I have learned in several years.
I joined the staff as we traveled across the state, from its western border to the eastern side, stopping along the way at three different counties to meet with the commission staffs. The most glaring impression it left was that every county is organized in its own unique way with its own unique challenges and problems.
This fact makes it all the more remarkable that we pull together as one unified voice for county government here in Alabama.
We traveled on to other meetings in Greenville, Sylacauga and Phenix City – where I found myself lost somewhere between the courthouse and Tuskegee.
The story was consistent, county officials searching for solutions to common problems; greeting old friends, and new ones; discussing the daily challenges; and searching for revenue in this economically difficult time.
But, after all the driving, there’s no question we’ll always remember the stop in Greensboro, which included dinner at Mustang Oil. Yep, we held the district meeting at a service station. Even though gas was for sale outside and candy bars and soft drinks were available inside, the dinner was remarkably delicious and the crowd of county officials was larger than expected.
That evening will be remembered not because it was the first ACCA district session to be held as the restaurant owner sold gasoline while also serving desert, but because it gave us our final opportunity to visit with our friend, Sumter County Commissioner Marie Carter. She was one of the first to arrive that evening and among the last to leave, even though she obviously was not feeling well.
For me, my fondest memory of the 2009 Annual Convention will always be Executive Director Sonny Brasfield’s presentation of the education certificate that Commissioner Carter earned while also battling cancer that eventually took her life.
Last August she refused to receive the certificate by mail and made the painfully long trip to the convention – inspiring us all with her spirit and her smile.
Most of you probably don’t remember a word I said during my inaugural speech, but those who were present when Commissioner Carter accepted that certificate will never forget that day.
As if that was not enough to remind us all of our duty, she attended that district meeting in Greensboro in October. She was obviously weaker physically, but even stronger in her resolve to be a part of this outstanding organization and to fulfill the duties of the public office she was so proud to hold.
Shortly after the meeting, Commissioner Carter was taken. The example she set and her love for this Association and its people will always be a reminder to me as I work to carry out the duties associated with my role as your president this year.
|
