Newly Elected Officials Trainings (4 Part Series)

The Pennsylvania Municipal League will be hosting a three-week virtual webinar program, with a recap in June, for newly elected officials. Topics for this program will range from Practical Ethics and Human Resources, Social Media, Labor and Employment Laws, Legislation, how to run a meeting, and the ABC’s for Newly Elected Officials

We will also be piloting our Newly Elected Officials Mentorship Program, which will pair new official up with senior officials.

Friday, January 5th from 9am – 12pm

1. Practical Ethics and Human Resources, instructed by Roseann McGrath
   1. Most of municipal budgets are ‘people’ costs for healthcare, fringe benefits, pension and collective bargaining which makes human capital just as important, if not more important than financial capital. It’s paramount to have an organizational culture built on trust where your municipal manager unites you as elected officials, so you have a shared vision, multi-year strategic plan with two-way ongoing communication, to set mutual goals, priorities and ensure municipal staff are executing policy and meeting your expectations. There is a war for good talent – recruitment, retention succession planning and staffing are hot topics. We want your community to be the employer of choice and ensure HR best practices and strategies.
2. Social Media Overview, instructed by Sammie and Dennis Guy, First Sip Studio Founders
   1. Tagline: “Empowering Municipal Leaders in Pennsylvania with Enhanced Social Media Expertise for Greater Community Engagement.”
      Description: Enhance your municipality’s social media presence with our focused training session, covering essential aspects of social media marketing. Learn to understand and connect with your audience, select platforms, craft content that resonates with your community, and adopt collaborative approaches for content creation to prevent team burnout. We’ll also delve into the latest tools and technologies for efficient social media management, ensuring your municipality’s message is impactful and consistent. This comprehensive training will equip municipal leaders with effective and sustainable online communication and community engagement skills.
3. Legislative Overview, instructed by Amy Sturges, The League
   1. Overview of the legislative process.; develop a better understanding for local elected officials to be actively engaged in advocacy & legislation.

Friday, January 12th from 9am – 12pm

1. The ABC’s for Newly Elected Officials, instructed by Greg Primm, Lower Burrell
   1. This orientation and onboarding session (A,B,C’s), will cover a range of topics that include:
      (A) Administrative Procedures – covering the basics of how local government offices operate and the protocols for effective administration.
      (B) Budgeting and Finance – understanding the fiscal aspects of your role is crucial for making informed decisions that align with the community’s needs.
      (C) Community Engagement-strategies for communication, public outreach and involving residents in the decision-making process.
2. Municipal Labor and Employment Essentials for Elected Officials, instructed by Campbell Durrant
   1. A review of the latest municipal labor & employment developments for this year.

Friday, January 26th from 9am – 12pm

1. Best Practices and Features of GrantFinders, instructed by Julie Fisher from Lexipol
   1. More than $700 billion in grants is available to local government each year. Learn about the grant search tool & benefits.
2. How to Run a Meeting and Dealing with the Public, instructed by Greg Primm, Lower Burrell
   1. The session on “Effective Meetings and Public Engagement” equips newly elected local government officials with essential skills in running productive meetings and engaging with the public. Participants learn strategies for agenda planning, facilitating discussions, and fostering open communication, as well as techniques for addressing public concerns, conducting inclusive hearings, and promoting transparency in decision-making processes.
3. Introduce and pilot our Newly Elected Officials Mentorship Program
   1. The opportunity to seek leadership & guidance from a “seasoned” & experienced elected official who can assist them as they navigate through their first year.

Friday, June 7th from 10am – 12pm

1. Recap for Newly Elected Officials and Expectations for the Following Year.