News

After literally years of trying, we’re finally able to move forward with the NACIO Awards of Excellence contest! And while we weren’t able to pull off the 2020 contest because of COVID or the 2021 contest because of other issues, we still wanted the opportunity to recognize you for your work during that time! 

So, the 2022 NACIO Awards of Excellence will accept entries of work produced from January 1, 2019, through December 31, 2021. That’s right – your work from 2019, 2020 and 2021 is eligible for this year’s contest. 

We will have more information and details on the NACIO website the week of April 18^th,  but here’s what we can tell you now:

So, start pulling your PDFs and EPSs, your JPGS and MP4s and get them ready for the biggest awards contest NACIO has held yet!

Plain language? What’s that? Exactly what it sounds like! Simply put, according to the Plain Language Action and Information Network (PLAIN), plain language makes it easier for the public to read, understand use government communications. PLAIN’s vision is to create a culture of clarity for every audience, every format – every time.

Learn the how from an early adopter and expert. Brian Lieb developed Hennepin County's plain language program, one of the first and most effective in the country.

Join the Minnesota Association of Government Communicators on April 14, noon – 1 p.m. (CST) for our plain language workshop via Zoom.  

Click here for additional information.

NACIO is on Facebook! We have an open page, but as a benefit of your membership, you can also join the private, members group. It’s a great way to connect with other County communicators, discuss current topics, ask for help, share information and resources, etc.  To find our group, search “National Association of County Information Officers” and request to join.

Presentation from NACo's Legislative Conference

NACIO Board Member Carolyn Marinan, chief public relations officer for Hennepin County (Minnesota), recently presented during the NACo Legislative Conference. During the Leveraging the Power of Media to Advance County Priorities and Combat Misinformation session, Marinan and county communications professionals from Arizona and Maryland discussed strategies used to deploy traditional and modern communications tools in order to combat misinformation and to relay accurate information and influence opinions. 

Click here to access the presentation. 

We have several opportunities available to be more involved in NACIO! The NACIO Board of Directors comprises local government communicators who are dedicated to promoting the value of professional PIOs and communicators to county governments. Our board members champion the importance of exceptional board leadership and believe that every organization needs a strong and effective board to fully realize its potential for good. In addition to the standard roles and responsibilities of a board member, our board members are active advocates and ambassadors for the organization and are fully engaged in identifying and securing the financial resources and partnerships necessary for NACIO to advance its mission.

Current open positions include:

Think about it. And, if you think a position on the Board is right for you, please reach out to Rebecca Carter to express your interest.

The NACo Board voted March 19 to relocate the 2021 NACo Annual Conference to Prince George’s County, Md., revising the dates to July 9-12, just outside of Washington, D.C. The conference would be a hybrid of in-person and remote programming. The Board also passed 27 interim policy resolutions (see details on pages 9-13) that will help guide NACo’s advocacy through July’s Annual Business Meeting. Additional information will be forthcoming.

Julie Chávez Rodriguez, White House Director of Intergovernmental Affairs, spoke to the Board ahead of President Joe Biden’s planned March 24 appearance. As president-elect, Biden spoke during the Fall Board Meeting, too.

Rodriguez said Treasury Department guidance for the American Rescue Plan’s $65.1 billion in direct funding to counties was coming soon and thanked counties for their work championing the bill.

“We want to hear from you all, what are important things for the Treasury Department to keep in mind as we think about flexibilities around state and local funding,” she said.  “What are the kinds of issues you are facing and the kinds of critical needs that you have that should be informing the next steps of our implementation?”

Though county officials were not able to make the trip to Washington, D.C. for the Legislative Conference, they’ll be roughly a mile away during the Annual Conference.

“We are proud to welcome and host the National Association of Counties to Prince George’s County, Md.,” said Leslie W. Graves, president and CEO of Experience Prince George’s.

“It is a pivotal time to come together through leadership, empowerment and great purpose. Throughout your visit, we encourage you to experience and enjoy the many unique amenities of our destination.”

Interest in an in-person conference began to grow as the country gets on track to vaccinate all adults by the end of May. The close proximity of Prince George’s County to NACo’s office in Washington, D.C. also played a role in the decision, as it is easier to plan and execute the conference without air travel in a short preparation time of three months. The location is also suitable for bringing any federal officials to the conference to discuss federal COVID aid implementation and rulemaking.

NACo will offer a hybrid experience for both in-person and virtual participation, including for the Annual Business Meeting and second vice president election.

NACo will comply with any state or county public health measures.

NACo will reimagine the conference agenda and format to reduce the overall number of sessions and to maximize the use of the convention space for social distancing, COVID screening/testing and live streaming. A safe experience for members to the maximum extent possible will be ensured by including experienced conference organizers in the execution of the event.

The Annual Conference was originally scheduled to take place in Travis County (Austin), Texas, which will now play host to the 2023 conference. Chatham County (Savannah) Ga. will play host to the 2027 conference.

The NACIO Awards of Excellence competition may have been derailed this last year due to COVID-19, but that doesn’t mean we don’t want to celebrate the great work county communicators do for their residents.

To provide an opportunity to highlight the work that has been done over the past year and the work done in 2019, we are going to hold awards competitions for BOTH years at the same time! So, dust off your 2019 submissions and get them ready, we’re looking forward to seeing everything you’ve been working on for the past TWO years.

Here’s how it will work:

The categories will remain the same:

That said, we need you – our members – to help shape the event. We’ve all had to adjust how we work, day-in and day-out, and have different lessons learned that can will be vital in building an event that is streamlined, user-friendly and flexible (easily moved to an online component, just in case).

Two awards competitions mean twice the preparation, judging, etc. and we could use some help! If you are interested in getting involved in NACIO helping with awards is a great way to learn more about our organization and get some great ideas for future projects – imitation is the sincerest form of flattery after all!

If you are interested in participating on this committee, please send an email to nacio1966@gmail.com.

Hello everyone,

Please take time to read through this month’s newsletter. There are lots of upcoming events in which you can participate, as well as a recap and recording of the March 4 webinar on COVID-19 Vaccine Communication Strategies. Thank you again to our panel and everyone who joined.

We are planning another webinar that will focus on a very timely topic suggested by our members, The Digital Divide and Digital Inclusion. Most local governments are implementing efforts to help them better reach aging populations, especially during a time when there is an emphasis on digital communication. Those efforts also seek to address the ongoing issue of access to technology for all socioeconomic groups.

We're looking for County Information Officers willing to share their organization's strategy on closing the digital divide during the next webinar. If you would like to serve on the panel, or if you know someone who would be a great addition,  please send me an email and let me know.

The Board is also continuing to work on the list of housekeeping items I shared last month:

If you have a minute to help us out with a project, have a webinar topic in mind, or are willing to serve in a long-term capacity, we would love to have you. Please send me an email if you are interested in getting more involved.

As always, thank you for your continued support of NACIO.

Thanks,

Rebecca Carter
Mecklenburg County

President's Letter

Hello members!

Despite the pandemic, it seems (at least for me) that things are already gearing up for Fall! It continues to amaze me how quickly we have all adapted, for better or worse, to this new normal. Instead of our usual line-up of Fall events, our Park and Rec staff are planning virtual events, we have more marketing campaigns than I can count and we’re constantly launching new platforms/apps to better serve our residents during this time. And all of this is amidst the constant communication about COVID-19.

I was talking on the phone with a coworker earlier this week about a project we’re coordinating, and our conversation quickly turned to catching up with each other. Since working exclusively from home since March, that is one of the things I miss the most – just turning around in my cubicle pod to ask my colleagues a question, brainstorming ideas and collaborating on projects and just taking a moment to check-in with them personally. 

Now we have our “check-ins” with each other by staying on our Microsoft Teams meetings a few minutes after the meeting is over or by text message. We even had an after-work Facetime cocktail hour to celebrate all of our August birthdays a couple of weeks ago!

But I don’t just miss my coworkers, I miss YOU, my communications colleagues. I know you’re still there if I need you, but I miss seeing you in person, sharing your energy and insight and the unspoken understanding of what it’s like to be a local government communicator. Let’s do something about it!

A few of our members presented the idea of a virtual networking and catch-up with colleagues session! Our first NACIO virtual meet-up is September 24 at 3:30pm EST – click here to register, its (FREE)! Bring your questions, your “help me please” topics, and anything else you can think of. I can’t wait to SEE and hear from all of you soon!

Hang in there,

Rebecca Carter

NACIO President, 2019-2021

New Treasurer Announcement

Congratulations to Connie Odom, Public Affairs Manager, Williamson County, Texas for accepting the role of treasurer for NACIO. Connie has served on the NACIO Board for several years as the Region 3 Director. In her time on the Board she has helped keep her colleagues in Region 3 up to date on NACIO business and been a champion of the TCU Certified Public Communicator Program and our organization’s annual scholarship. Thank you, Connie, for taking on this role and continuing your service to NACIO and your communications colleagues.

Open NACIO Board Positions

We have several opportunities available to be more involved in NACIO! The NACIO Board of Directors comprises local government communicators who are dedicated to promoting the value of professional PIOs and communicators to county governments. Our board members champion the importance of exceptional board leadership and believe that every organization needs a strong and effective board to fully realize its potential for good. In addition to the standard roles and responsibilities of a board member, our board members are active advocates and ambassadors for the organization and are fully engaged in identifying and securing the financial resources and partnerships necessary for NACIO to advance its mission.

Current open positions include:

• Region 1 Director – Regional Directors are appointed by the President and serve as a representative of and liaison to the NACIO members in their area. Region 1 Area includes: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont, Delaware, Kentucky, Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia. To serve as the Region 1 Director, you must live in the Region 1 area. Regional Directors also support various projects and other efforts as directed.  
• Region 2 Director- Regional Directors are appointed by the President and serve as a representative of and liaison to the NACIO members in their area. Region 2 Area includes: Alabama, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia. To serve as the Region 2 Director, you must live in the Region 1 area. Regional Directors also support various projects and other efforts as directed. 
• Region 3 Director - Regional Directors are appointed by the President and serve as a representative of and liaison to the NACIO members in their area. Region 3 Area includes: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Washington, Wyoming

If you are interested in serving on the NACIO Board, please email Rebecca Carter at Rebecca.Carter@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov. 

Join Our Members-Only Facebook Group

NACIO is on Facebook! We have an open page, but as a benefit of your membership, you can also join the private, members group. It’s a great way to connect with other County communicators, discuss current topics, ask for help, share information and resources, etc.  To find our group, search “National Association of County Information Officers” and request to join.

REMINDER: Submit Your COVID-19 Resources

Don’t forget to submit your information for the online resource portal that will be used as a clearinghouse for COVID-19 related communications materials. Our hope is that this portal will prove to be a valuable resource for counties with communications staffs of all sizes – from a team of one to five or more. Materials ranging from news releases to infographics, website layouts, videos, internal communication plans and everything in between are welcome. Please clearly name/label your materials so we can categorize them correctly on the portal. Submit your materials to NACIO1966@gmail.com.

Member Profile: Heather Shirm

Manager, Digital Marketing and Communications

Palm Beach County

Heather Shirm is the 2020 recipient of the NACIO scholarship to the Certified Public Communicator (CPC) program at Texas Christian University. The CPC program is the only certification program in the country designed specifically for communications professionals working for public sector agencies.

Heather has been with the Palm Beach County for 14 years in communications, starting as a web design coordinator. She was promoted in April 2011 to her current position. Heather holds a bachelor’s degree in communication and a master’s in public administration. Through the CPC program, she is working on a department-wide strategic plan that will serve as a template for other county departments within communications divisions.

Due to COVID-19, the CPC program was adjusted from in-person classes to on-line classes. However, Heather reported that the content was very relevant for the times.

Q: What information or topics did you find most useful during the CPC week?

A: I really enjoyed the Leadership, Social Media Tips, and Self Care topics during the CPC week. They were very focused on how to navigate COVID communications activities while helping to avoid fatigue and burnout.

Q: How has the CPC course helped you in your position?

A: The CPC course has helped me to enhance my skillset as a public communicator and to create a concrete vision for my department.  The pace of change we are experiencing as a society is unprecedented, and it really helps to know I will have structured, living plan to refer to when things feel overwhelming or change course completely. I’m hopeful the certification will also assist me with future promotions and leadership positions in county government.

Awards reception celebrates communications!

This was another great year for the NACIO Awards of Excellence.

Thanks to everyone who submitted their work – there are amazing and varied communications projects being done by county communicators across the country!

In total, we had 235 entries from 23 counties and 6 county associations. In total members form 19 states submitted work in this year’s contest.

Here is the complete list of winners – congratulations to all!

Category: Annual Reports

Meritorious
Henrico County Annual Report Fiscal Year 2017-2018, Will Jones, Henrico County, VA

Excellence
Public Affairs Annual Report, Chris Floore, Macon-Bibb County, GA

Superior
Service Driven, Len Keso, Maricopa County AZ                  

Best of Class: Service Driven, Len Keso, Maricopa County, AZ

 

Category: Brochures / One Page

Meritorious
Be Emergency Ready Campaign, Richland County Public Information Office, Richland County, SC        

Meritorious
Montz Progress Report, Public Information Office, St. Charles Parish, LA         

Excellence
TAC Cyber Security Awareness Training Brochure, Kristen Benavides, Texas Association of Counties

Superior
2018 Daily Fair Schedule, Joel Quevillon, El Paso County, CO

             

Brochures / Multi-page

Meritorious
Art Teacher of the Year 2018, Andy Royston, Broward County, FL

Excellence
Official Palm Beach County Hurricane Planning Guide, July 2018 Edition, Claudio Abbascia, Palm Beach County, FL

Superior
New Member Folder, Christie Dutton, Kentucky Association of Counties            

Best of Class: 2018 Daily Fair Schedule, Joel Quevillion, El Paso County, CO    

 

Category: Publications / Internal

Meritorious
Airport Employee Emergency Training program (AEET), Broward County Aviation Department, Broward County, FL           

Excellence
St. James Parish Government Employee Spotlight, Amber E. Shepard, St. James Parish, LA       

Superior
eCountyLine Commemorative Issue, Tamika Bell, Broward County, FL

 

Publications / External

Meritorious
Broward County Library News - November/December 2018, Broward County Library Marketing Team, Broward County, FL      

Excellence
El Paso County PAFR 2018, Joes Quevillon, El Paso County, CO

Excellence
2019 Calendar: Faces of Programs and Services Funded by Tax Dollars, Richland County Public Information Office, Richland County, SC

Superior
Historically Jeffco Magazine, Jefferson County Historical Commission, Jefferson County, CO

Best of Class
Historically Jeffco Magazine, Jefferson County Historical Commission, Jefferson County, CO

 

Category: Writing / News Writing

Meritorious
Greenwood preps for play, Will Jones, Henrico County, VA

Meritorious
Small railroad keeps AirCenter on track, Gerald Hay, Johnson County, KS

Excellence
911 dispatchers take calls from tragic to quirky, Gerald Hay, Johnson County, KS

Superior
Welding sparks learning job skills to change lives, Gerald Hay, Johnson County, KS

 

Writing / Feature Writing or Columns

Meritorious
Collaborative Yolo County Program is Turning Around At-Risk Youth, David Liebler, California State Association of Counties                         

Excellence
Del Norte County's Neighbors Helping Neighbors Program Prepares Communities for Disaster, David Liebler, California State Association of Counties

Superior
Show Respect to Gain Respect, Liz Carmack, Texas Association of Counties

                            

Writing / News Releases

Meritorious
Henrico park named in honor of late Supervisor Richard W. Glover, Will Jones, Henrico County, VA

Excellence
Ho, Ho, Ho. Tis the Season to be Jolly Either by Airplane or Reindeer, Broward County Aviation Department,
Broward County, FL       

Excellence
Highland Springs Historic District added to state, national historic registries, Will Jones, Henrico County, VA            

Superior
Henrico dedicates Elvin Cosby Way to honor employee beginning 73rd year of service, Will Jones, Henrico County, VA

 

Writing / Speeches        

Meritorious
Henrico Horticulture: Turfgrass Care, Geoff Weidele, Henrico County, VA

Excellence
Firefighter Graduation Speech, Tricia Ring Wajda, Monmouth County, NJ

Superior
Data-Driven Decisions, Broward County Libraries Marketing Team, Broward County, FL       

Superior
2018 State of the County Address, Summit County Dept. of Administration and Public Information, Summit County, OH       

Best of Class: Show Respect to Gain Respect, Liz Carmack, Texas Association of Counties            

 

Category Graphic Design / Logos, Themes and Letterhead          

Meritorious
New Loudoun County Wordmark and Graphic Identity, Loudoun County Government, Loudoun County, VA          

Excellence
New Mexico Counties Rebrand Campaign, Susan D. Mayes, New Mexico Counties            

Superior
Skeeter Skoot, St. Lucie County Communications Division & Tourism Office, St. Lucie County, FL

 

Graphic Design / Graphics for Brochures and Publications

Meritorious
Summit County Sheriff Recruitment Card, Summit County Dept. of Administration and Public Information, Summit County, OH       

Excellence
#KYCountiesBuild, Jennifer Burnett, Kentucky Association of Counties             

Superior
Solid Waste Services Change, Chris Floore, Macon-Bibb County, GA

 

Graphic Design / Special Graphics

Meritorious
Park Map, Justin Robert, St. Charles Parish, LA

Meritorious
Annual Planning Forum PowerPoint Presentation, Andy Royston, Broward County, FL

Excellence
Weekend Journey Through the Past, Shelly Kays, Somerset County, NJ

Superior
Recycling Rocky, Anthony DeSeno, Monmouth County, NJ

Best of Class: Recycling Rocky Monmouth County, NJ, Anthony DeSeno, Monmouth County, NJ

 

Category: Photography

Meritorious
Red, White & Lights, Isaac Harrell, Henrico County, VA   

Excellence
Chalk Lit Festival 2018, Meredith Clements and Andy Royston, Broward Cultural Division,  Broward County, FL

Superior
Thomas Fire Burn Area Storm Response Photography, Santa Barbara County Public Works, Santa Barbara County, CA        

 

Best of Class Thomas Fire Burn Area Storm Response Photography, Santa Barbara County Public Works, Santa Barbara County, CA       

 

Category: Audio / Visual Production – One-Time Video Programming

Meritorious
Emergency Dispatch Protocol System Video, Geinseer Ogando, Broward County, FL                      

Meritorious
New Mexico Counties Rebrand Video, Susan D. Mayes, New Mexico Counties            

Meritorious
Bat Week, Geoff Weidele, Henrico County, VA   

Excellence
Desegregation: Stories of Integration of Henrico Public Schools, Steve Boyd, Henrico County, VA

Superior
The Journey - Wastewater Video, Damian FitzSimmons / Braveman Media, Broward County, FL        

Audio / Visual Production – Video Series

Meritorious
Special Edition: Production Review Show, Joe Piccione PBCTV-20, Palm Beach County, FL            

Excellence
She's Tried Every Job, Doug Bear, Carol Mackie & Erina Kong, Kitsap County, WA      

Superior
Penny Surtax Videos, Cindy Malin ,Broward County, FL   

Superior
Inside Henrico Fall 2018 , Steven Dunn, Henrico County, VA

Superior
Recycling Woes, Josh King, Bill Carroll, Albert Spear, Mecklenburg County, NC        

 

Audio/Visual Production – Podcasts

Superior
Hello Creatives, Meredith Clements, Jessie Prugh and Angela, Broward County, FL         

Best of Class: The Journey - Wastewater Video, Damian FitzSimmons / Braveman Media, Broward County, FL

 

Category: Special Projects / Ceremonies or Community Events

Meritorious
Vet Fest, Broward County Libraries Division, Broward County, FL

Excellence
Armistice Day event, Hennepin County, Hennepin County, MN   

Superior
Eppington 250th Anniversary Celebration, Eppington Foundation 250th Anniversary Committee, Chesterfield County, VA       

 

Special Projects / Public Education Campaign

Meritorious
Passport to Broward, Shelly Turetzky, Broward County, FL           

Excellence
Gwinnett Community Outreach, Gwinnett County, Gwinnett County, GA        

Superior
Woolsey Fire Communications Response,Los Angeles County, Los Angeles County, CA       

Best of Class: Woolsey Fire Communications Response, Los Angeles County, Los Angeles County, CA

 

Category: Electronic Communications / Websites

Meritorious
Broward County Library Website - Broward.org/Library, Broward County Library Marketing Team, Broward County, FL      

Excellence
The redesign and reimagining of Loudoun.gov, Loudoun County Government, Loudoun County, VA         

Superior
El Paso County Website Redesign, Public Information & Information Technology, El Paso County, CO

Superior
Document the Floods Crowdsource Application, Broward County Environmental Planning and Community Resilience Division, Broward County, FL 

 

Best Facebook Page

Meritorious
Facebook.Com/BrowardCountyLibrary - Broward County Library Facebook Page, Broward County Library Marketing Team, Broward County, FL    

Excellence
AAC Facebook, Holland Doran, Association of Arkansas Counties

Excellence
Henrico County Government Facebook Page, Will Jones, Henrico County, VA        

Superior
Broward Arts Facebook, Andy Royston, Meredith Clements, Broward County, FL         

 

Best Twitter Feed

Excellence
AAC Twitter Feed, Holland Doran Association of Arkansas Counties             

Superior
Los Angeles County Twitter feed @Countyof LA, Los Angeles County, Los Angeles County, CA

 

Electronic Communications / Email Newsletter to Citizens

Meritorious
NewsFLLash, Broward County Aviation Department,  Broward County, FL          

Excellence
Broward County Library's eNewsletter, Broward County Library Marketing Team, Broward County, FL    

Superior
NDACo Legislative Blog, North Dakota Association of Counties     ND Association of Counties

Best of Class (3)

Best of Class: Los Angeles County Twitter feed @Countyof LA, Los Angeles County, CA, Los Angeles County

Best of Class: El Paso County Website Redesign, Public Information & Information Technology, El Paso County, CO

Best of Class: Document the Floods Crowdsource Application, Broward County Environmental Planning and Community Resilience Division, Broward County, FL          

And please follow us on Facebook and Twitter, both handles are @nacio66