2 Introduction The 2005 Florida Engineering Leadership Institute’s goal is for
2 Introduction The 2005 Florida Engineering Leadership Institute’s goal is for Florida’s professional engineers to become an influential force in community- based and government organizations such as homeowner associations, chambers of commerce, public planning boards and advisory committees, and appointed boards. These entities offer great venues for FES/FICE members to be a voice in the community. The Institute also encourages professional engineers to represent their peers in appointed and elected offices. The Engineer's Guide to Community Service plots the course for you to engage in community-based service all the way to elected office. The guide includes: • Opportunities to get involved • Strategies on how to get involved • Testimonials and tips from your peers who have made it all the way to elected office 3 Table of Contents Section 1 Community Involvement . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Section 2 Community Advisory Boards and Committees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Section 3 Appointed Office . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Section 4 Elected Office . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101 Section 5 Success Stories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Section 6 Mentoring Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Section 7 Conclusion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 How to Use This Guide As an active member of FES/FICE, you know local committees and boards have real needs that can be filled with someone who can take a fresh look at challenges from an engineering perspective. At the same time, you may have wondered how you can get involved and make a difference. This guide has been set up in sections that represent increasing levels of involvement and commitment. You can start with local community involvement… move on to volunteering on local boards… get a formal appointment to a board… and finally, enter elected office. It may seem daunting, but it is a process that requires only a few simple first steps. Whether you are considering or actually making the leap, the Florida Engineering Leadership Institute has developed a mentoring program to assist. The mentors are your peers who are active in the community and are invested in making a difference. In Section 5 of this guide are several Florida professional engineers who have successfully entered public office. They are ready, willing, and able to guide you on your new path to involvement. Simply volunteering can be the first step to actively participating in your community, and it is often a selfless way of giving something back to it. People volunteer for a variety of reasons, but it is also OK to get something back from your volunteer efforts. Some people are uncomfortable with the notion that a volunteer “benefits” from doing volunteer work. Volunteering can be seen solely as a form of charity, based on altruism and selflessness. The best volunteering does accomplish these goals, but this does not exclude you from gaining an understanding of your community and connecting with others in the fabric of your community. Finding the Right Volunteer Activity Being sure that you have found the right volunteer activity for you will help make the experience the best it can be. Altruism is one thing, but volunteering for a cause that interests you is the key to sustained involvement. • Research brochures and websites to find the organization’s mission statement. • Ask how volunteers help the organization work towards its mission. • Ask about written volunteer job descriptions and length of commitment, or inquire about training opportunities. • Expect to be interviewed by agency representatives who are responsible for determining the appropriateness of potential volunteers. 1 Community Involvement SECTION 6 • Don’t over commit— Remember you will be expected to complete the assignment you have accepted and perform the job to the best of your ability. • Investigate how the activities are performed—as a team, small group, or as individuals. • Be patient—your first volunteer activity may not be the right fit. While one particular job may not be ideal for you, dozens of other volunteer assignments may meet your needs and expectations. Resources So, how do I actually find a group volunteering activity? Good places and ways to look include: • Contacting your local volunteer center. • Looking for events by local nonprofit organizations, non- governmental organizations and schools (charitable performances, science fairs, and other one-time events often need volunteers to help). • Contacting nonprofit organizations you may have a relationship with or with a mission you are particularly attracted to, and asking about potential group volunteering activities. • Searching the internet—A few websites to consider: www.volunteermatch.org www.volunteersolutions.org www.bbbsa.org www.redcross.org/services/volunteer • Phoning 211 for volunteer opportunities. “Citizen participation is vital to a democratic government.” –Volusia County Citizen Advisory Board City and county governments rely on the grassroots, voluntary support of their citizens to participate on advisory boards and committees in local government. These boards serve an essential service to government, are open to those who express interest, and are comprised of citizen volunteers. These non-elected boards and committees are the ground floor of government, but also a launching pad for high-impact, sustained roles in the community. In general, advisory boards and committees provide input to elected bodies, require the time commitment for regularly scheduled monthly or bi-weekly meetings as well as preparation, and are open to qualified citizens in a community. As professional engineers, we are uniquely qualified to join advisory boards. Criteria for selecting board members usually include: • The expertise to accomplish the board’s objectives • A reputation for integrity • Desire to serve the community • An interest in the board’s mission 2 Community Advisory Boards and Committees SECTION There is no better fit than an engineer for boards such as: • Parks and Recreation • Site Plan Review and Appearance • Zoning • Community Appearance • Housing Authority • Building T rade • Planning and Land Development Regulation How do you get involved? Investigate – A call to the city or county clerk will provide you with a list of the advisory boards for an agency. Most community advisory boards are also listed on the city or county’s website. The information provided by either source should give a description of active boards in your area, as well as some descriptive information. You will often find a brief abstract, the membership composition of the board, duration of appointment, and details how the board is appointed. Choose – Of the board opportunities available, it is important to find a board of personal interest to you in order to maintain your satisfaction and involvement. One should compare the board options with one's personal experience and look for a match. Again, professional engineers find that they are uniquely qualified for these types of groups. Express Interest – The city clerk can point any prospective board member to the appropriate contact person, who is generally an employee of the city or county. A direct conversation with the staff contact helps to lay the groundwork for appointment. Apply – Most cities and counties have an application process. The application is available from the city/county clerk’s office and is often found online. The applications typically offer you an opportunity to describe your qualifications, area of expertise, and skills. GET APPOINTED! – Depending on the ordinance or resolution that originally created an advisory board, an appointment could be based on just expressing interest, or by a decision by staff or an elected body. There are several different types of appointed offices throughout the state. The most widely recognized are gubernatorial appointments, but local governments also have the authority to appoint qualified individuals to certain boards and positions. Appointed offices can be either compensated or non-compensated, and both require strong leadership and reasoning skills. If you are interested in serving as a governor appointee, then you should view the vacant position report at the Governor’s Appointments Office website for more information located at: www.flgov.com/2007_boards_commissions. The vacancy report is updated monthly, and there is a simple eight (8) page questionnaire to complete. This is downloadable in PDF format on the same website, or in Word format at: www.flailc.org/docs/governor's%20appointment% 20questionnaire.doc. The board positions range from judicial appointments to state agency heads, Regional Planning Councils, every board regulated by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, including our very own Board of Professional Engineers. Local governments also appoint individuals to a wide array of board positions, including Regional Planning Councils, Regional Transportation Authorities, and Water Control uploads/s1/ community-guide 1 .pdf
Documents similaires
-
23
-
0
-
0
Licence et utilisation
Gratuit pour un usage personnel Attribution requise- Détails
- Publié le Mar 21, 2022
- Catégorie Administration
- Langue French
- Taille du fichier 0.6635MB