Goodwin Speaks to Leadership ICMA

Doris Kearns Goodwin spoke this morning to members of the Leadership ICMA program on leadership. She asked the group of about 30 what they thought were important leadership qualities in future presidents. She then commented on their thoughts. Toward the end, she asked some questions about the city manager business to the collected group. All eyes turned toward ICMA Executive Director Bob O'Neill who gave her some good insights including one I had never heard before: that the city manager form of government is one of (or maybe even the only) democratic institution that was created in the United States. Interesting.

I am off this morning, but wanted to thank ICMA for the opportunity to blog the conference and hope it becomes a regular forum for sharing info.

Random Stuff from Tuesday

First things first. I would like to recognize the Leadership ICMA Class of 2008. The Classes of 2007 and 2009 were featured in Tuesday's Conference Newspaper. So, a large majority of our class who is in Pittsburgh went to dinner this evening and took a picture. Front Row (left to right): Shelli Siemer, Katie Corder, Jennifer Fadden, Amy McEwan. Back Row (left to right): Noah Simon, Andy Pederson, Christal Kliewer, Ramiro Ingaunzo, Joshua Smith, Stephen Seidel, David Junger, Ray Morris. Those not pictured: Tansy Hayward, Travis Rothweiler, Anne Lewis, Magda Gonzalez, Bob Bell, Dorothy David, Leslie Beauregard, Rashad Young, Charlie Bush, Jack Harper, Ryan O'Connor, Melissa Stephens.

Okay, now today's quick hits.

- In Pittsburgh, I have learned that you do reserve the right to have a license to ill.

- Revolving doors. I don't really understand how they are practical or efficient. I assume that they are handy in cold weather. But really, is there a less efficient way to enter a building other than trying to run a bulldozer through the building? Also, it makes it a little tricky when your hotel's revolving door is out of order, and it just so happens that there isn't an exit out of the front that is accessible.

- The Convention Center bathrooms - Did anyone else notice that they would mix up which side the men's and women's restrooms were on? Sometimes the men's room was on the right.....sometimes it was on the left. For all of us who love order and predictability, this was a little confusing and troublesome.

- While sitting on a patio with friends, a few Pittsburgh residents were discussing the open container law in Las Vegas. Our conversation quickly turned to the following: Does Las Vegas have any sign ordinances and if so, what are they? And number two, how much do you want to bet that the folks that made the original comment about open containers have NEVER thought about Las Vegas sign ordinances.

- McDonalds restaurants in Pittsburgh have issues. Let's just say that Frank Sinatra had more patience than the employees. Also, if you don't have half of the menu items available, are you actually allowed to be open?

- What does this shape represent?

- Do you ever wonder which one of your friends personifies "TJ Hooker"? A lot can be learned from the early 1980s shows, including (but not limited to) The Cosby Show, Family Ties, and 21 Jumpstreet (or as I refer to it....21 Awesome Street).

- Pittsburgh has a lot of police officers who make sharp turns and screech their tires. It's like reliving scenes from the Dukes of Hazard, minus the welded doors, sliding across the hood of cars, and compound bows with dynamite tipped arrows. I keep waiting for one of them to jump off a bridge of hay bales and Waylon Jennings' voice to come on and ask us if their gonna make it out of this one. As a side note to the Dukes of Hazard, why didn't the police just go to the Duke boy's house and wait for them to come home?

- If anyone still watches The Bachelor......please let Jennifer Fadden know all the skinny on the latest Rose Ceremony.

- The i-phone might be the coolest gadget out there. I'm kicking myself for buying another i-pod.

- Since I didn't make it to the Exhibit Hall this year, will sales people from various companies still contact me 100 million times about their product since I did not leave my business card in a fishbowl?

- Tomorrow is the last day of the conference. I'm really looking forward to the Doris Kearns Goodwin presentation. However, I can't believe this is over so quickly. I hope that the conference has allowed you to reconnect with friends and colleagues as well as recharged your battery. I wish everyone safe travels home to their families. Remember, as Plato wrote about in "The Republic," if you are an enlightened individual then it is your duty to go into the cave and enlighten others. But alas, you are not going into the darkness of the cave alone. Look around and you will find a whole host of individuals willing to help you carry the torch. See you next year.

Blogging Back Home

Here is what I am saying about the conference on my blog back home in Santa Paula, CA.

Spectacular Fireworks!

Fireworks burst out over the Pittsburgh skyline tonight as ICMA delegates who were on a riverboat dinner cruise ended the cruise at the

the confluence of the Allegheny and Monongahela Rivers, where they merge to form the Ohio River and watched a fantastic fireworks display in our honor.

Exhibit Hall Tour

I had not made it to the Exhibit Hall until this morning, so I thought I would take you on a little tour. I am a better blogger than photographer.

Googling Wednesday's Keynoter - Doris Kearns Goodwin

"Historians hopeful after ruling against Bush on records," Dallas Morning News, October 3, 2007
Goodwin website.
Wikipedia entry.
"What if 9/11 Never Happened," New York Magazine, September, 2006

And on "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart"

Who Was David L. Lawrence?

We are attending the conference in the David L. Lawrence Convention Center. So who was he? See here for the answer.

Tell Your Story

Daniel Pink's discussion provided many valuable lessons. One of the lessons I took away from his speech was the need for us to "tell our story". We in local government sometimes, probably most times, are so busy creating the story that we forget to tell our story. In our quest to do good for our communities, it is often taken for granted the efforts we make and the services we provide. While that is our job, we also should promote our story, tell of efforts, and enhance our engagement with our communities to promote the value of what we are trying to accomplish. I am interested in and would like you to post your examples of how you have told your story.

My Top 20 Thoughts on the 2007 Conference

Since I haven't officially blogged since I arrived in Pittsburgh, I thought that I would share my top 20 thoughts on the conference:

1. Dallas-Fort Worth needs to relocate to an ocean or to a location with hills/mountains pronto. The downtown view from our restaurant on Mt. Washington was amazing.

2. The ceiling in my hotel bathroom is a vinyl headliner of sorts - I've never seen that before. It sort of flexes like Jell-O when you touch it.

3. Daniel Pink is as good a speaker/presenter as author. I wasn't really sure what to expect since many times authors aren't the best public speakers. I thought the opening session comments and the subsequent break-out session were great. One of the most enjoyable sessions that I have experienced at a professional conference.

4. When a family member is in a car wreck, it re-emphasizes that work is not the number one priority in your life (and shouldn't be).

5. I never realized how much fun SoHo is....except I'm not in New York.

6. The Monday night Dallas Cowboy win was one of the best games (or finishes) that I have ever seen. I still can't believe that they won. Next week's match-up against New England is going to be a good one.

7. I'm always amazed at the conversations you have at Midnight - I'm not sure how or why a person's toes and camels came up, but whatever.

8. I love a blue moon. I also noticed that our colleagues love a blue moon as well.

9. The Emerging Leaders/Assistants Luncheon gets better every year. Kudos to ICMA for continuing to emphasize assisants at the conference. It's one of my favorite events each year.

10. Kudos to ICMA Planning Committee for getting younger members involved in the conference planning and as conference presenters.

11. I thought Pittsburgh was supposed to be cold......note that I'm from Texas so anything below 70 degrees requires a sweater, gloves, winter coat.

12. One of my favorite things about the conference is reconnecting with old friends and establishing new friendships. I was thrilled to see the folks from my Leadership ICMA class as well my friends Richard Brown and James Fisher from SEI.

13. Meet at least one new person today. I met Bill Fraiser from Montpelier, Vermont yesterday. Turns out we have the exact same taste in music. One of the greatest assets for ICMA is the national and international emphasis - I love having friends in various parts of the country and world. I think it makes you a more well-rounded individual.

14. You don't realize the significance of socks until you don't pack any.

15. You don't realize the significance of a hotel gift shop that sells socks until you realize that you didn't pack any.

16. I think everyone in Pittsburgh owns at least one Steelers jersey. Whether you work as a lawyer or waiter, you are allowed to wear your jersey any day of the week.

17. I love that Pittsburgh built all their sports stadiums downtown. For all those folks who say you can't do it.....come to Pittsburgh because it can be done.

18. You know a conference has good sessions when you have yet to go into the exhibit hall and make 100 laps trying to find free pens (that you will never use) or rubber duckie.

19. Here's the debate topic for today: Was the world better before cell phones, Blackberrys and email? I will say, that my friend's i-phone is pretty awesome.

20. Congratulations to Dr. Bob Bland, Professor and Chair of the University of North Texas Public Administration Department on his award. I know I am biased since I am a UNT grad, but Dr. Bland has contributed so much to the profession during his tenure. I looked around last night at dinner and thought "wow....he has touched so many lives!" He truly has left a significant mark on our profession.

I hope everyone has a great day. I will see you around the convention center.

UK Managers Skip Pittsburgh for Their Own Conference

Many of our colleagues from the United Kingdom are not with us in Pittsburgh since the UK's Society of Local Authority Chief Executives (SOLACE) annual conference begins Tuesday in Cardiff, Wales. See their conference website for details as well as their conference program. Note how much of their program is devoted to the issues of migrant workers.

International Affiliates Meet

Representatives of ICMA's international affiliates met this afternoon to discuss issues of mutual concern. Representatives discussed the importance of sharing info on sustainability initiatives and next generation issues as well as their desire to increase the number of local government management exchange programs.

My own ICMA international experience started with an exchange to the Arun District Council in the UK in 2000. The manager with whom I shared the exchange and her husband remain close friends today.

Syracuse MPA Students at Conference

Six MPA students from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University are here attendng their first ICMA conference on scholarships funded by ICMA member alumni of the Maxwell School. The students attended the Local Government Management Fellow dinner last night and a luncheon for Maxwell alumni today. In addition, the students are doing a fair bit of networking, attending sessions and having a great time before heading back to Central New York tomorrow.

Googling Tuesday's Keynoter - Dr. Lowell Catlett

"Economist predicts bright future for local, global economy at Chamber of Commerce's annual meeting," Midland (TX) Reporter-Telegram, September 15, 2007

"In changing world economy, providers of education, information have great opportunities," New Mexico State University, June 19, 2007

"Green Cows, Quags, and Mummies", Sickle and Sheaf, Summer, 2002

"Catlett honored for service to agriculture", New Mexico State University, March 9, 2007

"Catlett predicts bright future for veterinarians," American Veternarian Medical Association, September 1, 2000

Being Myself

Am I dull or dynamic? I listened eagerly to learn how to be a more dynamic speaker. The first tip--be myself and show my audience why I care about what I'm talking about. I can do that. The ICMA University Forum on Persuasion and Influence by Drs. Susan and Peter Glaser was a lot of researched-based practical tips on public speaking. I love that combination--research-based AND practical. I wish more workshops were like that. I can only stand so many case studies.

Update on my not-so-impossible mission: I have been brave and I've reached out to a lot of people. I learned that taking a risk to be myself can pay off. I don't really like telling people I'm looking for a job but, as a result, I've learned that I'm not the only one that's ever had to deal with this. Several tips gleaned from my conversations: 1) it's normal for the process to have its ups and downs so be mentally prepared; 2) don't take what happens personally; 3) do my homework.

I am thankful for the many, many supportive people I have met.

Dawn

Using Blogs for Good and Evil

When ICMA asked to me to participate as a blogger my immediate reaction was to run screaming. Blogs in my community are very popular and prevalently used to attack...assassinate...annihilate...(I could keep going but I think you get the picture) City staff. Though I know I shouldn't, I read them everyday to stay abreast of the latest misinformation and character attacks so that I might select the right amount of armor to protect myself and sufficiently warn others of the approaching cavalry.

Reading the "anonymous" posts by bloggers is a painful process for me, particularly because I know I can not respond or defend the great work of my colleagues, and even if I did, it would not sway the overwhelmingly negative tone of the blog discussion. It is even more painful to accept the fact that several members of our City Council rely on blog content as their sole source of information about City business and frequently post comments (often misinformed) themselves.

Recently I have tried to wain myself off of blogs to cut down on some of my daily punishment and just when I began to make progress ICMA creates a blog and asks me to be a writer. So, after a little more thought and a personal pep talk, I decided that this may be my only opportunity to actually participate as a blogger and use the blog for good instead of evil. No longer do I have sit by with my hands tied yelling and screaming my disapproval, disappointment and disagreement with the latest post!

Because I am an optimist, I am convinced that there are better blog experiences out there in the world. What about your community? Are blogs used for good or for evil?

Pittsburgh's Mayor Profiled in NYT

See article in today's New York Times on Pittsburgh's Mayor Luke Ravenstahl.

Googling Monday's Keynoter - Daniel Pink

"Behold, the Trends that Will Unchain Us from the Office", Globe and Mail, October 1, 2007

Pink's website

"Revenge of the Right Brain," Wired Magazine, November 2005

Interview with Management Consulting News

"School's Out", Reason Magazine, October, 2001

Googling Sunday's Keynoter - Bill Strickland

Strickland and the Dalai Lama, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, October 4, 2007

1998 Fast Company article, "Genius at Work"

Strickland's personal website

2005 Inc Magazine article, "What One Man Can Do"

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's 2002's #1 Cultural Force in Pittsburgh

What a View

Laura mentioned below the view from the Convention Center this morning. It is spectacular. This is looking toward PNC Park.

LGMF Boot Camp

I dropped in this morning on the "boot camp" held for participants in the ICMA's Local Government Management Fellow program (LGMF). This day-long event helped to orient the fellows about ICMA and give them some practical advice about a career in local government. I had came in as a representative from ICMA-RC was talking about retirement planning. One of the best pieces of advice I ever received from my former Assistant City Manager in Long Beach (thanks John Shirey) was to invest the annual maximum limit in a 457 K. That advice was about 17 years ago. It has paid off. An unexpected part of the discussion was preparing for impacts of not only your own retirement needs, but making sure your parents have their retirement plans squared away. There was discussion about issues of elder parents moving in with their children, the financial hardships on all concerned and the uneven participation of children in the care of the elder parents. It was an interested and thought provoking discussion. ICMA may well need sessions on challenges for caring for elderly parents soon enough.

The LGMF group is an impressive bunch. Here is more info on this year's group of fellows. Seek them out at the conference and say hello.