The Association of Oregon Counties (AOC) recently hosted the Western States Staff Meet-up, an annual event that began in Boise, Idaho, in 2017. AOC staff welcomed their peers from eight neighboring state associations — Alaska, California, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming — to network, learn, and share best practices from their organizations.
The two-day event featured breakout sessions tailored to the interests and roles of county association staff. Topics covered included communications, event planning, legislative policy, member engagement, business partnerships, office culture, professional development, and more.
In addition to networking and sharing ideas, attendees toured the Marion County Jail and the nearby 213-acre Oregon Public Safety Academy, which certifies and trains Oregon’s police, corrections, and parole and probation officers, firefighters, telecommunicators and emergency medical dispatchers, and regulatory specialists.
Attendees were also treated to a tour of the Oregon State Capitol State Park by AOC Legislative Affairs Manager Branden Pursinger. Since the capitol is under construction, Branden beguiled attendees with trivia and historical facts, such as the unfortunate demise of the previous two capitol buildings. He also pointed out the Moon Tree, a state heritage tree that was grown from a seed carried to the moon by Apollo 14 in 1971.
AOC staff’s participation in the Western States Staff Meet-Up was a valuable opportunity for professional growth and collaboration, and we are excited to attend the meet-up in 2026, hosted by the Washington Association of Counties.
Contributed by: Erin Good | Communications Coordinator