AOC embarked upon a three-year journey when it held its Reimagining AOC retreat at the home of the Oregon State Fair in Salem on Tuesday, March 16.
Just under thirty commissioners and judges gave up a day of their lives to help the association lay a foundation for the future. Their work was guided by Salam Noor, a former state education official and now a highly-respected facilitator.
The effort produced several general topics or themes the participants believe ought to be focused on as it moves forward and defines the future.
Quite fundamental to the task is the universal belief that AOC can become a powerful force in the Legislature in terms of being both proactive and reactive, but that an element of this evolution must include the presence of all 36 counties.
A significant cornerstone of this quest is a belief that AOC members need to see value and relevance in the work of the association, and while the association may not evolve into a lovefest, it must be functional and this is the result of respect for each other.
While there are certainly issues where counties will be on either end of the spectrum, we need to create a viable forum and commit to first understanding one another, why we believe the way we do, and the impact issues have on our individual counties.
In addition, we also need to explore new sources of revenue to permit AOC the ability to reshape itself and build capacity without being almost totally dependent upon dues.
After intense discussion, the participants took the time to attach value to the various possibilities. More about the outcomes will be discussed in more detail following this introduction. The group ended well aware of the fact there are 90 commissioners, judges, and chairs that have not weighed in, and each of their voices is critical before we can go forward.
In my opening remarks I made it clear this is not a one-and-done. We have commitments from AOC First Vice President Derrick DeGroot and Second Vice President Danielle Bethell that this work will continue into their presidencies.
In conclusion, I was taken by a comment from Tillamook County Commissioner Erin Skaar, which captured an important element of this conversation. While we have some serious threats and challenges facing AOC, the good news is that it is within our power to resolve everything that confronts us.
Contributed by: George Murdock | AOC President and Umatilla County Commissioner