Cooperative Extension Service Communications and Technology Department 3354 1000 E. University Ave. Laramie, WY 82071 (307) 766-6342 • fax (307) 766-3998 • www.uwyo.edu

 

For Immediate Release

Story Contact:

Jaime Hunolt: (307) 783-0570

 

Contact: Steven L. Miller, Senior Editor

Phone: (307) 766-6342

E-mail: slmiller@uwyo.edu

Archived News Site www.uwyo.edu/agadmin/news/news.htm

 

Date: Jan. 30, 2006

 

UW CES educators making sure board development is not bored development

            University of Wyoming Cooperative Extension Service specialists and educators are helping Wyoming citizens ensure board seats don’t become hot seats for those wanting to serve the public.

            More than 26 individuals on boards from Lincoln and Uinta counties gave up a Wyoming fall Saturday and drove long distances to a board development seminar in Evanston. They were looking for answers to at least some of their public service questions and learn the nuances of public service.

             “This seminar was designed to be general,” said Uinta County CES Educator Jaime Hunolt, one of the presenters and who specializes in leadership development. “We invited anyone who had served on any board in any capacity – city officials, city councils, mayors, appointed boards, and even non-profit boards.”

            City and county elected officials can benefit from training through the Wyoming Association of Municipalities (WAM) and the Wyoming Association of County Officials (WACO).

            Those on other boards are often left to learn for themselves. “There are those who are volunteers and don’t have WAM or WACO to back them up,” said Mary Crosby, executive director of the Lincoln-Uinta Association of Governments. “There are people out there serving who want to do a good job and want to have the knowledge and information so they can do a good job.”

            That’s something Hunolt said she’s heard time and again. “Who is going to step up and fill that role? I think the seminar is a good start,” she noted.

            The workshop helped with issues board members will face, Hunolt said. “Even though the program is general, all have to know how to effectively run a meeting, from the assignment agendas to meeting rules.”

            Chris Aimone wore two hats at the meeting. She is a Uinta County Weed and Pest Control District supervisor but also voluntarily serves on the Evanston Tree Board. She believes people recognize the need for the training.

            “It hits on topics you end up dealing with, especially difficult people, the legal aspects, parliamentary procedure and how to have a more efficient meeting,” Aimone said. “Nobody wants to serve on a board that starts at 5 p.m. and goes to midnight. As a board member, if your board is not accomplishing things and is not orderly, it doesn’t speak well of the organization. There are times when you have to have longer meetings, but if you are organized and set time restraints, I think more people would be more willing to serve.”

            Attendees were given specific tools to take home. Presenters and their topics included: CES Associate Director Duane Williams, how to run effective meetings; Lyman Town Attorney Dean Stout, who also has a practice in Evanston, legal issues; Thelma Crook from Lower Valley Energy in Star Valley, Robert’s Rules of Order; Hunolt, dealing with constituents; and Teton County CES Educator Mary Martin talked about “servant leadership.” Servant leadership has been defined as a philosophy which supports people who choose to serve first, and then lead as a way of expanding service to individuals and institutions.

             “For some, this was the first opportunity to learn,” said Hunolt.

            She presented on dealing with difficult people. “The approach I took is that people who are upset about a decision the board has made will either come to the next board meeting or corner that board person somewhere,” she said.

            Hunolt offered a four-step process for board members to deal with upset constituents and had them practice techniques such as letting the person vent, moving from emotion to solving the problem and then dealing with the issue.

            “I gave a brief overall view of negotiation techniques,” she said. “That is something we could go into more in future sessions.”

            On the Web: http://www.uwyo.edu/UWces/

            http://www.uwyo.edu/UWces/Uinta_main.asp

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