Time to Make Plans for County Government Month in April
Choose from the various approaches on the menu to the left

April is County Government Month so it’s a good time to take action on this annual opportunity to explain county government and its services to your citizens. And since this year’s president of the National Association of Counties is a fellow Texan, Tarrant County Judge Glen Whitley, it’s a particularly good year to take that extra step to celebrate counties.

For two decades, the NACo has encouraged counties across the country to actively promote county government programs and services. Formerly known as National County Government Week, the designation was expanded to a full month for 2010 to offer more counties more opportunities to plan and participate. Counties aren’t expected to hold public awareness activities throughout the month necessarily but can schedule activities any time during the month.

Here are some activities counties can undertake this year:

• Adopt a resolution declaring April is formally recognized as County Government Month in your county;
  
  
• Come to Austin and visit with your representatives and senators on important issues affecting counties;
  
  
• Put on a Student Government Day at the Courthouse using this handy “how-to” explanation;
  
  
• Design your own county-specific, do-it-yourself brochure using Microsoft Word to disseminate key phone numbers/email addresses, county data and local precinct maps, such as the one done in Tom Green County
  
  
• Ask your local broadcast/cable television stations to air one of these 15-second public service announcements to recognize counties during April (they can be downloaded online.

Finally, make a point of honoring veterans and current military service members. Judge Whitley, as NACo president, has established the theme “Serving Our Veterans, Armed Forces and Their Families” for the nationwide April celebration. Whitley urged counties to “try to link activities to this theme by recognizing, honoring and thanking veterans and military personnel for their service. It is important and timely as more veterans, military service members and their families turn to their county government for services and help.” Take advantage of additional ideas for promoting county government by downloading NACo’s 2011 County Government Month brochure.