National County Government Month is just around the corner. This April is a great opportunity to spread the word about the value of county government and how your county delivers to Texans every day.
County officials can take advantage of tools and resources created by TAC specifically for public outreach. This information is critical to counties and available at www.county.org/texascountiesdeliver .
The National Association of Counties (NACo) also offers resources, including sample proclamations, logos, posters and a guidebook, all of which can be found at www.naco.org/NCGM .
Counties can promote their programs and services by:
• hosting community outreach events and activities,
• hosting tours of county facilities,
• holding recognition ceremonies for county employees and volunteers,
• distributing information about county programs and services,
• sponsoring student essay and art contests,
• meeting with business and community leaders,
• adopting resolutions,
• hosting student field trips and staging mock trials.
County officials are encouraged
to share information about their office, their county, videos and infographics provided by TAC, and planned activities on social media using the hashtag #NCGM. Counties can send messages on Twitter to
@TexasCounties and @NACoTweets
or tag TAC and NACo on Facebook.
Texas counties celebrating National County Government Month can also send photos and descriptions of
events to County magazine writer
Joel Nihlean at joeln@county.org for inclusion on TAC’s social media channels, and in the print and online versions of County magazine.
Here are nine ways to use TAC’s Texas Counties Deliver tools to share the county story this April and throughout the year.
1 Make Public Speaking Pop – TAC’s “Texas Counties Deliver: Effective, Efficient, Local Solutions” customizable PowerPoint and script make putting together a top-notch-looking (and sounding) presentation for the public easy.
2 Hand Out TAC’s County Government Brochure – Whether you share them at public speaking events, or just provide them at the courthouse and other county buildings, the “Texas County Government: How county government serves you and your community” brochure helps readers better understand each county office and the services it provides. Order copies at www.county.org/texascountiesdeliver for just the cost of shipping.
3 Share TAC’s Fun, Informative Videos – Include some of the entertaining and informative county government videos produced by Chet Garner of PBS’s “The Daytripper,” in your presentations to the public or share them on your county website, Facebook and Twitter.
4 Shoot Your Own Video – Record a brief (three minute or shorter) video using your smartphone. Explain a key role of your office or another aspect of county government. Upload it to YouTube, Facebook or Twitter.
5 Use TAC’s Infographics – Download and share one of TAC’s many infographics at www.county.org/texascountiesdeliver. Use them online and in person to explain numerous complicated topics from property taxes to indigent defense and the role counties play in supporting and implementing many state policies and services at the local level.
6 Hang the County Services Poster – Tack up the “Here are Just a Few Things Counties Do for You” poster in public areas of your courthouse and other county buildings, or share them with teachers in your community. The poster is available in both English and Spanish and provides a brief overview of some of the essential services counties provide. Order copies at
www.county.org/texascountiesdeliver
for just the cost of shipping.
7 Link to the Texas Counties Deliver Website – Direct constituents, legislators, teachers and students to the Texas Counties Deliver website at www.TexasCountiesDeliver.com . The site explains county government and county officials’ duties in both English and Spanish and includes many of the fun videos and infographics already mentioned above. Counties can now add a new Texas A Texas Counties Deliver button that links to the website will automatically be included in the new website templates being rolled out to members of the TAC County Information Resources Agency. Counties that provide their own websites can add the button, found at www.county.org/texascountiesdeliver .
8 Get it in Print – Offer to contribute a weekly column or a semi-regular editorial to your local newspaper or radio station. Submit an op-ed to a local or regional newspaper to explain a current issue affecting your county or local government more generally.
9 Create a County Government 101 Class – Many lament the fact that county government isn’t taught in school anymore, but few have done much about it. Comal County decided to take action, which you can read about at www.county.org/magazine . Follow their lead by coordinating with your fellow county officials and department heads to create a course in county government citizens can sign up for. The classes can demystify county government’s structure and function, the responsibilities of each officeholder, the budget and more.
For links to all the resources detailed here, please visit www.county.org/texascountiesdeliver .