The Small Communities Quarterly, an online newsletter of the National Center for Small Communities, (www.natat.org/ncsc/pubs/newsletter recently published an article on "The Local Government Leadership Vacuum". The article cites local government experts who say that many communities are experiencing difficulties identifying individuals willing to step up and volunteer their time to serve their neighbors. These experts say that this is a result of increasing complexity of the lives of citizens, as well as the complexity of issues that communities must solve.

Further, it's not just the growing complexity of local government, or a decline in the image of being a local official. "Other contributing factors are; the stress of personal commitments and responsibilities, apprehension about complex government regulations, the fear of potential litigation and personal liability, the lack of public respect for government officials, the pressure of public scrutiny, and simple burnout."

So, how can local governments officials encourage citizens to participate more, and to consider appointed or elected office? Very often, people who run for office have served on committees that advise local governments. Here are just a few questions that local officials may want to consider as they appoint citizens to serve on local commissions, committees, and advisory panels:

• When appointing committees, do we consider "new faces"?
• What kind of training do we provide to committee/advisory board members?
• Do we give clear instructions to these boards and committees about what we expect from them?
• How do we recognize the efforts of these volunteers?

Help! I've Been Appointed to An Advisory Board

A new publication of University of Illinois Extension will help officials provide information to citizens they appoint to advise them. The book includes basic information about meeting management, setting agendas, developing goals and objectives, and other helpful topics. It also features information about laws that local government must comply with, including the Open Meetings Act and the Freedom of Information Act. Please contact your local Extension office for information about ordering this publication.

- Jeri Marxman, Extension Specialist in Public Policy

According to a recent report from the National Association of Counties, local governments spend over $11 billion per year on energy to run their office buildings, public spaces, and street lighting, 30 percent of which ($3.4 billion) is used unnecessarily, operating inefficient equipment. The report indicated that in many cases energy expenses in public buildings are second only to salaries.

The current interest in energy costs may cause some local governments to examine their use of energy resources, and consider ways to contain rising energy costs.

- Jeri Marxman, Extension Specialist in Public Policy

Almost nine out of ten 14-year-old 4-H community club members report 4-H has helped them feel more comfortable in public speaking situations such as speaking before a group while in school. These results are from telephone interviews conducted with forty-one 14-year-old members living in six counties. Members were sampled at random with over 60 percent reporting that 4-H had made them more comfortable in using parliamentary procedure and could site examples of having demonstrated skills in this area. About 40 percent said they had used these skills in settings in addition to 4-H.

About three-fourths of the 41 interviewed said 4-H had helped them learn how to work with younger members. More than 80 percent said 4-H had helped them meet people whom they would not have met outside of 4-H. About 75 percent said 4-H had helped them learn more about their community.

The members were interviewed by telephone during the summer of 2000. During the interview they were asked to what extent 4-H had helped them develop specific leadership skills such as being able to use parliamentary procedure. If the member stated that they had a skill they were then asked to give examples of what they had learned and how they had utilized the skills. Two independent raters reviewed the results of the interviews. Members were rated as having the skill only if both raters agreed that the member's comments provided reasonable evidence of having the skill the member claimed.

- Charlie Clark, Extension Specialist Program Evaluation

http://www.fourhcouncil.edu/alumni/APG/cfc/cfc.htm
National 4-H council website

http://www.psy.ku.dk/estrid/femdiweb/forsk/fthdog4h.htm
Paper on 4-H after school projects

http://www.cahe.nmsu.edu/pubs/_f/f-104.html
Tips for parents to help students with homework.

http://www.cvc.org.nz/paper_volunteeringlocalgovernment.htm
Papers on volunteering in local government.

http://www.eren.doe.gov/
US Department on Energy.

The University of Illinois and its Extension do not promote or embrace the views of any of the mentioned websites; they are given as a point for the reader to explore the issue.

- Amy L.H. Heilveil