Commissioner Kelly to Speak about Charles County’s POW/MIA Flag Dedication
In January, the Charles County Commissioners will join other county elected officials, senators, delegates and representatives of Maryland’s 23 counties and Baltimore City as they gather in Dorchester County, Md. for the Maryland Association of Counties (MACo) winter conference. The goal of the event is to provide county decision-makers and other participants with tools for more effective leadership and a clearer perspective on the issues that will be addressed during the upcoming Maryland General Assembly session. The ultimate result of attendance is more effective and efficient county government.
The 2013 MACo Winter Conference will be held Jan. 2 – 4 at the Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay in Cambridge, Md. The theme of the conference is “Counties: We Deliver!” focusing on county services, with a spotlight on responsiveness during emergency situations, open government and innovative best practices.
Commissioner President Candice Quinn Kelly will address conference attendees during the General Sessions. She will discuss how Charles County recently dedicated the POW/MIA flag, which is now flown 24 hours a day, seven days a week as a reminder of the brave men and women who have been taken as prisoners of war or who remain missing. She will issue a call to action for other counties to replicate raising the POW/MIA flag through the state of Maryland.
General Sessions include “County Service in Times of Trouble: The Local Role in Emergency Response,” and “Open Government: What We Owe Our Citizens.” Many issues will be discussed in other sessions, including how local government communicates with citizens, the legal and technical applications of a county’s emergency response and continuity of operations plans, and best practices in preventing and handling a violent public crisis. With the recent wide-spread power outages, storm damage and armed attacks on the public, it is extremely timely and relevant for local government officials to study their role in managing these events and communicating with residents.
Also being featured at the conference are two courses from the Academy for Excellence in Local Governance certificate program, 20 table-top exhibits, and several association meetings and government briefings. Educational and networking opportunities at the conference allow attendees to learn about issues facing local government and the tools and strategies for successfully meeting those challenges as they prepare for the upcoming 2013 General Assembly session.
