County Commission | The Magazine October 2018 | Page 34

FROM THE COVER
AFFILIATE GROUPS
At the Heart of ACCA’s Arsenal
Panelists expressed a lot of passion for their work in county government, with several comments that it Engineer Anthony Crear from Sumter County (at
was “more than just a job” to them. Pictured, from left: Moderator David Money, Anthony Crear, Raye Ann left) said he was advised early in his career, “your
Calton, Betty Peterson, Eddie Hicks and Donnie Smith. job is to make the commissioners look good.”
T
he celebration of ACCA’s 90th anniversary
would not have been complete without
shining the spotlight on the affiliate groups,
professional organizations for county staff
leaders in five specialties.
“Each of our affiliate groups plays a
critical role in allowing us to efficiently and
effectively conduct county business on the
local level every day. We must continue to
draw off the expertise of folks like this,” said
David Money, probate judge and commission
chairman in Henry County. “It is more
essential than ever that our groups receive the
continuing education necessary to do the job
they’re asked to do.”
Money moderated “Learning from Our
Leaders,” an hour-long panel discussion
featuring a representative from each group:
• Raye Ann Calton, Barbour County,
Association of County Administrators of
Alabama (ACAA)
• Anthony Crear, Sumter County,
Association of County Engineers of
Alabama (ACEA)
34 | OCTOBER 2018
• Eddie Hicks, Morgan County, Alabama
Association of Emergency Managers
(AAEM)
• Donnie Smith, Chambers County,
Alabama Association of 9-1-1 Districts
(AAND)
• Betty Peterson, Madison County, County
Revenue Officers Association of Alabama
(CROAA)
The connections forged among the
county family are invaluable, Calton said,
and can help newer administrators accelerate
their on-the-job learning.
“Reach out to other administrators. Make
the time to attend the meetings. We have
regional meetings of county administrators
where we get to know each other and form
a relationship,” she said. “There’s really no
problem that your county is facing that
somebody else hasn’t already done and
figured out.”
The importance of professional
development provided by the affiliate groups
was underscored again and again.