IAC Staff Attends Western States Association Meeting

IAC Staff Sara Westbrook and Kristin Cundiff attended the Western States Association Staff Meeting hosted by the New Mexico Association of Counties in Santa Fe, NM from August 26-27, 2021. Representatives from six state associations, including Arizona, California, Idaho, New Mexico, Oregon and Washington, discussed best practices, procedures and strategies for topics like conferences, current policy issues, member communications, external communications and budgeting and financial matters.

Attendees chose from one of three breakout sessions, each lasting an hour and a half, that addressed a topic of importance for county state associations in the west. The breakout sessions prompted organic conversations and full participation from each of the small groups. In addition to the breakout sessions, the staff participated in team building exercises, as well as a tour of the New Mexico Capitol Building and a few points of interest around Santa Fe.

The meeting provided a fantastic opportunity for operations and policy staff to network and reconnect. The Western States Association Staff Meeting began in 2017 with its first meeting in Boise. California State Association of Counties agreed to host the meeting next year.