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Senior Advisor ProgramA significant benefit of membership is access to the Senior Advisor Program. This ICMA-OCCMA program makes available to members, the experience, advice and support of respected, retired managers of the profession.The ICMA Senior Advisor program (formerly Range Rider Program *) is a joint activity of ICMA and OCCMA established by the ICMA Executive Board in 1974 to make the counsel, experience, and support of respected, retired managers of the profession available to members. Currently five Senior Advisors provide service by volunteering their time to offer confidential professional and personal support and advice in Oregon. Senior Advisors are selected jointly by OCCMA and the ICMA Executive Director. Although they are expected to be visible, accessible and responsive to members and association needs, Senior Advisors are unpaid volunteers who pursue other activities while in retirement and thus are not “full time.” Expenses are shared by ICMA and OCCMA. Senior Advisors are available to meet periodically with members in their areas to discuss the profession and their concerns as members. Discussion topics range from relations with elected officials, overall management questions, relations with OCCMA, ICMA, responses to local controversies such as referenda on the council-manager plan, to career development. Senior Advisors are friends, colleagues, and advisors to the profession—not consultants. The Senior Advisor program is designed to help with personal and professional issues, not to provide technical assistance or solve substantive problems in a local government. However, Senior Advisors may consult with local governments as individuals, on a part-time basis, if the consulting does not impair the effectiveness of the Senior Advisors. Senior Advisor guidelines contain advice for Senior Advisors who do part-time consulting. Members with questions on the Senior Advisor program can contact: Dan Huff, OCCMA President, Molalla City Manager at dhuff@cityofmolalla.com. |
OCCMA Senior Advisors
| Dale ShaferCounties served: Clatsop, Columbia, Lincoln, and Tillamook 503-440-0031 |
| Sheila RitzCounties served: Multnomah, Clackamas, and Hood River 503-698-5171 |
| Richard MeyersCounties served: Benton, Coos, Curry, Douglas, Jackson, Jefferson, Josephine, Klamath, Lake, Lane, and Linn 541-228-6042 |
| Dave WaffleCounties served: Gilliam, Marion, Polk, Sherman, Wasco, Washington, Wheeler, and Yamhill 503-360-6797 |
| Rob DrakeCounties served: Baker, Crook, Deschutes, Grant, Harney, Malheur, Morrow, Umatilla, Union, and Wallowa drarej@comcast.net503-781-3160 |
Senior Advisor Responsibilities
- Contact each OCCMA or ICMA members and other local government chief administrators in the Senior Advisor’s assigned region within nine months of appointment as a Senior Advisor and within three months of receipt of notice of appointment of a new manager, assistant, chief administrator or COG director.
- Meet with members in the assigned region as frequently as possible. Meetings may take place at the manager’s office, at OCCMA events or at regional managers’ meetings that afford the Senior Advisor an opportunity to develop meaningful rapport with the individual manager.
- Contact members who are in transition within five days of learning of this development and as frequently there after as the situation indicates to assure the awareness of continued OCCMA support.
- Provide confidential counseling to members on personal and professional issues when encouraged to do so by the member.
- Respond to a request for help from a member with phone call or visit, preferably within 48 hours of receiving a request.
- Offer support in a private manner directly to members who may be experiencing problems with their elected officials, staff or community groups.
- Attend meetings of the OCCMA Board of Directors, OCCMA business meetings and other OCCMA sponsored events, as time permits.Refrain from direct or indirect public criticism of any member.
- Provide, at least quarterly, a statement of expenses to the OCCMA Treasurer accompanied by a chronological report of activities to the OCCMA President and Board of Directors.
- As appropriate, or requested, contribute information for use in the OCCMA Newsletter.
- Encourage participation by members in OCCMA, ICMA, LOC and AOC activities.
- Provide support for the Council-Manager Plan when requested.
- Keep informed about current municipal affairs by reading PM, the LOC and ICMA newsletters and other publications.