"It doesn't have to be like this. All we need to do is make sure we keep talking" -Pink Floyd "Keep Talking" from the album "The Division Bell"
These words came to my mind after I read an article by Ronda Rose on page 14 in this month's Utah PTA Perspectives Newsletter. I received it at today's PTA meeting.
Ms. Rose encourages PTA leaders to become acquainted with local, county and state government officials. She then recounts a personal experience. Ms. Rose describes working with local school and government officials, local staff, state transportation staff and eventually the Governor's office to resolve a situation. In closing, Ms. Rose states how important it was she and the other PTA members had started locally before going to the Governor's office and she again encourages PTA leaders to get to know local officials.
I pictured this group of school leaders, who probably didn't have a lot of experience in "the process", trying to work their way to a solution. While most policies and procedures may make sense to those who work with them every day, they may not to other members of the community. Then there are some policies that don't even make sense to me, and I have spent years in government.
Ms. Rose's experiences have caused me to reflect how I treat those who come to me with city issues. How can I make a resident's experience with Orem City as pleasant and streamlined as possible? What can I do to improve my communication with residents? I think some of the answers lie in the ability to "keep talking".
