Finally, a handbook for the 1.2 million advisory board members serving over 83,000 local governments in the United States. This pocket size, 144 page reference guide is a bountiful source of ideas, advice and checklists for volunteers sitting on library boards, planning commissions or blue ribbon committees. Once appointed, these citizen volunteers are given some exposure to the technical aspects of the job, an out-of-date orientation manual and promptly asked to take on complicated community or organizational issues. Unfortunately, they are given very little guidance on the nuances of working with a group of diverse people within a complex local government political environment. 
As a result they must learn on the job and while they are learning, they are non-contributing members of the commission. When these new members attend meetings, they do not actively participate because they do not have the confidence to jump into the commission discussion nor do they ask questions for fear of looking uninformed. This getting up-to-speed period costs the organization dollars, not only in terms of wasted energy, but also lost staff time and resources. 
It doesnt have to be that way. Commissioners Little Handbook helps address this information gap. It is a portable reference guide containing a bountiful source of ideas, advice and checklists for commissioners, staff members who provide commission support and the elected officials who appoint these advisory board members.

Commissioner's Little Handbook: A Portable Guide for Local Government Advisory Board Members

Politics & Social Sciences

Wood, Len

Politics & Government

Training Shoppe

The Little Budget Book is part of the Little Handbook series and is a compilation of practical ideas, concepts, questions and checklists for people who prepare, evaluate and implement public agency budgets. New budgeters will find it invaluable as a learning aide. Seasoned budgeters will find it to be an excellent reference source for ideas and checklists. The Little Budget Book is divided into five sections: 1.Budget Overview covers overall trends and types of budgets. 2.Preparing Budgets identifies issues and steps in putting together a credible budget. 3.Analyzing Budgets discusses evaluation approaches and analytical techniques. 4.Budget Savvy covers the behavioral aspects of budgeting. 5.Budget Techniques covers tools such as trend analysis, discounting, rounding and depreciation..

Little Budget Book: A Portable Budgeting Guide for Local Government (Little Handbooks)

Congratulations, youve been elected to a local government office in your community - city council, board of supervisors, school board or special district. Your euphoria lasts about as long as your first meeting. During the election campaign you distinguished yourself from others by upstaging opponents, making promises about increasing services and lowering taxes, and even attacking the existing governing body and its policies. Confrontation and rhetoric worked well. As soon as you take your new seat, you are thrust into a world that requires a different set of skills and understandings. Within days, you discover that virtually every tactic that brought you success during the election campaign backfires in your quest to become an effective governing board member. While you are givensome slack, you are soon ostracized if you continue to rely upon campaign rhetoric. The confrontational mode is counterproductive and turns colleagues off.

Elected Official's Little Handbook: A Portable Guide for Local Government Legislators (Little Handbook Series)

Cohen, Eleanor

Wood is a consultant and often pinch hits for cities while they hire a permanent city manager. His guide for officials avoids technical detail, focuses entirely on local finance and budgets, and takes examples and anecdotes from local governments across the US. He includes a glossary without pronunciation. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.

Local Government Dollars & Sense: 225 Financial Tips for Guarding the Public Checkbook

Business & Money

Economics

The Little Budget Book is part of the Little Handbook series and is a compilation of practical ideas, concepts, questions and checklists for people who prepare, evaluate and implement public agency budgets. New budgeters will find it invaluable as a learning aide. Seasoned budgeters will find it to be an excellent reference source for ideas and checklists. 
The Little Budget Book is divided into five sections: 1.Budget Overview covers overall trends and types of budgets. 2.Preparing Budgets identifies issues and steps in putting together a credible budget. 3.Analyzing Budgets discusses evaluation approaches and analytical techniques. 4.Budget Savvy covers the behavioral aspects of budgeting. 5.Budget Techniques covers tools such as trend analysis, discounting, rounding and depreciation..

Little Budget Book : A Portable Budgeting Guide for Local Government

Reference

Catalogs & Directories

Profitable Seminars: 195 Tips on Designing, Marketing and Delivering the Goods

Management & Leadership

"Tales from the Trenches: Achievements, Blunders and Challenges in Local Government Management" grew from a desire to inform everyone about the wonderful world of local government management. Whether you are a public administration student, a newly appointed supervisor, a top executive, an elected official or an inquisitive citizen you’ll be captivated by the true stories that depict real life local government management challenges and dilemmas. Scattered throughout the stories are tips presented by a wise old owl who brags about his seventy years of local government experience. Whether you agree with the owl or not, you’ll be intrigued with the insights and challenges that local government managers face. You’ll also be fascinated by one of the world’s most fulfilling careers. 
"Tales from the Trenches" consists of eleven chapters covering such topics as: Leadership and Management Style, Decision Making, Communications, Human Resources Management, Budgeting Skills, Citizen Advisory Boards, Community Relations, Relations with Elected Officials, Media Relations, Ethics, and Career Issues. All of the stories appearing in this book were contributed by sixty active and retired local government officials located in cities, counties, and special districts throughout the United States. 
"Tales from the Trenches" contains a Glossary, Bibliography and Index. An Instructor’s Manual is also available from the Training Shoppe.

Tales From the Trenches: Achievements, Blunders and Challenges in Local Government Management

Baker, Joe

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Books by Wood, Len