Tracking Vacancies on Public Boards and Commissions

Like most municipalities, you probably have some publicly staffed boards and commissions.  You also probably have more vacancies on those boards than you’d like to admit.  Getting the public involved and applying for those vacancies is something you’d love to see but the resources to make that a priority are scarce.

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2012 Roadmap to Government Technology Success

Before January ends, it’s time to build your government technology vision for the rest of 2012. Technology will be particularly critical for achieving your operational and community outreach goals this year. It drives success, improvement, and cost efficiency. I’ve put together a list of focus areas that I think are critical for government to consider.

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Use E-Mail Alerts to Subscribe to Government Actions and Calendars

Citizens, elected officials, and government staff all frequently need to follow something in particular that their government is working on, whether it’s information on a new city-wide Wi-Fi project, when the Parks and Recreation Committee will meet, or anything at all about outdoor murals. An e-mail alerts system gives everyone the ability to have notifications about their interest sent to them whenever an update occurs.

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How Governments Can Expand their Web Strategy with Video & Mobile Reach

Justin Thompson is the Communications Content Manager for the City of Alexandria. Working in the Office of Communications & Public Information, he is responsible for all production of web and television communications—video, websites, social media, and other digital media. Alexandria was recently recognized for having one of the Top 10 “Digital City” government websites by eRepublic.

I wanted to share a few tips and strategies that have helped the City of Alexandria engage our residents through video and compelling content on our websites. Our biggest priority has always been to ensure information is easy to access, regardless of the device a person is using. Also, we always try to distribute our messages across a variety of mediums—mobile devices, social media, and on the city’s website—to maximize exposure and increase public awareness.

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Create Meeting Minutes Faster Using Granicus Add-in for Microsoft Word

The work does not end when your public meeting adjourns. The next day, the Clerk or Secretary, spends time answering requests that arose during the meeting, gathering signatures and filing paperwork, and then beginning the meeting minutes so there is an accurate public record.

This blog post will give you some quick tips for using Granicus' Microsoft Word Add-in tool to help you complete and publish video-linked minutes efficiently while saving time! Granicus' minutes are quickly becoming the industry standard for governments across the country because they are transparent, accurate, and save staff time.

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Expand Visibility: Share Granicus Videos in Google Docs

Granicus clients are a very innovative group, often discovering new ways to leverage the latest technologies to raise public awareness. I wanted to take a few moments to highlight how Multnomah County combined Granicus and Google Docs as a powerful way to inform the public. Marina Baker, Assistant Board Clerk, for the Multnomah County Commissioners recently shared her innovation tip with us.

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Publishing Agendas Effectively with Granicus

One of the best features of your Granicus solution is the agenda publishing! All agencies are required to notify the public of topics being discussed at an upcoming meeting through an agenda. With Granicus, this is all automated.

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