©understanding good governance, presented by george b. cuff & associates ltd. 1 leaping a chasm...

©Understanding Good Governance, presented by George B. Cuff & Associates Ltd. 1

Leaping a Chasm

The Planning Summit

Regina, 2013


Quote by David Lloyd George (former British PM)

The most dangerous thing in

the world is to try to leap a

chasm in two jumps.


Encouraging folks (who are elected by one

community to do the best for their

community) to think in terms of what is best

for us as a Region is not an easy fit. This

takes time and requires in many ways a new

mindset. A regional board if constructed

independently with its own legal status will

need to be dealt with as its own entity. It is

not an extension of the municipality.


Those elected or appointed to the Regional

Board will need to have strong character,

independent minds, capacity to think

beyond parochial borders, a willingness to

suffer the slings and arrows of ratepayers

and Councillors alike and prepared for

shortened and uncelebrated careers as

elected officials. The list of volunteers may

not be long!


“Show me a stock clerk with a goal, and I’ll show you someone who will make history. Show me someone

without a goal, and I’ll show you a stock clerk.”

J. C. Penny


“The essence of leadership is a vision you articulate clearly and forcefully on every occasion. You

cannot blow an uncertain trumpet.” Theodore Hesburgh, Notre Dame's President for 35

years (1952–87), the longest tenure to date


Focus on the Principles

Principle 1: Clear Expectations

Principle 2: Clear Governance Model

Principle 3: Trust & Respect between Partners

Principle 4: One Employee

Principle 5: Concurrent Information

Principle 6: Primacy of the Body

Principle 7: Monitor


Develop a Covenant (MOU)Respect for the mandate and authority of each other

Understanding that each has a difficult & unique position

A desire to help Board achieve its mandate

A willingness to implement decisions of Board even when decisions do not reflect the advice of the administration

Trust & confidence in commitments made including ability to handle confidential information appropriately

Recognition by Council of professionalism of the staff; non-interference in allowing the staff to get the job done

Full disclosure of necessary information


Do Not!

Allow a minority of voices to stop you

Allow a setback to stop you

Allow an over-indulgence in parochialism to stop

you

Believe every rumour you hear

Gang up on the large or the small

Miss big opportunities because of small thinking


Time

Having said what I said about a chasm being best

covered in one leap, this regionalism venture will

take time. While it will in the end result likely be

very beneficial to all it will not be without

challenges and setbacks and frustrations along the

way. Patience and wisdom and statesmanship will

be essential.


The Adage of the SparrowA farmer comes upon a sparrow lying

in the middle of a road. He asks the

sparrow “Mr. Sparrow, what are you

doing?” The sparrow replies “Why,

can’t you see? I am holding up the

sky.” The farmer says “But you are so

small. Look at your spindly legs. You

can’t hold up the sky! The sparrow

replies “One does what one can!”

ACHIEVE WHAT??

If Columbus had turned back, no one would have blamed him. No one would have remembered him either. (Anon)

©understanding good governance, presented by george b. cuff & associates ltd. 1 leaping a chasm...

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