Interior secretary touts Administration’s help for counties

The all-star speaker line-up at the Annual Conference included a Cabinet secretary and two motivational speakers. Highlights from their addresses follow.

• Secretary of the Interior Gail Norton

Interior Secretary Gail Norton appeared at the Opening General Session praising the George W. Bush Administration’s efforts to grow the economy and shift protection of the environment from litigation to consultation and collaboration. "Over the past two years, the Bush Administration has worked to give local governments a broader role and a stronger voice in environmental management."

Norton pointed out that under the Bush Administration, counties are now welcome as cooperating agencies in environmental-impact analyses required by NEPA (National Environmental Policy Act). "You have a seat at the table as important decisions are being made — you’re not just standing outside." Even more compelling, Norton announced that the Bureau of Land Management is proposing regulations which will mandate that county governments be consulted in NEPA-related issues.

As further evidence of the efforts to promote "cooperative conservation" at the local level, Norton pointed to a number of Administration initiatives, such as the Healthy Forests Initiative and the Conservation Grants programs.

Norton also took an opportunity to fire back at critics of the National Parks.

"You may have heard some stories creating the impression that our national parks are in dire straits this year — deteriorating before our eyes and starved for the funding that would allow them to function normally The reality is that this summer visitors to our national parks will discover a park system that continues to be the best in the world." She said funding levels are at record highs with more money per acre, per employee and per visitor than at any time in history.

• Dr. Blaine Lee

Dr. Blaine Lee, vice president and co-founder of FranklinCovey, led delegates through motivational leadership exercises designed to help them be happier at work and add value to their counties.

"Leaders challenge the assumptions that got them there, and do the same for others," Lee said. "It’s not about practices, it’s about the principles we live by. If we change the principles we live by, we can change the world we live in. We build the people; they’ll build the county."

The "life coach" instructed the thousands in attendance at Monday’s general session to take part in several "two-minute drills" in which they shared a recent success or current challenge with another person nearby in the audience.

Lee also showed the crowd a short documentary film, which featured a Ugandan man who had been a promising soccer player. When another player violently and intentionally caused him a career-ending injury, the man forgave his attacker and went on to coach a youth league in which he became a father-like figure to many of his young players.

• Bishop T. D. Jakes

At the end of Bishop T.D. Jakes’ energetic and vibrantly compelling presentation, delegates took to their feet, giving the popular evangelist from Dallas a five-minute standing ovation. Pastor of the Potter’s House — one of America’s fastest growing mega-churches — Jakes blended humor, hope and common sense to bring a message about self-improvement to county officials at Monday’s general session.

Jakes framed his message around his Seven Steps to Maximize the Moment, his most recent best-selling book. The steps are:

1. Multiply What Is Fruitful in You.
2. Minimize Your Liabilities.
3. Maintenance Is a Critical Part of Productivity.
4. Market Your Resources.
5. Merge Your Efforts When Feasible for the Benefit of All.
6. Manage the Opportunities God Has Given You.
7. Maximize the Moment.