I have written in previous messages about the virtues of the Governmental Research Association (GRA), the 100-year-old national association of public policy research organizations from across the country.  Among the many benefits the Forum gains from being an active GRA member are the opportunity to discuss research ideas and findings with researchers from other states, as well as the chance to gain insights on fundraising, communications, and other organizational issues from fellow administrators.

 

There's also a sense of pride and self-renewal that comes from attending the GRA policy conference each year.  For example, at the conference in Washington, D.C., a few weeks ago, we learned about topics ranging from the wisdom of having county-owned nursing homes in New York, to ideas for reforming the sewerage and water commission in New Orleans, to trends in economic mobility in Utah.  It's not only impressive to see the quality and impacts of the research conducted by our peers, but it's also nice to benchmark the work of the Forum against those reports and recognize that we are more than holding our own.

 

For me, this year's conference also was special because I was installed for a two-year term as GRA president.  In that capacity, I will be responsible for stewarding the organization's resources, organizing the monthly Trustee conference calls, spearheading member communications, and leading the planning of the annual policy conference, among other duties.

 

One of my primary goals for my two-year term is to expand the national reach of GRA.  The organization has formed budding relationships with national think tanks like the Pew Center for the States and the Brookings Institution, which have expressed interest in tapping into the knowledge of GRA members to inform their research on state and local policy issues.  There is great potential, in my mind, to establish similar ties with other think tanks, as well as with organizations of state and local governments like the National Governors Association, the U.S. Conference of Mayors, and the National Counties Association.

 

Similar possibilities exist with regard to the national news media.  National news publications always seem eager to write about Washington-based research reports and surveys on state and local issues (e.g. state-by-state corrections trends or traffic congestion levels), but they often fail to seek perspective from people on the ground who know those subjects best.  GRA members offer a logical set of contacts to fill that gap, provided that we are successful in letting the national media know who we are and what we do.

 

Of course, I never would have accepted the GRA presidency had I not believed it would benefit the Forum, as well.  My ability to cultivate relationships with national think tanks and reporters - and to establish even closer ties with GRA members from across the country - can only benefit our organization in terms of increasing our national visibility and generating new research ideas and opportunities.      

 

I plan to use our quarterly newsletter to keep our members informed of GRA activities during the next two years.  In the meantime, if you have any questions about the organization or the Forum's role in leading it, feel free to give me a call or send me an e-mail. 

 

 

Sincerely,