Cape May County Wins National Association of Counties’ 2011 NCGM Award

COURT HOUSE – Cape May County Communications Director Lenora Boninfante presented the Board of Chosen Freeholders with an award received by the National Association of Counties for the county’s efforts to promote programs and services provided by the county at their meeting on August 9, 2011.
Cape May County was selected a winner in the 2011 National County Government Month (NCGM) Awards competition sponsored by the National Association of Counties (NACo). The county’s program, “Cape May County Government Reaches Out,” was selected because of the comprehensive activities and events scheduled to raise public awareness of counties during National County Government Month and throughout the year.
Larry E. Naake, Executive Director of NACo said, “All of the programs that entered the competition were excellent. However, Cape May County’s program stands out. It is an exemplary program showing interesting and creative methods for increasing understanding of your county’s programs and services.”
Boninfante said, “Cape May County makes the awareness of county government a year-round activity. We use our state-of-the-art website, social media, radio, television, printed materials, conferences and special events to bring county government to every segment of the population. We attempt to ensure that people are aware of all of the services available to make their lives better as well as give our citizens the information they need to be active participants in county government.”
Each year during the month of April, Cape May County uses its resources to place a special emphasis on county government during National County Government Month.
In adopting this year’s resolution celebrating County Government Month, the Freeholder Board paid tribute to our Veterans, Armed Forces and their families. Prior to the National Association of Counties identifying this year’s theme, the county had planned a host of events and celebrations for our veterans and armed forces during the month of May to coincide with Memorial Day.
The county launched a media blitz of press releases, radio advertisements, website and social media postings identifying the planned events to celebrate county government month. The county developed an extensive program to capture a cross-section of the population throughout the month. The county sponsored a Healthcare Resource Day that provided free health screenings, more than fifty educational exhibits plus presentations geared toward women and our senior population.
To target young families, the county hosted a Free Family Day at our park and zoo. The day attracted over a thousand children to participate in crafts, games and a visit with the Easter Bunny. In light of difficult economic times, this event showed the recreational and uplifting human side of county government.
The county partnered with a local newspaper to produce a twenty-four page publication that highlighted informative news articles on county government. The publication also included the contact information and descriptions of every county department so that people could readily find whatever services they need.
The most far-reaching event of the county’s programs in April was the combination of Student Government Day, the Earth Day Logo contest sponsored by the Board of Chosen Freeholders and a County Government Open House. It brought together all of the segments of the county’s population into a one day activity. Students from local high schools spent the day with county officials learning about the role of county government culminating with their participation at the Freeholder Board Meeting playing the role of the Freeholders and other Administration personnel.
The day included a county government “open house” with representatives and displays of the specific functions and activities of different county departments. The “open house” is intended to attract a broad range of citizens. The day concluded with the unveiling of the “Earth Day Logo Contest” winners. Nearly four hundred entries were received from county children from first through twelfth grades. This activity allowed even the youngest of our population to become aware of county government.
The National awards program was developed as part of NACo President Glen Whitley’s County Government Works Campaign, which seeks, as does NCGM, to raise public awareness of counties. The winners were chosen by a leadership panel from the National Association of County Information Officers.
For the awards competition, counties were divided into three population categories. One winner was chosen for each category. Cape May County won in the category of counties with a population under 100,000.