VRSA provides communications consulting services to eligible members to assist in navigating the unique communications challenges of public entities. The services, provided by VRSA Director of Communications Hollie Cammarasana, include virtual engagements, in-person trainings, sample policies and procedures, and personalized …
Read More › “Communications Consulting and the City of Franklin”
This fall more than 120 member employees from 80 cities, counties, towns, school divisions, and authorities across the Commonwealth joined VRSA staff and partners for the Fall Education Forums. The forums were held in Fredericksburg, Williamsburg, Wytheville, and Staunton. “We …
Read More › “2023 Fall Education Forums bring staff to members throughout the Commonwealth”
The arrival of October has everyone preparing for ghosts and goblins at their door, but there are scarier things from which you need to protect your organization: cybercriminals. These bad actors continue to evolve their tactics to infiltrate systems and …
Town of Chilhowie – VML and VRSA training Staff joined the Virginia Municipal League (VML) this summer in the Town of Chilhowie to provide information and training to local government officials and staff. This follows previous joint events in Marion …
The City of Winchester averages 18 – 20 inches of snow per year. With nearly 222 miles of roadways within the city’s nine-and-a-half square mile area, the city utilizes a team of 80-85 employees each year to keep the roadways …
Read More › “Winter weather preparedness and the City of Winchester”
As anyone who has tried to purchase a vehicle can tell you, the price of vehicles has gone up substantially over the past several years. Since the beginning of the pandemic, the cost of new vehicles has gone up 28 …
Read More › “The rising cost of vehicles and the importance of replacement cost coverage”
VRSA provides communications consulting services to eligible members purchasing public official’s liability coverage, at no charge, to assist in navigating the unique communications challenges of public entities. The services, provided by VRSA Director of Communications Hollie Cammarasana, include virtual engagements, …
Read More › “Communications Consulting and the City of Franklin”
The VRSA Multimedia Library was retired earlier this month. Notice of this retirement was communicated with remaining users of the library prior to its retirement. Many of the most popular items from the library can still be found under Training …
Looking for a new podcast for your morning drive? Spend your commute with VRSA Public Safety Specialist Gary Dillon through his new podcast, In The Line of Fire with Gary Dillon. The first episode premiered in July and new episodes are …
Read More › “New podcast alert: In the Line of Fire with Gary Dillon”
As the summer came to a close, VRSA staff picked up steam visiting with members and attending conferences. ICMA – Austin Life Member of the International City/County Management Association (ICMA) and VRSA Local Government Specialist Peter Stephenson recently attended their …
This quarter VRSA recognizes both the Town of Bedford and the Bedford Regional Water Authority (BRWA) as two of the more than 100 members to make the Gold Star List. The list is published quarterly to recognize members who have …
This October, risk services staff began a host of OSHA training events to be held throughout the Commonwealth. Safety Specialist Edward Shelton and Senior Safety Consultant Fonda Craig presented an OSHA 30-Hour Course in General Industry for members in Abingdon …
The Virginia Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) is the state law governing access by citizens of Virginia, and representatives of the media, to public records and to meetings of public bodies. FOIA provides that, with some specific exemptions and exceptions, …
Read More › “Register now: Free FOIA training offered for members”
Save the date and save room for cake. The annual meeting will return in-person on Friday, May 3. “We brought back the fall education forums first to travel back into communities around the Commonwealth,” said VRSA Managing Director Marcus Hensel. …
Read More › “Save the date: Annual meeting to return in person!”
What HR issues keep you up at night? Many of these issues can be discussed with VRSA Director of Human Resources Tina Stevens. Stevens provides HR consulting services to members with public officials’ liability coverage to assist in the mitigation …
Read More › “Discuss your HR challenges during a November roundtable”
“Safety has to be a proactive step supported from the top down,” says Daryl Burks, safety coordinator with Bedford Regional Water Authority. “When you have managers and supervisors buying in to the program it allows employees to buy into it …
What is a day in the life of a risk manager like? Well, there’s no such thing as a typical day, says City of Charlottesville Risk Manager Philip Spence. “A typical day for me, and this probably goes for risk …
Read More › “Day In The Life of City of Charlottesville Risk Manager Philip Spence”
As many school divisions across the Commonwealth prepare to return to class in a few weeks, the potential for injuries from slips, trips, and falls by teachers and staff also returns. This summer, Culpeper County Public Schools proactively worked to …
Read More › “Safety Skills Rodeo with Culpeper County Public Schools”
As a truly member-owned and governed local public entity group self-insurance pool, the VRSA Members’ Supervisory Board allocates funds each year to assist members in preventing and reducing losses. This is one way VRSA fulfills its mission as an instrumentality …
Finding light-duty work opportunities for staff transitioning back to pre-injury work is not always easy. Yet, return-to-work programs are essential for assisting injured employees with maintaining connections to the workplace and preventing the risk of re-injury upon return. Many members …
The Town of Herndon took center stage this May during the 2023 Annual Meeting through a feature video highlighting the town’s work with VRSA to perform site inspections. The video follows Herndon Risk Manager Roxann Fox-Simkins and Operations Manager Christine …
Read More › “Site inspection in the Town of Herndon takes spotlight at 2023 Annual Meeting”
For many public entities, the role of human resources (HR) is often combined with additional duties. As part of VRSA’s commitment to serving members, HR consulting services are offered to members purchasing public officials’ liability coverage to assist in preventing …
The Fall Education Forums will return again this fall in locations throughout the Commonwealth. Sessions will be held this September in the locations below: September 14: Fredericksburg September 15: Williamsburg September 21: Wytheville September 22: Staunton Presentations will cover topics …
VRSA provides the broadest property and liability protections to ease our members’ worries. One example is on the property form. Property losses may occur suddenly as a result of fire, wind, vandalism, or other unexpected hazards. Blanket property coverage provides …
Heading into the summer months, VRSA staff continued engaging with members throughout the Commonwealth at conferences and training. Risk Manager Forum This June VRSA hosted a Risk Manager Forum attended by risk managers from the Cities of Charlottesville, Fairfax, Manassas, …