Staff out and about!

Staff continue to reach out and connect with members through personal engagements, conferences, trainings, and more. Read more about their activities below!

Virginia Municipal League Annual Conference

Our staff had a great time meeting with leaders from Virginia’s cities and towns at the Virginia Municipal League Annual Conference.

Managing Director Marcus Hensel moderated a session on AI and Cybersecurity Considerations for Local Governments, while Local Government Specialist Peter Stephenson and Senior Account Executives Lisa Schenk and Nora Pierre met with members throughout the conference. See photos from our meet and greets in the video below, and we hope to see you all again soon!

Virginia School Safety Training Forum

VRSA sponsored the Virginia School Safety Training Forum, which was held in Hampton, Virginia, in late July. Topics discussed at the forum included school security, bullying prevention, crisis management, internet safety, youth mental health, and much more.  The forum is organized by The Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services in partnership with the Office of the Attorney General, the Virginia Department of Education, the Virginia Association for School Superintendents, the Virginia D.A.R.E. Association, and VRSA.

City of Hopewell

Safety Consultant Christine Gillison and Senior Safety Consultant Fonda Craig conducted an OSHA 10 Construction course in the City of Hopewell.  This course covers workplace safety and compliance regulations to help prevent and reduce on-the-job incidents.

Thanks to the City of Hopewell for hosting this training. Thank you to the City of Suffolk, Hanover County, South Central Wastewater Authority, and the Town of Waverly for participating in this important training.

VLGMA DAOs Fall Meeting

Louisa County hosted the VLGMA Deputies, Assistants, and Others (DAOs) Fall Meeting this October, attended by members from across the Commonwealth. VRSA was the first multi-year platinum supporter of VLGMA, and Senior Account Executive Nora Pierre attended the meeting. This year’s topic was Energy Resilience and Infrastructure.

Virginia Juvenile Detention Association (VJDA)

Public Safety Specialist Gary Dillon provided First Amendment Audit Preparedness for the VJDA in Harrisonburg. The training focused on the legality of videos taken by “First Amendment auditors.” These are videos taken by individuals who record primarily government facilities and employees in the public.

Use of Force Risk Management

VRSA hosted Use of Force Risk Management in Williamsburg, Virginia. The class, taught by Gerald Takano of Mindset Force Management, focuses on applying the “Four Elements of Reasonable Force” which are force knowledge, skills, decision-making, and documentation.

Reviewing force justification, practicing de-escalation techniques, ensuring critical detail and clarity in documentation, and assessing officers’ present use of force risk and ways to mitigate it in relation to one or more of the Four Elements of Reasonable Force are all covered in this course.

Stephenson attends ICMA in Pittsburgh

Local Government Specialist Peter Stephenson attended the International City/County Management Association conference in Pittsburgh, PA. In celebration and recognition of the ICMA Code of Ethics 100th Anniversary, there were many ethics-related sessions.  Other sessions focused on the developing use of AI and other emerging technologies that may have a positive impact on local government.  

Stephenson’s favorite session, The Dignity Index: An Innovative Strategy for Easing Divisions and Solving Problems tied in nicely with the Virginia Municipal League’s Civility Pledge for elected officials. 

Virginia Public Sector HR Association (PSHRA)

Director of Education and Training Thomas Bullock presented on civility and ethics at the Virginia PSHRA conference in early September. His presentation delved into the importance of civility and ethics in the workplace, exploring how they contribute to employee satisfaction, collaboration, and overall organizational success.

Town of Vienna

VRSA Safety Consultant Christine Gillison provided OSHA-30 training for staff in the Town of Vienna. The four-day course focuses on recognizing and fixing hazards in the workplace. Topics included an overview of OSHA and VOSH, walking-working surfaces, fall protection, electrical, scaffolding, trenching/excavating, struck by/caught in, and other common hazards.

City of Manassas

Senior Safety Consultant Fonda Craig and Safety Consultant Christine Gillison provided OSHA 30-Hour General Industry training over four days for staff in the City of Manassas. The course focuses on recognizing and fixing workplace hazards, including walking-working surfaces, fall protection, electrical, scaffolding, trenching/excavating, struck by/caught in, and other common hazards.

Fauquier Water

Safety Consultant Christine Gillison hosted a Training Trifecta for Fauquier County Water Authority. This course allows the host member to choose three topics for training. During this trifecta, permit-required confined space, fall protection, and trenching/excavation were reviewed.

 

Town of Timberville

Safety Consultant Christine Gillison hosted a Training Trifecta for the Town of Timberville. This course allows the host member to choose three topics for training. In Timberville, subjects included permit-required confined space, fall protection, and trenching/excavation.