Start From Scratch... [Free Write]

So I have been taking advantage of all the networking opportunities, today they had a meeting of the all the interviewees for the assistant to the town manager position. I went into the meet and greet to network with all applicants. I was talking to a gentleman from Settle, WA and we talked about school and his public service commitment. He enjoys working for his city but wishes to advance in his career so he threw his name in at the Town of Gilbert. Talking with him and a few others put things into perspective to me a little. The commitment to public service, the willingness to change your location and move your family to pursue a career you enjoy to do. I am still not sure I necessarily want to go and work for my tribe, but irregardless if I do or not I will continue to help them, maybe consult. I know how to approach I and think it is my obligation to serve the public and tribal members on my reservation. I know there will be a time when I may want to leave the tribal government to work at another level/form of government and with talking to these applicants I understand if you truly like helping others you will take your show on the road. Everyone I talked to offered advice on my educational goals, and told me to stay focused and I will be joining them in working in government in no time. I'm networking at a descent rate and I really think I am almost ready and can't wait to get out there.

SKYE

How does your organization demonstrate public service and/or urban governance...

So on this post we have a topic to write about, and this one is “How does your organization demonstrate public service and/or urban governance?”...

I am privileged to work in the Town of Gilbert intergovernmental relations department and working with a bunch of talented individuals that each bring something to the table. As apart of the team I understand how we play the background and do the leg work to help ensure the Mayor, Town Manager, and town council is ready and informed on all situations involving the Town of Gilbert and also the surrounding cities. We have to attend a lot of meeting to stay informed to help better ensure a wise decision, the team lobbies at the state to ensure the public in Gilbert get what they deserve. The town of Gilbert has been a rising town and receiving awards for the hard work that is done by all public servants. I see that working at the Town of Gilbert there is a lot of pride and everyone wants to maintain the status that has been achieved through the hard work. The team I know and am a part of takes public service very seriously, by reviewing emails, voice mails and letters all directed to the Mayor or the Town specifically and maintaining a professional relationship with the public. Addressing all questions, comments, and concerns in a timely manner servicing the public because that is big priority. I am a public service public policy major and this is what I like to see and how I want to be as a professional, putting the town and the public first, understanding the true meaning to public service.

SKYE

Ready Set Go... [Free Write]

Well it seems there is an opening in the Town of Gilbert for the Assistant to the Town Manager. I was in a carpool heading to a grand opening with the team and I heard them say my direct supervisor Leah was interviewing for the position. I was astonished to her this but I was happy for Leah, she works really hard and is very good at what she does. Every time we have a one-on-one I soak up everything and anything I can obtain from her. She is molding me to become an efficient intergovernmental relations employee, because as we discussed in a meeting what this job entails is exactly what I would be doing when I return to my reservation and work with them. As we (my tribe) are a sovereign nation our government must establish good government-to-government relationships to ensure we can succeed as a whole. Whether it be dealing with local government, state government, and federal government someone will have to know how to approach the situation correctly. I imagine it would be a big departure to the intergovernmental relations team if she does receive the position but everyone there wants her to advance and the team is tight knit to where they will handle anything that may come. And I will be able to see the outcome during my internship as interviews are happening now and I think there will be some change in the department, we shall see. Ready set go...

SKYE

Works Every Time... [Free Write]

So I've been to quit a few functions along with Mayor Lewis for the town of Gilbert, and it has been fun and educational. Working on the networking more and more, seeing the familiar faces and getting approached by others because I am new and becoming a familiar face too, haha. I was doing research on a project I am doing and I seen an article in a google search involving Gilbert and Cox cable. And as I stated before with the town council I have took it upon myself to do my own self research to be better informed on the personnel and topics. So I started to read into the incident and researched this topic more with what was available. So back to a function with Mayor Lewis, we were leaving a Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG) Passing of the Gavel luncheon, I was riding with Mayor Lewis and Councilwoman Daniels. It was then they started to talk about the situation with Gilbert and Cox cable. They were trying to remember the involvement of an individual and what the outcome of that was pertaining to the overall outcome. I mentioned what I knew from my research and it happens I knew the exact incident they were speaking of and I got a look from the both of them. They were impressed with my knowledge on the subject and being able to discuss it with them because this incident happened before my internship had started. Me taking the effort to learn more about the relevant subjects and to be knowledgeable enough to take any opportunity to show I am eager to be apart of the Town of Gilbert team, works every time.

SKYE

Last time you seen... [Free write]

So I was working doing the weekly routine and we went to the Maricopa Association of Governments Economic Development meeting, and when we was returning my supervisor was talking with Mayor Lewis and was advising that I would be attending a “Town Meeting”. This was not on my calendar of meeting to attend this week so I was interested in what was going on. The Mayor was happy I was going to attend so I thought it was going to be an interesting engagement to attend.

So I got there early and I had a lot of eyes on me, people saying they seen me around the office so I introduced myself. And Mayor Lewis starting talking and called up to the front and introduced me to the Town Council, they were all very nice and opening to me. I wrote down and these names and listened to them and took notes every time they spoke that night. I knew to be better at my job I had to do my own research on them to better educated myself on the council members.

I have never been to a town council meeting or in a town hall or chambers before until now. I mean I have been in our tribal buildings and tribal council chambers for meeting but this was different to me because it was at a whole different level. I was comfortable with the seating, and was impressed with the cameras and speakers providing sound. If you miss a town council meeting you can watch it online as they record it and replay for the public, you can even sit outside town hall and watch the meeting on tv and listen to everything being said, I thought this was pretty cool. Other than networking and introducing myself to everyone I just watched and observed and took a lot of notes, I got comfortable to the atmosphere and truly believe I can get used to this environment.

SKYE MIKE

Interview or a career path I aspire...

In this blog post I am to interview one of my supervisors OR profile a person who has a career that you aspire to... I thought about this for a day or two about how I was going to go about writing this and which side was I going to approach. I thought if I were being honest, and interviewed my supervisor, or wen about the profile a person who has a career that I aspire, it would be the same person. My supervisor at the Town of Gilbert, Leah Hubbard, who was the head of Intergovernmental Relations and then got the opportunity to take the Assistant to the Town Manager position.

I first met Leah when she came to my Reservation Economics class last year, and spoke to us about her position with the Town of Gilbert Intergovernmental Relations department. And as she broke down here job responsibilities I started to realize that her position in Intergov is basically the same thing I would be doing if I pursued a position with my tribe in tribal politics after I graduate from ASU. As a sovereign nation I would be basically be involved in government-to-government relations for my tribe, dealing with all the different governments. Instead of helping the Mayor of Gilbert I would be involved with our tribal council and the chairman, the same but different. I know she was first a lobbyist and worked her way to intergovernmental relations, that is a path I would be only hopefully I could take and gain that experience. Leah is a very educated individual with a Bachelor of Arts in Government and Politics from the University of Texas at Dallas and a Masters in Public Affairs from the University of Texas at Dallas. I have been given nothing but advise from Leah, and she continually asks me to ask her any questions to help better my knowledge to get to where I want to be, she wants to help me be successful.

Through all I have gained so far I knew I made the right decision in applying for this internship and I was lucky enough to make it past all other candidates. I know I will learn a lot with my time at the Town of Gilbert. And I hope maintain a good relationship with the Town and staff after my time here is up.

SKYE MIKE

How does leadership play a role in your internship...

So this blog post is structured to answer questions given to us about leadership. And I am very comfortable answering these questions involving leadership because, I am learning a lot from the department I am in. I believe I stated it before, but everyday I learn something new from the people I work with and I observe and soak up everything I can from this opportunity.

How does leadership play a role in your internship?

Leadership plays an important role in my internship because I am surrounded by a very influential group of people, that all have different necessary roles to add to the department to provide a positive team work atmosphere. Through my direct supervisor I learned a lot more about leadership and I got to see some leadership aspects I have studied in classes be implemented the town government sphere.

Are you able to demonstrate any leadership skills?

I believe I am able to demonstrate a little of my leadership skill but my main purpose is to absorb and observe the government structure of the Town of Gilbert. I think my direct supervisor ables me to have wiggle room in making some decisions for my work projects but I know she is leading me to areas to improve in becoming the leader I strive to be.

How do your co-workers or supervisor display leadership capabilities?

The leadership style of my supervisor toward me are democratic with a little bit of authoritarian, and I believe this combination is what she seen in me and how I described my leadership style to her when asked in a one-on-one meeting. Through our one-and-one sessions we discussed how I wish to lead, my leadership style, and what I hope to gain from the internship to improve my leadership style. And from the information I gave she then started helping me learn more about leadership, by discussing different leadership style I see at different events and by emailing me leadership articles on a regular to read up and educate myself.

I believe I answered the questions for this post to the best of my knowledge and while re-reading what I wrote I am learning more and why some of the stuff was presented to me in the manner it was at the time and in the future.

SKYE MIKE