Dialing for Citizens
…up on the phone trees in an instant. But they don’t. End of excerpt … Otis White continues by describing how to organize an effective phone tree, and some things to watch out for. …
Search Results for by Otis White
Gaining Legitimacy
With local power structures breaking down, Otis White examines how commissioners and other public officials can gain “legitimacy” in the eyes of the public….
Should You Run?
Have you considered running for office after finishing your service as a planning commissioner or zoning board member? Otis White, consultant to local governments and corporations on community involvement and civic leadership, explores what questions…
Taking the Mystery Out of Economic Development
According to consultant Otis White, many cities and towns focus their economic development efforts on encouraging relocations. Instead, time and money would be better spent on fostering the growth of local businesses….
Making a Difference
How much of a difference can one planning commissioner make? Quite a bit, as Otis White explains in this story about a county planning commissioner from Oregon….
What Really Counts in a Community
…and again during my travels meeting with planners and residents. In Emporia, Kansas. In Ely, Nevada. In countless places … including my hometown of Burlington, Vermont It helps — as civic consultant Otis White has…
The Secret to Compromise: Learning to Read Others
Otis White explores why it’s important for you to understand what motivates your fellow commissioners….
How to Make Decisions People Will Accept
In the second of his series on community leadership, Otis White explains why there’s more to making a good planning decision than just reaching the right result….
Winning a Community Over to New Ideas
In this follow-up to his Fall article, Otis White reports on the impact a Pennsylvania planning commissioner had on his community….
What Brand Is Your City?
…Q&A page on its web site explaining what the new brand means and how it can be used. Some interesting observations on branding come from Otis White of Civic Strategies: it’s infinitely harder to create…
Seven Ingredients for Building a Healthy Downtown, Part 1
…mayor or city manager steering the downtown revitalization effort, leadership can come in many different forms and from many different places. Civic leadership expert Otis White made this point in his 2011 “Making a Difference”…
Does Your Planning Commission Have Bad Apples? – Part 1
…serving the western fringe of Metropolitan Atlanta. Editor’s note: Want to get the taste of those bad apples out of your mouth — read Otis White’s account of a very good apple planning commissioner.“One Bad…
Strengthening the Planning Commission – Governing Body Relationship
…Relationship,” by Pamela Plumb and if you’re a planning commissioner thinking — perhaps — of running for a seat on the governing body, or other office, take a look at Otis White’s “Should You Run?“…
