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Advisory Councils

Another way to involve local leaders is to enlist their participation in
various organizational advisory councils. These are frequently formed by
organizations to encourage input and support of their programs.
Community colleges and vocational schools may set up advisory groups

for each of their curriculum or training areas, enlisting representatives of
local firms. Local government agencies may establish private sector
advisory boards. Economic development organizations may use them for
obtaining advice on a variety of key program areas.

Although advisory councils can be helpful in providing insight and a
forum for ideas, it is difficult to sustain interest in participating in such a

group. Busy leaders may tire of being part of something that is merely
advisory. Furthermore, the advice given might not be heeded by the
organization to which it is given, which is frustrating to the giver. As a
caution, advisory councils can become public forums for airing grievances,
without a mechanism to address these issues systematically.

Task Forces

A higher and more sustained level of involvement of the leadership can
occur through establishing committees or task forces to deal with specific
aspects of economic development. They are called task forces because their
assignment is usually focused on a “task” or area of need, and generally
members are appointed for a specific and reasonable length of time. Task
forces can present an opportunity to incorporate the expertise and interest

of leaders and volunteers into productive channels of activity through
direct membership in or consultation to the task force.

Enthusiasm for being on a task force can be much higher if the members
know they have been carefully selected and are made to feel that their

participation is an honor as well as an important contribution. A task force
approach provides the advantages of:
• Concentrated study within a designated time frame;
• Group validity and empowerment – a task force study is often

David Kolzow 280