February 27, 2009

The Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders, in coordination with the Citizens' Campaign, launched its own county-wide Call to Service to increase public participation in county government. This effort joins a statewide New Jersey Call to Service led by the Citizens' Campaign.

Monmouth County's Call to Service officially kicked off Thursday, February 26th with the adoption of a resolution by the Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders. The county used the spirit of the "Citizen Service Act" provided by the Citizens' Campaign model ordinance. Specifically, the resolution provides for the expansion of the public directory of boards and commissions available on the Monmouth County website.

Over the course of the coming months Freeholder Director Barbara J. McMorrow will be recognizing and promoting ways that Monmouth County residents can become active citizens and make a difference in their communities and at the county level.

"Monmouth County's Call to Service will focus on getting people involved in their communities," McMorrow said. "Our goal is to develop an environment that will cultivate a community of leaders - people who want to make the county a better place and need either encouragement or the tools to take the first step."

"Citizen's Campaign is being very proactive by encouraging citizen participation at all levels of government," McMorrow said. "I participated in an event that they had in the Fall of 2008 at Monmouth University. That's where I began to consider how Monmouth County could benefit from such an initiative."

Future Call to Service events in Monmouth County will include leadership forums to teach local residents about service opportunities in the County and establishing a Citizen Service Day to honor the County's exemplary volunteers.

The Citizens' Campaign developed this program so that municipalities and counties can all develop a leadership culture. The Call to Service focuses primarily on three identified paths to service, they are:

1. Serving on an appointed board or commission;
2. Becoming a citizen legislator by devising a constructive common-interest proposal and presenting it to a relevant government body;
3. Serving as a neighborhood-level party committeeperson; and
4. Serving in the increasingly important area of emergency response, such as the first aid squad or auxiliary police.

Monmouth University President and Center for Civic Responsibility board member Paul Gaffney said, "The recent Presidential election significantly increased people's interest in government and politics, it is time to take this civic rejuvenation and enlist our residents to bring their talent, skill and leadership to the service of Monmouth County and beyond."