Enhancing Member Engagement

In response to this need, the Membership Committee held virtual engagement events, focused commercial member roundtable discussions, and developed member engagement activities from the launch of the mentorship program and the creation of a cohort program. The response to each of these individual efforts continues to amaze the Membership Committee as they continue to enhance these programs into 2022 and beyond.

When planning began on the cohort program, the planning team had envisioned a monthly format to share more about CSMFO, the value of networking, and connecting members to resources, but the outcome has far exceeded the initial vision. Testimonials for first year participants further evidenced the development and importance of connections:

• The Cohort allowed us to share and care for each personally and professionally.
• Expand the group of professional connections, while building relationships beyond the “scope of job duties”.
• CSMFO means there is always a place to find support when you are feeling overwhelmed, answers when you do not understand, endless opportunities for plagiarism, endless laughs and encouragement, and a place to share what you have with friends
•  The CSMFO Cohort allowed me to expand both my professional and personal network. It’s been a great place to bounce off some good ideas and chat with some wonderful like-minded individuals.
• The CSMFO Cohort has helped me to expand my network of Municipal Finance professional friends, learn how to better leverage CSMFO programs and information, hear how others are dealing with current issues and see quick answers from the group to any Municipal Finance questions that have popped up among the group.
• I didn’t know what to expect of the Cohort program when I signed up, but I am sure glad I did. I was able to connect with professionals at various levels up and down the State and develop stronger bonds and a couple of handfuls of new resources and friends to carry on my journey through this public sector life and career.
• The cohort provided an opportunity to make connections with other finance professionals that would have otherwise probably not have occurred. I am very appreciative of these connections and hope to continue them within my career and beyond.

Cohort members have been there to share resources, policies and have also supported their fellow members to serve on oral boards for recruitments. Plus, one cohort member mentioned that participation in the cohort program allowed them to feel more connected at the annual conference.

Coming off our inaugural year, this program promises to be even more spectacular as hiccups have been worked through more valuable content has been added based on feedback from our pilot year participants. The objective of the 2022 Cohort Program continues to be building a sense of team among members, improving professional advancement opportunities, and offering a better understanding of CSMFO programs to members. The 2022 cohort program is almost a year long (running from May 2022 through February 2023), with 8 scheduled meetings once a month, lasting 90 minutes via Zoom.

Sessions anticipated for the year will cover topics around networking, becoming familiar with other professional associations, an insider’s glimpse of the annual conference, career path planning, tools for improving relationships with City/General Manager, and ways to get more satisfaction out of personal and professional accomplishments. Participants will find that the more engaged they are with the cohort, the more benefit they will derive!

Thank you to the 2021 Cohort members for your contributions and ideas, and to the handful of members who have stepped up to lead the 2022 cohorts.

If you are interested in participating in the 2022 Cohort Program, applications can be found at: www.csmfo.org/cohort-program.