125 Years of Serving California’s Counties
In 1895, representatives from 14 different California counties gathered in San Francisco to celebrate a brand new organization.
In media coverage of that first meeting, the Sacramento Union Democrat reported that the California Supervisors Association “will become actually a more important body than the Legislature. It will do more for the State than the Legislature can, for it will not make laws, of which there are too many now, but it will study how to make the State and its communities better, stronger, more economic and prosperous, and all the people more happy.”
Earlier this month, CSAC returned to the City/County of San Francisco. 125 years later, I am happy to report that while our name has changed, our representation has swelled, with full representation of all 58 counties as members of CSAC.
While many things have changed in the more than 65,000,000 minutes since our founding, as an Association we remain united in our mission and cause — to serve as the voice of California’s 58 counties.
Throughout the Annual Meeting last week, the
125th anniversary was highlighted in a number of ways.
Balloons decked the entrance to our main session hall, a selfie
station with an anniversary logo drew crowds, and Supervisors and
county staff sported commemorative lapel pins that will be
available at CSAC events throughout 2020 — so be sure to pick
one up.
It was indeed a celebratory feeling for our quasquicentennial meeting, and we want to keep that celebration going throughout the year. During the 125th Annual Meeting, Supervisor Lisa Bartlett, our 2020 President, announced a special Anniversary Service Project challenge. Each county, as well as CSAC, is invited to complete 125 hours of community service between now and our next Annual Meeting.
Volunteering is a great way to stay connected to our colleagues and our communities. By volunteering together for a couple hours, a few times throughout the year, you and your county staff can collectively meet that 125-hour commitment before you know it.
Some conference attendees got the ball rolling during the annual Service Project. Supervisors and county staff wrapped gifts and made cards for San Francisco area foster youth.
From community clean-ups to volunteering at a food bank or even reading at a library story time, please take photos of your service and send them to CSAC so we can share them on social media to demonstrate how California’s Counties are Connecting Our Communities.
