Membership Values and Benefits

As an SDA member, your district will benefit from a broad range of programs and services including:

• Active Monitoring And Lobbying Of Legislation That Will Impact Special Districts
  Since special districts exist by enabling legislation; they can be severely impacted by legislative actions. The SDA Executive Director, the Legislative Committee and a hired contract lobbyist monitor legislation, and lobby extensively on behalf of all special districts. While non-SDA members receive the benefit of SDA's efforts, they are not able to participate in policy formation and the development of positions and strategy.

• Educational Seminars, Workshops And Meetings On Timely Subjects
  Many of these seminars and workshops are in your geographical area and are designed to be convenient for your schedule. Several of these training sessions are also available electronically for member convenience.
  
  SDA is continuously striving to provide detailed and timely training sessions for SDA members. Previous topics include, new board member training, election judge training, DEO training, fiscal responsibility, public relations training and many more.
   

• SDA Annual Conference
  This event provides numerous workshop sessions on subjects vital to special district governance and management, as well as inspiration, humor, entertainment and relaxation. Over 1000 representatives of member districts and associate members attend to take advantage of the networking and educational opportunities, which this annual event provides.

• Newsletter, Legislative Bulletins And Other Publications And Bulletins
  Each Member District has access to the SDA Laws Notebook, an annually updated collection of the statutes governing special districts, complete with a simple and useful index. The Special District Board Members Manual is a key resource for every Board Member of any special district, and the SDA Model Personnel Manual provides invaluable guidance in employment matters and employee relationships. Other notebooks and manuals are provided as necessary. These important publications are provided at no additional cost to members.

• Technical Assistance
  The SDA staff is knowledgeable in many areas of importance to special district directors and staffs. Assistance is available by telephone, email, special reports, handbooks, manuals and through contacts with a variety of experts who are SDA Associate Members. Our Associate members include attorneys, accountants and investment advisors, engineers, management and other consultants. SDA and its Associate Members provide one of the most knowledgeable and professional sources of information on the operation and development of special districts in Colorado.

• Access To Member Service Companies Offering Discounted Pricing And Specialized Services To SDA Members
  
  
• Community Relations
  The Special District Association practices governmental transparency. SDA works to foster a strong and positive image for special districts statewide. SDA assists members with community relations, media guidelines and press releases.