Up Close and Personal in the Field: Becky Baldwin

UP CLOSE &

PERSONAL In the Field

Becky Baldwin

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Welcome to Up Close and Personal – In the Field, a regular column in New Hampshire Town and City dedicated to giving readers a closer look at staff from New Hampshire municipalities and other political subdivisions. In this issue, we hope you enjoy meeting Becky Baldwin, Office Manager with the Southwest Region Planning Commission.

TC: What are your duties and responsibilities as Office Manager?

BB: As the Office Manager for the Southwest Region Planning Commission (SWRPC) located in Keene, I am part of a team of dedicated individuals that provide services and assistance to our 33 member communities. I work closely with the Executive Director and others to make sure the services we provide are coordinated and completed in a timely and professional manner. My position involves direct responsibility for the agency’s financial operations. I am most popular with my co-workers on pay days.

TC: What is your biggest challenge in performing your duties?

BB: Keeping up with changing technology. I didn’t grow up in the computer generation and come from an era that used carbon paper, mimeograph machines and white-out. I’m not old enough to have used an abacus, although I did at one time learn how to use one, and had to do homework using pencil and paper. I have been fortunate over the years to have very patient people help me learn what I needed to know. I will admit that I’m still mystified as to how a “cloud” can be the storage place for all data.

TC: How has NHMA helped you do your job?

BB: Over the course of my career, NHMA has always been a valuable source of information for me. It makes my job easier knowing that I can rely on a wealth of knowledge for legal and procedural questions that I encounter. I currently help provide staff support for the New Hampshire Association of Regional Planning Commissions and our partnership with NHMA helps us provide valuable planning-related educational materials through articles published in Town and City magazine and periodic webinars.

TC: Give us an example of a problem you solved or a dilemma you faced and overcame in the line of duty?

BB: A challenge faced by many over the past year is how to adapt and continue to perform as a productive office in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. We went from being an agency open to the public that conducted various on- and off-site meetings and workshops with our membership on a weekly basis to being closed to the public in addition to having many staff working remotely. Thanks to advanced technology, as well as a bit of trial and error, we remained able to continue to communicate with each other as well as our network of partners.

TC: Has your job changed the way you look at the role of government?

BB: If anything, it has increased the respect I have for the individuals who serve our communities be it as paid employees or volunteers. Growing up I was always fascinated by Town Meeting and started attending them while in my teens. I was too young to be allowed to sit on the meeting floor with the voters so I would watch the proceedings from the balcony. Prior to my time at SWRPC, I was with the Town of Peterborough for 25 years. My biggest thrill was when I became a town employee and was able to sit in the front two rows with other employees and department heads.

TC: What lessons about human nature have you learned in your role?

BB: I have learned to respect the opinions of others. Although I may not always agree with someone else’s opinion everyone is as entitled to their views as I am to mine. When you are able to keep an open mind and listen to all sides of an issue it is easier to come up with solutions that will benefit everyone. I have also learned that dedicated volunteers working together with professionals for a common cause are important and make a difference. People should be proud of their contributions and be praised for their efforts.