Established in 1974, the ICMA Range Rider program is a joint activity of ICMA and state sponsors to make the counsel, experience, and support of respected, retired managers of the profession available to members. Presently, 81 Range Riders in 21 states provide a highly valued service by volunteering their time to offer confidential professional and personal support and advice.  

In 2013, ICMA Executive Director Bob O’Neill appointed a Range Rider 2014 Advisory Committee to celebrate 40 years of the program and to enhance its value to ICMA members and to state associations in the second century of ICMA. The advisory committee was composed of key stakeholders: Range Riders, secretariats, and leaders from the states with programs, and other members served by the program, such as former MITs and first-time administrators in those states. The committee engaged Range Riders and state sponsors in the development of the recommendations. The committee’s recommendations to “refresh” the program for the future have been approved by the ICMA Executive Board.

A number of the adopted recommendations reinforce current guidelines and some involve changes or greater clarity. The biggest change is a change in the name from Range Riders to Senior Advisors to better describe the role of Range Riders and their primary emphasis on providing members with advice and support.  Members who are currently serving ICMA under the title of senior advisors will become ICMA liaisons to better describe their role serving as ICMA representatives to state associations and other groups. This change in titles will become effective at the 2014 ICMA Annual Conference.

Other recommendations are designed to foster performance and accountability for all parties (Range Riders, state sponsors, and ICMA) and to provide consistency in meeting member expectations across the country, while at the same time providing flexibility in recognition of the differences in needs, geography, and resources of state sponsors.

• All state sponsors are asked to adopt a Range Rider Program Policy, clearly indicating program goals and the responsibilities of Range Riders and the state association. State sponsor policies should include terms and periodic reviews for Range Riders in order to ensure the continued vibrancy and effectiveness of the program.
• Members who have not served as deputies or assistant managers (non-CAOs) are now eligible for appointment as Range Riders. The committee and the ICMA board recognize that career assistants have much to offer.
• The conflict of interest guidelines have been modified to allow more members engaged in part-time consulting to serve in the program as long as there is adequate time to devote to the program and there is no responsibility for soliciting business.
• A statement of policy has been developed to clarify any Range Rider involvement in manager placement work. Any involvement is up to the state sponsor, but assistance should not include selecting finalists or participation in the final selection process.

All current state sponsors received a communication from Bob O’Neill in July about these changes and staff will be working with them to implement enhancements to the existing program that has served members so well for four decades. The guidelines and manual on the Range Rider Program section of ICMA’s website have been updated to reflect all changes/clarifications and the name change to Senior Advisors will appear shortly.