Civic and Governmental Leadership Academy
(Spring 2004)
Mission Statement:
The Civic and Governmental
Leadership Academy is a non-partisan organization whose mission is to
inspire and encourage local people from all segments of the population
to participate in civic affairs in an effort to facilitate positive
change and innovation in our community and to promote better government
at the local level.
Goal and Objectives:
Through educational programs
and the development of leadership skills, the Academy seeks to provide a
more informed and responsible citizenry, enhance participants’
preparation for leadership opportunities, and enable aspiring civic
leaders to be more effective candidates and officeholders. The Academy’s
programs are designed for citizens interested in elected office,
appointment to boards and commissions, or individuals who simply wish to
be better informed about their local government.
Sponsorship:
The Civic and Governmental Leadership Academy
was jointly sponsored by the Greater Salisbury Committee, Salisbury
University’s Institute for Public Affairs and Civic Engagement (PACE)
and the Tri-County League of Women Voters.
Description of Program:
An intensive seven-week evening program
designed for future community leaders. Sessions were held every Tuesday
evening, 7-9 PM, from February 17, 2004 until March 30, 2004.
Faculty were drawn from respected leaders in
the community, university professors and nationally known speakers.
Attendants of Sessions 1-6
earned participants a certificate of completion from the Civic and
Governmental Leadership Academy.
Outline of Sessions:
Session 1: Why Be a
Civic Leader? (Tuesday, February 17th
)
This first session was designed as an overall introduction to the
program which will highlight the political history and background of
Salisbury and Wicomico County. Discussion of the purpose and ethics of
civic leadership provided the context for the remaining sessions.
Opportunities for service, both elected and non-elected, were presented.
Session 2: What Do You Have
to Know? (Tuesday, February 24th )
This session helped participants negotiate the maze of governance
documents and budgets. Differences in the county and city’s charters and
structures were highlighted. Budget issues dealing with everything from
revenue sources to distinguishing between capital and operating budgets
were laid out. Case studies provided opportunities to discuss real life
situations.
Session 3: What Skills Do
You Need? (Tuesday, March 2nd )
In today’s political climate, everyone likes to talk but is anyone
listening? This session focused on the communication and problem solving
skills that are necessary to be an effective participant in the public
forum. The session was highly interactive, enabling participants to see
how these skills actually work in the public forum.
Session 4: How Do You Run a
Meeting and Interact with the Public? (Tues., March 9th
)
Conducting the peoples’ business in a civil way is never an easy task. In
this session, participants learned some effective strategies in running
a meeting and keeping decorum. Additionally, discussion focused on how
to work with staff; how to distinguish between governance and
micro-managing; how to respond to your constituency; and, finally, how
to deal with the press.
Session 5: How Do You Build
a Civic and Civil Team? (Tuesday, March 16th
)
This was a continuation of the preceding session in which team-building
skills will be emphasized. The process of democracy can be messy with
everyone clamoring for a voice in their agenda. In this session,
participants learned some team-building skills, the art of compromise
and consensus building. Role playing helped transform those skills into
practice.
Session 6: What Do Ethics
and the Economy Have To Do With It? (Tuesday, March 23rd
)
Through the use of case studies, this session explored some important
issues dealing with economic development within a community and how
ethical issues like conflict of interest can be negotiated in the public
arena. Issues of interest to the participants were also be aired in this
final required session.
Session 7
[optional]: How Do You Run a Campaign? (Tuesday, March 30th
)
In the final session, focus was on the specifics of running an effective
and ethical campaign. Issues that were dealt with range from developing
and getting out your message, recruiting volunteers, and raising money
and developing a budget.
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