Local Government Leadership Academy
The Institute for Public Affairs is pleased to sponsor the West Virginia University Local Government Leadership Academy. The Academy is co-sponsored by the West Virginia Association of Counties, the County Commissioners Association of West Virginia, and the West Virginia Municipal League. It has been designed to provide West Virginia's local government officials an opportunity to interact with West Virginia University's finest scholars, prominent public officials, and leading practitioners who have demonstrated an expertise or exceptional achievement in an area of interest to West Virginia's local government officials.
The Local Government Leadership Academy is a hands-on learning experience focusing on the active exchange of ideas and information through a series of three-hour workshops. The Academy's curriculum was developed with the assistance of the Executive Directors of the West Virginia Association of Counties, the County Commissioners Association of West Virginia, and the West Virginia Municipal League to ensure that it meets the needs of West Virginia's local government officials.
The Academy sponsors two sessions each year, with the Fall session taking place in Charleston and the Spring session in Morgantown. The Academy's inaugural session took place on June 2-3, 2001 at Lakeview Resort and Conference Center in Morgantown. Sixty-seven local government officials participated. Since then, the Academy's enrollment has continued to increase. There are currently 325 local government officials participating in the Academy, with about 100 attending each session.
A picture and list of the inaugural 2002 graduates can be viewed here. A picture and list of the 2003 graduates can be viewed here. A list of the 2004 graduates can be viewed here. A list of the 2005 graduates can be viewed here. A list of the 2006 graduates can be viewed here. A list of the 2007 graduates can be viewed here. Additional pictures of the West Virginia University Local Government Leadership Academy's previous sessions are displayed later on this page.
Reaction to the Academy has been overwhelmingly positive. Participants have praised the program both for the quality and usefulness of the workshops and for the opportunity to interact with local government officials from across the state.
THE SPRING 2008 LOCAL GOVERNMENT LEADERSHIP ACADEMY
The Spring 2008 Conference is scheduled for Saturday, April 12th and Sunday, April 13th 2008 at the Historic Clarion Hotel Morgan in Morgantown. A limited block of rooms are available at the special conference rate of $69/night (plus tax) until March 25, 2008. Refer to the "Local Government Leadership Academy" when making reservations to get the special room rate.
A LIMITED number of scholarships will be offered to encourage officials from ARC distressed or at-risk counties to attend the Academy. Use this form to register. Choose your workshops from this agenda.
The Core Curriculum
The following three-hour workshops provide West Virginia's local government officials a solid foundation in public organizational and financial management, with an emphasis on the enhancement of their personal leadership skills. The six workshops in the core curriculum include:
- Public Management & Leadership Skills
- Financial Management
- Economic Development
- Human Resources & Personnel Management
- Professional Conduct: Ethics and Open-Meetings Law
- Consensus Building and Conflict Resolution
All Academy attendees must have these workshops before they are eligible to earn the Certificate of Achievement. A complete description for each of these courses is available here.
Local Government Leadership Academy Electives
The elective three-hour workshops provide West Virginia's local government officials an opportunity to increase their expertise and skills in areas and topics that are of special interest to them. Electives that have been offered through the Academy include:
- Abandoned and Dilapidating Housing in Counties
- Aging Issues & Policies
- Animal Control in Rural Areas
Additional electives are offered as needed. Let us know if you have suggestions! E-mail us at IPA@mail.wvu.edu.
Local Government Leadership Academy Certificates
Participants in the West Virginia University Local Government Leadership Academy can earn the following certificates:
- The Certificate of Achievement is awarded for successful completion of the Academy's Core Curriculum -six required workshops - and four elective workshops;
- The Certificate of Excellence is awarded for the completion of the Academy's Core Curriculum -six required workshops - and eight elective workshops;
- The Certificate of Distinction is awarded for the completion of the Academy's Core Curriculum -six required workshops - and twelve elective workshops; and
- The Certificate of Highest Merit is awarded for the completion of the Academy's Core Curriculum -six required workshops - and twenty-four elective workshops.
New for Fall 2006! Those who earn the Certificate of Highest Merit become eligible to receive a $35 discount on their Academy registration fees for life.
Local Government Leadership Academy Program Coordinator
The West Virginia University Local Government Leadership Academy is coordinated by Lucinda A. Potter, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Political Science in West Virginia University's Eberly College of Arts and Sciences. Lucinda is a specialist in American political behavior and state and local government. She teaches extended learning web-based courses in State & Local Government, West Virginia Government, Public Administration, American Federalism & Policy, Great Books in American Politics, and Public Policy Analysis and serves as the Department's point of contact for electronic course delivery. She also manages the Local Government Leadership Academy ListServ and maintains the Institute's Local Government Leadership Academy information on the web.
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Lucinda A. Potter, Coordinator |
Pictures from the
Spring 2007 Session held on April 14th and April 15th, 2007
at the
Historic Clarion Hotel Morgan in Morgantown, West Virginia and in downtown Morgantown
will be posted here soon
Pictures from the
Fall 2006 Session held on August 25 and 26, 2006
at the
Embassy Suites Hotel & Conference Center in Charleston, West Virginia
Warren McGraw and Lewisburg Mayor John Manchester discuss Re-Election Strategies during a refreshment break.
Some of the best conversations among Academy attendees take place outside the formal workshops.
Two of the Academy's Faculty Associates, Jim Wood and George Hammond, review their workshop presentation.
Frank LaFone and Bob Duval present a new workshop, "Internet Access and Assets: How the Web Enhances Communities and Local Government".
Pictures from the
Spring 2006 Session held on April 22 and 23, 2006
at the
Radisson Hotel at Waterfront Place in Morgantown, West Virginia
Kim Barber-Tieman, Senior Program Office for The Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation, presents the new workshop, "Grant Writing Basics: Building New Capacity", to a full-house.
One of our long-time Academy attendees and a recipient of the Certificate of Highest Merit, Scott Slagle volunteered to present a new workshop, "Emergency Planning for Continuity of Operations" for his colleagues.
Some pictures from the
Fall 2005 Session held on September 16 and 17, 2005
at the
Embassy Suites Hotel and Conference Center in Charleston, West Virginia
Lauren Adkins, from the National Trust Main Street Center in Washington, DC and Monica Miller, Main Street West Virginia, lead their workshop "Main Street USA" on a guided walking tour around downtown Charleston.
Robert M. Bastress, the John W. Fisher II Professor of Law at West Virginia University, addresses "Consolidating Government" at Saturday's luncheon.
Those in Lew Brewer's seminar "Advanced Ethics for Public Officials" ponder one of several challenging case studies.
Some pictures from the
Spring 2005 Session held on April 9 and 10, 2005
at the
Radisson Hotel at Waterfront Place in Morgantown, West Virginia
Frank Scafella leads a discussion about Morgantown's Riverfront Development that included a walking tour of the Wharf District.
Mason County Commissioner Robert Baird and Buckhannon City Recorder/Treasurer Nancy Shobe received "The Certificate of Highest Merit" from Dr. Kevin Leyden, Director
Buckhannon City Councilman Harley Brown Receives "The Certificate of Highest Merit"
from Dr. Robert Dilger
at the Spring 2004 Session's Graduation Ceremony held on April 3, 2004
at the
Ramada Inn and Conference Center, Morgantown WV
Some pictures from the
Fall 2003 Session held on September 26-27, 2003
at the
Embassy Suites Hotel and Conference Center, Charleston WV
Tom Williams presents "Statewide Mapping and Addressing/E-911 Systems," Mary Hunt discusses "Strategic Planning and Community
Development," and Kevin Leyden opens the workshop on "Re-election Strategies."
Some pictures from the
Spring 2003 Session held on April 12-13, 2003
at the
Ramada Inn and Conference Center, Morgantown WV
Brenda
Miller receives her certificate, the 2003
graduates, and John "Shorty"
Bumgardner receives his certificate
Some Pictures from the
Fall 2002 Session held on September 21-22, 2002
at the
Embassy Suites Hotel and Conference Center, Charleston, WV
L. Christopher Plein discusses "Community Design Teams,"
Ivan Pinnell answers a question in "Working with the Media," and
Otis Cox presents "Law Enforcement."
Some pictures from the
Spring 2002 Session held on April 20-21, 2002
at the
Ramada Inn and Conference Center, Morgantown WV
County
Government Officials, The Class of
2002, and City
Government Officials
Proudly Display their Certificates of Achievement
Some pictures from the
Fall 2001 Session held on September 15-16, 2001
at the
Embassy Suites Hotel, Charleston WV
David Williams presents "Public Management & Leadership Skills,"
Bob Rubenstein presents "Consensus Building and Conflict Resolution,"
Sec. of State Joe Manchin presents "Campaign Finance and Elections Law,"
Vivian Parsons, Lisa Dooley & Patricia Hamilton present "Lobbying & Representation Issues,"
Leone Ohnoutka and David Hughes present "Economic Development," and
Carl "Chuck" Kinder, Jr. presents "Creative Problem Solving."
The Inaugural Conference, June 2-3, 2001
Lakeview Scanticon Resort and Conference Center, Morgantown, WV
David Williams presents "Public Management & Leadership Skills,"
Chuck Kinder presents "Public Speaking,"
Cheryl Riley presents "Consensus Building and Conflict Resolution,"
Joseph Barker and Mary Hunt present "Strategic Planning and Community Development,"
Scott Rotruck was one of the presenters at "Economic Development,"
John Sorrenti was one of the presenters at "Working with the Media,"
Denise White presents "Financial Management,"
Carl Hadsell and John Spears present "Marketing Your Community,"
David Hughes and Don Reinke present "Economic Development Initiatives,"
Lew Brewer was one of the presenters at "Professional Conduct: Ethics and Open Meetings,"
Otis Cox and J.T. Hodges present "Public Safety II: Fire Protection, EMS and 911 Centers," and
Peter Marshall presents "Local Government Land Use Planning."
Local Government Leadership Academy
Faculty Associates for Core workshops
|
Consensus Building and Conflict
Resolution |
Personnel Management
|
|
Economic Development |
Professional Conduct: Ethics and
Open-Meetings Law |
|
Financial Management |
Public Management and Leadership
Skills |
Faculty Associates for Elective workshops
| Building Sustainable
Communities Kevin Leyden West Virginia University Department of Political Science |
Local Government Law Robert Bastress West Virginia University School of Law |
| Campaign Finance and Elections
Law Joe Manchin, III West Virginia Secretary of State |
Marketing Your Community Carl Hadsell Center for Entrepreneurial Studies and Development, Inc. |
| Community Design Teams L. Christopher Plein West Virginia University Division of Public Administration |
Public Safety I: Law Enforcement Public Safety II: Fire Protection, EMS and 911 Centers Otis Cox West Virginia University Extension Services Center for Community, Economic, and Workforce Development |
| Complying with the ADA David Stewart Northern West Virginia Center for Independent Living Penny Hall West Virginia ADA Coordinator |
Public Speaking Chuck Kinder Office of the State Auditor |
| Dealing with Litter Anthony Giambrone Monongalia County Solid Waste Authority |
Public Works II: Wastewater Options for Local
Government Graham Knowles National Environmental Services Center Clement Solomon National Environmental Services Center |
| Economic Development: Brownfield
Development Tom Mignery and Mark Scott Burgess & Niple, Limited Robert Ricelli Director of Development City of Weirton |
Re-election Strategies Kevin Leyden West Virginia University Department of Political Science Larry LaCourte John Sorrenti Hancock County Commission Robert Rupp West Virginia Wesleyan College Department of Political Science |
| Economic Development: Working with Your
Workforce Development Boards David Lieving West Virginia Development Office |
Running an Effective Meeting
John Sorrenti Hancock County Commission |
| Economic Development
Initiatives Don Rienke Morgantown Area Economic Partnership |
Statewide Addressing and
Mapping/E-911 Craig Neidig and Tom Williams West Virginia Statewide Addressing and Mapping Board |
| Economic Development Strategies for West
Virginia: Regional Perspectives and Breakout Sessions George Hammond West Virginia University Bureau of Business & Economic Research Randy Childs West Virginia University Bureau of Business & Economic Research |
Strategic Planning and Community
Development Joseph Barker West University Rural Development Council Mary Hunt Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation |
| Economic Forecast and Statewide Economic
Development Strategies George Hammond West Virginia University Bureau of Business & Economic Research David Satterfield West Virginia Development Office |
The Freedom of Information
Act Mohamad Alkadry West Virginia University Division of Public Administration |
| Grant Writing Ralph Goolsby Tracey Rowan Evelyn Young U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development |
The Role of Public Officials in
Disasters Stephen Kappa Office of Emergency Services James Cox Office of Emergency Services |
| Lobbying & Representation
Issues Lisa Dooley West Virginia Municipal League
|
Working Smart-The Art of Delegation/Making
the MOST of Your Time Chuck Kinder Office of the State Auditor |
| Local Government Land Use Planning
Peter Marshall West Virginia University Extension Service Center for Community, Economic, and Workforce Development Marjorie Ryan Senior Planner, Benatec Associates |
Working with the Media Ivan Pinnell West Virginia University Perley Issac Reed School of Journalism |
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