Application for the Leadership Saratoga
Class of 2014-15 will be open on April 15, a
program sponsored by the Saratoga County
Chamber Of Commerce.
The program is designed to orient and
train persons who are interested in becoming
more involved in their community in volunteer
leadership capacities. In addition,
participants receive in-depth knowledge
about some of the critical issues facing
Saratoga County.
This will be the 28th class of this award winning
program.
Cost is $1,250. Tuition assistance is
available on a need basis and is provided
by the Linda G. Toohey Leadership Saratoga
Alumni Association Scholarship Fund,
named after the program founder.
An informational meeting about the program will be held at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, May 8 at the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce, 28 Clinton St., Saratoga Springs.
For more information and to apply, interested persons may go to www.leadershipsaratoga.org To request a brochure, contact the Chamber at 584-3255. The deadline for completed applications and four brief interviews is 5 p.m. Friday, May 30.
Chamber officials said Leadership Saratoga graduates have been making a positive impact on organizations, schools and communities throughout Saratoga County since the program’s inception in 1985. Currently, graduates serve on the boards of directors of over 60 non-profit organizations from Clifton Park to Corinth, and volunteer for more than 100 additional organizations, schools, religious institutions and youth sports programs annually.
According to the Chamber, Over 60 Leadership Saratoga alumni have been elected or appointed to local boards of education, town boards, city councils, the county Board of Supervisors, the county Planning Board, and various other municipal committees.
Fourteen have been hired in government related appointed positions. There are more than 500 alums from the program.
A maximum of 24 individuals will be selected by members of the Leadership Saratoga Advisory Board to participate in the 2014-15 class. The selection committee will be looking for participants with a diversity of backgrounds and geographic representation, as well as applicants who have demonstrated an interest and involvement in their community.
The courses, which begin with a retreat on September 28 – 29, will cover topics such as working with various leadership styles, keys to effective board membership, strategic communications and strategic planning, fund raising and dealing with ethical dilemmas.
Additional courses will address issues facing county government, economic development and quality of life, educational policy making and more.
“There are fourteen half-day sessions, with experiential learning, panel discussions, role-playing and candid dialogues with many of the county’s newsmakers,” said Kathleen Fyfe, vice president of community development for the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce and program director of Leadership Saratoga. While the Chamber sponsors the program, participants do not need to be a member of the Chamber.
All participants must live in Saratoga County (or demonstrate a strong volunteer involvement in the County) and must agree to attend at least 80 percent of the sessions.