The application period for the Leadership Saratoga Class of 2019-20 is open.
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 will receive in-depth knowledge about some of the critical issues facing Saratoga County.
This will be the 36th class of this award-winning program.
The deadline for completed applications and four brief interviews is 5 p.m., Wednesday, May 31.
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 nonprofit organizations from Clifton Park to Corinth, and volunteer for more than 100 additional organizations, schools, religious institutions and youth sports programs annually.
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, officials said. There are more than 550 alums from the program.
Charles Wait Jr., a graduate of the class of 2012 and executive vice president at the Adirondack Trust Co., said the program “is great because it provided me with a much deeper understanding of how our local communities work and greatly enhanced my connections to local organizations working to better our communities. As a Leadership Saratoga student, I had the privilege of working and bonding with a great group of intelligent, active and community-minded individuals.”
A maximum of 24 individuals will be selected by members of the Leadership Saratoga Advisory Board to participate in the 2019-20 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 Sept. 15-16, will cover topics such as working with various leadership styles, keys to effective board governance, strategic communications and strategic planning, fund raising and philanthropy, 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 14 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 the Leadership Saratoga program. The Chamber sponsors Leadership Saratoga, but participants do not need to be a member.
Officials said Leadership Saratoga is seeking candidates who are concerned about the future of their county and demonstrate the interest and skills to provide leadership in community service. 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.
Cost of the program is $1,950. 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.
For more information and to apply, go to www.leadershipsaratoga.org. To request a brochure, contact the Chamber at 518-584-3255.