Leadership Saratoga’s unique format makes Saratoga County the classroom.  Sessions move to various locations and class members meet the decision makers and community leaders who address not only facts, but perspectives, problems and potentials, in very interactive sessions.

LIST OF 2012-2013 SESSIONS

October 14, 8:00 am - October 15, 5:00 pm - Class retreat
Prepare yourself for a fun indoor and outdoor adventure in recognizing leadership styles and building a team.  This is an overnight retreat at Minnowbrook Conference Center in Blue Mountain Lake, NY

October 31, 8:00 am - 4:00 pm - Countywide Tour
Saratoga Style:  Immerse yourself in local culture with a tour of some of the myriad of tourism-related, cultural and historic institutions in Saratoga County. You will learn about the interaction and missions of the Saratoga Convention Bureau, Saratoga Springs City Center, Saratoga County Board of Supervisors and the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce relating to the promotion of tourism. The tour provides a behind the scenes glimpse into the arts, tourism, and history that characterize Saratoga and keep its economy thriving.

Leadership Development Sessions all run 8:00 am - 12:00 pm
November 14                    February 27
November 28                    March 13
December 12                     March 27
January 2                            April 10
January 16                          April 24
January 30                          May 8
February 13                        May 16 - Graduation

Through the course of the program, topics that will be addressed include:

Human Services - Bridging The Gap:  Gain an insight into Saratoga County’s diverse population, as well as its poverty and human services needs.  Experience real life problems that people less fortunate are facing and find out more about the various organizations that exist in the county to assist people in our citizens.

Keys to Effective Board Membership:  Understand the elements of effective board governance, board dynamics and what it takes to develop a strong board of directors. Learn what questions you should ask before agreeing to serve on a board and the skills to lead once you have accepted the position.

Dynamics of Leadership:  There are many different styles of leadership. Different situations may dictate different leadership challenges. In a highly interactive session, thinking styles, problem solving and leadership skills as well as motivating others will be addressed.

Dealing with Ethical Dilemmas: Develop critical thinking about ethical dilemmas that face nonprofit and public sector boards. Using case studies from real life examples, learn how to deal with these dilemmas.

An Education in Itself:  School boards face many issues ranging from setting educational policy to finances. Hear about these issues from a panel of county School Board members and area superintendents. Case studies will be presented for further investigation, discussion and understanding.

The Fun in Fundraising:  All leaders of non profits must raise money. This session offers a better understanding of the various methods of raising money and reviews the pros and cons of each. Learn what works and what does not work when you are fundraising for worthy causes and gain a greater comfort level in soliciting donations.

Economic Development, Open Space and Quality of Life:  Saratoga County is fortunate that there are a variety of environments in which people can live, work and play. The reality is that people in the community think and work hard to make it this way. This session brings together some of these people; developers, attorneys, corporation owners, and land preservers and showcases how all of them must work together to maintain this quality of life.

It’s All About Teams:  Teams are successful when all of the parties involved are working together. In this session, case studies and panel discussions will cover various challenges that can present themselves. Conflict resolution takes different shapes depending on the challenge. Generational differences can create many challenges. This session also provides time for group project teams to evaluate how effectively they are functioning.

Government by the People:  In this session, participants will gain a better understanding of the differences in operations and issues that face villages, towns and cities, all of which exist in Saratoga County. By touring the County government offices and the District Attorney's offices, participants will receive an up-close look at real issues facing local government, and learn how to make a difference.  The particulars of running for public office will also be covered.

Strategic Thinking:  Organizations move forward best when they have a plan. Strategic planning can be crucial to the growth of non profit organizations. Learn from real life experiences of non profit executives and board members in the county about how they went through a planning process, what worked, what they would recommend doing differently and how to engage the board, staff and members to follow through rather than having a plan collect dust on a shelf.

Working with Media:  This session will equip participants to better understand various media outlets in the region as well as various ways to advertise and promote a non profit. There are a number of free and creative ways to get the word out. Discussing public relations, marketing plans and crisis management will also be covered.

Graduate and Celebrate:  Invite a guest and enjoy the recognition you deserve at the class graduation dinner.  Hear a light-hearted talk on balancing your personal, professional and volunteer lives.  It will add a healthy perspective to all you have learned throughout the program.

As an additional opportunity, participants can be paired with alumni who have similar volunteer interests and could assist in making community connections for the participant.