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Athenian

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Additional Athenian Dialogues are coming soon! All will be pre-approved for IIMC points! Join our mailing list for updates.

Upcoming Athenian Dialogues

Registration Fee: $100 for IIMC members (IIMC Points or Attendance Only);

$75 for VMCA members (IIMC Points or Attendance Only);book not included

Where: Live Online, Zoom Platform


Leaders Eat Last by Simon Sinek

December 5, 2024
Wednesday, 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM Eastern, 8:00 AM - 3:00 PM Central, 7:00 AM - 2:00 PM Mountain, 6:00 AM - 1:00 PM Pacific
Enroll Now >


A Choice of Weapons  by Gordon Parks

January 23, 2025
9:00 AM to 4:00 PM Eastern, 8:00 AM - 3:00 PM Central, 7:00 AM - 2:00 AM Mountain, 6:00 AM - 1:00 PM Pacific
Enroll now >


Gifted Hands by Ben Carson

February 4-5, 2025
Tuesday,11:00 AM - 2:00 PM Eastern, 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM Central, 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM Mountain, 8:00 AM - 11:00 AM Pacific
Enroll now >       


I Love it Here by Clint Pulver

February 20 - 27, 2025
Wednesday, 12:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m. Eastern, 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Central, 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Mountain, 9:30 a.m.- 12:30 p.m. Pacific
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Highest Duty by Chesley Sullenberger and Jeffrey Zaslow

March 4-5, 2025
Tuesday,11:00 AM - 2:00 PM Eastern, 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM Central, 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM Mountain, 8:00 AM - 11:00 AM Pacific
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Girl, Wash Your Face by Rachel Hollis

March 20 - 27, 2025
Wednesday, 12:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m. Eastern, 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Central, 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Mountain, 9:30 a.m.- 12:30 p.m. Pacific
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Enjoying the Ride by Mitch Sturgeon

April 23, 2025
Thursday, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM Eastern, 8:00 AM - 3:00 PM Central, 7:00 AM - 2:00 PM Mountain, 6:00 AM - 1:00 PM Pacific
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Shoot Like A Girl by Mary Jennings Hegar

May 14, 2025
Thursday, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM Eastern, 8:00 AM - 3:00 PM Central, 7:00 AM - 2:00 PM Mountain, 6:00 AM - 1:00 PM Pacific
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Finding Me by Viola Davis

June 17-18, 2025
Tuesday, 12:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m. Eastern, 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Central, 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Mountain, 9:30 a.m.- 12:30 p.m. Pacific

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The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls

July 23-24, 2025
Wednesday, 12:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m. Eastern, 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Central, 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Mountain, 9:30 a.m.- 12:30 p.m. Pacific
Enroll now >


My Fight/Your Fight by Ronda Rousey

September 16-17, 2025

Wednesday, 12:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m. Eastern, 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Central, 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Mountain, 9:30 a.m.- 12:30 p.m. Pacific

Enroll now>


Check back for more book selections!

« View the Annual VMCA Institutes and Academy homepage

In collaboration with the International Institute of Municipal Clerks (IIMC), this Athenian Leadership Society Dialogue series is offered by the Virginia Municipal Clerks Association (VMCA) Institute and Academy and hosted by Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU).

About the Athenian Leadership Society

The Athenian Leadership Society is an advanced IIMC Leadership Development Program. Athenian Dialogues focus on helping municipal clerks develop critical thinking skills and increase their leadership ability. Athenian Dialogues provide valuable knowledge, vision and understanding to build increased leadership capacity and add value to the contribution of municipal clerks in improving local government.

After completing ten Athenian Dialogues, active IIMC members with good standing are eligible to apply to become fellows in the IIMC Athenian Leadership Society.

IIMC Education Points

All our Athenian Dialogues are IIMC pre-approved. Athenian Dialogues are eligible for 3 CMC Education Points or 3 MMC Advanced Education Points each with completion of the required learning assessment. A maximum of 18 points can be applied to a CMC application and another separate 18 points to an MMC application.

Virtual Dialogues

Athenian Dialogues explore leadership principles and practices, drawing on the insights contained in a book that all participants have read. Dialogues are a channel of communication in which municipal clerks share their experience and understanding as they relate to the author’s ideas and the relevance of those ideas to their public leadership role.

Dialogues will be held online using Zoom meetings. VCU will provide you with a link where you can connect through your PC, Mac, Linux, iOS, or Android device.

IIMC Requirements

Per IIMC policy, participants must read the entire book prior to attending the Dialogue.

Attendees are expected to limit outside distractions to allow for an effective learning environment and be fully present for the duration of the Dialogue. In addition, participants must have a stable camera and audio connection for the entire session. Participants that opt not to have an audio connection or a camera connection will be removed from the session.

Assessment

To earn International Institute of Municipal Clerk (IIMC) education points, participants must fully participate in the dialogue and successfully complete a written assessment within 30 days of the last session. Submission instructions will be provided via email at the end of the dialogue. The facilitator will review and provide feedback and approve the submission in order for the participant to earn the IIMC education points. If alternative arrangements are not made in advance, participants who fully attend the session, but do not complete the assessment by the deadline, will be provided with an "attendance only" certificate instead of an IIMC education points certificate.

Certificates

After your facilitator confirms your attendance and approves your assessment, VCU will send you a link for you to certify your participation and receive your electronic certificate. Your certificate will be immediately available for download and automatically emailed to you. VCU will send this link to you approximately one month after the assessment submission deadline. Attendance only certificate links will be sent within two business days of the close of the Dialogue. If you have a special circumstance and need your certificate sooner, please let us know, and we will work with the facilitator to accommodate your situation.

Cost per Dialogue

Registration

Registration is limited to 24 participants. The minimum enrollment is 10.

Registration Options

IIMC Points

To earn International Institute of Municipal Clerk (IIMC) education points, participants must fully participate in the dialogue and successfully complete a written assessment within 30 days of the last session. Submission instructions will be provided via email at the end of the dialogue. The facilitator will review and provide feedback and approve the submission in order for the participant to earn the IIMC education points.

Attendance Only

To earn an "attendance only" certificate toward your fellow application to the IIMC Athenian Leadership Society, clerks must fully participate in the entire dialogue.

Book Selection

Want to find out more? Get in touch.