Athenian Leadership Society Dialogues

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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

The following pre-approved Athenian Dialogues are eligible for 3 CMC Education Points or 3 MMC Advanced Education Points with completion of the required learning assessment.

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. We encourage full participation and require that all clerks have their cameras on and be seen for the entire session.

Assessment

To earn education points, participants must successfully complete a written assessment no later than two weeks after the conclusion of the session and submit it to the dialogue facilitator for review and approval.

Cost per Dialogue

• $75 for VMCA members
• $100 for IIMC members
  Books must be purchased separately on your own.

Dates, Times, and Book Selections

Times Vary (With a 20-minute break each day)

• • Friday and Saturday, October 2-3, 2020: Facilitator Jane Long, Ed.D.

    Encouraging the Heart: A Leader’s Guide to Rewarding and Recognizing Others by James M. Kouzes and Barry Z. Posner

    Read more about the October 2-3 dialogue

    All too often, simple acts of human kindness are often overlooked and underutilized by people in leadership roles. Advising mutual respect and recognition of accomplishments, encouraging the heart shows us how true leaders encourage and motivate those they work with, by helping them find their voice and making them feel like heroes. (224 pages)
    

  • Tuesday and Wednesday, October 27-28, 2020, Facilitator, Libby Hume, MMC
    

    Additional section! Year of Yes: How to Dance it Out, Stand in the Sun and Be Your Own Person by Shonda Rhimes

    Read more about the October 27-28 dialogue

    With three children at home and three hit television shows, it was easy for Shonda to say she was simply too busy. But in truth, she was also afraid. And then, over Thanksgiving dinner, her sister muttered something that was both a wake up and a call to arms: You never say yes to anything. Shonda knew she had to embrace the challenge: for one year, she would say YES to everything that scared her. (352 pages)

  • Wednesday and Thursday, December 9-10, 2020: Facilitator Jane Long, Ed.D.

    The Leadership Challenge: How to Make Extraordinary Things Happen in Organizations by James M. Kouzes and Barry M. Posner

    Read more about the December 9-10 dialogue

    Business is evolving at an increasingly rapid rate, and leaders must keep pace with the changes or risk stagnation. People work differently, are motivated differently, and have different expectations today – business as usual is quickly losing its effectiveness. A good leader gets things done; a great leader aspires, inspires, and achieves more. (400 pages)

  • (Past) Friday and Saturday, July 17-18, 2020: Facilitator Jane Long, Ed.D.

    Creating Magic: 10 Common Sense Leadership Strategies from a Life at Disney by Lee Cockerell

    Read more about the July 17-18 dialogue

    The secret for creating “magic” in our careers, our organizations, and our lives is simple: outstanding leadership – the kind that inspires employees, delights customers, and achieves extraordinary business results. (288 pages) 

  • (Past) Friday and Saturday, July 24-25, 2020: Facilitator Jane Long, Ed.D.

    Dare to Lead: Brave Work. Tough Conversations. Whole Hearts. by Brené Brown

    Read more about the July 24-25 dialogue

    Leadership is not about titles, status, and wielding power. A leader is anyone who takes responsibility for recognizing the potential in people and ideas, and has the courage to develop that potential. When we dare to lead, we don’t pretend to have the right answers; we stay curious and ask the right questions. (320 pages)

  • (Past) Friday and Saturday, August 7-8, 2020: Facilitator Jane Long, Ed.D.

    Leading with Emotional Courage: How to Have Hard Conversations, Create Accountability and Inspire Actions on Your Most Important Work by Peter Bregman

    Read more about the August 7-8 dialogue

    What makes leadership hard isn't theoretical, it's practical. It's not about knowing what to say or do. It's about whether you're willing to experience the discomfort, risk, and uncertainty of saying or doing it. The most critical challenge of leadership is having emotional courage. (272 pages)

  • (Past) Tuesday and Wednesday, August 25-26, 2020: Facilitator Jane Long, Ed.D.

    Leaders Eat Last: Why Some Teams Pull Together and Others Don’t by Simon Sinek

    Read more about the August 25-26 dialogue

    Imagine a world where almost everyone wakes up inspired to go to work, feels trusted and valued during the day, then returns home feeling fulfilled. This is not a crazy, idealized notion. Today, in many successful organizations, great leaders create environments in which people naturally work together to do remarkable things. (368 pages)

  • (Past) Tuesday and Wednesday, September 15-16, 2020, Facilitator, Libby Hume, MMC (Alternate Dates Available)
    

    Year of Yes: How to Dance it Out, Stand in the Sun and Be Your Own Person by Shonda Rhimes

    Read more about the September 15-16 dialogue

    With three children at home and three hit television shows, it was easy for Shonda to say she was simply too busy. But in truth, she was also afraid. And then, over Thanksgiving dinner, her sister mutered something that was both a wake up and a call to arms: You never say yes to anything. Shonda knew she had to embrace the challenge: for one year, she would say YES to everything that scared her. (352 pages)

  • (Past) Friday and Saturday, September 25-26, 2020: Facilitator Jane Long, Ed.D.

    Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead by Sheryl Sandberg

    Read more about the September 25-26 dialogue

    Sheryl Sandberg has reignited the conversation about women in the workplace. In Lean In, Sheryl encourages women to sit at the table, seek challenges, take risks and pursue their goals with gusto. She describes specific steps women can take to combine professional achievement with personal fulfillment, and she demonstrates how men can benefit by supporting women both in the workplace and at home. (240 pages)

Registration

Registration is limited to 30 participants. The minimum enrollment is 10.

Facilitators

Jane Long, Ed.D.

Dr. Jane Long currently serves as the Manager of Learning, Staff Development and Talent at the American Dental Association, providing development opportunities to 400+ staff members. For more than 17 years, she worked with the International Institute of Municipal Clerks (IIMC) creating online learning opportunities and most recently served as the Director of Professional Development for five years.

Prior to her work with nonprofits, Dr. Long spent 18 years in higher education as both a faculty member and high-level administrator. She has presented over 100 interactive education sessions at national, state, and local conferences and taught online and on campus for several colleges and universities across the country. Dr. Long is an experienced Athenian Dialogue facilitator and finds much joy in interacting with clerks through the book discussions.

Libby Hume, MMC

Libby Hume is the Town Clerk of the Town of Cape Charles on the Eastern Shore of Virginia and has been in the position since 2008. Libby has over 20 years’ experience in administration, eleven with the Town of Cape Charles, and ten in the private sector. She joined IIMC and the VMCA in 2009 and obtained her CMC in November 2013 and her MMC in September 2016. She was inducted into the IIMC Athenian Leadership Society as a Fellow in May 2018 and is the first clerk in the Commonwealth of Virginia to receive this designation. She is currently the VMCA treasurer, is a member of the VMCA Executive Board and also serves on the IIMC Diversity-Inclusivity Task Force and IIMC Foundation Development Committee.

Cancellation and Refund Policies

You may cancel your registration up until the cancellation deadline listed on the registration page and receive a full refund minus a $35 credit card processing fee. After that date, no refunds will be given. Cancellations must be received via email at ocpe@vcu.edu.

In the unlikely event that this Dialogue is cancelled or postponed due to insufficient enrollments or unforeseen circumstances, the university will fully refund registration fees, but cannot be held responsible for any other expenses.

Custom Athenian Dialogues

Have your own group of 10 or more?

We're glad to offer a virtual Athenian Dialogue just for your group. Gather your group, decide on an IIMC approved book, and let us know a date range for the sessions. We can invoice the group, or open a special link where each clerk can pay individually to participate. To explore this option, please contact Jennifer Sisane, Institute Director - Virginia at jsisane@vcu.edu.