Athenian Dialogues

« 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 IIMC education points, participants must successfully complete a written assessment approximately two weeks after the conclusion of the session and submit it to the dialogue facilitator for review and approval. The exact due date will be noted in the assessment description. 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

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

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 and 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.

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.

Dates and Book Selections

• • Thursday and Friday, August 18-19, 2022: Facilitator Jane Long, Ed.D.

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

    Read more about the August 18-19 dialogue

    “It’s not the magic that makes it work; it’s the way we work that makes it magic.”
    
    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.
    
    No one knows more about this kind of leadership than Lee Cockerell, the man who ran Walt Disney World® Resort operations for over a decade. And in "Creating Magic," he shares the leadership principles that not only guided his own journey from a poor farm boy in Oklahoma to the head of operations for a multibillion dollar enterprise, but that also soon came to form the cultural bedrock of the world’s number one vacation destination. But as Lee demonstrates, great leadership isn’t about mastering impossibly complex management theories. We can all become outstanding leaders by following the ten practical, common sense strategies outlined in this remarkable book.
    
    Combining surprising business wisdom with insightful and entertaining stories from Lee’s four decades on the front lines of some of the world’s best-run companies, "Creating Magic" shows all of us – from small business owners to managers at every level – how to become better leaders by infusing quality, character, courage, enthusiasm, and integrity into our workplace and into our lives. (288 pages)

  Rotating 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.

  Janice M. Bates, MMC

  Janice is an experienced municipal clerk, Athenian Dialogue facilitator, and speaker. She has served as Clerk of Council for Tipp City, Ohio since 2011. She is active in both the Ohio Municipal Clerks Association (OMCA) and the International Institute of Municipal Clerks (IIMC). Within the OMCA, she has served in the roles of president, vice president, immediate past president and city board member. While on the OMCA Board, her priority was increasing membership and educational opportunities. In 2019, she was sworn in as the IIMC Region V Director. She is presently an IIMC vice president candidate.

  Janice holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in art and art history with a concentration in photography from Wright State University. In addition, she is an Athenian Leadership Society Fellow with Certified Municipal Clerk (CMC) and Master Municipal Clerk (MMC) credentials from the IIMC.

  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. (Processing fees are being waived through 6/30/2023.)
  
  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 an IIMC pre-approved 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. Need a book idea? View Previous Athenian Dialogues.