Application for the Leadership Saratoga
Class of 2015-16 is open, with a deadline for
completed applications and four brief interviews
set at 5 p.m. Friday, May 29.
It will be the 30th class of the program.
The program is designed to orient and
train people 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.
A maximum of 24 people will be selected
by members of the Leadership Saratoga Advisory
Board to participate in the 2015-16 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.
Organizers say Leadership Saratoga graduates
have been making a positive impact
on organizations, schools and communities
throughout Saratoga County since the program’s
inception in 1985.
The courses, which begin with a retreat
on Sept. 13 – 14, will cover topics such as
working with various leadership styles, keys
to effective board governance, strategic communications
and strategic planning, fund
raising 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 fourteen half-day sessions,
with experiential learning, panel discussions,
role-playing and candid dialogues with
many of the county’s newsmakers,” said to
Kathleen Fyfe, vice president of community
development for the Saratoga County Chamber
of Commerce and program director of
Leadership Saratoga.
The Chamber sponsors Leadership
Saratoga, but participants do not need to be
a member of the Chamber.
Currently, graduates serve on the boards of
directors of over 60 non-profit 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.
Fourteen have been hired in government related
appointed positions. There are more
than 500 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 “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.”
Leadership Saratoga is seeking candidates
who are concerned about the future of the
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 $1,250.
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 Saratoga County
Chamber of Commerce at 584-3255.