Selected To Serve 2007

August 23-24, 2007

Duncan Gray Conference Center
Madison County

Phil Hardwick
Coordinator of Capacity Development Programs
Voice: (601) 354-6011
Phil's Web page

The Program

Selected to Serve is a two-part program. The first part is a goal-setting retreat and the second is goal achievement. During the retreat, participants work toward developing three specific, measurable, achievable and worthy goals that they want to accomplish in their communities. For elected leaders, the time frame for accomplishing the goals will begin at the conclusion of the retreat and the end of their current term. For other leaders, the time frame will be based on a date certain. During the second part of the program, participants will also serve as mentors to three other participants.

Each retreat begins at noon and concludes with a luncheon the following day. Generally, retreats begin at noon on a Thursday.

Who Should Attend?

The program is designed primarily for individuals holding leadership positions in state and local government. In order to maximize the personal benefits and experience, each session’s members are selected to reflect geographical, racial, gender and community diversity. Each session will be limited to 12 participants, each of whom holds the same position in their communities. For example, one session will be limited only to mayors, another limited to presidents of boards of supervisors, etc.
Groups, such as city councils, boards of supervisors, state agency management teams and similar organizations should contact the Stennis Institute for a customized Selected to Serve retreat and implementation process.

Admission

Admission to Selected to Serve is on a competitive basis. Admission will be based on the applicants’ current responsibilities, past achievements, and potential for future contribution to the community. Consideration is also given to forming sessions in which there is diversity among the participants.

To apply, candidates must submit a completed admission application.

Tuition

Tuition for the program is $350. This fee includes lodging, course materials, course instruction and technical assistance after completing the retreat portion of the program. Transportation to and from the retreat site are the responsibility of each participant.

Applicants who are unable to pay the tuition should know that financial support for this program is often available from corporate sponsors and other funding sources. Applicants should not hesitate to apply due to lack of ready tuition. Please contact our office for more information.

The Curriculum

The curriculum is centered around the experiential method of learning, in which participants share in an experience and then reflect on, critically analyze and discuss the experience. Selected to Serve makes extensive use of movie scenes shown on video, group discussions and personal reflections. The purpose is to prepare the participant for the goal-setting process.

Day 1

Arrival, Registration & Check-in
Lunch
Welcome and Overview
Introductions Exercise
Traits of a good mayor
Joel Barker video
Discussion – What are your town’s paradigms?
Check-in/Silent time/work on autobiography graphs
Presentation of autobiography graphs
What is Leadership?
Dinner
Leadership Styles – “Twelve O’clock High”
Understanding Others – “Twelve Angry Men”
Dealing with the race issue – “Remember the Titans”
Convincing the Public or “Can I tell the truth and still be re-elected? - “Bullworth”
Reflections and wrap-up of the day

Day 2

Breakfast
Visioning & Setting Priorities – Fallout Shelter Exercise
Strategic Planning & Goal-setting – “Patton”
Goal-setting exercise – individual
Goal-setting – groups of three
Inspiring Others – “I Have A Dream”
Closing Luncheon