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Students spend a day on each of the following topics: Foundations
of Leadership September
The retreat takes place in the hills above Alamo, sheltered from the hustle and bustle of town. It is an opportunity for class members to get to know one another on a more personal level, beyond the traditional boundaries of communication. Team building exercises focus on fundamental team development skills, empowerment, and the creation of synergy and trust among the class participants. This session presents an overview of local government and its relationship to other governmental bodies. Students receive first hand experience in civic leadership by campaigning and running for public office. Opportunities are provided throughout the day to interact with current and former public office holders as well as public service administrators. It is a goal of Leadership to familiarize the class with methods of effecting change through the governmental process. The goal of this session is to explore some of the serious domestic issues facing families, children and the elderly in the San Ramon Valley. Through the fieldwork and class discussions, the program participants will discover what human resources are available to address these issues, as well as identify how to access these resources. It is also a day in which volunteer opportunities with non-profit human services providers are discussed. January
Leaders gain an appreciation for the diversity of issues facing today's educators and the educational system, and gain insight into how these issues impact our local education community (San Ramon Valley Unified School District). Members also have opportunities to observe student learning and school climate through classroom observations and shadowing a local school principal. The next two sessions (Community Economics and Community Development) are presented as a two-part series. Starting with Community Economics, and over the course of the next two sessions, the class participants will gain a basic level of understanding of the building blocks of a community, and the connection between governmental decision-making, land use, and the influence of community economics. They will learn how community services are financed and understand the trade-offs that become necessary given limited resources.
An essential characteristic of the well-rounded leader is an appreciation for the place of arts and culture in today's society. In the past, this day has been spent at Tao House, where the class discovers their expressive souls and the cultural opportunities around them, while all the time watching over their shoulders for the ghosts of Eugene and Carlotta O'Neill. The objectives of the day include: revising (or uncovering for the first time) the participants' creative spirits and understanding how they can enrich their lives and contribute to innovative leadership; recognizing how arts and culture play a critical role in a balanced and enriched community; and discovering the cultural opportunities in the San Ramon Valley This wrap-up class is devoted to a debriefing and critique of the program, a valuable exercise for the future of Leadership San Ramon Valley. With the board of directors, the class will see their Leadership year as a cohesive unit, and will realize how what they have learned and experienced throughout the year can be maximized in their community. There will also be ample opportunity for the class to discuss plans for a class project. The latter part of the afternoon will be spent preparing for the class graduation. In the past several years, the following community leaders have been among the speakers and presenters at LSRV class sessions: Laura
Anthony - General Assignment Reporter, ABC 7 |
At
each class, engaging speakers, panelists, and involved community
members or officials, share their unique experiences and expertise.
Class members interact with the facilitators through fieldwork
assignments and projects. In the past several years, a number
of 
Community
leadership is built on our past, finds unity in our present and
gives us hope for our future. The class begins with a historical
perspective of the San Ramon Valley and a review of the unified
vision that was created by previous community leaders. Then the
real work begins with a compelling look at, and an exploration
of, the fundamental principles of leadership through group discussions
and interactions. Intermixed throughout the day are opportunities
for developing relationships with classmates and building the
foundations for a strong sense of team and group identity.
During
this session, participants acquire an understanding of what constitutes
"news" and how news decisions are made; gain insight
into the workings of "The Press"; and practice interview
skills that can be critical when working with the media. A tour
of a newspaper facility, including the busy newsroom, is usually
included as part of this session.
In
the second half of the two-part series, Community Development,
the class members will further their understanding of the basic
building blocks of a community as they relate specifically to
four areas: land use, transportation, housing, and public finance.
Introduced will be basic land use issues, competing community
interests, and the intricacies of the land-use decision-making
process. Throughout the day, the class will have opportunities
to interact with key policy makers, community advocates and government
officials. The series will culminate in an exercise in which competing
groups will attempt to build a "perfect city" based
on the knowledge gained over the course of the two sessions.