"Heading into Leadership Springfield I didn’t quite know what to expect. But the last nine months have been among the best of my career. I am sure previous classes have been good, but I can’t believe any class has been more diverse, creative and representative of the talent and leadership that Springfield has in its workforce. I feel the contacts I have made will benefit my employer, my community and me."

-Randy Stewart, supervisor of financial information systems, Associated Electric Cooperative Inc., Class XIX

Program days

Leadership Springfield includes seven program days to help familiarize current class members with the community’s opportunities, needs, problems and resources. Current class members are divided into small groups to plan the program days, which begin shortly after the fall retreat. Alumni advisors help class members plan the days, which should meet the following objectives. Fellow class members then evaluate each program day.

Civic Awareness Program Day

Learning objectives:

The objectives of the Civic Awareness Program Day are to:

Give participants insight into local government issues;
Help them understand how our city and county governments function;
Identify problems and challenges and explore how they are solved and the solutions implemented; and
Explore the opportunities for community leaders to improve or help the local governments.

The success of planning the program day depends on BALANCE between the core objectives, current affairs and other areas of potential interest. To create a successful day, planners should balance activities between lecture/discussion and learning by doing and seeing.

At the end of the program day, participants should have an understanding of, and be able to answer questions related to, the core objectives and to some of the questions within the other areas of interest. How the information is presented and the individuals involved in the presentations are up to the creativity of the planning team. Participants should also have an understanding of community service opportunities related to the areas covered under Civic Awareness.

Core objectives

Core objectives include answering the following questions for class members:

How do city and county governments function?
How do they differ in structure and management?
How do they derive their power?
How are they financed?
In what ways do city and county governments cooperate? Where are they in conflict? In what areas are they working for additional cooperation?
How are issues developed and brought forward to city and county government?
What roles do others outside of city and county government (e.g. political action committees, businesses, individuals, not-for-profits, state and federal government) have in the process and on the decisions of the local government?

Other areas of interest include:

Charter form of government
Local political organizations
Elections process
City Utilities
Taxes

Current issues
Are there items of current interest that have not been addressed in the learning objectives, core objectives or other areas of interest? Identify any current issues and include them in the program day planning.

Community service

Part of leadership development is giving back to your community and getting involved. What community service opportunities exist for service related to this program day? Explore these at appropriate points during the day.

Criminal Justice and Public Safety Program Day

Learning objectives include:

Understanding the levels of our criminal justice systems that exist in Springfield, their jurisdictions, how they work, and their challenges;
Understanding the various levels of public safety that exist in the Springfield area, how they interact with each other and the justice system.

The success of planning the program day depends on BALANCE. Incorporate balance between the areas of core objectives, current affairs and other areas of potential interest. Balance activities between lecture/discussion and learning by doing and seeing.

At the end of the program day, the participants should have an understanding of, and be able to answer the questions related to, the core objectives and to some of the questions within the other areas of interest. How the information is presented and the individuals involved in the presentations are up to the creativity of the planning team. Participants should also have an understanding of community service opportunities related to the areas covered under Criminal Justice and Public Safety.

Core objectives

Criminal justice:

What are the similarities and differences between the levels of justice systems that exist in the Springfield area? What are the similarities and differences in their jurisdictions? What are the legal processes? Under what circumstances do cases progress through and between levels? What challenges exist at each level? What is required, or being done to address these challenges?

Public safety:

What are the public safety agencies and/or systems that are present in the Springfield area? What is the relationship between each agency and how/where do they work together? What is the investigation and prosecution process? What are the major challenges for each agency? What is, or needs to be done to address these challenges?

Other areas of interest include:

Criminal, civil and bankruptcy cases
Justice facilities, including the federal courthouse
Grand jury function
Court of Appeals
Law enforcement facilities, including Greene County Jail and Federal Medical Center
Other agencies, including the FBI, DEA, Secret Service
Gangs
Methamphetamine
Juvenile issues

Current issues

Consider items of current interest that have not been addressed in the learning objectives, core objectives or other areas of interest? Identify any current issues and include them in the program day planning.

Community service

Communications and Technology Program Day

Learning objectives include:

Understand whom the media are and how they do their job;
Allow the future leader to develop techniques and strategies for dealing with the media; and
Understand the role that technology plays in our lives currently and in the future.

The success of planning the Program Day depends on BALANCE. Incorporate balance between the areas of core objectives, current affairs and other areas of potential interest. Balance activities between lecture/discussion and learning by doing and seeing.

Core objectives

Media relations:

Who are the “media” and how do they work? How can you use the media for your advantage in your company and in your volunteer efforts? How can you effectively deal with the media in a crisis situation?

Internet and e-business:

What is the impact of the Internet on how business is done currently and in the future? How is e-business developing in our community?

Technology:

What is the vision for the use of technology in Springfield?

Other areas of interest might include:

Long distance learning
Internet services
Recruiting electronically
Internet banking
Crisis management
Editorial board
Wireless vs. fiber optics
News coverage
Telecommunications
Media interviews
Newspaper and print media
Intranet
Electronic media
"What makes news"
Online services
Teleconferencing/video conferencing

Current issues

Consider items of current interest that have not been addressed in the objectives above. Identify any current issues and include them in the program day planning.

Community service

Springfield: Our Community

Learning objectives include:

Understand the unique history and heritage of Springfield and how the influences of its early development are evident today;
Identify current business and economic development activities in the community;
Explore the future of Springfield, including the identification of our strengths and weaknesses;
Explore Springfield’s involvement, contribution and impact in the global economy.

The success of the program day depends on BALANCE between the objectives, current affairs and other areas of potential interest as well as between lecture/discussion and learning by doing and seeing.

At the end of the program day, the participants should have an understanding of, and be able to answer the questions related to the core objectives and to some of the questions within the other areas of interest. How the information is presented and the individuals involved in the presentations are up to the creativity of the planning team. Participants should also have an understanding of community service opportunities related to the areas covered under Springfield: Our Community.

Core objectives:

What are the drivers of our economic climate in Springfield? What planning and zoning issues are relevant in the growth and development of the community? What are the priorities in the economic development activities? What is the difference between macro and micro development? What impact do social issues have on the development of the community? What is the significance of workforce development?

Other areas of interest may include:

Planning and zoning regulations
North/South issues
Geographic development
Education issues
Diversity
Travel and tourism
Downtown development
History museum
Regional economic development
Transportation issues
Job training

Current issues

Consider items of current interest that have not been addressed in the objectives above. Identify any current issues and include them in the program day planning.

Community service

Health and Medical Services Program Day

Learning objectives include:

Understand the economic impact of the medical services industry is in the community;
Learn how managed care has impacted the health care segment of our economy, how the segment has changed and whether this has helped to contain health care costs;
Recognize how private health care providers work with public health providers; and
Expose participants to the current trends of individual wellness and physical fitness.

The success of the program day depends on BALANCE. Incorporate balance between the objectives, current affairs and other areas of potential interest as well as between lecture/discussion and learning by doing and seeing.

At the end of the program day, the participants should have an understanding of and be able to answer questions related to the core objectives and to some of the questions within the other areas of interest. How the information is presented and the individuals involved in the presentations are up to the creativity of the planning team. Participants should also have an understanding of community service opportunities related to the areas covered under Health and Medical Services Program Day.

Core objectives are:

Health care:

Describe both private and public health care providers and agencies and elaborate on how they work together. What are the similarities and differences between the public and private health care providers? What private health care providers exist that are not affiliated with either of the two major health care systems? What are the future directions in health care and what challenges exist? What are the trends of individual physical fitness and wellness and how are the community health providers addressing the issue?

Medical services:

What is the economic impact to the community of the medical services industry? What behavioral health services are available in the community? Who are the major health insurers in the community and do hospitals offer national or local plans? What about Medicare and Medicaid? How do urgent care facilities differ from emergency rooms and how do they differ in insurance coverage and cost containment?

Other areas of interest might include:

Alternative medicine
Environmental issues affecting health care
Air quality
Water quality
Nursing and Elder Care
Greene County Health Department
Nutrition issues
AIDS

Current Issues

Consider items of current interest that have not been addressed above. Identify any current issues and include them in the program day planning.

Community service

Education and Life-Long Learning Program Day

Learning objectives include:

Understand the extent and impact of the educational system in Springfield, including the public and private schools as well as higher education;
Discuss challenges that face employers in the future who are depending on these school systems to provide trained workers.

The success of the program day depends on BALANCE. Incorporate balance between the objectives, current affairs and other areas of potential interest. Balance activities between lecture/discussion and learning by doing and seeing.

At the end of the program day, the participants should have an understanding of and be able to answer the questions related to the core objectives and to some of the questions within the other areas of interest. How the information is presented and the individuals involved in the presentations are up to the creativity of the planning team. Participants should also have an understanding of community service opportunities related to the areas covered under Education Program Day.

Core objectives

Education:

Who are the educational providers in the Springfield area? How are they similar, different? How are the various educational providers financed? How do they work together to meet the needs of the community and its businesses? What is the strategic plan for each of these education entities and what is the process for communicating their plan? Is their plan aligned with the city and county plans?

Other areas of interest might include:

Private vs. public education
Home schooling
Alternative education, including the Bailey School, Phelps School for the Gifted, Inernational Baccalaureate
School vouchers
Parochial schools
A+ Programs
Extracurricular activities
Early childhood programs
Business education partnerships
Alternative funding (supplemental), including the SPS Foundation and grants

Current issues

Are there items of current interest that have not been addressed in the objectives and areas of interest above? Identify any current issues and include them in the program day planning.

Community service

Arts and Quality of Life Program Day

Learning objectives include:

Explore the elements of Springfield that contribute to the high quality of life for our citizens.
Consider what elements of our society contribute to a clean, safe friendly community that bring people to Springfield and keep them here?

The success of the program day depends on BALANCE. Incorporate balance between the core objectives, current affairs and other areas of potential interest. Balance activities between lecture/discussion and learning by doing and seeing.

Core objectives

The arts:

What cultural opportunities exist in Springfield for patrons of art? What is the history of the arts in Springfield? What organizations exist that promote the arts?

The environment:

What environmental issues face Springfield today? How does Springfield’s environment affect others?

Parks/Recreation:

What parks and recreational opportunities exist in Springfield? What organizations are responsible for these facilities? What is the economic impact of the parks and recreation opportunities?

Other areas of interest might include:

Other entertainment opportunities
Population and demographics
Air quality
Water quality
Transportation
Diversity
Museums, including the Frisco, Discovery Center and History Museum
Land use and urban sprawl
Cost of living
Unemployment

Current issues

Consider items of current interest that have not been addressed in the objectives above. Identify any current issues and include them in the program day planning.

Community service