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Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Atlantic County Leadership Forum Offers Citizen Training to Effectively Deal with Governing Bodies
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Atlantic County will follow up the success of last year's inaugural Leadership Forum to raise citizen awareness with the presentation of Beyond the Ballot Box II: Paths to Power as a Citizen Legislator on Tuesday, May 6, 5-7:30 PM at The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey, Alton Auditorium. The event is free and open to the public. Elementary, middle and high school teachers are encouraged to participate and obtain two Professional Development credit hours. Students are also invited to participate with an opportunity to earn community service hours.
The forum will feature a workshop training session, 5-6:30 PM, presented by the Citizens’ Campaign, a volunteer movement dedicated to advancing citizen leadership and government accountability. Following that presentation, attendees will have a chance to apply what they've learned during a regular meeting of the Atlantic County Board of Freeholders.
According to County Executive Dennis Levinson, participants will learn how to participate in government, whether by serving on public boards or commissions, accessing public information records, presenting community concerns or proposing ordinances to shape public policy.
"The ultimate goal is to educate our citizenry so that they can deal more effectively with their governing bodies at the municipal and county levels. An educated public is our best resource to ensure government integrity," stated Levinson.
The freeholder meeting will also include a short presentation by representatives from the county's Office of Mosquito Control who will outline plans to control mosquito populations and combat mosquito-borne illness, such as West Nile Virus, through mosquito surveillance, elimination of breeding grounds and open marsh water management.
Those who would like to attend the forum may register online at www.aclink.org/reservations or call 343-2162 for more information.
The forum is a cooperative effort of Atlantic County government, the Center for Civic Responsibility's Citizens’ Campaign, and the William J. Hughes Center for Public Policy at Stockton College. The Atlantic County Advisory Commission on Women is also supporting this effort by providing volunteers and door prizes.
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