2024 Fall Training Event

GMA will hold the two-day Fall Training Event at the Sea Palms Resort in St. Simons Island on September 26-27, 2024. The event will feature three six-hour classes on Thursday and three six-hour classes on Friday. Each class is scheduled to begin at 8:30 a.m. and conclude at 3:30 p.m.

The Thursday classes are:

  • Making Citizen Engagement Work in Our Communities*
  • Managing Growth: Economic and Natural Resource Issues
  • How Shall We Live? Practical Ethics for Public Life*+

The Friday classes are:  

  • Effective Branding and Marketing Strategies for Municipal Governments
  • Municipal Finance I*
  • Steering Through the Storm: Guiding Your Community Through A Disaster*

*This class is on the required list.  +This class is an advanced leadership class.

The fee for each 6-hour class is $305. If you are unable to pay by credit card, please contact Aileen Harris at 678-686-6293.

Cancellation Policy:  Cancellations after August 29 incur a $50.00 per class cancellation fee.  Cancellations after September 12 will not be refunded.

Lodging:  GMA has reserved a room block at the Sea Palms Resort for $189-$209 (depending on room type) per night plus taxes (7 percent) and fees, including a $15 per night resort fee. To receive the block rate, reservations must be made by August 24. To book at the Sea Palms Resort, please use the following link: https://reservations.travelclick.com/112168?groupID=4270070 or call 800-841-6268. 

Please be mindful of the Harold F. Holtz Municipal Training Institute attendance policy: To receive training credit, a participant must attend the entire class. For six-hour classes, anyone arriving more than 30 minutes after the class begins, leaving class repeatedly, or leaving the class early will not receive credit. Class completion forms must be signed by the participant and the instructor and provided to the instructor at the end of the class. Class instructors will not sign class completion forms in the event the attendance criteria cited herein are not met by the participant.

We strive to host inclusive, accessible events that enable all individuals, including individuals with disabilities, to engage fully. To request an accommodation or for inquiries about accessibility, please contact Aileen Harris.
When
9/26/2024 8:30 AM - 9/27/2024 3:30 PM
Eastern Daylight Time
Where
Sea Palms 515 North Windward Drive Saint Simons Island 31522
Registration
Sign in or create an account to register
Last day to register is 9/24/2024
Event Contact
Ms. Aileen L. Harris - Phone: (678) 686-6293

Program

Thursday, 26 September 2024

Description
How Shall We Live? Practical Ethics for Public Life
Ethics is often seen as something that is lacking in public officials, and therefore must be imposed on them through laws and training. Ethics training may promote awareness and compliance, but it does not promote ethical excellence. In this class, participants explore the advantages and limitations of codified ethics; how values, morality, virtue, character and obligations play out in everyday decision-making; why ethical dilemmas arise and how we resolve them; virtues and temptations of leadership; and how public service constitutes a moral and ethical enterprise for public leaders. This class is on the required list. This class is in the advanced leadership track.
Category
Train
Time
8:30 AM - 3:30 PM
8:30 AM
Making Citizen Engagement Work in Our Communities
This class explores the importance of getting citizens engaged in the process of governance. The class exposes officials to the concept of deliberative forums, a method of citizen engagement that brings diverse community interests together to explore policy options and share insights, ideas and suggestions in a structured setting. Participants receive tips, tools and other resources for recruiting residents, creating productive conversations and encouraging residents to be involved in local problem-solving. This class is on the required list.
Category
Train
Time
8:30 AM - 3:30 PM
8:30 AM
Managing Growth: Economic and Natural Resource Issues
This class shows city leaders how they can exert meaningful control over how their community grows. Topics include economic and ecological considerations, protecting water quality, regulatory initiatives and regionalization. Promoting infill development and redevelopment, preserving land and capturing private investment are also covered.
Category
Train
Time
8:30 AM - 3:30 PM
8:30 AM

Friday, 27 September 2024

Description
Effective Branding and Marketing Strategies for Municipal
Effective Branding and Marketing Strategies for Municipal Governments Branding and marketing are critical components of economic and community development that set healthy, thriving cities apart in the minds of residents and visitors. Discover how to effectively differentiate your community, gain a better understanding of how to build synergy and excitement, and tell your compelling story by applying best practices of branding and marketing. Key components include: marketing your assets, building a distinctive brand message and identity, utilizing strategic marketing approaches, and using effective tools and techniques for impactful results and return on investment (ROI). This class will explore how cities can develop their brand message/identity and develop implementable strategies to effectively market their community and assets.
Category
Train
Time
8:30 AM - 3:30 PM
8:30 AM
Municipal Finance I
This class is intended to serve as a basic primer on municipal finance issues that all mayors, councilmembers and managers should understand. A discussion of the budget process, the revenue sources available to cities, purchasing policies and financing capital improvements is included in this general overview. This class is on the required list.
Time
8:30 AM - 3:30 PM
8:30 AM
Steering Through the Storm: Guiding Your Community Through
During times of natural or human-made disasters and pandemics, cities are often faced with the challenge of steering through the “storm,” continuing city business operations, and communicating effectively, to meet the basic needs of their community as well as managing the needs and demands of the on-going recovery operation. While the initial focus following a major disaster is to respond to the life safety aspects of the emergency, multiple tasks will quickly emerge to face the local leadership team. Is your city prepared for the organizational resiliency necessary to sustain regular services as well as emergency operations during the four distinct phases of a disaster? What is the role of elected leaders in these scenarios? This class will define the various types of disasters, review the four phases of a disaster, and the planning and preparedness required for community resilience in responding to disasters, exploring methods for prioritizing crucial essential services, and recognizing the multiple impacts on the local economy, city services and city staff. This class includes some content from the previous class “Emergency Management.” Those who previously took Emergency Management can take this class and receive credit towards a training certificate.  This class is on the required list.
Time
8:30 AM - 3:30 PM
8:30 AM