Looking for Some Training?

Since I have been dubbed the director of training here at the ULCT, I feel obliged to share some thoughts on the topic. But before I do, have a look at just three of the thousands of photos that appeared when I Googled (do we capitalize it when it's a verb?) the word "training." Wacky.

The league has a number of missions, and near the top is providing training on a variety of topics that will be helpful for local elected officials and staff. We think that our training will, at the very least, help these folks create wonderful communities, and at the the very most, help them stay out of jail. Yep, that's how valuable our training is.

Over the years we've traditionally hosted a few larger conferences (Mid Year and Road School in April, and Annual in September), a small one (Water in October) and the bi-annual Newly Elected Officials' training shortly after the municipal elections. And we see no reason to stop any of these. They pretty much rock.

In the past we've also spent time in cities and towns across the state providing specialized training on issues such as land use, open meetings, planning commission protocol, etc. These have been particularly helpful to smaller communities that have little (not to be confused with "short") or no staff. These trainings pretty much rock and roll. And they will continue--just in a different format. To reach more folks we'll be hosting these trainings on a regional basis around the state. We'll hit the north, the south, the southwest and the east. And maybe other spots.

We're also trying a new thing we may call (once we can get the dates to line up on the proper day and week) "Last Thursday Forum." And it will be held the --you guessed it--last Thursday of each month and will address different topics each time. Here's the schedule we've got worked up so far and there's more to come.

We'll be putting more trainings on DVD so local officials can learn in the comfort of their own home or council chambers. Think Leagueflix.

I'm open to other ideas as well. Anyone? Anyone?