2010 Class Schedule

Monday, September 13, 2010 Class 1 – Reception, Orientation, Leadership.

• Faculty in Charge: Michael Turnipseed, Executive Director, Kern County Taxpayers Association
• Objectives:
  • Meet and Greet Reception.
  • Orientation: Opening Remarks; Self-Introductions; Introduction to the Academy;
  • What is effective leadership?

Wednesday, September 15, 2010, Class 2 - Ethics, Leadership, Critical Thinking.

• Faculty in Charge: Christopher Meyers, The Kegley Institute, CSUB
  
  Steven Gamboa, Assistant Professor of Philosophy, CSUB
• Objectives:  Relating Leadership with Ethics; Learning to Think Critically and with an Open Mind; Developing Moral Imagination
• Topics:  What is leadership? What is ethics and how does it differ from other decision-making? What's different about critical thinking (and reading and listening)? What are the processes that define good ethical choices? What role does character play in ethical leadership? Combining ethics fundamentals with critical thinking to develop moral imagination.

Monday, September 20, 2010, Class 3 – Introduction to local government:

• Faculty in Charge: John Guinn, City Manager, City of Shafter
• Objectives: Understanding governance at the local level (City/County): State impacts, budget challenges; public safety and economic development

Thursday, September 23, 2010, Class 4 – Introduction to Valley Issues: Regional governance and issues

• Faculty in Charge: Joe Drew, Vice President, Tejon Ranch Company
• Objective: To provide an objective overview of regional governance, issues and opportunities.

Monday, September 27, 2010, Class 5 – Introduction to state governance: Issues, challenges and opportunities

• Faculty in Charge: Gene Voiland, Chairman, Valley Republic Bank
• Objectives: To provide an objective overview of our state government, economy, issues and opportunities and the affects on Kern County.

Thursday, September 30, 2010, Class 6 - Important issues in Public Education

• Faculty in Charge: Joel Heinrichs, President, Lightspeed Systems
• Objectives: Issues that affect our local education system, from K-12 to life long learning.

Monday, October 4, 2010, Class 7 - Healthcare: the national issue with massive local implications.

• Faculty in Charge: Allen Miller, President, COPE Health Solutions
• Objectives: The impact of governmental policy decisions on people’s lives.

Thursday October 7, 2010, Class 8 - Kern County Economy, Intro to Communications

• Faculty in Charge: Richard Chapman, Kern Economic Development Corporation
  Larry Pickett, Owner, Larry Pickett Public Relations
• Objectives:
  • The Kern County Economy: Status, Challenges, Plans for the Future
  • Introduction to Communications: Curriculum outline and writing assignments.

Monday, October 11, 2010, Class 9 – Creating a public image, developing a brand and crafting a message

• Faculty in Charge: Marlene Heise, Owner, Heise Media Group
• Objectives:
  • Teach students the importance of basic image management:
    • Distinguishing themselves: creating a public image;
    • Developing and marketing a brand and crafting and marketing your message;
    • Looking and sounding your best: projecting your image and body language.

Thursday, October 14, 2010, Class 10 - Fundamentals of Communications I

• Faculty in Charge: Larry Pickett, Owner, Larry Pickett Public Relations
• Objectives:
  • To teach students the importance of basic image management. Distinguishing themselves, preparing for and responding to different media.
  • Prepare students for writing white papers and Op Eds; understanding the influence of the media.
  • Print, Radio, Television and New Media : How to be an effective communicator in a changing world, new medias.

Monday, October 18, 2010, Class 11 - Fundamentals of Communications II

• Faculty in Charge: Faculty in Charge: Larry Pickett, Owner, Larry Pickett Public Relations

Thursday, October 21, 2010, Class 12 - Electoral Process - Preparation

• Faculty in Charge: Gene Tackett, Owner, Gene Tackett Consulting Services
• Objectives:
  • Kern County is a diverse, complex place to live and lead.
  • Provide the A to Z of the electoral process: Everything you will need to know about the "technical" side of running for office.

Monday, October 25, 2010, Class 13- Electoral Process - The Campaign

• Faculty in Charge: Gene Tackett, Owner, Gene Tackett consulting Services
• Objectives: To provide a "real life" discussion what happens before, during and after the Campaign; Pledges and Promises and Polling—when you need it and why.

Thursday, October 28, 2010, Class 14 - You've Won! Now it is time to Govern.

• Faculty in Charge: Gene Tackett, Owner, Gene Tackett Consulting
• Objectives: Emphasize those skills and attributes needed to be an effective political leader

Monday, November 1, 2010, Class 15 - Government Finance 101 for Elected Officials.

• Faculty in Charge: Jeff Frapwell, County Administrative Office, General Services Division.
• Objectives:
  • The fundamentals of governmental accounting, budgeting and finance.
  • The questions elected officials need to ask.

Thursday, November 4, 2010, Class 16 - Civic Leadership I

• Faculty in Charge: Karen Goh, Executive Director, Garden Pathways
• Objectives: An examination of real world issues not discussed during the normal campaigns and public meetings.

Monday, November 8, 2010, Class 17, Civic Leadership II

• Faculty in Charge: Karen Goh, Executive Director, Garden Pathways

Wednesday, November 10, 2010, Class 18 Final Thoughts

• Faculty in Charge: Christopher Meyers, The Kegley Institute, CSUB
  Dr. Steven Gamboa, Assistant Professor of Philosophy, CSUB
  Michael Turnipseed, Kern County Taxpayers Association
• Objectives:
  • Bringing it all together; seeing how ethics and character underlie the entire process.
  • Reviewing the Academy and making suggestions for 2011.

Wednesday, November 17, 2010 – Graduation