Opening Retreat

The 1999 LGS program began with a retreat at the Syracuse University Conference Center at Minnowbrook, in the heart of the Adirondack Park near Blue Mountain Lake. Low temperatures, wind and snow somehow enhanced the beauty of this remote setting. Though we were never truly isolated from our everyday activities (the phones still worked), the physical separation created an environment where we could focus our attention on the program.

Goals:

To understand the purposes and goals of Leadership Greater Syracuse.

To develop a common understanding of what it means to be a community leader/trustee.

To learn some interesting facts about the history of Central New York.

To begin to develop an understanding of the economic, and social and other challenges facing Central New York and some of the resources available to meet those challenges.

To feel cohesive as a group.

To have a better awareness and understanding of one’s own individual leadership style and personal goals for the program.

To begin the development of individual personal plans for future leadership.

To reaffirm that the commitment to serve the community extends beyond the leadership program’s one year course of study.

To begin the process of selecting a session topic with design teammates in preparation for presentation later in the year.

Overview:

Key experiences at the Minnowbrook retreat included a quiz game (on the bus) stretching our knowledge of the history of the Greater Syracuse area, the Myers-Briggs type indicator analysis which revealed fascinating insights into our personalities, and a game which simulated the dynamics of the political process and the interactions between community organizations, the media, and elected officials. We began to delve into the nature of leadership, and to examine our own leadership styles and approaches.

Selection and design of four of the class program days for the upcoming year were assigned to teams of class members, augmenting the standard LGS program days. The four topics chosen were: Building Community Day, Selling Syracuse Day, Media Day, and Globalism Day.

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Economic Development Day

Goals:

To understand our area’s economic strengths and weaknesses and prospects for the future.

To learn what economic development is and isn’t, what it is related to, and how it is both affected and effected.

To learn about the organizations and meet the people who work to advance economic development in Central New York.

To learn how to use the systems that support business and employment growth in our community.

Overview:

Beginning with a definition of economic development, we were soon part of a stimulating day marked by the energy, optimism, and enthusiasm of guest speakers and panelists regarding the future of Syracuse, Central New York, and the region. Interspersed with thoughtful questions and comments by class members, activities of the day included a presentation on the current state of our economy, a discussion about the impact of transportation, government, and local industry sectors on economic development and an informative guided bus tour of Hancock Airport. "Working the System," role-playing segment of the day, provided us with approaches, resources, and insights regarding the start-up of various types of businesses.

At the conclusion of the day, many class members were more aware of the efforts that are being made in the business community to stimulate economic growth locally and throughout the region, and of the many dedicated individuals and groups involved in the process.

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Government Day

Goals:

To experience the pressures and rewards of our political system.

To share viewpoints concerning ethics in government, including the ethical dilemmas that sometimes face public officials and citizen leaders.

To better understand how local government is structured and financed, and to explore the options for funding local government in the 21st century.

To meet public servants that hold key positions in local government.

Overview:

Government Day opened a lot of eyes to the challenge of governing and of conflicting goals and responsibilities, and the dilemmas that these conflicts pose for elected officials and citizen leaders. From the simulation game at the outset, which showed class members first-hand the difficult process of moving priorities forward in the political process to the closing session on funding with representatives from the Syracuse City Council and the Onondaga Legislature, each session brought forth new insights for class members and sparked lively discussion of issues, frustrations, and insights into the process of setting civic priorities.

Some of the most valuable insight came in learning how political leaders dealt with competing goods and how they chose either among two favorable outcomes or two unfavorable outcomes, when there is no clearly better option for the greater food of the community. Some came away with the desire to pursue public office, while others were inspired to offer behind-the-scenes support, but all came away from the day with a greater appreciation for the difficult job that our elected officials face.

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"Ism's" Day

Goals:

To have a deeper understanding of each other.

To become more sensitive to the consequences of bigotry and discriminatory acts.

To be respectful of those who are different from me.

To gain a sense of what to do when I am confronted with bigotry and discrimination toward myself or others.

To feel that this day has shown me new insights into how to relate to others.

Overview:

We entered this day with the knowledge that this is the day in each class’s year that is least predictable in terms of outcomes, content and class interaction. While we all felt that we knew each other pretty well after nearly a year’s studies and activities, "Isms" day showed us a great deal more about each other, and in the process, about ourselves. Activities in focused on helping each of us understand where we came from in terms of family background, economic status, small-town/big-town/farm heritage, and our ethnicity, sexual orientation, and gender and the impact those factors have on our life experiences and perceptions of the world around us. We shared painful experiences and opened our eyes to the world as others see it.

We hope that it will empower us and enable us to be more sensitive and effective leaders in making Syracuse and Central New York better for all.

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Education Day

Goals:

To understand the forces at work affecting the education of children in our community, now and in the future.

To become aware of the responsibilities and opportunities facing community leaders, parents, educators, school boards, and taxpayers.

To feel hopeful for the future and to be inspired to action with the right tools, knowledge and contacts needed to help our schools achieve this community’s obligations to its future citizens.

Overview:

On Education Day, we all had the privilege of touring area public and private elementary, middle and senior high schools where we had a first-hand glimpse of part of a day’s activities and an opportunity to talk with administrators.

Following our school visits, the class met at Frazer Elementary School and received a warm welcome from Wayne O’Connor, Principal. A debriefing period gave class members time to comment on their experiences, which proved enlightening for all. After lunch in the school cafeteria with Frazer students, a variety of topics were addressed by guest panelists. These included the relationship between school funding and educational outcomes, the challenges that new New York State standards will put in front of students, teachers, and school districts, and the role that the school plays in developing our work force.

The day concluded with a look into the future. Our eyes were opened to the complexities involved in public education today, the challenges imposed by limitations in funding, the commitment and dedication of the teachers and administrators of the schools we visited, and the opportunities that they provide for youth in our community.

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Human Needs Day

Goals:

Develop an understanding of the human services community and the current issues facing our community.

Gain exposure to "walking in someone else’s moccasins."

Understand that human services are for everyone, not just "the poor" or "the needy."

Understand the changes underway, both in philosophy and policy, and how these changes are affecting human services.

Be inspired to find a place in support of human services in Greater Syracuse, as a donor, a board member, a fundraiser, volunteer and/or advocate.

Overview:

Human Needs Day opened our eyes to the vast infrastructure of human service organizations in Onondaga County and the wide range of constituencies that they serve.

Prior to this day, each LGS class member made a site visit to a different human service organization; we shared our discoveries and impressions during the morning session, noting the dedication of staff, stretched resources, funding issues, and the various populations served. A facilitated discussion with three regional human service leaders delved into issues of agency consolidation, outcome, measurement, and public/private funding.

We spent part of the afternoon in a wheelchair, a walker, arm sling or wearing a blindfold—the goal being to give us a taste of what daily life is like for the elderly and physically impaired. A panel of older adults followed this exercise, and shed some light on the challenges of dealing with the rapidly growing aging population and the societal costs of providing both quality care and quality of life.

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