LGM18 Update – May 2011

Take me back” moment

“Rising between the picturesque waters of Lake Monona and Lake Mendota, the majestic granite structure of Wisconsin’s Capitol building glows like a beacon, accenting the Madison skyline.” Think back to your LGM year and the session dedicated to learning about Wisconsin’s finances in our State Capitol. Whether it was your first time or hundredth visit to the building, it is pretty amazing to spend time in the very rooms where our leaders have made, and continue to make, countless decisions about Wisconsin’s future for more than a hundred years. Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance President Todd Berry’s presentation and exercises left many of us overwhelmed, enlightened and or depressed with the knowledge of the state’s growing deficit and a glimpse into some of the complexities involved in making decisions about state and local funding. Take a second to reflect on what you learned that day, and think about how important it is to the future success of the state to have trained leaders like you involved in our community.

LGM18 Update

It is easy to overlook the numerous times each day our actions are affected by state budget decisions. Everything from driving your car to work, using electricity to power your computer and having your garbage collected are all impacted by state spending. In April, the LGM18 class took a closer look at Wisconsin’s current budget issues and how it affects us locally. They began the session with a breathtaking view of the Capitol from the Boardman Law Firm’s Atrium in the U.S. Bank building on the square and ended the day inside one of the Senate hearing rooms on the third floor of the Capitol.

Joining the discussion were Todd Berry, Mark O’Connell, executive director of the Wisconsin Counties Association and Dan Thompson, executive director of the League of Wisconsin Municipalities. Todd’s presentation gave an overview of the state’s historical tax progression and how our current finance structure came to be; how Wisconsin compares to other states; and past, current and future challenges with the 2011-13 state budget. One of the many questions being asked today is does the proposed state budget improve the state’s long-term fiscal health? According to the Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance, the short answer is both yes and no. General fund spending for the biennium is up 6.4% over 2009-11. The structural “deficit” carried over from prior years is markedly reduced. However, progress is still needed in reducing the state debt and the “GAAP deficit” reported on official state financial statements.

Aside from the budget deficit, what is one of Wisconsin’s biggest challenges? Dan Thompson discussed the increasing trend for the state’s talented college graduates to leave Wisconsin in pursuit of jobs and higher wages. Known as the “brain drain,” he pointed out that Wisconsin is importing one of its greatest products — bright, educated young people to join our work force and stimulate the economy. This is of particular concern due to the shift in demographics the state is, and will be, experiencing over the next few years. More and more baby boomers are retiring and the next generation of workers is leaving Wisconsin for other opportunities.

Mark O’Connell agreed with the need to turn this trend around and shared some of the innovative solutions that people are coming up with to address this, along with several other challenges facing the state. For example, he discussed the idea of establishing a program that would supplement or replace higher education loans and grants. The idea is to devise a program that provided specified levels of funding for specified rates and times of payback to the state tied to the recipient’s future income levels. Essentially, students would receive money from the state to attend college in Wisconsin, with the ability to pay back their tuition at a later time in increments based on their salary, once they have started working in the state. This would give the state more control over its investment, the student, and secure that more graduates remain in Wisconsin’s work force.

Next month: lockers, hot lunch and chalkboards. That’s right LGM18 is going back to school! The class is looking forward to spending the day with some of Madison’s brightest students currently in middle and high school. LGM Alumni are invited to stop by for a brief social with LGM18 class members on Tuesday, May 10, 4:30 – 5:30 at Tully’s II on Monona Dr. E-mail Lynn Wood at lwood@wcgpr.com if you plan to join us. Stay tuned for highlights of our monthly sessions and updates of the LGM18 project work. As a reminder, visit us on Facebook to find out more information about this year’s class and projects, and to connect with fellow alumni!

 

A word from LGM18

As members of the 18th LGM class begin their exciting new journey, we thought it would be fun to bring you along on that journey through the course of the year. First, we’ll provide you with a “Take me back” moment that let’s you reminisce about your own LGM experience. Second, we’ll share what the current class is up to and we’ll let you know how and when you can link in if you are interested.

“Take me back” moment

Although the ropes course is, unfortunately, a thing of the past and no longer operates in Madison, team building was one of the best elements of the LGM experience. Think back to your LGM year and recall some of the team building that you did during the first few sessions as you were just getting to know your classmates. Whether it was tossing a ball back and forth among your classmates or building a brio truck while blindfolded, or confidently (or tentatively?) falling backward into the arms of your new friends, those experiences were critical in building the kind of camaraderie and team work that is critical to leadership.

LGM18 Update

LGM18 is off to a great start this year with 17 eager and talented individuals representing companies and organizations including: Operation Fresh Start, Dean Health Plan, Little Explorers Nature Center Preschool, Wisconsin Physicians Service Insurance Corporation, J.H. Findorff and Sons, Alliant Energy Corporation, First Business Bank, First Choice Dental Group SC, MAGNET, Wipfli LLP, M&I Business Banking, City of Madison Police Department, Murphy Desmond S.C., CUNA Mutual Group, American Girl, Greater Madison Convention & Visitors Bureau and Whyte Hirschboeck Dudek. The class will be focusing their community projects on issues related to K–12 education, economic/ workforce development and quality of life.

Our first two sessions, held in February and March, focused on team building and project development. Special thanks to LGM11 alum Steve Goldberg, executive director of the CUNA Mutual Group Foundation for hosting our first session, where the class worked with Chris Hinrichs on some “getting to know you” activities and brainstormed ideas for projects.

During the March session, the class met at the Wisconsin Institutes for Discovery on the UW–Madison campus and heard from local experts who discussed issues to further team project development. Among our guests, we were pleased to have presentations from two LGM alum — Dr. Susan Abplanalp, LGM10 and deputy superintendent and chief learning officer for the Madison Metropolitan School District, and Jennifer Post Tyler, LGM16, project director with Thrive.

Sue discussed many of the changes taking place in the MMSD focussed on accelerating learning. She explained current plans for enhancing alignment across all schools within the district to better match curriculums, and a new pilot project where a select number of central staff are assigned to a cluster of schools in the district to assist in internal communications and implementation of best practices.

Jennifer presented information on Thrive’s current projects as well as an overview of the 2010 State of the Region Report. According to the report, the region’s quality of life continues to be a bright spot with high levels of health insurance coverage, a competitive education system, and lower overall crime rates and levels of poverty. However, the region trails its peers in two important categories: job growth and establishment growth. The session was completed with a tour of the new facility including a look at one of the embedded teaching labs designed to promote a collaborative learning environment for K-12 education programs, college students, science teachers and the public. If you haven’t had a chance to check it out, we encourage you to see the innovative new space, open to the public daily from 8 a.m. – 10 p.m.

Great leadership is important now, more than ever in our community due to the recent events and proposals in our state government. Therefore, the class will be taking a closer look at Wisconsin’s current budget issues and how it impacts us and our region this month. Stay tuned for highlights of our monthly sessions and updates of the LGM18 project work. As a reminder, LGM is now on Facebook, and we encourage you to visit us to find out more information about this year’s class and projects, as well as a great way to connect with fellow alumni!

 

LGM Alumni Association Begins Work on New Website

In a effort to strengthen our connection with our alumni and enhance our ability to serve our organization, the Leadership Greater Madison Alumni Association will soon begin creating a new and improved website. 

The creation of our new website will begin with an RFP process.  An RFP has been created and the LGM Alumni Association invites all alumni working for web design (or related firms) to submit a proposal.

The Alumni Association intends to create a site that will clearly communicate LGMAA’s initiatives, news and special events, allows for links to community partners and social media sites, blogging opportunities and access to PayPal or similar event registration options.

Again, we invite your business to submit a proposal for this project.    To obtain a copy of the RFP, please contact Jill Dohnal of the Communication Committee at jilld@qstaff.com  Kindly submit your proposal by March 31st for consideration.

 

Lunch with a Leader

 

LGM Alumni Association’s Lunch with a Leader series provides information to LGM Alumni and assists them in staying Informed, Engaged and Involved.

Please come and bring guests!

Topic: Philanthropy in the Community

Date: Tuesday, March 22, 2011

R.S.V.P. By: Date March 16th

Time: 11:30-1:30 (including networking, luncheon, speaker, Q&A)
Location: The Madison Club, 5 East Wilson St, Madison, WI 53703
Phone: 255-4861

Admission: $20.50
Speakers: We are thrilled to present TWO speakers this time!

Come see fellow LGM Alumni Tom Linfield and Steve Goldberg talk about the impact of philanthropy in the community. These leaders have deep knowledge about the rich array of projects and initiatives that benefit our community.

Steve Goldberg (LGM 11) is Executive Director of the CUNA Mutual Group Foundation, in Madison, Wisconsin, and has been with the CUNA Mutual organization since 1968.  A lifelong Madisonian, Steve is a 1972 graduate of the University of Wisconsin, where he was also an Evans Scholar.
His community service has included terms on the boards of United Way of Dane County, Family Service, the Dane County Community Action Commission, Dane County Social Planning Agency, Summit Credit Union and the Madison Repertory Theatre.  He has also served on the boards of the CUNA Brokerage Service and the Insurance Consumer Affairs Exchange as well as many more chair positions.  He is also active in the Rotary Club of Madison and is founder and past-president of the Madison Consumer Credit Counseling Service.  He is a 2003 graduate of the Leadership Greater Madison program.

Tom Linfield (LGM 7) is the Vice President of Grantmaking and Community Initiatives at the Madison Community Foundation. In this role he coordinates the foundation’s competitive grantmaking throughout Dane County, facilitating over $1.5 million in awards each year. He also works with area leaders and nonprofit directors to explore and build viable community initiatives. Recent projects include a major library collections project, tripling the number of local community gardens, and building the capacity of the county’s food pantry network. Prior to joining the Madison Community Foundation, Tom was Training and Grants Director for the National Center for Outreach, Grants Manager for Wisconsin Public Television, and Foundation and Government Relations Manager for Edgewood College. As a grantwriter he has raised over $15 million in grants for education, arts and community projects. Tom is a graduate of Brandeis University. He was a m! ember of LGM 7 and served seven years on the LGM Alumni Association Board, co-chairing the education committee. He is a practicing fine artist, exhibiting regularly in the Madison area, and just completed four years as chair of the Board of Madison Area Open Arts Studios.

If you are interested in attending, please contact The Madison Club at 255-4861. Your payment will be processed at the luncheon. The Madison Club accepts cash, checks and credit cards.

Thank you for your interest in the LGM Alumni Association. Our website address is: http://lgmalumni.wordpress.com.

 

Lunch with a Leader

We are closing in on a date for our March Lunch with a Leader. We may have two speakers, stay tuned for more information soon!

 

Community Volunteer Awards Nominations Requested!

Think of the many people who give their time and talent to improve the lives of other people.

Have you ever wanted to say “Thank You” but weren’t quite sure how?

The United Way Community Volunteer Awards give you a chance to recognize the individuals (youth and adults), families, groups and businesses that strengthen our community through volunteering!  These volunteers give their time to help children achieve in school, seniors remain independent in their homes, ensure people have their basic needs met and much more. 

Volunteers at all Dane County not-for-profit agencies are eligible to be nominated.
Nominate Someone Today! Nominations may be submitted until February 21, 2011.

All nominees will be recognized and winners will be announced at the Community Volunteer Awards luncheon on April 14, 2011 at the Madison Concourse Hotel and Governor’s Club.

Download Community Volunteer Award Form or use the online form at www.unitedwaydanecounty.org/cvaform.  

Please contact Kayla Bechtel at kbechtel@uwdc.org or 608-246-4384 with any questions, and mark your calendar for the Community Volunteer Awards luncheon on April 14th at The Madison Concourse Hotel & Governor’s Club where we will celebrate volunteerism in Dane County, recognize the Community Volunteer Award nominees and announce the award recipients!

 

LGMAA Mini-Golf Classic Results

 Thanks to the joined effort of many alumni, the LGMAA Mini-Golf Classic was a huge success, raising $5,463.86!  A portion of the proceeds will be used to fund strategic planning for the organization in February.

Strategic Planning
A good organization is always planning for the future and LGMAA is no exception.  With the assistance of Paul Moss, The Growth Coach, the LGMAA Counsel will engage in workshop to plan the organization’s goals for the next 3 years and the means to achieve those results in mid-February.  Stay tuned for the exciting developments!