It is my pleasure to announce to you a new program schedule for Leadership Albany.  I first want to thank your Board of Directors and Administrative Director, who have all actively participated in planning and executing the incredible programs you know us for.  I couldn’t be more pleased with the level of engagement we’ve had from our board in the past year, and this announcement is a result of their work to continually improve Leadership Albany through strategic planning and partnerships.

The next Leadership Albany class (future Best Class Ever), will officially kick off their program in January of 2020.  Beginning with this class, we will shift our annual class calendar from one that follows the school calendar, to one that follows the calendar year.  This change allows us many advantages in how we engage sponsors, plan our programming and class selection, and execute our annual class.  The FAQ below will address more details on why this change was made and how it helps the organization.

What are the advantages of this change?

We have identified several key advantages to beginning our class in January.  Most of our sponsors, including those covering tuition for our participants, operate on a January 1 fiscal calendar.  Beginning our class in January helps align our budget planning with our supporters and alumni.  In addition, this helps us with advanced program planning.  The summer is typically used as a program planning period, and on the old calendar this planning happens just before class days begin in the Fall.  Now our summer program planning will be well in advance of a January class start, allowing us to truly design the Best Class Ever each year.  Other notable advantages included aligning our board rotation with partners such as The Albany Area Chamber of Commerce, and creating breaks in the year that are much needed for board activities outside of class programming.

What will be the new class dates?

January - Orientation and Opening Retreat
February-May - Regular Class Days
June-August - Break
September - Mid-year Retreat
October - Regular Class Day
November - Final Class Day and Graduation
December - Break

Will the program content change?

The Leadership Albany board has committed to updating our content annually based on the needs of the Albany community.  Our program day framework will remain similar to that of the old schedule, and content will change as needed.

What calendar do other community leadership programs use?

Our research of other communities in Georgia revealed that about half of the programs follow our old calendar system, and half follow the new one.  The choice is based on the needs of each individual community.

What will Leadership Albany do during the Fall of 2019 when there is no class?

Our board is constantly pursuing strategic growth of the organization, and we are much looking forward to a brief break from class planning and execution to solidify our mission, vision, and goals.  We will use this time to address topics such as alumni engagement, professional development, and community needs assessment.

Are there any other significant changes that this decision will necessitate?

Yes, we expect to change our fiscal year to match the class year, as well as our board service rotation.  We have consulted with alumni who are familiar with these processes, and we expect an easy transition.

Jud Savelle, Leadership Albany Chair