As a public service and outreach unit of the University of Georgia, we are committed to helping provide better government and communities in our state. As public officials and leaders confront an increasingly complicated array of issues, it becomes more important than ever for the faculty and staff here at the Carl Vinson Institute of Government to develop and implement outreach activities that enable our clients to be prepared as they carry out their daily responsibilities.

Education of public officials has always been a significant investment for the Vinson Institute. In 2004, the institutes for newly elected local officials and the Biennial Institute for Georgia Legislators saw record numbers of attendees. These programs give the participants a thorough understanding of their roles and responsibilities so that they are prepared to begin their careers in public service. Other new and established instructional opportunities provided officials and community leaders with the chance to sharpen their skills in specific topic areas and to become more knowledgeable about current issues facing the state.

Topics that are always of concern to the prosperity of governments and communities, like finance, operations, growth, and human resources, were included in the broad range of technical assistance and research carried out by our organization in 2004. Of note are the Chattahoochee Valley assessment of human services delivery needs and the development of a statewide Tax and Expenditure Data Center (TED). Both of these efforts offer lawmakers and service providers tools to help them make critical policy decisions for the future.

Helping a community engage its citizenry in the democratic process is another way in which our faculty and staff contribute to improving the quality of life for all Georgians. In 2004, this work ranged from facilitating town hall meetings and visioning sessions to conducting workshops and developing educational materials that equip teachers with the knowledge and resources they need to motivate their students toward active citizenship.

Our commitment to better governments extends beyond our state borders. The work program of the National Center for the Study of Counties is evolving and providing research that is of value to local government policymakers everywhere. The international outreach division of the Vinson Institute has expanded its capability to share public administration expertise abroad in emerging democracies and also bring scholars and practitioners to Georgia, thereby enhancing the global perspective of our client groups.

We feel privileged that so many governments and communities continue to open their doors to our expertise in order to help them improve their governance and administration. This report offers a capsule view of how we helped accomplish that in 2004.