HAPPY ANNIVERSARY. Cobb County and the Vinson Institute recently celebrated 20 consecutive years of working together to conduct the Management Development Program for Georgia Local Government. Link
ALL IN FAVOR. The most recent Peach State Polls report Georgians’ favorable response to granting parole for inmates, teaching evolution in the schools, and the electronic voting system. Link
NEW CHARTER. Faculty are helping the group charged with drafting a chart for a new Albany–Dougherty County consolidated government. Link
Plus, read about these other governmental services projects: a thorough look at how Clayton County departments are structured, a new procedure helps Decatur officials anticipate the effects of annexation, reporting for the Savannah Crime Task Force. Link
MEDIUM METRO UPDATE. The Forum for Medium Metropolitan Areas is shining the light on recent work in Albany as a model for other metro areas. Link
REVOLUTIONARY TIMES. Vinson Institute faculty have been helping teach courses in public administration to Ukrainian faculty and local officials since 1994. The history-making 2004 elections in that country were the focus of a special symposium on March 31. All of the panelists had a direct involvement with the “Orange Revolution.” Link
MORE INTERNATIONAL OUTREACH. The International Center for Democratic Governance continues to help municipal officials in China and Ukraine develop key public administration skills. Link
THE BOTTOM LINE. The new Budget Manual for Georgia Local Government covers both the process and the people involved in local government budgeting and is designed especially for Georgia officials. For more information, check the online store at Link.
(Don’t forget about the new edition of the Handbook for Georgia Mayors and Councilmembers, also located at the online store.)
GOVERNING A DIVERSE COMMUNITY. A program in development now will help Georgia local governments better address the opportunities and issues that the growing Hispanic culture brings to their communities. Link
BARROW COUNTY GIS. Barrow County officials now have a more coordinated plan for using Geographic Information Systems in their local government operations. Link
MAP TRACK. A new interactive mapping system has been developed to help state corrections officials track facilities and critical information. Link
PRESIDENTIAL PRESENCE. Former President Jimmy Carter’s chief of staff, Hamilton Jordan, will be based at the Vinson Institute while he writes a book about the Carter presidency. Jordan has almost exclusive access to Carter’s personal diaries. Link
CHILDHOOD OBESITY POLICY CRISIS. The Vinson Institute recently cosponsored a Family Impact Seminar to help legislators understand the many policy implications of the childhood obesity issue in the state. Link
TELL YOUR TEACHERS. Local governments can help improve teaching about city and county government by encouraging their area educators to attend the Don Mendonsa Local Government Seminar for Teachers this summer in Athens. The free workshop is supported by the Georgia City-County Management Association, the Association County Commissioners of Georgia, and the Georgia Municipal Association. Link
AWARDS SWEEP. Vinson Institute faculty members Steve Dempsey, Mark Foster, and Gordon Maner were recently honored by the University of Georgia for their outstanding work in public service and outreach. Link
OTHER NEWS TO NOTE. A new editor has been announced for State and Local Government Review. Also, honors for Steve Condrey and Kelly Foster. Link
