GOOD VIBES FOR GEORGIA. While levels of public satisfaction with the federal government are falling, the two latest Peach State Poll releases reveal that Georgians feel positive about how things are going in the state, including the impact of population growth.
EXECUTIVE DECISION. Through the new Executive Leadership Program, the Vinson Institute and the university's Terry College of Business are helping carry out the governor's mandate for preparing a top-notch group of state agency heads and senior managers.
NEW AND IMPROVED. The Web site for the Vinson Institute has been completely redesigned so that visitors and clients can more easily find programs, services, and publications.
CHART A COURSE. From salaries and benefits to services and materials, the Institute has provided the Albany-Dougherty County Charter Commission with a wealth of information and assistance as it moves through the consolidation process.
HELP WANTED. The DeKalb County Commission is unique in its organizational structure, and Vinson Institute faculty are helping commission members explore staffing functions in order to better serve their citizenry.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATE. A new internship opportunity is one way in which the International Center for Democratic Governance is expanding it program to help local government officials in China adopt current public administration practices.
PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT. Vinson Institute faculty are the authors of the new fourth edition of the popular book Effective Supervisory Practices: Better Results Through Teamwork, published by the International City-County Management Association.
CIVIC MISSION. The Institute's civic education coordinator joins with the state superintendent of schools to celebrate National Constitution Day at a special event in Macon.
BUILDING BLOCKS. A new Web interface will centralize information for the more than 20,000 buildings and property pieces owned or leased by the Georgia Building Authority.
NEW FACULTY. Angela Fertig provides policy research expertise related to families and public health.... Christine Ledvinka is coordinating law-related education activities.... Paula Yeary will be providing technical assistance in public finance, performance management, and local government consolidation.... Michelle Jurkiewicz is the new coordinator of state finance training.
TRADE ISSUES. New Public Policy Research Series notes explore such current trade issues as the Free Trade Area of the Americas and state-level trade assistance policy.
TAX AND SPEND. The Tax and Expenditure Data Center helps county officials make better informed revenue forecasting and expenditure projections through access to a variety of data in a quick and useful format. The tax, expenditure, and demographic data for all counties in Georgia can also be used to conduct research for and about counties.
LAW 101. A series of practical workshops on legal topics relevant to Georgia's Hispanic population will be expanding beyond Athens.
PUBLICATIONS UPDATE. New rates are announced for State and Local Government Review, the national journal of research and viewpoints published by the Institute.... A variety of new materials are now available to teachers using the Institute's textbook, The Georgia Studies Book: Our State and the Nation.
TRAINING UPDATE. Special workshops for planning and zoning board members cover the relevant law, current land use practices, and processes so that citizen appointees have the knowledge and resources they need to make sound decisions.
New training calendars for the state financial management primary accounting series and the local finance officer certification program are set and online.... Also, congratulations to graduates in the state financial management primary accounting series.
