Vinson Institute Launches New Environmental Training at Green GMA Convention
Following the convention's "green" theme, the Vinson Institute debuted a new environmental course at the 2009 Georgia Municipal Association (GMA) Annual Convention in Savannah June 20–23.
Participants in the class Environmental Sustainability: Green Cities benefitted from firsthand accounts of environmental best practices presented by local government representatives from across the state. Dr. Rob McDowell, the new director of the Institute's Environmental Policy program, moderated the panel on Saturday, June 20.
The course addressed a host of environmental issues faced by city governments such as water quality and quantity, recycling, energy conservation, air quality, and the handling of solid and hazardous waste.
"The city officials who attended the course were able to hear real-world applications of sustainability efforts in Georgia," commented McDowell. "There are excited things happening in the state, from landfill methane gas use in LaGrange to gray water re-use in Braselton. I think the participants gained a lot of useful information from their colleagues' stories."
In addition to environmental sustainability, training at the Harold F. Holtz Municipal Leadership Institute covered a range of topics including emergency management, taxation, planning and zoning, and municipal finance. More than 850 city council members, mayors, clerks, and city managers engaged in training led by Vinson Institute faculty during the convention.
For the first time at a GMA convention, training took place over two days, Saturday and Tuesday, allowing officials to work more quickly toward earning their certificates. Almost 100 individuals were granted certificates at the convention in recognition of their advanced level of training.
Larry Black, council member from Ringgold, and David Hetzel, council member from Tifton, became the first officials to earn a new honor from the Harold F. Holtz Municipal Training Institute, the Certificate of Distinction. This certificate is reserved for council members who complete at least 204 hours of training.
"Previously, training certificates were awarded to those who completed 42, 72, and 120 hours," explained Gordon Maner, Vinson Institute local government program manager. "There has been demand for a higher level of certification for officials who go above and beyond in their training. The Certificate of Distinction is in response to that. It is a great achievement for Council Members Black and Hetzel to be honored in this way."
2009 GMA Annual Convention Training Graduates
Certificate of Recognition (42 training hours)
Wayne Anthony
Alton Bagley
John Barrett
Kimberly Chappell-Stevens
Charles Bethel
Susan Coletti
Terry Crawford
Raymond DuBose
Danny Dunagan, Jr.
Daniel Foster
Brian Frost
Nancy Harris
Calvin Holland, Sr.
Beverly Jones
Patricia Lyons
Evie McNiece
Kevin McOmber
Paul MacGregor
Lee Malcom
Carol Markins
Eunice Moore
Rosa Lee Owens
James Palmer
Ann Ray
Robert Reichert
Duane Reid
Larry Schlesinger
Milton Slack, III
Jimmy Smith
Roger Smith
Scott Taylor
James Thomas, Jr.
Cecil Thompson
Mary Lott Walker
Donald Wilson
Jim Woods
Certificate of Achievement (72 training hours)
Monta Brown
James Cater, Jr.
Anne Claxton
George Crowley
Tray Hicks
George James
Willie King
Kenneth Lee
Benjamin Mercer
Sam Norton
Gail Notti
Ralph Richardson, Jr
Jeffery Smith
Wayne Smith
William Thomas
Jerry Turner
Gull Weaver
Hawnethia Williams
Donald Wilson
William Yearta
Robert Yost
Certificate of Excellence (120 training hours)
Charles Barineau
Edward A. Bond
James Brooks
Michael Dodd
Harold Edwards
Joe Grooms
Robert Gwaltney
Ray Hand
Jim Joiner
Willie James Larry
Joe Lewis
Luciria Lovette
Harvey Norris
Johnnie Lee Roper, Sr.
Bobby Townsend
David Woods
Certificate of Distinction (204 training hours)
G. Larry Black
David Hetzel
Robert E. Knox, Jr. Municipal Leadership Institute
William Austin
Judson Bowers
Pete Bridges
Ronald Cobb
Johnny Crist
Nathaniel Cullars, Sr.
Timothy Dunn
Dana Goodall
Aileen Harris
Clifford Holmes, Jr.
Joe Lewis
Maceo Mahoney
Randy Meacham
Sam Norton
Buddy Pittman
Ralph Richardson, Jr.
Leslie Robson
Milton. Slack, III
Scott Taylor
Bobby Townsend
David Woods
