News

LT Class 27 Participates in a day focusing on Governance and Decision Making

By Leadership Tallahassee, 10/05/2009

LT Class 27 spent October 1 learning more about how the "Deciders" decide and the role individuals can play in shaping public policy.Curriculum Chair Martha Olive-Hall (LT19)got the group started at the Leon County Commission Chambers. One of the Action Teams made a presentation before County Commissioners Bryan Desloge (LT 8) and Akin Akinyemi (LT 21) with commentary from Assistant County Administrator, Vince Long (LT 24). Cathy Jones (LT 24), Aide to Commissioner Akinyemi, was instrumental in providing assistance to the Team in sharing the pros and cons of Primary Springs Protections and Pollutants. It was then off to Judge Terry Lewis' (LT 9) courtroom for sessions on the Mediator Prgram and what goes into a Plea Negotiation (assisted by Jack Campbell (LT 23) and Alex Dombrowsky (LT 22). Lunch was at the Governors Club where LT Board Chair, Kathleen Brennan (LT 18) took the Class down memory lane and with a trivia game on the many quotes from the Opening Retreat in Jax. Eric Thorn (LT 23) gave a quick tour of the Capitol and then set up the next segment -a mock FL House session on gaming - Reps. Michelle Rehwinkel-Vasilinda (LT 24) and Alan Williams (LT 18) assisted, sharing with the Class from their own real life experiences. A walk to the FL Supreme Court provided a needed break and after a quick tour, Chief Justice Peggy Quince addressed the Class about the work of the Court. Following her remarks, Sha'Ron James (LT 21) announced that we had been "invaded" and the group was only going to be allowed to keep 5 of the 10 rights listed in the Bill of Rights. That was an interesting discussion that led into the next session - a mock oral argument in front of the 7 "Justices" of the FL Supreme Court (Mike Clow, Adam Watson, Cecilia Homison, Arnell Bryant-Willis, LaVerne Wells Bowie, Stacey Speer and Chief Justice Ron Drapeau) all from the class. Then, the day was done and the group headed to a post program day happy hour in MidTown.Thanks to Brian Crumbaker (LT 19), Jana McConnaughhay (LT 16), Janeia Daniels (LT 24) for helping put the day together and to Awards4U and Thomas Howell Ferguson for sponsoring the day.