The CSAC Institute for Excellence in County Government is reaching two milestones this month. Not only have county officials from all 58 counties now attended Institute courses, but more than 1,000 different county officials will have taken at least one course.

Our courses continue to grow in popularity. In fact, two upcoming courses: “Detecting Fraud in County Governments and Non-Profits,” and “Realignment: Working in a New Era” both have waiting lists as enrollment for each maxed out at 75 students.

The Institute is constantly looking for new ways to meet the educational and training needs of our membership. For example, the Executive Leadership Symposium will be launched in early 2012. Design strictly for county supervisors and county executives, this Symposium is an intensive three-day leadership practices learning experience designed to build your capacities in collaboration and adoptive change to evaluate current challenges and make progress on persistent issues and challenges. The Symposium is scheduled for mid-February in San Jose. The application deadline is Oct. 31, so don’t hesitate if you are interested.

Look for the 2012 Winter/Spring schedule to be released during the CSAC Annual Meeting in November. And speaking of the Annual Meeting, the Institute will once again be presenting credentials to county supervisors and senior executives who have completed the necessary course work. By the end of the year, more than 50 county officials will have received their CSAC Institute credential.

The Institute will be offering four courses during Annual Meeting week: “Leadership in Decision Making on Monday,” Nov. 28; “Joint Use of Facilities” on Tuesday, Nov. 29; “County Pensions and Pension Reform” on Thursday, Dec. 1; and “Talent Development and Succession Planning” on Friday, Dec. 2. These courses are set up at times to allow county officials to attend a class or two without interfering with Annual Meeting business. To learn more about these courses, visit the Institute Website.

We urge you to try an Institute course. No matter whether you are a county supervisor, administrator, department head or staff, there is subject matter you will find useful to your current position and to enhance your professional growth.