Your place in Goochland's future

On November 3, Goochlanders will vote to fill all local offices. All current supervisors and school board members are running for reelection without opposition. They have publicly stated that they will not seek another term in 2019.

Where will the next set of elected officials come from?

One local resource that has introduced many citizens to community service is Goochland Leadership Enterprise. Begun in 1996 to encourage citizen engagement, and perhaps identify future leaders, GLE graduates have enriched virtually every community organization including: the Board of Supervisors; School Board; Christmas Mother; Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children (CASA); Goochland Free Clinic and Family Services; county Republican and Democrat political organizations; and the Goochland County Historical Society. One blogs.

A series of 14 sessions, usually held on Thursday evenings at 7 p.m., gives GLE participants detailed information about topics ranging from county history to ways to participate in the community.

The $55 application fee covers the cost of materials and meals.

The curriculum includes a “legislative day” trip to the Virginia General Assembly and a meeting with those who represent Goochland in Richmond. Learn first-hand about the challenges and opportunities of the state legislative process.

A dinner meeting with the Goochland Board of Supervisors scheduled for February provides a relaxed atmosphere and informal conversation about local government. Some sitting supervisors are GLE graduates and may share how their understanding of the role of local government evolved as they went from citizen to elected official.

In recent years, Goochland Schools have gone from “circling the drain” to soaring to new heights of achievement thanks to a hard working school board and innovative school administration. Learn how they did it and what is in store for the future during the session on education.
Preservation of Goochland’s rural feel is a high priority for citizens and elected officials alike. That does not happen by accident. Learn how the county’s land use strategies and economic development initiatives work in concert to bolster tax revenues and attract new businesses without Goochland becoming the next Chesterfield.

In addition to the content of the classes, GLE brings citizens from all parts of the county and all walks of life together. This is an opportunity to meet people you might not otherwise encounter to form new relationships and a better understanding of your community.
Visit http://offices.ext.vt.edu/goochland/index.html for more information and an application.

Sign up to see what Goochland can offer you and what you can offer Goochland.